Director Jud's Blog

When people are just getting into crack climbing, there’s often a tendency to rely on brute strength instead of technique. At Stone Mountain Adventures (SMA), a top-tier rock climbing summer camp, we help campers develop skills like the layback move—an essential technique for tackling corner cracks and overlapping sections. While this move can be strenuous, using it strategically can help climbers navigate tough sections with efficiency and control.

What is the Layback Move?

The layback move works by creating opposition between your hands and feet, leveraging your body to move up the rock face with minimal effort. Here’s how it works:

• Your fingers grip the crack, pulling with your arms.

• Simultaneously, you press your feet against the opposing wall to create a counterforce.

• By keeping your feet high and maintaining tension between your hands and feet, you can make small controlled movements up the rock.

One key mistake beginners make is rushing the movement and standing up too far, causing their feet to slip and losing their position of strength. Instead, keeping heels dropped and feet high ensures a stable stance, allowing for steady, controlled progression.

When to Use the Layback Move

This technique is particularly useful in:

• Corner cracks where pushing against the opposing wall provides stability.

• Crack overlaps where direct jamming is impractical.

• Short sections that require quick, powerful moves to transition to a better hold.

While effective, the layback move can be physically demanding, so it’s important to use it sparingly to avoid arm fatigue. Learning to switch between climbing techniques efficiently is a valuable skill that campers at Stone Mountain Adventures develop through expert instruction and daily practice.

Rock Climbing at Stone Mountain Adventures

At Stone Mountain Adventures, we offer an immersive rock climbing summer camp experience for teens, where climbers of all skill levels can improve their technique, build strength, and gain confidence on real rock faces. With access to Donation Rocks and Hunter’s Rocks, our campers challenge themselves daily in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned climber tackling 5.12 routes or just starting out, SMA’s expert instructors will help you refine your skills, including mastering techniques like the layback move. Our Rock Climbing Master Program allows campers to dedicate half of each day to climbing, ensuring they leave camp stronger, more confident, and ready to take on new challenges.

Join us this summer and take your climbing to new heights at Stone Mountain Adventures, the ultimate rock climbing summer camp!