ABOUT
Ruff Guide, aka Jeffery Bonatti, has been drawing maps for decades.
Ruff Guide Maps came from being a climber before there were gyms, apps, and guidebooks. The climbing guides he drew shared the stories of a place and were full of adult (aka 12-year-old potty—humor), echoing with images and ideas from comic books, Mad Magazine, Kirby, Pekar, Crumb, and local alternative artists. Springing ultimately from his own unhinged imagination of what was and what could be, they were meant to be amusing to the rough-edged, anti-establishment, nothing-is-sacred, 1990s climbing scene. Uncle Zeek the moonshiner, Cooney the Raccoon, outhouses with disturbing auras, all drift onto today’s race maps from the early years of Ruff Guide distribution — handed to new buddies at crags and left in grungy bathrooms for “Toilet Use Only.”
But Ruff Guide has always been part of his intense sense of connection to natural space and the recreation taking place there. And to the community. His first race map was to make sense of his own race experience. In drawing these trail maps, he puts his affection and emotion onto paper—a therapy of sorts. And a celebration of those who share his love—and the need—for long miles, and likely have ghosts of their own floating in their shadows, catching up to them on the steep hills and in moments of gastric distress when calories are spent and feet are raw.
Ruff Guide Maps
Ruff Guide Maps celebrate Seven-Day Recreationism, promoting health, well being, adventure, creative suffering, fun and silliness, and preservation of all our outdoor spaces.
Ruff Guide is the founder and first ordained shaman of the Church of the Seven-Day Recreationists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Be in the action! Literally, on the map! Ruff Guide can draw you and your friends onto any map. It’s generally $10 extra. Jeff works with you via photos to craft a whimsical superhero-ish version of people. Makes a great gift for someone completing a race–and for crew, pacers, etc.
I’m so glad you asked! Yes! Ruff Guide does commissions of just about any place you know or can imagine. Great for a Trail Race finish, your cabin or Airbnb, a gift for your host when you’ve visited someplace cool. He researches places and includes points of local interest, major roads, etc. Start the consultation process by filling out the contact form, and Ruff Guide will respond. Depending on the area, these generally range in price from $65 – $200.
The maps are printed in full, vibrant color on semi-gloss poster paper. They are generally 17 X 24 and ready to frame. (Some maps can be made in 11 X 17.) Upon consultation, Ruff Guide can modify paper type and size.
Rico Suave was born on a sunny February day in 2019, and we knew we wanted him right away for the black spot around his tail. He loves to snuggle and chase frisbees in the backyard. His speciality is leaping for small rocks tossed just over his head in the Cuyahoga River. He can jump 11.37 feet into the air, colliding with low-flying Great Blue Herons on their way to dive bomb fish.
If you have to ask, then you probably need to know. Advanced Potty Training made its appearance in early Ruff Guides with their antiestablishment adult/potty humor. Early Guides were often left in trail-head bathrooms achieving cult status among the toilet club.
