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Max Factor

5.11c, Trad, 2 pitches,  Avg: 3.8 from 140 votes
FA: Kim Carrigan & Steve Levin, 1980
Wyoming > Laramie Area > Vedauwoo > Nautilus
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Description

Max Factor is one of the best 5.11 finger cracks in Vedauwoo. Locate this beauty at the far end of the crag from the parking lot, just around the corner right from the Tubes. The climbing is positive with excellent finger locks until you reach a distinct crux just before the crack bulges. There are good smears for the feet on the right, and if you utilize your left toe well in the crack then relying on the shallow, technical jams at the crux won't seem so desperate. Still, it seems that one short section is a show-stopper for a lot of climbers. Above, the positive locks resume. Lower off of the (new) bolts on the underside of the big bulge (this is the top of P1 of Grand Traverse) or continue up the 5.10+ crux bulge of that route (possible in one pitch). This climb was tried many times by many climbers before Australian Kim Carrigan onsighted it, and compared it in difficulty to Fish Crack in the Valley (5.12b). It has cleaned up considerably since then; in 1980 the crack was filled with gravel, loose bits of rock, and vegetation, and felt like 5.12 to me. Today most climbers will agree it is 5.11 something-or-other, and an area classic.

Protection

Medium wired nuts work well on this climb. I would bring a good selection from wireds, TCUs to 1" cams, and singles up to 3", or something like that.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Adam Brink making it look easy.
[Hide Photo] Adam Brink making it look easy.
Slator Aplin pulling through the crux. It will put those tips to the test.
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Photo: AH.
[Hide Photo] Slator Aplin pulling through the crux. It will put those tips to the test. Photo: AH.
Just below the crux sequence. The fixed nut is not worth the effort to clip.
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Photo by Alex Davidson.
[Hide Photo] Just below the crux sequence. The fixed nut is not worth the effort to clip. Photo by Alex Davidson.
Sunset send!
[Hide Photo] Sunset send!
A photo of Gisely Ferraz by Adam McClatchie.
[Hide Photo] A photo of Gisely Ferraz by Adam McClatchie.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Dan St John
Castle Rock
[Hide Comment] I find this route to be very, very hard in my humble opinion. For people with big fingers it will be difficult; not that I have a good reference base for grades in the hard elevens but it seemed to be twelve to me. Jul 2, 2002
[Hide Comment] Beautiful and burly. Jul 19, 2004
Jesse Ryan
  5.11c
[Hide Comment] Awesome line - Vedauwoo 11c - easily as hard as a 12a sport line. Jul 22, 2004
willem
 
[Hide Comment] Do this route! Sep 15, 2004
nolteboy
Fort Collins, CO
 
[Hide Comment] Vedauwoo Mega Classic. Once you're through the crux, the technical difficulty drops big time - if you've got the gas to stay with it after that, you've got it. Apr 20, 2005
Brian Weinstein
  5.11c
[Hide Comment] Thanks for the history, Steve. The crux is quick, maybe 2 moves. My favorite finger crack in Vedauwoo. Jul 27, 2007
Lenore Sparks
Bishop, CA
5.11a/b
[Hide Comment] This is significantly easier than .11c if you have little fingers. Butt touchers beware. Sep 6, 2008
Phil Lauffen
Innsbruck, AT
  5.11a
[Hide Comment] Excellent climb. Easy for 11c 'voo, but maybe I just suck at anything wider than hands. Aug 22, 2011
Peter Yakovchuk
Tempe, AZ
[Hide Comment] Someone compared this route to the headwall pitch of J Crack at Lumpy. If that pitch is 11c, than Max Factor is somewhere around 11b. The hard climbing section on this one is a little longer than on J Crack crux, but the moves seem to be easier. At least finger locks are much easier. This is one of my favorite route at Vedauwoo. May 21, 2012
Nick Stayner
Wymont Kingdom
 
[Hide Comment] Don't get too focused on jamming near the top of this one. I found a nice crimpy sidepull on the right side of the crack to be very useful right before the crack steepens and eases off. Aug 31, 2012
Chris Kalman
  5.11a/b
[Hide Comment] This is a really enjoyable pitch. So interesting to hear how hard it was back in the day. After years of cleaning, I'd say this feels like 11a/b (to stay consistent with the area). I don't say that to take away from anyone (I'm sure glad it was clean as a whistle when I got on it in 2016), only to encourage climbers breaking into the 11 grade. It takes good gear the whole way and is really fun. Oct 8, 2016
Alex Randolph
  5.11b
[Hide Comment] This route is nice and shady in the summer! I think this route protects safely with a single rack from 0.2 to 2" and nuts. I placed several DMM offset nuts that were particularly bomber. Great movement, bomber pro, quick clips at the top (for lowering, not toproping on). This is an excellent climb to work your finger locks on. Recommended for the aspiring 5.11 leader. Jun 25, 2017
Where's Walden
  5.11d
[Hide Comment] I agree with Dan. Big mitts and this thing gets hard quick. Not a single lock to be found in the crux. Jun 25, 2021
Brad Burns
Story, WY
  5.11