Another season, and yet another issue of Rock to inspire and stimulate you!

In the new Winter issue we bring you:

• New Nowra: a new route rennaissance
• Taipan Wall for the Everyman
• Albarrcin: Spain's bouldering Mecca
• Trad climbing in Frey, Argentina
• A special Blue Mountains folio by Simon Carter
• A profile of Mick Wells and an interview with Ashleigh Feltham and Carlie LeBreton

plus the usual heady mix of news, reviews and stunning climbing photography.

This issue of Rock is due to go on general sale on 7 July 2010. Subscriber copies will be mailed during the preceding week. If you have changed address recently and have not yet advised us, please do so by replying to this email.

Bigger savings than ever on Rock subscriptions!

With immediate effect, we have reduced the price of each issue of a one-year Rock subscription by a dollar, going from $35.95 to $31.95, and a whopping $2.70 per issue (that's a saving of 30% on the cover price) on the three-year rate, which has been slashed to $75.00.* (There is no longer a two-year rate.)

We trust that you, our valued readers, will welcome this development and will want to jump on board for the long haul. We have great plans for Rock and want you all with us for what promises to be an exciting future. Join us for the ride by subscribing online to take advantage of these generous new rates.

* Much as we'd like to, regrettably we can't extend this generosity to our overseas subscribers, as such a large part of the price consists of postage costs.

Chris Baxter OAM (1946-2010)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chris Baxter OAM, founder of Wild Publications and tireless promoter of Australia’s wild places.

After a protracted battle with various forms of cancer over the last decade he finally succumbed to leukemia on Sunday 28 February. He is survived by his beloved wife Sue.

Chris published the first issue of Rock in 1978 and the first Wild in 1981. Both were formed through Chris’ huge passion for the outdoors and the fact that they have gone on to be the longest running outdoor adventure magazines in Australia is testament to this drive.

When not running the magazines Chris spent most of his spare time in the bush or overseas. Not only was he a keen walker, but he was also a prolific climber, putting up thousands of new routes all over Australia.

A full obituary will follow in the forthcoming issues of Wild and Rock.

Crash mats can sometimes pose a dilemma. While they provide a much safer landing than the naked ground, on occasion they can actually mask some ankle-twisting nasties such as rocks, ditches or tree roots. It's your call what the best course of action is - your options are either to leave the obstacle visible and hope to avoid it or you can draw the outline of the anklebreaker on your crash mat, a simple X. If you're feeling creative a skull and crossbones should do the trick.