Hand Crack (aka White Lightning) 

A good route, I've soloed it many times, but have always referred to it as White Lightning. Don't know the first though.

I agree that it's a little easier than the grade suggests, but a very pleasant climb, even on a fairly cold day (look at the pictures).

[Definitely] a worthy climb with good pro. I fell at the crux of Hand Crack and was stopped by a green alien. This was a fun route to do, [especially] if one is a beginning 5.10 trad leader, such as myself.

Excellent route with varied technique.

Great climb. Don't know why it was renamed in the guide, especially since there is already a route named Handcracker on the West Ridge. As Joe says, it had always been referred to as White Lightning until Boulder Climbs South came out.

Fun, Fun, Fun route !! Don't try to fiddle with nuts or it gets quite pumpy! just shove small cams in an let 'er rip!!

I was a little gripped on this (I have a whole LIST of excuses, but in the interest of posterity...), so I sewed it up REALLY well. One nut which was backing up a slung flake before the wide crack at the top. The rest were cams. Takes green alien (blue if you are REALLY gripped at the beginning) through #2 at the top. Leave the #3 on the ground. No need for the weight. Wonderful climb. 5.10a/b

I left a blue (small) Trango Flexcam at the bottom due to darkness and difficulties involving removal. I have a case of beer for the brave/honest soul that returns it to me. Sentimental values more than anything else... Thanks.

~Wm

Sorry... That's a "college case" (12 beers), not a full case of micros... It ain't worth THAT much to me! ~Wm

Russ, you know what???

YOU suck! No, actually, I respect all that you and Darren said. I think that you both see things pretty similarly after reviewing profiles last night. Incidentally, you both sound like really cool people to climb with. Not only does it embarass me that I got my nuts in a crack, but it also pisses me off that I lost the money invested in said nuts. Believe me when I said that I tried hard to remove the cram. I placed a green alien immediately below it, slung it, put my foot in it toe into the rock, then levered my ankle down on the Green to expand the rock just a few microns, maybe more. The cam actually repositioned with my urging. The idea was to move it up to a wider spot in the crack... Didn't work. Tried the "reverse fiddle" method too.. Point is that it was getting dark, cold, we had but one flashlight, and I had shit to do, namely get a less-than-enthusiastic girlfriend down from the area while we could still see. Car was reached in the dark, but we made it.

About the bugging bit, I fully expected some fun and interesting replies so I was adequately braced before re-visiting my post. Believe it or not I laughed a good bit. All in good fun, all in the interest of further opening one's mind. In any case, thanks for the comments, the fascinating nut-rescuing technique. I bet you're one of the ones who tried to pilfer (if not successfully) "Myke's Stopper" on Myke's Stopper Slab... I can't remember if it's still there or not. Maybe reason to re-visit the climb. Keep the comments coming in one form or another. Give's me something to do instead of research papers...due tomorrow...that I haven't started yet...

~Wm

A great climb! I think this climb deserves its rating. The finger locks can be slick and if you have sausages for fingers like me its hard to get those puppies in there. A word to the wise...Dont place gear in the crack directly after the finger crack and expect it to hold. My first time on it I got pumped after the finger locks plugged a .5 cam in the crap rock and went for it only to fall. My piece pulled as did a good hunk of rock.

I thought this route could go at 10a or 10b. This is an excellent route for starting 5.10 leaders. The gear is very good and straight forward. However, the moves eluded me for some time! The finger crack is really pumpy with crappy feet. The second you hop out onto the slab the clock starts ticking; just use cams or you'll burn out! Move quickly or the boogeyman in your head will demand you yell "take" after a short period of time. To me it felt like a more sustained climb than chockstone and I had a harder time with this one than tagger. Probably because it requires sequencing of several 5.10 moves while placing gear. I doubled on green aliens for the finger crack; it just sucks'um right off your rack. Last week I fell on on one of the green aliens and it held, so its a good piece to bring. Very good climb; highly recommended!

One of the best climbs in this area. Great pro throughout with fun movement.

I agree with Dave. This route, compared to Chockstone, which I think has a harder and tricker crux move, is pretty straightforward. All the jams and locks are solid.

Good fun. Felt soft for the grade, I give it 10a. Bomber pro every step of the way.

I'm writing this because it's not mentioned in the description: you can place a directional near the top of the pitch, then lower off a set of double-bolts atop Terminal Velocity. After your partner is finished cleaning, you'll be all set to TR T.V.!

I'm thinking Jim Michael and Dan Hare did the first ascent at roughly the same time as Xanadu was put up. :)

Loved this route. This was my first Eldo. "5.10" lead and I must say I thought it was easier than some 5.9+ in the area. Not a surprise. Extra #2s and a #3 for the hand crack up high would have been nice.

Steve A's ascent of White Lightning (AKA: Hand Crack) 5.10b in Eldorado Canyon Colorado.

JVonD, love the video of Steve Annecone. Is the sound track from 'Blodder is my Spotter?'

Just for another perspective on size (it matters!): for me the crux was the top section which was between hand and fist (#3 Camalot)! The fingers and hand sections were easier. Great route without a doubt.

Great gear, thought the cruz was down low exiting the finger locks and getting to the hand crack. 10a is perfect, for sure no harder.

You can TR it from the Terminal Velocity anchor with a directional in the crack up at the top. Fantastic climb. There are a couple swallows that live in the second crack above the crux.

Bring the #3 Camalots! I would have placed 2 if I had them! That's about all that will fit in the upper crack, which is pretty hard for those with small hands. Unfortunately I placed my #3 on the middle section. I started with a bad #0.75 but immediately added the #3 higher up when I saw the condition of the rock where the smaller cam goes - see AC's post above.
I find the middle to be the crux - my hands just don't seem to fit well!

Great route. Bottom portion is the crux. A blue Alien, green aliens and a yellow Alien should do it. Hand crack section is grea,t and if I were to rack up again, I would take a 3rd #2 and #3 BD cam. Does not require any nuts and you can leave the #0.5, 0.75 and 1 BD doubles behind.

This route is great and has a little of everything; definitely bring a #3 for the top if you have small hands! I had a few insecure fists at the top, and it was awesome to have it.

A group of us climbed it this morning. Absolutely great route! There was a large loose block (really chalked up) right before you start into the section of solid hands, but as we were hiking down from Rincon later in the day a group of people decided to trundle the block into the scree down the way.

Some will like, some will disapprove. Interested to see how it climbs now though. New fist crack? big hands?

Cheers

I climbed the route today in its new trundled form. The climb now accepts a #4 Camalot and is quite a bit easier through this section. There is a lot of dirt and loose rock still in the crack (much to the dismay of my belayer), we tried to get as much out as possible. Until it gets cleaned up a bit, I won't be climbing this route.