Cave Crack

Cave Crack is the deep chimney that leads directly to the top of Hassler's Hatbox. The chimney actually extends all the way through the rock, narrowing to a fist-sized crack by the time it escapes the other side. I believe this is easiest path to the top of Hassler's Hatbox, if you don't mind a little blue collar grunt work that is!

Scramble up into the base of the chimney and belay inside. Begin by stemming with good footholds past some secure chockstones. This part can be protected by a couple of nuts.

Continue up the narrowing chimney, and soon it becomes possible to place large cams. The larger your cams, the less you have to burrow into the chimney for protection. The last 15 feet are somewhat strenuous, but very tight and secure. The chimney ends right on the summit.

To descend, scramble over to the Cat's Cradle anchor and rappel 80 feet to the ground.

Look for the very obvious, deep chimney right of

Cat's Cradle

on the far right end of the formation.

A couple of nuts protect the first section, and the upper section will only take #4 - #6 cams. We felt it well-protected with a #5 and a #6.