Hardbacked for the first time in its long history the articles in this year's SMCJ are richly diverse. Martin Moran and Simon Richardson recount solo winter traverses of the Cuillin Ridge. Stephen Scott and Iain Smart present different aspects of Eagle Ridge on Lochnagar. Mike Dixon takes us on an entertaining tour of the Ben Avon plateau. The irrepressible Gordon Smith recalls a wild day on Ben Nevis with Dick Renshaw, while Dennis Gray and Phil Gribbon introduce more sombre notes as they remember tragedies on the Ben and in Glencoe. Further afield Grant Urquhart rafts down the Grand Canyon, Ross Hewitt skis the four great North Faces in the Alps and Dave Broadhead takes an unexpected helicopter ride. In more historical tones Gavin Anderson gives us an insight into the formative years of Bugs McKeith and Ian Crofton gives a personal twist to the topic of Scottish avalanches.As always the Journal contains the most extensive and up to date coverage in print of New Climbs in Scotland, and the unique Munro Matters lovingly compiled by the Clerk of the List. Simon Richardson reports on last winter's cutting edge activities, while Mike Jacob goes back a hundred years to present a glimpse of how things were for Scotland's mountaineers in 1916 at the height of the Great War.Likely to become a collector's item - the first hardbacked Journal is excellent value at GBP16.95.