Jam Crack Route (II 5.6),
Mule Hollow Wall,
Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood is home to a plethora of quartzite routes, ranging from steep roadside sport climbs to long alpine adventures. The Mule Hollow Wall, hugging the outer flanks of the massive Storm Mountain, offers a welcome relief from the crowds of the lower canyon. A mellow approach up the rocky bed of an ever-gushing stream leads to a steep scramble and this east-facing wall. Basking in the morning sun, the scenic Jam Crack Route offers three pitches of fine crack climbing with posh, bolted belay ledges. Jam Crack will test your pro-placing and jamming skills as it arches up through the center of the wall, and then fades into nothingness toward the top.
The upper crack (or lack thereof) tempts you from afar, only to mock you with poor gear opportunities as you approach. Dime-sized edges become your friend; knowing how best to utilize them will save you from overgripping, as will sewing up the frequent (but not quite frequent enough) horizontals. At the top, persevere: One micro-nut placement after another, coupled with sheer stubbornness, will guide you up this testy 5.6.