Backcountry WA guidebook

a coop that seems to have an origin in a service to a community of outdoor enthusiasts

'Origin' is the operative word here. Times have changed, REI has new customers, a very small percentage of whom are backcountry enthusiasts. A few energetic folks need to start a new ski coop?

'Origin' is the operative word here. Times have changed, REI has new customers, a very small percentage of whom are backcountry enthusiasts.  A few energetic folks need to start a new ski coop?

Very true. I came from the Northeast in 1993 and remember that a few years later there was a news article where REI was pretty clear that their direction was to change and that revenues were a primary mission. Is it still a coop? If so, why? Does it seek to provide goods and services at reduced costs to its members? Does it leverage its position to benefit the members? Does it garner special tax advantages by being a coop? Does it support local, such as Rainer's book? Not trying to be judgmental, just curious. Also I don't want to steal the thread topic.

Alan

Rainier, Thanks so much for putting your book out there! It is an invaluable resource to the WA backcountry skier! I look through in many times a year, and like Beckey's books I imagine I hope to use it every year of my life!

Great Job, much appreciated!

Reviving post… i use both Rainer’s superb book (1999 version) and also resorted to Xerox copy Martin Volken’s out-of-print “BC Skiing Snoqualmie Pass” b/c the cost for a used book was way too high. I do a lot of solo tours in the SP area and I would be lost literally w/o Martin’s excellent route descriptions.

So anyone have more news on Volken’s new book? I also heard talk of a release by 2010 but cannot find any info about it on the web. Thanks.

I really like your book Ranier! I use it all the time.

Seaburry Blair's book is still available.

[Full Disclosure: I work for Amazon.]

Because used / rare books are often offered by third-party sellers the price of these books on Amazon can vary quite a bit. That said, I think the book you are talking about is currently selling for $17 on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/08988612...=UTF8&condition=used

A potentially interesting idea might be for the TAY community to work together to self-publish a Washington backcountry guidebook using an on-demand printing service. Someone would need to coordinate the creation of a Word / PDF file that contained the book. With on-demand printing the book would effectively never go out of print. Here's an example of the service Amazon owns.

www.createspace.com/Author.jsp

There's probably not a lot of money in this endeavor, but what money did come from it could go to TAY or NWAC.