I found this project very interesting,
but actually more information are required.
I think it is essential to define across the whole site or at list specify each time in which scale is expressed the grade. I've seen in some routes but not everywhere. I think that the French sport grade is internationally the most used.
More important is to specify the kind of protection present on the topo like bolt or if it doesn't have protection in site (so you need friends, nuts etc).
I've several books that describe topos in north italy and they are quite exhaustive of information, like the wall exposition (north/south), the altitude, the approach time, the descent path, suitable for kids, security and risk on wall (like condition of bolts and distance), and tips on equipment to bring...

It might be a good approach to define a convinent template to follow when entering a new topo.
and of course give a legend about definition.

bye
Bruno

I agree with you about the equipment information Bruno. At the moment
there is no specific place to enter this data although it can be
included as part of the route description or in the location notes.



The grade system can be specified along with the grade for each route
from a drop down list in the topo editor, however, the completeness of
the route data varies a lot - some contributors give more information than others. Hopefully people will supply missing information
when they can.

I think you should define a set of minimal (and necessary) information.
the grade, the security in place, therefore the equipment are those fundamental as well as the location.

I looking this site to bring kids climbing in UK, and the difficulty that i face is to find something easy (5a-5c) French grade and some crag with bolt on wall.
This search result very complicated with the current information level.

A 5c french grade is really different from a 5c UK grade, and if there isn't security on wall is might be ever worse. Do you understand what I mean?
Any suggestion?
bye
Bruno

I think you have a good point though I am a contributor not webmaster - any comment from wikitopo?
I would suggest UKClimbing.com forums or maybe the BMC for information about suitable crags for kids groups. Portland springs to mind as a bolted climbing area with lots of crags although I am not sure where the best place for beginners is though.

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Hi Bruno, thanks for your input - I agree that somewhere to enter equipment details would be good and I would like to point out that quite a lot of the other information you suggest can be entered in specific fields in the topo editor or in the new crag profile page.
I am against making lots of information mandatory as a little information is better than none and it is important to make it easy for people to contribute what they can. Most contributors actually do complete all the available boxes when adding information but some of the boxes might not been there when the earlier entries were made.
At the end of the day, it is only participation by users that will improve the content of this site. Wikitopo is still rather new so obviously the content is a bit patchy ... why not sign up and lend a hand?
As regards good venues in the UK for kids, I agree with Dan101 that UKC forums would be a good bet. There are some beginner areas in Portland but it isn't the most idyllic place in the UK. There are bolted crags and pleasant beginners crags in lots of areas in the UK Any idea what part you want to visit?
Where are you from?

I agree with you that few essentials info are the success key of this kind of collaborative sites.
on the other hands we should define what is essential...
probably in a crag I wouldn't care so much about gears and grade, as if you are in difficulty you always have time to go back. But in multi-pitch routes a proper planning is the key of the success. Sometime a failure might be the death.
What may happens if you go climbing expecting bolted wall and when you arrive there you find out that you need friends and nuts? you wasted your day!, or what happen if you don't have enough quick draws in a particular long pitch?
anyway just as example i think that this site give the right amount of info  check this.

I come from Italy, and I've been climbing in the Dolomites, lovely place. I've to check my notes, but i'm pretty sure I can add few crags and multi-climb to this site. Now i live in London :-( and try to find some place where to go to climb during the weekends.

thanks for your suggestions
bye
Bruno

Valid points Bruno - I think the content of a collaborative site will always vary in quality - some good some less good - but remember that no details is better than incorrect details. I will add optional equipment details to the route template in light of your suggestions and will see about getting older entries updated to include explicit grade systems.

Another good idea would be a user rating system for the topos.

Some descriptions of routes in the Dolomites would be brilliant!

As you are looking for weekend venues from London you have a lot of choice within 2 or 3 hours. Of the places around Swanage, I think Dancing Ledge is quite popular with beginners and has a few routes in the 5 -6 range. Then again the Peak district has loads to offer with Birchen's Edge being one of the most popular for beginners though not bolted.

Three cliffs bay in the Gower is another great place for kids with lots of easy climbs right on the beach - again, not bolted but very amenable.

I am in Bristol and there is a lot of climbing round here. We could meet up if you come down this way