Guide/Author
Escalade en Brianconnais (JJ Rolland, 2009)

This new guide by JJ Rolland (not to be mistaken for JK Rowling), is a long awaited edition for those English climbers seeking availability of a predominantly single pitch, sport orientated climbing guide, for areas in the locality of Briancon, France.

The areas covered in the guide all lie within the Hautes Alpes region, in the south east of the country. For those unfamiliar with the Hautes Alpes area, it incorporates a vast swathe of southern alpine terrain, between the Ecrin Massif, to the west, and the Italian border to the east. The crags are generally clean, well equipped cliff lines of Limestone and Granite and offer every grade imaginable, from 3 to 8c+. The guide subdivides the region into 11 areas – Vallee De La Claree Et Vallee Etroite, Vallee De La Guisane, Briancon, Vallouise, L'Argentiere La-Bessee, La Roche De Rame, Freissinieres, Vallee De Tramouillon Saint Crepin, Guillestre, Queyras and Embrunais. Each area consists of between 2 and 12 crags, which are well presented throughout the guides 304 pages.

“Escalade en Brianconnais” runs in the same vein as many of the more recently produced European single-pitch guides, in that, it is a much slicker and usable production, compared with those of a few years back. Throughout the guide there is a sensible to-and-fro from photo-topo to diagram usage (relating to crag situation), to display routes. Whilst the approach and overview maps seem clear and concise, displaying orientation and scale information. Photo-topos are, for the most part, sharp and easy to use, with clear tight lines marking the way. The diagrams are a little more old-school, appearing to be scanned sketches. That said, they are still clear, well reproduced and simply annotated.

Image above: S Foissac on Ouech Ouech (Rocher des Brumes), f8a+.

While the guide contains little in the way of English text, it has obviously been designed with a multi-lingual audience in mind, as throughout the entire work most information is relayed via symbols – explained via a legend at the start of the guide –, which give approach time, rock type, child friendly status, climbing style, route lengths, best season, direction faced and grade spread. The route descriptions are generally short and uncomplicated, i.e. they give route name and grade, and that's about it. The only sections where non French speakers may come unstuck are the initial approach details for each crag – as these are fully described in French. Unlike some other recent topo guides, there isn't a simple dictionary at the front of the guide. Therefore if you intend to be fully reliant on this guide, it may be worth remembering to accompany “Escalade en Brianconnais” with a phrase book or language dictionary.

Summary
If I was to offer one negative point; I would have liked to have seen a few more inspiring action shots. Overall this is a smart, easily usable topo guide which should allow non locals much easier access to the wonderful sport crags of Frances Hautes Alpes region.

Purchase the Escalade en Brianconnais guide here.