Flakes, Jugs, and Splitters: New Climbing Geology Book

If you’re a rock climber, ya gotta love rocks. Rock is the medium we practice our vertical sport on. Different kinds of rocks require different techniques. Granite offers slabs and cracks and big walls. Sandstone gives splitter cracks, crumbly edges, and desert towers. Limestone has pockets of every size, short steep faces, and overhanging caves.

To become a climber, we learn to become one with the rock. We get to know the rock intimately. Part of being a climber is learning about geology, about the processes of the changing earth, about rock types and how they form, and about how to use different rock for climbing. It’s no surprise then that a lot of climbers I know are also geologists. They love rocks.

Now, if you want to learn about climbing geology, you don’t have to take any college courses, but instead you can read the new book Flakes, Jugs, and Splitters: A Rock Climber’s Guide to Geology by climber and geologist Sarah Garlick and published by FalconGuides.

The book, the first geology text written specifically for a climbing audience, first leads you through the basics of Geology 101, looking at geologic time, plate tectonics, the formation of big three rock types, and how mountains are formed and eroded.

The book’s second half answers all of your rock questions like: Why are there so many roofs at the Gunks? Why isn’t there rock climbing in Florida? Can we find diamonds on The Diamond? Why does Hueco have so many huecos? Is Kilimanjaro going to blow its top? And Why does Europe have so much limestone?

Read the book. Get the answers. And you’ll have a better appreciation and yes, love for rocks, geology, and climbing. Gotta show the rocks some love.

Buy Sarah Garlick’s book:
Compare prices: Flakes, Jugs, and Splitters: A Rock Climber’s Guide to Geology by FalconGuides.