In reply to Tom F Harding:
4 dislikes.. thats not even a ripple... I got a hundred once when I rattled the cage directly. It may not be the children though, some otherwise sensible climbers hate being reminded how daftly mean they are at times. I'll cheer them up next time with a fictional jolly tale about how I used to steal from shopkeepers in Chamonix in the good old days...anarchic bewilderment, drugs and alcohol distracting from more deserved political targets.
Jokes aside, some of the current guidebooks are amazing for the astounding volunteer efforts and the quality of product (and not just fully volunteer definitives). In climbing guidebook terms we really have never had it so good. Maybe just at the time before the paper guidebook dominance fades!?
I do share your support for the Wired concept, why should the definitives just cede the selective guide 'low hanging fruit' to competitors when if they are doing their volunteer work properly they should know the ground best. True competition for the significant occasional visitor market.
Post edited at 01:52