writing a guide book

Dear MP Users
I am planning on writing/composing a small guide book for a popular area where i live for a project for my undergraduate degree. Since some of you have "published" your guide book i was wondering if you could lend a hand in the process. I have a few questions to start:
1. Did you have a publisher for your book?
2. If so what was the cost?
3. Do you even need a publisher to produce a small guide book? 15-20 pages
4. Could I just find a printing service and have them print my copies and sell them myself to retailers and skip the whole publisher/editor phase?
5. Why might i need a publisher?
6. Is getting a copyright on my book important?
7. if so how do i do so?

I can answer #6.

It is copyright, not copywrite. You don't have to get -- you have it automatically.

On the other stuff -- for a small book like you're talking, you'll probably have only local interest. Try visiting local stores that might carry it, and ask. An independent shop that does climbing stuff is likely to be able to make a decision, a branch of something corporate (e.g. REI) may be more likely. But, likely, self-publishing is the way to go.