Newsletter Vault

Find all our past newsletters with crack climbing knowledge, insights and stories, all in one place

Lessons from my recent deckout (take note)

Hey Cracksters, Last week, I went for the flash on the crux pitch of Project Enorm in Germany, a 30-meter, 8b(?) cupped hand roof crack. It reminded me of some useful lessons, as I walked away having given a big fight and 3 painful mistakes, (including an unexpected deckout). This week, we take a...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

Offwidth rest: How a ring lock can beat a hand jam

Hey Cracksters, I’ve got a little trick for you today, which I’ve seen two advanced climbers use to good effect in the last couple of weeks. Interestingly, these climbers never talked to one another about this technique; they just intuitively did it, which tells me it’s something very useful!...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

How to flash "the world’s hardest" offwidth

Hey Cracksters, Mari and I just left Germany after making the first repeats of Autobahn, a unique 60-meter offwidth, climbed by Tom last year. When the media first announced the line after Tom made the FA, it was given the notorious tag: "The world's hardest offwidth." Whether it is or not I ...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

Pumped Thumbs When Jamming? Get the fix

Hey Cracksters, Ever look at a hand crack and think, "I'm doing the hand position right, but my thumb is getting too tired to stay in the jam"? When the pump clock is ticking, relying on brute strength is a losing battle. But there’s a sneaky, low-energy trick that can often buy you t...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

Be Smarter, Not Stronger: A Tip That Beats Training

Hey Cracksters, Have you ever looked at a crack and thought, "I need to be stronger to get up that thing" or "I need more fight on this offwidth for success"? If so, you're not alone. But, a big misconception in climbing is that you have to train more and do more reps to get better. While that ce...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

The Biggest Mistake With The Easiest Fix

I was teaching a class at The Castle in London recently, and it reminded me of the single biggest mistake I see almost everyone make when they start crack climbing. It’s an easy mistake and easy to fix, so don’t worry. The Fundamental Mistake Right, that mistake… You know the concept of mak...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

One Mistake Killing Your Ring Locks

Ring locks, eh? They can be frustrating. That small difference in hand position can make a jam go from bomber to completely useless in a split second. But trust me, the frustration you feel when you're trying to get a ring lock is likely down to a simple mistake that almost everyone makes at ...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

What Santa Taught Me About Chimneys

Hello Cracksters Squeeze chimneys… those really really tight ones where you think you’re stuck… they're a whole different animal, aren't they? Today I’m going to tell you: 1. the one thing almost everyone gets wrong at the beginning of their squeeze chimney journey, 2. how to make sure you d...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

Climbing with Janja Garnbret. One thing I learnt

Hello Cracksters A couple of weekends ago, I was invited to the 24-hour climbing marathon by Janja Garnbret. The event was organized to raise money for charity and build community within the climbing space. It was a fantastic couple of days and, from my experience, a great success! I’m luck...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

I Stopped Fearing Offwidths. This Is How.

Hello Cracksters Offwidths…They can feel like a whole different beast. Awkward, grunty, and sometimes just perplexing! Honestly I used to fear them, but that’s purely because I didn’t know how to climb them.Trust me, once I’d (and many of the people that I have taught over the years) mastered...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

I learnt THIS from soloing a big wall

Hello Cracksters A few weeks ago I made a solo ascent (all free) of Blåmann, a wall in the North of Norway. Today I want to give you a few things I learnt (or was reminded of) from completing the project. 1. Crack climbing is your friend in the mountains.This is something I always tell peop...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

The Crucial Element for Your Thin Hand Jams

Hello Cracksters Thin cracks, they can feel impossible, right? But unlocking those narrow features is a total game-changer for your climbing. When I mastered thin hands and paddle hands, it gave me the opportunity to rest in places where that thin part was the crux. It seriously changed my cr...

by Pete Whittaker — Dec 30, 2025

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