A Word on Safety

Climbing is inherently risky. The need for safety systems beyond reproach is obvious. The equipment developed by the climbing industry doesn’t fail when used properly. But the system is passive—participants must engage. This dictates the need for personal responsibility to allow the sport we love to exist indoors at all. The primary purpose of our liability release is to establish an agreement on this principle. Without this agreement, we cannot allow the use of our facilities, even if you are only observing.

Übergrippen has developed guidelines of review, and rules during climbing, that we feel minimize the chance of injury to a participant. We have found the primary cause of a mistake on the part of a climber to be inattentiveness. Our philosophy regarding the safety protocol for climbing and belaying is to focus on principle, and not specific method—the brake hand must not leave the rope, for instance, but how you do that is somewhat up to you.

Regarding lead climbing—if climbing is risky, lead climbing is simply dangerous. While Übergrippen supports this form of climbing by placing draws on most walls, lead climbing in our gyms should not be practiced by anyone but experts.

Auto-belay Climbing

Below is a summary of the criteria that we use to assess an individual’s ability to climb on our auto-belays. All participants must be able to satisfy these requirements or have a designated person there to actively help them in order to climb in our facilities.

Personal Responsibility. Using the auto-belay systems involves risk. All climbers must be willing to take personal responsibility for their own safety.

Minimum Requirements for using our Auto-belay systems:

  • All participants must sign a waiver releasing Übergrippen from liability and acknowledging their own personal responsibility for safe climbing.
  • All participants must use industry manufactured harnesses.
  • Harnesses must be snug with the belt above the hip and buckles must be fastened properly according the manufacturer’s recommendation.
  • Climbers must remain attentive while clipping in and unclipping from the auto-belay systems.
  • Climbers must practice proper rappelling techniques when lowering.

Roped Climbing

Below is a summary of the criteria that we use to assess an individual’s ability to climb and belay safely. All participants must be able to satisfy these requirements to climb in our gyms. We are happy to remind those who need a refresher and allow them to climb for the day, and reinforce good practice. Please do not be disappointed if we require you to test multiple times before we issue a permanent card; we are merely attempting to create as safe an environment as we can.

Personal Responsibility. Top roped climbing involves risk—lead climbing even more. All climbers and belayers must be willing to take personal responsibility for their own safety.

Minimum Requirements for Safe Top Roped Climbing
Touchstone Climbing will issue a belay card and allow climbers to retain the belaying privileges only if the individual demonstrates the following safety items at all times:

  • All participants must sign a waiver releasing Übergrippen from liability and acknowledging their own personal responsibility for safe climbing.
  • All participants must use industry manufactured belay devices and harnesses.
  • Belayers must remain attentive and stand while belaying.
  • Harnesses must be snug with the belt above hips, with buckles correct fastened to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
  • Figure 8 follow-through knot must be tied through tie-in points on waist belt and leg loops.
  • Tie-in must have a minimum 6-inch tail, with additional safety knot optional.
  • Belay device must be set properly and belay carabiner must be locked.
  • Belayer must never drop or let go of the rope with brake hand.
  • Belayer must switch between belaying and lowering without compromising the brake hand.
  • When lowering, brake hand must not go above 3 o’clock position (or 9 o’clock if you are left-handed)

Minimum Requirements for Safe Lead Climbing
All lead climbers and lead belayers must be lead checked by gym staff by climbing a route that we select. The leader will be required to take a fall as part of the test for both the leader and the belayer. Don’t lead climb if you don’t expect to fall. The lead test must be on a 5.8 route (or harder) that is unfamiliar to the climber.

Belaying

  • Belayers must be confident and appear confident while belaying.
  • Lead belayers must display their certification cards on their harness at all times. Cards can be replaced at the front desk.
  • All regular belay rules above must be followed (e.g. harness buckled to manufacturer’s recommendation, belay hand always on the rope, etc.).
  • Belayers must remain attentive to lead climbers at all times and stand while belaying.
  • Belayers must keep minimal slack—rope must not dip below the knees.
  • Belayer must take the leader fall without losing control and with minimal rope play.
  • Belayer must belay, one step off to the side of the first quickdraw until climber has clipped at least the 4th quickdraw and after, must stay within 1m or 3ft from the first quickdraw during the remained of their climbers climb.

Climbing

  • Lead climbers must appear safe and confident while leading.
  • Lead climbers must display their certification cards on their harness at all times. Cards can be replaced at the front desk.
  • Lead climbers may bring their own lead rope or use a rope supplied by Übergrippen.
  • If lead climbers bring their own rope, it must be inspected by a member of Übergrippen’s staff prior to use in the facility.
  • Leader must clip all quickdraws, in order.
  • Leader must clip carabiners in correct direction, without trouble.
  • Lead climbers must clip between their waist and head level, or higher if safe and in control.
  • Leader must be willing to take a reasonable fall.

Bouldering

The popularity of bouldering has grown rapidly in recent years. With that growth has also come increased awareness of and emphasis upon correct bouldering techniques for the climber. Even though you may only be a few feet off the ground while bouldering, climbers must still take precautions to ensure their own safety and the safety of other people in the bouldering area. If you have questions about etiquette or safe practices, do not hesitate to ask!

Personal Responsibility. Bouldering involves risk. All falls are ground falls. All boulderers must be willing to take personal responsibility for their own safety.

Requirements for Bouldering

  • All participants must sign a waiver releasing Übergrippen from liability and acknowledging their own personal responsibility for safe climbing.
  • Don’t boulder unless you know how to fall—feet together, prepared to cross arms over chest and roll to back to complete fall.
  • Don’t break falls with your hands or arms.
  • Ensure the safety of your fall zone before you climb including safety of the landing and that it’s free of people and other potential hazards.
  • Do not boulder on the climbing walls beyond 15 feet in height (hands).
  • The bouldering area is for adults—children must have a Bouldering Policy & Agreement signed by a parent or court-appointed legal guardian.
  • Children (under 13) must be supervised by someone at least 14 years old or older.
  • Children may not play on the pads under the bouldering walls.