Want to learn better climbing techniques for out on the cliffs or at your local gym? Follow this 8 part series to explore helpful rock climbing movement tips and techniques, reasons for performing the climbing movement, and how to practice them for added rock climbing fun. Try our recommended Devil’s Lake State Park routes, which will all contain the discussed movement.
Picture this… a big dude squeezing his big body up and down a tight fireplace chimney to leave you presents. You can check it out yourself by viewing movies such as “The Santa Clause” featuring Tim Allen. Personally, I’ve seen the movies, I’ve seen the dude (not in person), and I’m not totally sure that I buy it.
The only thing that is really going to convince me is trying it out myself. Call me Kinesthetic and leave me cookies at the top. Anywho, when you are confronted with two walls and a space that is large enough for you to get your whole body inside, channel your inner Santa. Let me throw one other thing out here too folks, before we get into the nitty gritty of how-to… this climbing movement doesn’t look pretty.
So here is what you should try. First, you need a Chimney. It should be a space where two walls are parallel with each other and your whole body can fit inside of it. Get your whole body in there. Squeeze a little if you have to, even suck it in if needed. If you can’t get your whole body in, that type of crack is called an off-width, 
a whole other beast for a whole other time. Next, slither your way up that thing. That rock ain’t gonna climb itself!
You can try your back against one wall with your feet against the other. You can also try one foot per wall and your back against the wall.
If the area is a little bigger, make yourself bigger too. Fill the space with as much as your rockin’ bod as possible and you’ll be on your way. You’ll probably get dirty, but what fun would life be if we didn’t get dirty once in a while.
Suggested Rock Climbs at Devil’s Lake State Park that include a Chimney: The Grotto 5.4 located in the Mouse’s Wall Area. The Chimney 5.4 located right between D’Arcy’s Wall and Pedestal Buttress. Fat Man’s Misery 5.6 Misery Rocks.
