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Crack Climbing

Definition of a Climbing Word

By Stewart Green, About.com

Heidi Knapp jams a crack in Indian Creek Canyon, Utah.

Photo © Stewart M. Green

Crack Climbing

The process of ascending various sized cracks or fissures that split rock faces. Progress is made my jamming or wedging a climber’s fingers, hands, arms, feet, and legs into the crack, depending on its width. Cracks are often described by the appendage used to climb it, such as a hand crack, fist crack, or finger crack. Wide cracks are called off-width cracks and chimneys.

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