Blog

Dougal Tavner - Digital Crack

Some places never lose their magic.

High above Chamonix, on the granite towers of the Cosmiques, with the entire Mont Blanc massif as a backdrop, lies one of the valley’s most iconic test pieces: Digital Crack.

First climbed in 1990 by French climbers Thierry Renault and Alain Ghersen, Digital Crack is known historically as one of the highest-altitude hard sport routes in Europe and the world. At nearly 4,000 metres, it’s a route that demands far more than strength. Precision, balance and complete commitment on holds that barely seem to exist.

Despite the name the route follows a shallow vertical groove and steep headwall, as opposed to a traditional deep crack climb. At a grade of 8a, it's highly technical and requires a balance of delicate face climbing utilizing tiny crimps, smearing feet on smooth granite and careful body positioning and bridging to stand any hope of success.

Fully focused on the movement, it’s easy to forget just how incredible the surroundings are. World-class granite, huge exposure, and one of the most spectacular backdrops anywhere in the Alps.

Trusted in exposure

Shop Men's Climbing Kit

Shop Women's Climbing kit

 

You may also like

MACC Fund Expedition - Misgar, Pakistan

In summer 2026, Leo Craig, Thomas Hammond, Ewan Abel, Milo Durani and Zaheer Kesner travelled to the remote Misgar Valley in Pakistan's far north with a simple objective: explore unclimbed terrain and see what was possible. The expedition was supported by the Alpine Club and...

Howard Dracup - Swiss Peaks LEGEND

The SwissPeaks LEGEND is a brutal, single-stage ultra-marathon that covers approximately 397 kilometers across the Swiss Alps with over 27,530 meters of vertical elevation gain. 

Jenny Tough - Finding Joy in the Hardest Places: UTMR

This year Jenny Tough set herself a simple goal of completing a 100-mile race, however the race she chose was anything but simple...