by M Volken, S Schell, and M Wheeler
The Mountaineers Books. Paperback  ISBN: 978-1-59485-038-7,  £15.95

No self-respecting ski tourer or aspirant would be seen thumbing a ‘how to’ in the confines of an alpine hut or on an icy, windblown traverse - this volume’s true worth will therefore be governed by how easy it is to commit to memory. In this regard it is a success.
The book begins with a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of modern touring equipment, and this should be essential reading for those considering purchasing their own kit, especially for the all-important ski choice. The book is reasonably well structured, and deals with the fundamental subject matters in turn: avalanche; mountain safety; uphill and downhill technique; planning and route choice; glacier travel and rescue. The section on navigation is however a little light - this topic alone can justify an entire book, and those with limited routefinding experience should look elsewhere for advice.
Like a lot of manuals of this genre, the key lessons are more easily perceived after the first ski tour. The authors do, however, make an excellent job of communicating touring essentials such as not stopping too frequently, limiting transitions between crampon and ski, choosing the quickest and safest (rather than the shortest) line on ascent, and ‘survival’ techniques for those awkward icy kick turns or fields of crust. The photographs and illustrations are excellent throughout.

Reviwed by Tom Holmes