Guillaume Charton has detailed information on about 1500 climbs over 300 pages, including new sections on Whakatipu mountains and Cromwell’s crags and boulders.
Having first climbed in his native France when he was 7, he’s climbed extensively around Queenstown since arriving in 2001.
He also co-founded the climbing club, which has 440 members and about 6000 online members — part of the book’s proceeds will go to the club.
Charton’s spent about two years researching his latest guidebook — information on each climb includes heights, grades, number of bolts and pitches and, where known, the first ascensionist. He’s also included photos of a large number of local climbers including high school students — he’s head of languages at Wakatipu High.
Over the past year he’s also helped launch the Remarkables Trails Trust, aimed at securing public access around the Remarkables.
"Queenstown is becoming the premium climbing destination in New Zealand and, I’m tempted to say, in the southern hemisphere."
Charton says he’s seen climbing become more mainstream — "I started climbing when my dad was a mountain guide in the ’80s, and it was, like, very hippie."
The book’s for sale at Small Planet, Bivouac Outdoor and Altitude Brewing and via queenstownclimbing.com
