crack rack at rocks and ropes

Oooooh, pretty. Heck with Indian Creek, I'm going to spend my next vacation at Momentum!

i'd be psyched to see a crack too. i'm one of those people you see tying to get up the hard crack on the back of the boulder... haven't pulled it off yet, but maybe someday. i think the big problem with building a crack is that it can't be changed, so people will get bored with it. who knows? i'm going over there right now to ask why there is no crack in the gym! if i find out anything enlightening i'll post it.

Just got back from Oklahoma city. While there, my wife and i went over to Rocktown which is a 100' tall grain silo complex converted into a climbing gym. They had a 100' crack built up the inside of one of the silos and you can bet your butter that was the first thing i jumped on. Man was that cool! I'll get some pics posted as soon as i get them off my camera.

Jon,

You need one of these:

Brian Boyd wrote:Jon, You need one of these:

Yep. And, it's closer than the Planet Rock cracks you posted ;)

Brian Boyd wrote:Yep. And, it's closer than the Planet Rock cracks you posted ;)

I'm tellin' ya, you can build that thing in my yard and *then* move it to yours.

Some more cave shots:

Wanna be my friend?

Brigette wrote:I'm tellin' ya, you can build that thing in my yard and *then* move it to yours.

Brian Boyd wrote:Some more cave shots:

... and then, all at once, every notion that i had become obsessed with climbing was gone. And I'll be bookmarking this thread for the next time that subject comes up between the warden and I.

I have a 16' crack machine, made of 1x8s. If anyone (Jon?) wants it, it's yours. I'll upload a pic when I get a chance.

PM sent for crack machine.

Note: Jon, holler at me.

I spoke with an employee of rocks and ropes a few weeks back about the cracks at the planet rock in ann arbor. i got the same response "people climb it once and then lose interest". i told him i didnt necessarily agree but i could see it happen. i also climbed at a gym outside of cleveland that had a 35 ft tips, fingers, and offset thin hands, and a 20 ft roof hand crack. they were only used by a few climbers but those that used them loved them and came to the gym to train on them and them alone. it just seems like Rocks and Ropes is not too interested in pertaining to crack specific climbing. not sure if it is because the management isnt into that type of climbing or just they do not want to invest in it. either way, it would be a great addition to their facility.

Well, the problem with crack climbing is that it is unintuitive, and painful if you don't know what you're doing. Its not a recipe for fun if you're a regular plastic puller. And lets face it, all of the Arizona crack climbers go to Paradise Forks or Sedona. They don't climb in gyms that much. Plus, most artificial cracks just aren't very good. The kind of variety required to keep the average gym climber involved is antithetical to crack training, and what most enjoy in crack climbing.

Most people who are really motivated to train for cracks are motivated enough to build a crack machine themselves.

The two gyms I've spent the most time in both had cracks that were rarely climbed. Upper Limits in St. Louis has three pretty good cracks (for a gym) of various difficulty, and when someone actually got on one, everyone would stop and watch because it was such an unusual sight.

Not to be a wet blanket, but my guess is that if cracks weren't part of the original design and construction, the owners probably won't consider it cost effective to add one later. I hope you guys prevail, though, I definitely need to work on my jamming skills...

Jon: I don't own the house, so I'll have to move out eventually. :)