Earn Your Stripes offers a rewarding climb on the Tiger Slabs that challenges you with its strong hand crack and technical movements. Positioned on the South Coast of Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula, this 75-foot single-pitch climb draws you into a textured vertical slab that demands attention and poise. The route begins slightly right of the main crack, ascending a shallow corner for about 30 feet until meeting a clear horizontal seam. From here, a careful left traverse skirts past a solid block—a good resting spot but unsuitable for protection—to reach the base of the main hand crack.

This crack presents a welcome grip on otherwise blank rock, inviting climbers to engage in a sequence of moves where fingers and hands find confident holds. As the crack wanes near its top, the route shifts right, requiring a few extended reach moves that test your balance and flexibility. It's not just physical skill that earns you stripes here—it’s reading the rock and trusting your instincts on subtle texture shifts.

Protection is straightforward but demands a well-rounded rack. The crack width suits cams up to size 4 Camalot, with doubles recommended on .75 through 2 Camalots for margin and confidence, especially if the grade pushes your limits. The rock is solid and placements feel secure, but as always on trad routes, investing time in thoughtful gear placement pays dividends.

Setting up at the lip is eased by a top anchor anchored to a robust tree, complemented by a mid-route rappel station that allows for efficient cleaning or toproping without the hazard of dangerous rope swings. This makes Earn Your Stripes accessible for guided attempts and for climbers who want to practice leads in a controlled environment.

The approach to Tiger Slabs is straightforward with well-worn paths guiding you through open forest punctuated by coastal breezes and distant ocean views. Expect about a 10-15 minute walk from the trailhead to the base, with footing that remains stable but occasionally slippery when wet. Early morning or late afternoon climbs are best, as the slab faces south and catches sun for much of the day, warming the rock but also exposing climbers to direct light in midday.

Whether you're brushing up your trad skills or stepping up to 5.10 climbs on Newfoundland’s rugged coast, Earn Your Stripes offers an engaging challenge wrapped in raw, elemental beauty. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water, wear shoes with sticky soles for slab traction, and plan your climb around tides and weather, as coastal fog can swiftly roll in.

This climb demands respect but rewards with movement that flows, placements that satisfy, and the kind of exposure that sharpens focus and exhilaration. Prepare well, move deliberately, and let the Tiger Slabs push your limits as you truly earn your stripes.