HALLS GAP CLIMBING FIELD GUIDE
Crack Climbing 101: Learning to Jam in Halls Gap’s Splitters
A focused, two‑day course that teaches novices the gear, tape‑glove setup and movement to climb finger cracks through offwidths under expert instruction.
Crack Climbing 101: Learning to Jam in Halls Gap’s Splitters.
Set beneath the sandstone ribs around Halls Gap, this immersive crack‑climbing course walks newcomers through the technical vocabulary and tactile skills of traditional crack climbing — from gear selection and tape‑glove construction to precise jamming and offwidth strategies — so you can climb with control rather than panic.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Meet Ryan Siacci — your crack mentor
Ryan Siacci is a qualified climbing guide with ACIA multipitch, complex vertical rescue and wilderness first aid credentials and more than a decade of guiding experience; his personal progression from struggling at Indian Creek to redpointing Grade 25 routes shapes a patient, hard‑won teaching approach.
A focused curriculum that builds skill by skill
The course presents a stepwise curriculum — equipment and gear placement principles, tape‑glove construction, movement and footwork drills — intended to turn nervous beginners into confident, technically fluent crack climbers.
From finger jams to the dreaded offwidth
Participants practise techniques across the full size range — finger, hand and fist jams — and learn strategies to approach offwidth cracks so climbs that once felt impossible become manageable exercises in sequencing and body position.
What the day feels like
What the two‑day course feels like
The course unfolds as a focused, hands‑on progression: equipment and placement principles are demonstrated and practiced, tape‑glove fitting and taping are taught and refined, then movement drills and footwork translate into on‑rock practice where participants jam, transition and learn to move efficiently through increasingly challenging cracks.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course is right for — and who it excludes.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Appropriate clothing and footwear; lunch and snacks; sunscreen and insect repellent. It is highly recommended to bring your own harness, helmet and climbing shoes, though the operator can supply these if needed.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
What is the age requirement for the course?
Participants must be aged 16 or older.
How long is the course?
The course is delivered over two days.
Where do we meet to start the course?
The meeting location is The Pines Day Use Area.
Do I need to bring my own harness, helmet and shoes?
You are highly recommended to bring your own harness, helmet and climbing shoes, but the operator can supply them if needed.
What skills will I learn during the course?
You will learn to identify and use appropriate crack gear, construct and use tape gloves, execute crack movement techniques, jam hands, fingers and fists, and develop strategies for offwidth cracks.