In reply to withey:
I think the design is a step forward - look at the Tremadog feature - if they can keep that level of good design I think they are on to a winner. NIce one George Smith who wrote it, Ray Wood who photographed it and Neil Pearsons who edited it.
I'd say make the new 'Climb' logo smaller on the cover.
I like the new paper, if they can find a way of slightly increasing the saturation of the photos - a tad too pastel for me - that would be nice, a little too ghost like as well. It's feel and look is generally good. I like it.
The smell? They should theme that each issue - maybe a Lakeland moss smell next issue! The Chee Dale, 'hanging gardens of babylon' odour this issue was quite interesting. A Ben Nevis aroma in March should be quite a challenge.
The pull out spread - Al Lee's shot of Dave Birkett on 'Nowt But' is iconoclastic, despite being seen a lot. I'm sure Al will come back from Baffin with a lot of great shots. Look forward to seeing those in print.
Gill Wootton at Climb said they are going to put a gloss finish on the cover - that will make it stand out more and make it more attractive. The blacks black and the reds red.
Good effort I say.
Climber mag is good too this issue, I spent a pleasant lunch one day this week reading some of the articles. Enjoyed John Horscroft's Junkyard Angel piece - I'd just done the route again after many years, Al's Grit Flick piece and Bruce's article on the West Grat.
There's nothing like print!
Mick
Senior Editor
UKClimbing.com