Why You Should Always Climb With a Partner Willing to Spit On You
Weird ways to free stuck limbs, cams, or other oddities in your time of crisis
Crack Climbing
Crack Climbing
The Only Cult I’d Join Is Crack Camp. Here’s Why You Should Try This Indian Creek Institution.
The patron saint of crack will enlighten your jams and bring you hard-earned joy
Danny Parker Says He’s Made the First ‘Real’ Crack Climbing Shoe
This American climber couldn’t convince his sponsor to make his dream shoe. So he built it himself.
Pete Whittaker Solves “Crown Royale” (5.14d) Possibly World’s Hardest Crack
The British trad climber took down his massive 330-foot single-pitch project in early October.
How Ray Jardine Established the World’s First 5.13
The line that cemented new tactics, new gear, and a new grade
How to Tape Your Hands for Climbing
Crack gloves may be all the rage. But there's still value in knowing how to tape up like a pro.
How to Climb Wide-hand Cracks
Most of us learn to feel comfortable on finger and hand jams relatively quickly. But off-hands? Fists? Corners? Those techniques don't come quite as easily.
Vedauwoo: Trad-Climbing Pain Cave…and Crack-Bouldering Paradise?
Vedauwoo’s crack boulders are just as quality as its soaring splitters, yet their low height and minimal rack make them far more accessible.
Finding Life Between The Cracks
A meditation on the cracks that divide the walls, yet draw us—wiser, more grown, hopeful—together.
Hand Jams: They’ll Help on Granite Big Walls, But Also in Comps
No so long ago, hand jamming seemed a trad-only skill. But now jams play a crucial role in World Cup Comps and on America's first 5.15c sport route. Is it time you learned?
The Wide Boyz’ Epic Quest to Send One of the World’s Toughest Cracks
The story so far of Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker's journey to send The Recovery Drink (5.14c) in Jøssingfjord, Norway.
What Ever Happened to Mason Earle?
When one of the world’s best crack climbers was grounded by chronic fatigue syndrome, his life became an uphill struggle just to feel human again.
Heli Trooper Frees Stuck Climber with Dish Soap
The alpine knee isn’t always the move. Here’s what happens when it goes wrong.
How to Crack Climb
How to get started climbing cracks, from finger-size to the wide stuff, and the sizes in between. Also: How to use your feet in cracks.
One Of The World’s Premiere Sandstone Crack Areas is in… China?
One of the world's best (and least developed) sandstone trad areas is in Liming, in China's Yunnan province. It's a pretty special place.
Tape Like a Pro: Tips For Pain Free Crack Climbing
Crack climbing wizard JP “Peewee” Ouellet shares how to use rubber, tape, and glue to climb off-size splitters without destroying your skin.
Weekend Whipper: Near Ground Fall on the Famous “Zombie Roof” 5.12d Trad
Pulling the lip is widely considered to be the crux, but it's only until you've nailed the sneaky right-to-left crack switch that you are in the clear.
The 10 Commandments of Indian Creek
Thou shalt read this and do as I sayeth.
Pulling Down on Granite or Plastic? Better Master This
Whether you’re seeking out pods and pin scars in Yosemite, tackling the blissful parallels of Indian Creek, or just trying not to blow your chances in your next bouldering comp, we’ve compiled tricks of the trade that will open up a whole new world of crack climbing.
Are These the Best Hand Cracks in America?
Take a look at some of the best hand-sized crack climbs across the country, from Nevada to West Virginia.
DIY: How to Build A Crack Machine
Instructions on how to build a home crack training system for all your crack climbing training needs.
Wide Boyz Tackle The Great Rift (5.13) Roof Crack Under 2,500-foot Cement Bridge
Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker have completed what the former called “one of the best bits of crack climbing” of his entire life. The climb is slated to appear in Reel Rock 16.
Pete Whittaker’s Five Ultimate Rules for Crack Climbing
Check out Pete Whittaker's author page.
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Camming Devices
Check out Laura Snider's author page.
How to Climb: Expert Advice for Mastering Finger Cracks
Learn the tricks for dialing in finger cracks from expert Pete Whittaker.
Listen to Crack-Climbing Legend Didier Berthod Give One of His First Interviews in 13 Years
Didier Berthod is a crack climbing legend and was an inspiration to us and many back in the early 2000s.
Watch Two Very Different Ways to Climb a 5.13+ Roof Crack: Which Works Better?
Bronwyn Hodgins and Julien Bourassa-Moreau get creative on "Master Blaster," a devious roof crack in in Zion, Utah.
Wide Boyz Analyze Adam Ondra on Belly Full of Bad Berries
Check out The Editors's author page.
Watch Tom Randall Climb the UK's Longest Urban Roof Crack
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Gogarth Project: Pete Whittaker and Calum Muskett on Britain's Biggest Roof Climb
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Wide Boyz Visit Scottish Bridge Cracks
Check out The Editors's author page.
Review: Black Diamond Crack Gloves
Check out Kevin Riley's author page.
Pete Whittaker Finds Possible New Sequence for Silence Crack
Check out The Editors's author page.
Eldorado Becomes Exclusive Distributor for the Crax Modular System From Jam Walls
The adjustable, interchangeable, and versatile volumes are available to order.
6.87 Inches: The First Ascent of Hong Kong's Lama Crack
Check out The Editors's author page.
Watch Mason Earle's Battle With the Hondo Offwidth Project
Check out The Editors's author page.
Watch Sonnie Trotter's 2006 FA of the Notorious Cobra Crack
Check out The Editors's author page.
Pete Whittaker Responds to Readers' Crack Climbing Questions
Check out Pete Whittaker's author page.
DIY: How To Build Cheap And Portable Crack Trainers
Check out Dakota Walz's author page.
Review: Crack Climbing: The Definitive Guide, by Pete Whittaker
Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.
Pete Whittaker: How to Crack Climb Common Household Objects
Check out The Editors's author page.
Watch Pete Whittaker's Battle to Send Recovery Drink
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Hondo Roof Crack Project With Mason Earle
Check out The Editors's author page.
Get Better At Crack Climbing: Practice And Train At Home
Just a few bits of wood and expert know-how are all you need to master the art of hand jamming.
Brittany Goris Sends Notorious Joshua Tree Crack Stingray (5.13d)
Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.
Interview: Inside Hazel Findlay’s Redpoint of Magic Line (5.14c)
Check out Levi Harrell's author page.
The Climbing Q&A: Lonnie Kosuko Kauk
Born and raised in Yosemite Valley, Ahwahneechee Tribe member—and pro climber/snowboarder—Lonnie Kosuko Kauk is taking Valley climbing to the next level, with 5.14 cracks, 5.14+ projects, and beyond.
Smith Rock State Park Expanding to Include the Lower Gorge
Check out Hannah Gartner's author page.
Unsent: 5 Pieces of Climbing Gear I Wish Existed
Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.
Desert Roof Cracks Galore: A Conversation with the Wide Boyz about Their Latest Utah Trip
Check out Hannah Gartner's author page.
Carlo Traversi Makes the Second Ascent of Meltdown (5.14c)
Check out The Editors's author page.
Classic Routes: Exasperator (5.10c), Squamish
The exquisite finger crack that inspired the author’s trad-climbing career
Adam Ondra Battles 5.13 Indian Creek Offwidth Belly Full of Bad Berries
Check out The Editors's author page.
Brad Gobright Climbs Hard Trad in Indian Creek
Check out The Editors's author page.
Desert Testpiece Century Crack (5.14b) Sees Third Ascent by Danny Parker
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Cragsters: Meet the Offwidthionado
Check out Adam Nawrot's author page.
Ringlock Ranch: Mason Earle Makes the FA of Remote Desert Finger Crack
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Black Hole: Raul Sauco Climbs Hard Chinese Trad
Check out The Editors's author page.
Shauna Coxsey Tries Crack Climbing With Pete Whittaker
Check out The Editors's author page.
Dear Fat Crack: A Not-Quite Love Letter to the Wide
Check out Peter Brown Hoffmeister's author page.
Tom Randall and Peter Whittaker FA Two 5.14 Roof Cracks and Continue Work on 5.15 Mega-Proj
Finding—much less sending—the hardest crack in the world isn’t easy. Then add in the hazards of spiders, scorpions, and snakes.
Beginner Crack Climbing Tips From Will Stanhope
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Crack Generator 3000
Check out The Editors's author page.
Classic Routes: Indian Creek's Scarface
Scarface is a photographic rite of passage for Indian Creek climbers
Stuck: Two Boulderers Learn to Climb Cracks
Check out The Editors's author page.
Peaches Preaches: Cosmic Debris, or How to Put Your Fingers In a Vicegrip and Stomp On Them
Check out James Lucas's author page.
Old Rag: Virginia’s Trad-Climbing Mecca
For trad climbers, Old Rag is an East Coast heaven, but with long hikes, bushwhacking, and hard rock, you've got to want it.
Wide Boyz: Spradventure (Full Film)
Check out The Editors's author page.
Wide Boyz: Spradventure Trailer
Check out The Editors's author page.
2016 Golden Pitons: Vision Award
Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall, Sheffield, England
Photo Gallery: Michaela Kiersch, Tom Randall, Alexander Huber, and More
Check out The Editors's author page.
Learn This: Better Clipping and Extension Techniques
Check out Kel Rossiter's author page.
Flash: Reel Rock 11 Preview
Check out The Editors's author page.
Learn This: Invert Offwidth Techniques From Pamela Shanti Pack
Learn to climb upside down for steep, wide cracks.
Ball Nuts and Big Bros: Conquering No-Fall First Ascents in the Desert
Check out Molly Mitchell's author page.
Meltdown: Beth Rodden’s Unrepeated Yosemite First Ascent
Check out James Lucas's author page.
Unpublished Climbing Photo Spotlight: Jeremiah Watt
Check out The Editors's author page.
Gallery: Sharma in Iceland, Mason Earle in Malta, Mayan Smith-Gobat in Patagonia, and More
Check out The Editors's author page.
Finding Wide: Pamela Shanti Pack's First Ascent of Am I Evil?
Check out The Editors's author page.