October 2012 – 308

Destinations

THE GUIDE: HAND CRACKS: Grab your hand-sized cams and tape for the finest crack climbing in the South.

CONSTRICTION CONCENTRATION: Add one of America’s best hand cracks to your tick list.

BOULDERING TO GO: Non-climbing travel shouldn’t amount to indolence. Pull down at these bouldering areas just outside major cities.

SANCTUARY: Africa-like vistas with Native American history: Cochise Stronghold holds more than just climbing appeal.

ROCK THERAPY: Discovering climbing saved two troubled youth from gangs and drugs. Last year, the duo paid it forward in Malaysia.

Health & Training

HOMEMADE CRACK: No cracks in your gym? No problem: build this easy-to-assemble training machine.

SURVIVING DENALI: We analyzed statistics for North America’s tallest mountain to see which climbers might need a rescue. Are you one?

PREVENT INJURIES: Stave off shoulder and elbow tendonitis with these easy exercises.

Gear

SWEET TRIO: Three shoes built for hand cracks; plus, sticky rubber—for your hands.

FALL BOOT FRENZY: Our testers climbed 222 pitches to determine the top eight new rock shoes for you.

SNEAK PEAK: Want to look into the future of hardware? Here’s a preview of next year’s next big things.

TESTED: An anti-cross-loading biner, modernized snow fluke, and climb-it-all pant.

Skills

JAM SESSION: Twelve tips to sink your best hand—and foot!—jams yet.

RAPPEL ANCHORS: Guide Eli Helmuth shows how to improvise an inexpensive bail anchor.

ROPE LITTER: Move your injured partner safely down the trail with only your climbing rope.

BUILD A TOPROPE: Not ready for the sharp end? Follow these steps for creating safe toprope anchors.

Departments

Editorial

Flash

The Guide

Gear

Routes

Clinics