UKC

Planning to Return to Elbsandstein on the Germany/Czech border this Summer but would like to get a new guide for the region. Anyone know where I can buy one?

In reply to simon lambert:

Hi, as I am sure you know the current guides are rather crap (more or less a list of routes), while selective topo guides are only available for individual regions. AFAIK there are good topo guides for the Bielatal and Rathen areas, plus a new one with 80 or so classic (i.e. largely suicidal) routes.

My advice would be to go to the climbing section of the Globetrotter store in Dresden, where they normally have them all in stock (Prager Strasse, 800m or so from the station in the pedestrian zone).

Bernd Arnolds shop in Hohenstein would also be a good bet, as would be the national park centre in Bad Schandau or the Ottomühle beer garden / ice cream stall in Bielatal.

CB

In reply to simon lambert: There are no select guide for the whole area yet, although there is one coming out hopefully in the next few months but this is only for Saxon Grade 7 and above. There are 6 definitive guides as well as 3 topoguides for Bielatal, Rathen,& Lilienstein area. It helps if you can read German, as the guides are very logical sepecially when you realise that Alter Weg (AW) meaning the Original Way is always the firest route recorded and all the other routes are recorded clockwise from this.
Berndt Arnold shop in Bad Schandau will have all the guides and Roger does speak English and is very helpful. You will find that most German climbers are very helpful if you want directions for routes.
Lastly have a good trip, we will be there in September/October.
Tony & Sarah

In reply to simon lambert:

The german language Elbtal guide-book for the ”sport-climbing" on the Czech side of the border may still be available here: http://www.geoquest-verlag.de/?q=node/202

It has a few topos too, I have not used it but it looks better than most guidbooks for the area.

Good news is that Schrammsteine and Schmilkaer now have a guide book in print!
http://www.bergverlag-roelke.de/kletterfuehrer/

Amazon.de seems to carry most guidebooks http://goo.gl/cLhwm (if you your conscience can take trading with them)