GUIDE TO THE RWENZORI
Mountains of the Moon
Henry Osmaston, 2006
336 p. incl. 48 colour plates, 25 grayscale plates, 30 maps and drawings
Foreword by Stephen Venables, Pres. Alpine Club. Hard-back, pocket size
The widely acclaimed (but long out of print) Osmaston & Pasteur Guide to this fantastic snow-capped range on the equator has been expanded and completely revised. This coincides with celebrations of the centenary of the first two major expeditions: by Woosnam & Wollaston collecting biological specimens for the British Museum, and by the Duke of the Abruzzi who surveyed and made first ascents of the peaks.
It now describes the changes in status of the range as a National Park and World Heritage Site, and the new arrangements and facilities for visitors.
It also records the great retreat of the glaciers with photographs and maps of selected examples. This retreat has affected many of the climbs, so revised route descriptions take account of these changes. Several new routes, some of high standard, are also described.
Major additions include a new chapter on organisations and peoples who are concerned with the Rwenzori, particularly the local Bakonzo. There is a new section on secondary trekking routes from bases round the perimeter of the Park.
As before it contains a detailed history of
exploration, climbing, research and management in the range; a chapter on the
geology and the extraordinary giant plants, the birds and other animals; and a
classified bibliography of relevant literature now extended to over
500 references complemented by 103 illustrations, many in full colour.
Publication has been funded by the Rwenzori Trust, a charity to which all proceeds will accrue. The objectives of this trust are to support scientific research and environmental conservation on Ugandan mountains, and education in mountaineering in Uganda or for Ugandans.
Publication date: June 2006
Published by Henry Osmaston for The Rwenzori Trust
Obtainable through bookshops: ISBN 0-9518039-6-4 Price £16
Distributed by
West Col Productions, Copse House, Goring Heath, Reading, Berks. RG8 7SA UK
and in Uganda by
Inns of Uganda Ltd., 4th floor Kimathi Avenue, P.O.Box 2288 Kampala, UGANDA,
“Confined by the weather to the hut for virtually two whole days, I read the Osmaston and Pasteur Guide to the Ruwenzori, the only book we had with us, from cover to cover at least twice. If ever there is rucksack space enough for only one book on a hike among the Mountains of the Moon this little book must get the vote. It is a mine of fascinating information.”
Gordon Boys in Snowcaps on the Equator.
June 2006
Centenary of the first ascents of the peaks by
the Duke of the Abruzzi.
This is being celebrated in Uganda by repeating the ascents of the major peaks by a joint team of Italian and Ugandan mountaineers, and holding a conference and various receptions.
See:-