The Joy of Suffering: Gisely Ferraz

Indian Creek season is here, and you’re dreaming about taking on some of the biggest, baddest cracks in the desert? Then I have your list: 10 Offwidths You Must Climb. These  awesome routes will each test your offwidth skills in different ways. 

Crack climbing in Indian Creek can be like signing up for a voluntary brawl with Mother Nature if you don’t have the right techniques - especially on offwidths. However, the challenge of these long and physical routes brings a unique joy of its own. And, if you like multi-pitch climbing, you know you’re going to need to step up your offwidth game if you’re going to summit those desert towers. 

You know it's going to hurt (and you're probably going to fail a few times), but something inside you craves the challenge and wants to be a better climber. If so, here’s a list of  great routes you must try this season. The journey will be hilarious - and mildly painful - but fun. Indian Creek has a gold mine of offwidths. If you’re feeling brave (or a bit masochistic), grab those kneepads and big cams, and let’s get to it! 

8 Tips for Offwidths 
1. The more you fight it, the worse it gets. 
2. Offwidths are marathons, not sprints. 
3. Protect your skin—pants, long sleeve shirt, knee-pads, elbow-pads, and TC Pros (for ankle protection), thick tape or crack gloves.
4. Stay calm and be proud of any progress. 
5. Understand the size of the crack - learn what gear sizes it requires, and what  techniques to use for your body size. 
6. Control your breath (important!). 
7. Have fun and try to minimize the suffering with technique. Offwidths can be quite a  beautiful style! 
8. Bring a supportive, patient partner - the belay will likely be a long one! 

Routes: 
1. Desire 5.10 - This route is an excellent introduction to test your calf locks!
2. Hips don’t Lie 5.10 - Let’s get the big cams and bump that #8.
3. Scard Face 5.10 PG13 - Great beginner offwidth - it’s a little heady up top, but is easy climbing.
4. Schrodinger’s Cat 5.10+ - Great route that will run the cam sizes from #1 to #8. A great route to see how your offwidth skills are doing this season. Quite a beautiful  corner, too. 
5. Ernie Used to Box 5.10+ - Can you climb #4s? More difficult but more fun for folks with smaller hands. Super fun and a striking line. 
6. Serrator Crack 5.11- - A beautiful line that will teach you to not get your knee stuck! Poorly protected but very pleasant top. 
7. Big Guy 5.11- - Offwidth test piece. A long, beautiful line that will test your climbing #4s and #5s. A fun top-rope, but as a lead it’s quite an endurance route and definitely  harder. 
 
8. Big Baby 5.11 - The next step after Big Guy - now we have a roof to pull! I love this  line. 
 
9. Big Sally 5.11 - Let's go for a loooong old school #6 endurance offwidth.
10. Brother From Another Planet 5.12- - Entering the invert world! This is a super fun  one. 
 

Offwidths in Indian Creek are like a fitness class where the instructor tells you, “no pain, no gain” - but you suspect they just enjoy watching people suffer. It’s also part of the fun. These routes aren’t just about climbing - they’re about character-building, resilience, and learning how to appreciate every small progress as success. Every inch counts! 

So go on, give these ten offwidths a try this season. Let me know how it goes! Your body may ache, your knees may bleed, and your ego may shatter - but at the end of the day, you’ll have something to brag about around the campfire. And nothing bonds climbers quite like shared suffering. 

Please Follow Leave No Trace Principles and Have Fun!

Photos: Eliseu Frechou