Addictive but usually legal, crack climbing has become hugely popular in recent years. As a result, specific techniques and strategies have been developed by climbers to help tackle everything from low-angle slab cracks to soaring splitters. Through a blend of text, color photos, and illustrations, Crack Climbing! clearly demonstrates and explains what it takes to climb cracks successfully.
FROM THE INTRODUCTION:
“It may be the fun and fluid motion of crack climbing, the sustained athleticism required the ‘head’ for placing gear, or even the amazing like-minded individuals we meet at the crags that attract us to this sport. But more than all that, we like clipping the anchor on a wonderfully strenuous crack and experiencing the worn-out yet satisfied feeling of arriving home at the end of a long, happy journey.” Starting with an overview of the unique crack types found at the world’s most famous climbing areas, the authors move on to cover such topics as:
- Jamming techniques (finger, hand, fist, foot, body)
- Strategies for specific crack types such as chimneys, liebacks, underclings, and roof cracks
- How to safely lead cracks and place protection
- Techniques for efficient movement and strength recovery while climbing
- Obtaining the psychological edge to be a successful crack climber
Climbing Background
- First woman in the world to consistently climb 5.13 cracks (both First Free Ascents and repeats of many established lines)
- Has Climbed equally difficult routes on both Sport and Crack routes 5.13c, dozens of 5.13's
- Has been climbing for more than 20 years
- Hardest FFA by a woman in Germany's Frankenjura in 1998
- Has been a guide for a major service and enjoys teaching
- Has enjoyed climbing in at least a dozen countries
- Continues to climb locally, nationally and in fabulous locations worldwide
About Steve Petro
- First Free Ascent of the 1800' route, Wind and Sand and Stars 5.12c in Zion National Park with Jeff Lowe and Lisa Gnade
- First Free Ascent of the 1000' route, Shimmering Abstraction 5.11 in the Bighorn Mountains
- First person to free climb the most difficult route, 5.12, in the Tetons, on Mt Moran
- First Free Ascent of Fiddler on the Roof, 1987, Wyoming¿s premier roof crack
- More than 100 First Free Ascents (FFA's)
- Has climbed equally difficult (up to 5.13d) routes on both Sport and Traditional routes
- Nearly one hundred 5.13¿s on his tick list, trad and sport
- Has climbed vertical frozen waterfalls in the late 70's and early 80's
- Published by Falcon Guide in 2009
- Author: Lisa Gnade & Steve Petro
- Edition: First
- Language: English
- Color: Yes
- Pages: 160
- Dimension: 7.5″ wide by 9.25″ tall
- ISBN: 9780762745913
- Weight: 403g