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A Few Helpful Things to Know While You're Here...

If you're just in the gym to have fun and get a feel for climbing, you're more than welcome to enjoy the walls as you please, so long as you're respecting the basic safety rules related to the walls.

Climbing shoes are tight to help you keep a grip on the wall, but aren't really meant for walking in – so you can take them off when you aren't climbing.

Please do not wear climbing shoes in the restrooms. Similarly, the asphalt outside would damage them if you need to run to the car.

When wearing a harness, please tuck your shirt under it or our staff or your climbing partner(s) will have a tough time telling if it's secured correctly.

Access to the climbing facility is granted for the whole day! Hungry? Leave and come back! You're good until we close.

Taking a break? Leaving for the day? Our Gear Rental Return is at the end of the counter by the Front Door

Avoid sitting, standing, or walking under any climber on any wall to avoid injury to yourself or them

Let's Learn the Basics of Indoor Rock Climbing!

"What do all the colors mean? Which is the easiest/hardest color?"

Actually, the color of the holds don't tell you anything about easy vs difficult – all the holds of the same (or really similar) color make up a unique path along the wall that your hands and feet would stick to – ignoring every other color – if you want to go by the rules of the sport.

Know the Lingo

In Sport Climbing, a particular climbing path along our taller walls is called a route.

In Bouldering, generally done on smaller structures like our Boulder Island or in our Cave, a path is called a problem – as in figure it out.

Just having fun? Using all of the holds, regardless of color, is what we call Rainbowing.

"So how do I tell what's easy vs. what's difficult?"

Grade Tags in Sport Climbing (Our Taller Walls)

In Sport Climbing, the Yosemite Decimal System is used to indicate difficulty. Everything you'll see on our taller walls is a "five point something." Look for the black circular medalion which is next to the route you want to climb, and also has a metallic colored ring on it that matches the color of the holds to read its grade!

5.6

A "five-six" is the grade we give to the easiest routes we set here.

5.10-

A "five-ten-minus" is considered the beginning of the Intermediate Level.

5.12-

A "five-twelve-minus" is considered the beginning of the Advanced Level.

The Yosemite Decimal System isn't a "linear" increase from grade to grade. It's a curve. Hence, the difference between a 5.9 and a 5.10- is much greater than the difference between a 5.8 and a 5.9 climb. Once you get into double-digit numbers, the gap is so large, the difference is further segmented as follows in order of increasing difficulty:

5.10- then 5.10 then 5.10+ then 5.11-

Did you know? Currently, the hardest graded route outdoors is a 5.15d (5.15+)!

Grades in Bouldering

(The Boulder Island, The Cave, and Temporarily Repurposed Walls Set for Boulder Problems)

We use a ranged grading system comprising "V" grades that will be familiar to visiting climbers with more experience. Look for the black circular medalion near the start of the problem. The higher the number(s), the harder the climb!

V0

V0 Boulder Problems are the absolute beginner level.

V4-V5

The higher the numbers on the tag, the harder the climb.

V10+

V10+ Boulder Problems are the among the hardest in the gym.

The color of the Boulder Problem (the handholds, footholds, and tape) will match a colored ring that sits atop the corresponding grade tag!

Challenging Yourself By The Rules

The Start and End Holds of a Route or Problem

The Start and End Holds of a Route or Problem are indicated with matching stripes of tape. Sometimes, a route/problem begins with two hands on the same hold and other times there will be a hold for each of your hands.

The number of tape stripes indicates how many hands should be on that hold when you start the route.

Starting/Finishing a Route Properly

Begin by holding ONLY the single or pair of holds which are indicated (with tape) as the START HOLDS of your route/problem. You must then have BOTH feet off the ground before you may reach for any other hold and proceed climbing. A route/problem is considered successfully completed when both hands have reached the END HOLDS at the top of the wall (which are also marked with tape).

Example of a False Start: Grabbing a hold other than the start hold (or two start holds in the case of this problem) before your feet are both off the ground.

A Proper Start: You may only hold the Start Holds (the two red holds Tim is holding each have a single piece of tape) – you must then get both feet off the ground before reaching for anything else.

Finish your route by holding on to the END HOLDS with BOTH hands. If Bouldering, down climbing is recommended, but if you must jump down, please look around for people beneath you.

Tips for Your First Time on the Wall

Rock climbing isn't as straightforward as, say, ascending a ladder, so here are a couple of pointers to help you!

  • Keep your fingers together – they're stronger that way rather than opened and apart.
  • Only step on footholds with the very tip of the toebox of your climbing shoes. This will allow you to turn your hips or tiptoe to reach as necessary.
  • Use your legs to push you up the wall, more than you use your arms to pull you up the wall. Think: "load up a squat, do a slam dunk, load up a squat, do a slam dunk."
  • Keep your hips into the wall – the farther your hips are from the wall, the more force you'll feel against your fingers as your hips and butt pull you off the wall!
  • Watch the regulars around you as they climb to get an idea of climbing movement!

Have a great time! We have pages on our website to give you information on Membership, our Youth Recreational Climbing Program, and how you can host a Group Event like a birthday party, field trip, or team building event, just so you know!

General Facility Rules

  • All persons staying within the facility, climbing or not, must have a waiver on file. Waivers for minors (under 18 years old) must have a waiver completed by their parent or legal guardian.
  • All climbers (and their adult supervisors, as applicable, must first receive an orientation from The Edge Rock Gym staff.
  • Children under 14 may not clip themselves in or out of Auto-Belay systems. This must always be conducted by an adult.
  • Members and guests under 16 years old may only be in the facility with adult supervision.
  • While service animals are welcome within the building, we ask they not be on the climbing area floor. Emotional service animals do not qualify as service animals. Pets are not permitted within the building.
  • Running and tumbling are not permitted within the facility. Adults accompanying children must supervise children to prevent running.
  • It is the responsibility of all persons (or the supervising adult in the case of child) on the climbing floor to be aware of climbers overhead, and to remain clear of potential fall zones for climbers.
  • Please refrain from chewing gum or bringing or consuming snacks, food, or drink on the climbing floor.
  • Traversing is permitted on all facility walls without auto-belays. A stripe is drawn approximately 12 ft from the ground on the corners of each wall and indicates the "go no higher" point for traversing climbers. Please allow top rope and lead climbers on the wall right of way.
  • Free solo climbing above the indicated height is strictly prohibited. Reckless behavior endangers the climber and others and may result in an immediate and permanent ban from the facility.
  • Belayers for top rope and lead climbers, as well as lead climbers themselves are subject to proficiency checks by The Edge Rock Gym staff at any time, regardless of how much time has passed since their last facility proficiency check. Proficiency certifications from other facilities do not transfer.
  • Belay instruction may only be conducted by The Edge Rock Gym staff. Members and guests are strictly prohibited from teaching belay technique and non-compliance may result in an immediate and permanent ban from the facility.
  • Upstairs Fitness Center facilities are only for The Edge Rock Gym Members 16 years of age or older, unless part of one of our youth programs while under the instruction or supervision of their Coach. Shoes must be worn at all times within the Fitness Center.
  • Please refrain from wearing climbing shoes (whether rented or personally owned) in the restroom to prevent spread of germs to the climbing walls.
  • Please refrain from vaping or using electronic cigarettes within the building.
  • Management has granted the staff authority to ask any member or guest that refuses to comply with safety guidelines to leave the facility.