Himalayan Guides. Jan Kielkowski. (Potsdamer Strasse 45, D-4000, Düsseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany.) These volumes vary in length from 45 to 85 pages and are in paper. 15 German Marks each.

This remarkable set of studies of various Himalayan massifs is of the greatest value to the climber planning an expedition, to the mountain historian or to the armchair mountaineer. Jan Kielkowski, a Pole living in Germany, has done an amazing amount of research on many of the important and most-visited Himalayan groups. Although the volumes differ slightly from one another, they generally contain information not only on the main peak, but on every mountain in the massif. There are maps with routes indicated, detailed drawings of faces with indentifications of peaks, notable points and routes, route descriptions, suggestions of what remains yet to be climbed and much more. Most of the volumes are in German, but there are English translations in some of them. (Although three Kangchenjunga volumes are in Polish, even there the maps, drawings and lists are very helpful.)

This is an ongoing study. To date, the following have appeared: Mount Everest, Volumes 1, 2 and 3; Cho Oyu, Volumes 1 and 2; Pumori-Taboche, Volumes 1 and 2; Makalu, Volumes 1 and 2; Kangchenjunga, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 (in Polish).

This reviewer has found them to be extremely useful. They are of great accuracy. No one organizing an expedition to these massifs (or to regions where future volumes will appear) should fail to consult them.

Adams Carter