Type: Boulder
FA: unknown
Page Views: 12,010 total · 81/month
Shared By: Jay Knower on Dec 20, 2006
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, lee hansche, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan Steitzer, Robert Hall

You & This Route


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Description

Zig Zag Crack is perhaps the best V1 boulder problem in all on New England if not in all of the country. Yes, that is high praise, but this problem lives up to the hype.

Locate the obvious crack on the Zig Zag Boulder and follow the crack using fingerlocks, laybacks, and high steps. The problem is about 15 feet high and would qualify as a highball if not for the perfect landing. A much harder variation (V9) starts as a sit to the right and climbs into the crack.

Protection

Pads

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Photos

Kayte having fun on Zig Zag Crack.
Kayte having fun on Zig Zag Crack.
 8
The feet are great!
The feet are great!
 5
Cliff onsighting
Cliff onsighting
 4
epic line
epic line
 4
Such an aesthetic line...
Such an aesthetic line...
 5
contemplating the crack in the fall
contemplating the crack in the fall
 3
jakob finding the locks on Zigzag...
jakob finding the locks on Zigzag...
 3
nice day on Zig Zag. photo by seth hamel
nice day on Zig Zag. photo by seth hamel
 2
just about to top out....loved this boulder problem
just about to top out....loved this boulder pro…
 1
thank you crash pad
thank you crash pad
 1
beginning moves
beginning moves
 4
caroline working zig zig. photo by seth hamel
caroline working zig zig. photo by seth hamel
 3

19 Comments

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lee hansche
goffstown, nh
 
lee hansche   goffstown, nh  
 
I've bouldered a lot from sea to shining sea and this one is on of the best climbs at the grade I've done....
I love to just run laps on it, and I always want to do just one more.... Feb 21, 2007
Alan Emery
Lebanon, NH
Alan Emery   Lebanon, NH
It certainly is a nice problem, but you need to have enough pads to cover the boulder just underneath the top-out. I had done this problem a few times and was cooling down at the end of a nice fall day of climbing when I peeled from the top and ended up breaking my ankle. Ensure you have enough pads and that your spotter is positioned correctly. May 15, 2007
Ladd

  V1+
Ladd    
  V1+
There is a bolt on the top of this climb. Nov 15, 2007
Mike Thompson
Manchester NH
 
Mike Thompson   Manchester NH
 
do you think i would be laughed at if i placed pro on it? Mar 3, 2008
Jay Knower
Campton, NH
  V1
Jay Knower   Campton, NH  
  V1
Naw Mike. If it was just a bit taller, everyone would place pro on it. I'd say that with a couple pieces, this would be a classic, if a bit short, 10a crack. Go for it. I won't laugh. Mar 4, 2008
seth hamel
seth hamel  
My favorite problem. Mar 8, 2008
matthewWallace
Sandwich, NH
  V1
matthewWallace   Sandwich, NH
  V1
Yes this is the best boulder problem at the grade I have ever seen, and the fall form the top is pretty scary but with a good spotter and good pad placements you will never want to get off this problem. Dec 19, 2008
matthewWallace
Sandwich, NH
  V1
matthewWallace   Sandwich, NH
  V1
been on this problem a lot lately and i have come to realize that if i die and go to heaven i hope heaven consists of this problem going on for eternity

and mike as for placing pro on it, i believe nobody should laugh for a few reasons

1. why not place pro it a good way to practice placing pro
2. placing pro is fun
3. if the height makes you nervous, go ahead place pro, this way you get to enjoy the best V1 problem i have ever encountered


o yeah and the bolt ladd described earlier is now gone... but i also never remember seeing it Mar 15, 2009
Mike Thompson
Manchester NH
 
Mike Thompson   Manchester NH
 
sweet! thanks matt! im deff gonna get on this one and the pound crack with some gear :) Mar 15, 2009
matthewWallace
Sandwich, NH
  V1
matthewWallace   Sandwich, NH
  V1
do it man they are sweet routes Mar 16, 2009
climberKJ
Holderness, NH
 
climberKJ   Holderness, NH
 
bolt is still there. Sep 20, 2009
Sam Owens
Durham, New Hampshire
 
Sam Owens   Durham, New Hampshire
 
youtube.com/watch?v=LHAFeCj…

Me climbing Zig Zag crack, my feet got messed up and I almost barn-doored at the top!! such an amazing climb!!! May 22, 2012
Russell Cohen
Redwood City, California
  V1
Russell Cohen   Redwood City, California
  V1
The top out is a bit sketchy -- not too many holds to work with. Stay cool and it will be fine. Apr 16, 2013
Jay Morse
Hooksett, New Hampshire
 
Jay Morse   Hooksett, New Hampshire
 
This problem is really great! If you aren't really solid at the grade you may want to place a few pieces or utilize the bolt up top and set a top rope, since a couple of the hardest moves are pretty high up (one of which has very poor feet!). You could also clip a double length runner to the bolt and have it hanging there as something for someone to grab if they freak out at the top out.

If you are solid at the grade, have a pad and a spotter and go for it! Oct 12, 2013
caesar.salad
earth
  V1+
caesar.salad   earth
  V1+
mantled the end sans feet screaming like a banshee. FEEL ALIVE Jul 10, 2014
Nick Grant
Natick, MA & Tamworth, NH
  V1
Nick Grant   Natick, MA & Tamworth, NH
  V1
Ultra-classic. Compared to other moderate routes, perhaps the best fifteen feet in New Hampshire. It's the Reppy's of boulder problems. Oct 22, 2014
Dankasaurus
Lyons, CO
Dankasaurus   Lyons, CO
Haha, truly the Reppy's of Boulder problems, this one really does make you feel good inside. Fun, sustained, tricky top out, bullet stone. Aug 3, 2015
Graham O.
 
Graham O.  
 
Absurdly fun... Can't stop myself from running laps on this one Aug 10, 2016
Russ Keane
Asheville, NC
Russ Keane   Asheville, NC
I agree with everyone below. This is so classic, it vibrates with energy when you step up to it. Amazing finger locks. Unbelievable movement. I stood tall at the top-out move for several minutes, shifting, pondering... I was by myself... It's a very thought-provoking top-out but you have no choice!! Be brave and make the move. So incredible!!!! Jul 16, 2017