Rocky Mountain Highball
Event: California Premiere of Rocky Mountain Highball
Place: Railto Cinema - Berekely
Address: 2966 College Ave. Berkeley, CA 94705
Date: June 4th
Time: 7:15 PM
Hosted by Scott Neel (director) and Kevin Jorgeson (athlete)

“Rocky Mountain Highball” is a new climbing film that presents an in depth look into why some climbers push themselves to boulder at the vertical limit. The film documents the many facets of bouldering by interweaving numerous classic climbs in Colorado with interview footage from the leading figures of the climbing world.

Director/Filmmaker Scott Neel, and Yama Studio have brought in a huge cast of world renowned climbers, like Paul Robinson, Mark Wilford, Kevin Jorgeson, Lynn Hill, Daniel Woods, John Sherman, John Gill, Steve Mammen, and Jason Kehl. Having filmed more than 70 climbs with more than 35 athletes, this film proves to be an exciting journey through the world of highball bouldering.

Please visit www.RockyMountainHighball.com for more info, to view and download the official trailer, and check out the interactive cast line-up.

Labels: Climbing Movie, Film, Kevin Jorgeson, Rocky Mountain Highball

  ¶ Friday, May 29, 2009 0 Comments

  Chris Sharma Bouldering Video: Pure Talent It's Friday and it's Summertime so we won't keep you here long. To get you inspired to get into your local Touchstone Climbing gym and do the best climbing and bouldering you can possibly do, we thought we'd turn to an expert to help get you motivated: Chris Sharma.

Few people climb with the creativity and fluidity as Chris Sharma, and to watch him attack a bouldering problem is inspiring. Check out the way he twists and contorts his body just to make his next move easier. That's the key, he's always thinking moves ahead.

Check out the video and have a great weekend. Start sending in climbing clips of your own!

Labels: Climbing Clip of the Week, Climbing Video, Videos

  ¶ Friday, May 29, 2009 0 Comments

  Hans Florine Slideshow @ Diablo Rock Gym
If you missed out on this earlier this month at Mission Cliffs its not too late. This Saturday, May 30th at 7:00 pm Diablo Rock Gym is hosting a slideshow presentation from none other than Hans Florine. As tickets are only $10 for members and $15 for non-members, you shouldn't even dream of missing out on this.

Here's a bit more.

"Hans was on the cover of the SF Chronicle FOUR TIMES last year for breaking the speed record on The Nose route on El Capitan in Yosemite. Hans will share with you the story of his relationship with The Nose route over the past 21 years. And will show you a peek at the new Masters Of Stone VI DVD that features Yuji and Hans' record ascent. See more at speedclimb.com and mastersofstone.com $10 members $15 non members. Tickets available now at the front desk. Light refreshments served. --- www.HansFlorine.com Speed Expert"

We hope to see you there, trust me, this is something you won't want to miss out on.

Labels: Diablo Rock Gym, El Capitan, Hans Florine, Slideshow, Speed Record

  ¶ Thursday, May 28, 2009 0 Comments

  All Touchstone Gyms Now Require a Double Fisherman Back Up Knot
Due to recent safety issues, we are now asking all top rope climbers to use a double fisherman back up knot when tying into the rope. We believe that this will make it harder for a climber to mistakenly start a climb before completing their figure 8 knot.

We thank you for your cooperation on this issue.

Labels: Back Up Knot, Double Fisherman, Safety, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Thursday, May 28, 2009 1 Comments

  See El Cap Close Up and Personal
If you're a fan of El Capitan, and Yosemite National Park in general, this little bit of news will most likely interest you. As you know, some of the best climbing in the entire country can be had in Yosemite Park and the one jewel of it's crown is El Capitan. Some of the most impressive climbing feats in the last 30 years have been completed right here, and so a chance to get an up-close and personal look at the place is great.

Word is that the ElCap Report now has it's very own blog filled with information, reports, and yes, pictures of this great place. This is a one-stop shop to read up about climbers and their amazing El Cap exploits, as well as take in some photographic proof at just how impressive this place really is.

So, feel free to go check it out and read up about one of climbings most impressive locations. Great way to get inspired to climb at your peak potential, great way to get inspired to just get better. Who knows, we might see you on the site next!

Labels: El Capitan, Touchstone Climbing, Yosemite, Yosemite National Park

  ¶ Wednesday, May 27, 2009 0 Comments

  New Saturday Yoga Class @ Great Western Power Co.
Great news for all you Yoga fans that just so happen to be members of Great Western Power Co...looks like we have a brand new Saturday Yoga class that started this weekend and will be held every Saturday going forward. The class is taught by Sean Feit, who has previously been subbing in for Raven's evening class, but now is going to have a class of his very own.

Here is a bit more about his class:

Sean Feit who has previously subbed for Raven’s evening class will be coming to GWPC to teach, in his words, “an all-levels Vinyasa yoga class with an emphasis on breath, concentration and mindfulness. We cultivate deep presence in movement and awaken prana (full, flowing energy) throughout the body with a mix of strength and stretch, focusing on physical alignment, continuity of attention, and energetic clarity.”

Sean has practiced meditation in the Rinzai Zen and Theravadan Buddhist traditions since 1993, and yoga since 1995, studying with teachers in the Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Yin and Bihar lineages. His yoga classes emphasize mindfulness and inner clarity, focusing on breath, alignment & devotion.

Drop into Great Western Power Co. to get more information and sign yourself up. This is a class all you yoga fans will not want to miss out on!

Labels: Classes, Great Western Power Co., Saturday, Sean Feit, Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga

  ¶ Tuesday, May 26, 2009 0 Comments

  Happy Memorial Day from Touchstone Climbing Just a quick note today to wish you and yours a very Happy Memorial Day from all of us here at Touchstone Climbing. Hopefully today finds you with a day off of work or school and able to get things done in your life. Take a moment to just remember all of the brave men and women that helped keep our country safe and make it what it is today.

A quick reminder that all of our Touchstone Climbing gyms will have different hours today, and there will be no classes being held. Please check with your local gym to figure out when they are open, and what time they'll be shutting down for the day.

Have a great Memorial Day and we'll see you tomorrow!

Labels: Holiday, Hours, Memorial Day, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Monday, May 25, 2009 0 Comments

  Memorial Day Hours Just a reminder that each location has different hours on this coming Monday. Please check with each gym to see when they will be open. Also a reminder that there will be no classes on Monday.

Enjoy your holiday weekend.

Labels: Hours, Memorial Day

  ¶ Friday, May 22, 2009 3 Comments

  Climbing Clip of the Week: Chris Sharma Interview When it comes to climbing videos, especially the ones we choose to feature as Climbing Clip of the Week, they most often have been videos of actual climbing. Today, we've got something a bit different and instead of showing all climbing, we actually have an interview with one of the most talented and inspirational climbers around, Chris Sharma.

The vast majority of you already know who Chris Sharma is, but for all of you that don't know, he's a climber that was born in Santa Cruz, California back in 1981. In addition to to notching numerous first ascents in his impressive resume, he's also climbed and tackled some of the most difficult routes and climbs in the world.

At any rate, listening to him talk is great insight into climbing and I think could help any climber. Thanks to ClimbingNarc.com for the tip, check it out:

Labels: Chris Sharma, Climbing Clip of the Week, Climbing Video, Interviews

  ¶ Friday, May 22, 2009 0 Comments

  Carnaval Comes To San Francisco Please note that Mission Cliffs will be affected by the street closures for the 2009 Carnaval event happening this weekend. Harrison Street and surrounding cross streets will be closed between 16th and 22nd for this weekend of festivities commencing Friday, May 23th at 10pm. Parking will be extremely limited.

Mission Cliffs will be CLOSED on Sunday, May 25th and will reopen on Monday, May 26th at 9am-7pm. Holiday rates and schedule will apply.

Labels: Carnaval, mission cliffs, San Francisco

  ¶ Thursday, May 21, 2009 0 Comments

  The Climbing Harness: Most Important Piece of Equipment We've talked about the importance of a good climbing helmet, and even how much a great pair of climbing shoes can help elevate your climbing, but the one piece of equipment that is vital to our sport, no matter where you're doing it, is the most basic and the first one you'll need when you jump into climbing. The harness.

Without a climbing harness you can't safely tie into any lines, you can't fall without serious injury and you can't climb with confidence. A proper, well-fitted harness is the very first piece of equipment you should be looking into, and with all of the choices it can get a bit confusing. I know we're talking basics here, but who knows, maybe someone out there doesn't know what to look for. My first advice: Go into a Touchstone Climbing gym and talk to the professionals, they can get you sized and fitted with the perfect harness for you in no time. Other than that, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• "Decide what type of climbing you'll be doing most. Will you be mixing your climbing? If so, don't make the mistake of purchasing a specialized type of harness such as a full body harness for Mountaineering with limited racking or a beefy big-wall felt-fast that will jab your love handles on free-climbing high steps. There are many fine all-around harnesses out there and you need not fret over safety - no manufacturer is foolish enough to use a dangerous design.
• Try it first. Consider the fit and how it feels when you wear it. A harness forms a chair when you tie-in. A good fit in the waist and leg loops is critical. Male climbers should make sure the loops don't cut off circulation to the groin if they want to preserve their family line. Heavier climbers should choose a harness with wider leg loops and a thick padded waist to support their lower back. Wider straps may cut into your flesh less, while narrower straps are lighter and allow ease of movement. A woman's harness has a smaller waist with proportionately larger leg loops. Moreover, the rise (the distance between the leg loops and tie-in loop) is longer and adjustable to the pelvic shape."

There are different harnesses for different types of climbing and deciding which kind of climbing you're going to be doing is key. Rock climbing harnesses usually have padded leg loops and even gear racking loops, while sports climbing harnesses are usually very slim profiled and come with little or no "extras." Stop in to Touchstone Climbing and talk to our experts about which harness will best suit you.

Labels: Climbing Equipment, Climbing Gear, Harness, How To, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Thursday, May 21, 2009 0 Comments

  OASES Group Gives Great Testimonial
A few weeks back we were lucky to host another fantastic community group at our Great Western Power Co. gym and we just heard back from the group that came. The group, OASES is a community group that has a clear mission to "empower youth who have limited resources, particularly those in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities of Oakland, to maximize their potential through educational services and social support. "

They came to our GWPC location for a day of climbing and fun and by the sounds of things, both of those goals were completely met, and surpassed. Here's what they had to say back to us:

Thank you, Great Western Power Company for helping to organize and facilitate such a wonderful Rock Climbing adventure for our girls sports program at OASES! The gym staff was incredibly welcoming, patient, and supportive working with the girls. Of the 18 girls who climbed, only a few had experienced rock-climbing before. In the days leading up to the fieldtrip, there was a huge range of emotions within our group: some girls were so excited and counted down the days, while others grew more and more afraid and intimidated. Even though many girls were frightened, the atmosphere of the gym was laid-back enough that all of the girls felt confident to climb a few routes, and many made it to the top! By the end, all of the girls wanted to stay longer, especially those who had been the most afraid!

The fieldtrip to GWPC was the highlight of our semester working with girls in sports. It offered our students a chance to succeed individually and to be supportive as a team. For our students who rarely venture outside of Oakland Chinatown, going to a rock-climbing gym is a unique opportunity that we are all grateful to be a part of.

In our students’ words:

“It was the best part when I reach to the top.” -Tina, 3rd grade

“People inspired me to go higher and I did.” -Hillari, 5th grade

“It was pretty scary when I touched the rocks, but I wasn’t so scared after I tried it.” -Theresa, 4th grade

“The best part is climbing the rock.” -- Cecilia, 3rd grade.

Thank you GWPC!!!

Thank You everyone at OASES. We hope you continue to make us part of your progam's future plans!

Labels: Community Group, Great Western Power Co., kids, OASES, Testimonial

  ¶ Wednesday, May 20, 2009 0 Comments

  10 "Safe Climbing" Tips To Remember
Looks like this week is one packed full of tips for you to keep in mind as summer approaches. We'll all be doing a lot more climbing, whether it's for vacation, time off of school or just because the weather is so nice we can't help ourselves. That said, today's tips are nothing more than simple reminders on how to enjoy yourself the most, by ensuring that you climb safely.

Most of these tips are absolute no-brainers, but nevertheless, it's always good to get a refresher course on safe climbing tips, or if you're new to the sport, to get your feet wet learning the ropes. So, without further ado, and check out the full article to get a bit more in-depth, here are 10 safe climbing tips you should always remember:

1. Always Check Harnesses
2. Always Check Knots
3. Always Wear a Helmet
4. Always Check the Rope and Belay Device
5. Always Use a Long Rope
6. Always Pay Attention
7. Always Bring Enough Gear
8. Always Climb With the Rope Over Your Leg
9. Always Properly Clip the Rope
10. Always Use Safe Anchors

See, I told you they were simple. For all of you that already know them, my apologies, for all of you who don't, you're welcome. Talk to any of your guides, instructors or employees at Touchstone Climbing if you want any more information or tips, they'll always be happy to help.

Labels: Climbing Safety, Climbing Tips, How To, Safety

  ¶ Tuesday, May 19, 2009 0 Comments

  Top 10 Rock Climbing Shoe Buying Tips
For the last two weeks we've been giving you some pointers and tips on how to go about equipping yourself with some of the proper and basic necessities of rock climbing. We already mentioned the importance of a good helmet to protect you from falls indoors, and falls and falling debris when you're doing outdoor climbing. We also talked to you about the need for a great pair of climbing shoes, but we just found an article packed with 10 tips on how to go about selecting the Perfect pair for you.

So you know you need shoes and want some help figuring out what to keep in mind as you look? Glad you asked, thanks to About.com, here are 10 tips to help you pick the perfect pair, and get you climbing in no time at all:

1. Buy at a Reputable Mountain Shop
2. Buy an All-Around Rock Shoe
3. Get a Snug Comfortable Fit
4. Rock Shoes Will Stretch
5. Improper Sizing is a Common Problem
6. Great Deals Can Be Found Online
7. Buy Used and Save Big
8. Buy Last Year's Models Cheap
9. Do A Test Run at a Shoe Demo
10. Rent Before Buying Rock Shoes

There you go! Keep those simple tips in mind the next time you're in the market for a great pair of climbing shoes and you'll avoid the hassle of having to return them, or worse, having to climb in shoes that don't fit. Ouch.

Labels: Climbing Equipment, Climbing Gear, Climbing Shoes, How To

  ¶ Monday, May 18, 2009 0 Comments

  Touchstone Teams Do Great At "The Relay"
Looks like our Touchstone Climbing running teams performed amazingly at The Relay recently. Here's a bit more about the race, and just how they all did!

The Relay (http://therelay.com) is a benefit run to raise awareness for organ donation. The Relay covers 199 miles between Calistoga and Santa Cruz and is run by teams of 12, with each person responsible for 3 approximately 10K legs. The running team: Clarence Mamuyac, Dan Weintraub, Diane Ortega, Mason Moore, Harlan Reymont, Ryan Rougeux, Scott Clark, Tina Moore, Vaughn Medford, Veronica Carrasco, Sean Wilkenfeld, Will Harris; Drivers were Kristen Venditelli and Rhonda Hurst.

Sponsored wholly by Touchstone Climbing, "Touchstone 12" ran for 29 hours, 46 minutes and 59 seconds, mostly in the rain, coming in 36th out of 78 in Mens Open Category and 99th out of 228 overall teams - 18 SECONDS behind the Bay Area Touchstone runners "We're Keepin' R's" who placed 98th. Said Dan Weintraub: "What are the odds of us finishing 18 seconds apart (and behind) the other Touchstone team after 199 miles and nearly 30 hours of racing? Obviously a million little things here or there (and one big thing, my quads), could have swung that balance, but the real heartbreaker is that Mason was directed down the wrong street on his final leg, which cost him over a minute by the time he climbed a very steep hill and then descended to get back on course. We wuz robbed."

Mason Moore shared this story about one of his legs: "After crawling up the huge hill on my first leg and passing people and wishing them well along the way, I was feeling like a champion. I then started down the crazy decent, dodging cows, slipping and getting covered in mud and loving it. After one final little ascent, the valley and lights of the city were visible in front of me and I couldn’t help but shout as loud as I could: “WHOOO HOOOO” It was then 2 miles more of the most blazing downhill I have ever done. Something about going as fast as I could in the pitch black jumping cattle guards and never wanting it to end just filled me with tons of joy. Thank you for this, it was such a great experience; I will never forget it!"

Said Tina Moore: "I found the experience to be very inspiring. Whether we were running at full speed down the final straight-away or slowly working our way up some horrendous climb, everyone ran their hearts out. There was pain and suffering and much laughter. I'm already looking forward to our next adventure together."

The following are some one word descriptions of The Relay:

Will - punchy
Veronica - awesome
Sean - epic
Harlan - potatoes
Dan - exhilaration
Scott - incomparable
Kristen - signage (as in lack thereof)
Tina - shot wad
Rhonda - inspirational
Vaughn - teamwork
Diane - consummate
Mason - woohoo

Congratulations everyone, what an impressive and amazing feat.

Labels: Team Sport, The Relay, Touchstone Climbing, Touchstone Running

  ¶ Thursday, May 14, 2009 0 Comments

  Hans Florine Slideshow @ Mission Cliffs
Talk about an event you really shouldn't even consider missing out on! Clear your schedules for this Saturday, May 16th at 7:00 pm as our Mission Cliffs gym is hosting a slideshow presentation from none other than Hans Florine. As tickets are only $10 for members and $15 for non-members, you shouldn't even dream of missing out on this.

Here's a bit more from our Mission Cliffs gym:

Hans was on the cover of the SF Chronicle FOUR TIMES last year for breaking the speed record on The Nose route on El Capitan in Yosemite. Hans will share with you the story of his relationship with The Nose route over the past 21 years. And will show you a peek at the new Masters Of Stone VI DVD that features Yuji and Hans' record ascent. See more at speedclimb.com and mastersofstone.com $10 members $15 non members. Tickets available now at the front desk. Light refreshments served. --- www.HansFlorine.com Speed Expert

We hope to see you there, trust me, this is something you won't want to miss out on.

Labels: Events, Hans Florine, mission cliffs, Slideshow, Tickets

  ¶ Wednesday, May 13, 2009 0 Comments

  HD Climbing Show Coming to National Geographic Channel?
Rumors are stirring, and for the first time it's the kind of rumor we'd actually like to see come true! We just caught wind of a rumor that a climbing show might be coming to the National Geographic channel in HD! Looks like it is a bit more than a rumor as ClimbingNarc.com found out some information that there is indeed a climbing show being finalized, the only problem is, no U.S. network has been chosen to pick it up and air it. Yet.

According to Sender Films, they are working on a climbing series that is based on the movie "First Ascent" and they hope to begin airing it sometime this summer. If all goes according to plan, the series will be a six-parter and will follow some of the top climbs and climbers. Here's what they had to say:

"We are currently polishing off the first two episodes. The first documents Chris Sharma’s latest 5.15 efforts in Spain and Clark Mountain, created in close collaboration with Big Up Productions. The second follows Renan Ozturk, Cedar Wright and Sean Leary on an epic trip to South America in honor of the great Roberta Nunes. We are going to be cranking all through the summer shooting and editing these and four other shows from Alaska to The Himalayas. First Ascent will be airing on Nat Geo’s international channels later this year."

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for a U.S. network to pick this up. It's time Climbing got the popularity it deserved.

Labels: climbing, ClimbingNarc, National Geographic, Rock climbing, Television

  ¶ Tuesday, May 12, 2009 0 Comments

  Touchstone Members Goes to Thailand

They called their adventure "The Eastmans Most Excellent Adventure," and here's what they had to say about their time spent in Thailand climbing:

The Eastmans Most Excellent Adventure Mike, Chris & Cynthia have returned from their surf 'n turf expedtion to Thailand. Week 1 was primarily spent in snorkeling trips from their base on Phi Phi Island. Huge coral, lots of colorful fish - parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, long skinny blue guys - and giant clams were the highlights. There were some warm-up climbs on Tonsai Wall near Phi Phi town with the important lesson being "wait for the shade." Week 2 was spent in Railay Beach for climbing. Unfortunately, the Southeast Asian Climbing Comp ended the day we arrived but we were in time to watch the fire competition on the beach in the evening. Dum's Kitchen, Groove Tube, and 123 Wall were the favorite climbing spots. Mike and Chris were happy to see many routes with new titanium anchors instead of the rope anchors seen on their previous trip. Cynthia experienced climbing at dusk with diminishing light (go fast before it really gets dark). Mike and Vanda survived a trek through the jungle to find a nice bouldering spot. Chris's wife Lauren (the sensible one of the group) steered clear of the climbing opting for foot massages and banana pancakes instead.

Looks like an amazing trip. We encourage any and all of you Touchstone members that have climbing trips, videos or photos to send them in. We'd love to feature you on the blog. Welcome back guys!

Labels: Adventure, Eastmans, Thailand, Touchstone Members, Trips

  ¶ Monday, May 11, 2009 0 Comments

  Apollonia Helm To 2009 CrossFit Games! Looks like one of our very own members, Apollonia Helm, who in addition to being a Touchstone member, is an absolutely amazing athlete, performed extremely well at the 2009 NorCal Qualifier for the 2009 CrossFit Games and as such, will be advancing!

The 2009 CrossFit Games will take place July 10th through 12th. We were lucky enough to get some inside information on what all went down. Check it out:

The official results are in and Apollonia Helm will be representing CrossFit East Bay at the 2009 CrossFit Games on July 10th to 12th (She came in fifth). Local athlete Candace Hamilton of CrossFit Oakland will be representing CFO (she came in second).

Coming in to day two, Polly was in a three-way tie for third place. 16 women RXd the day one WODs (out of a possible 20 slots) and were able to advance to day two.

The day two WOD was the following:

22 deadlifts @ 315#/185#
Farmers walk with 45#/25# dumbbells to top of inner loop (hill)
22 thrusters with 45#/25# dumbbells
Farmers walk with 45#/25# dumbbells to bottom of inner loop (hill)
Run to pull-up bar and do 22 chest-to-bar pull-ups
Run to top of outer loop (hill)
22 overhead squats @ 95#/65#
Run to bottom of inner loop (hill)

The hill in question was extremely steep to say the least. Not one competitor managed to run the whole thing*.

Polly finished in a solid 17:42 for fifth place and a spot in the 2009 CrossFit Games. Only 150 athletes worldwide were able to qualify out of a field of thousands. To put in perspective, there were 200 competitors at the NorCal Qualifier and only 10 slots for the games available.

Polly's superb skills as a generalist and the specific training she did coming up to the qualifier served her well here and she finished strong. Her main complaint about the WODs, in fact, was that she did not go hard enough and was still able to stand up at the end. We will have to work on that going forward. Thanks again to Gita who designed the ramp-up training for Polly with a bit of input here and there.

GO POLLY!

* Gita tried out the WOD post-qualifier for fun and was one of only two people to run the entire steep section bottom to top with no breaks. The other was Aaron MacIntire of CrossFit Oakland.

Congratulations and best of luck in July!

Labels: CrossFit, CrossFit Championships, Featured Members, Touchstone Members

  ¶ Friday, May 08, 2009 1 Comments

  Climbing Equipment 101: The Helmet
When it comes to outfitting yourself with the appropriate gear to really start getting into rock climbing, whether it's indoor or outdoor, there are a few pieces of equipment you need. On Monday, we covered the need for a great pair of climbing shoes. Many people over look the need for good climbing shoes, but hopefully after the post, you've reconsidered the need. Today, we're going to cover the need for a different piece of equipment that is less performance based, and more centered around safety. That's right, the Helmet.

While not the coolest, most stylish or most technologically advanced of all climbing gear, the Helmet might be one of the most important. A high quality, properly fitted helmet can protect you from not only falling debris from above, but also from impact injuries if and when you do fall. Here's some advice on what to look for for a good helmet:

"a helmet should be able to protect the head while allowing freedom of movement, vision, and not be uncomfortable when climbing. It should fit snugly and securely on the head. The helmet should not be tilted back, exposing the forehead. Helmets sometimes have special features, such as ventilation holes or clips for securing a headlamp."

Keep those things in mind, or better yet, stop into one of our Touchstone Climbing locations and let the experts fit you properly and get you all suited up. Protect that melon of yours, it's the only one you've got!

Labels: Climbing Equipment, Climbing Gear, How To, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Thursday, May 07, 2009 0 Comments

  Climbing Medicine: Joshua Tree Climbing Salve
We've all been there, the rough and sore hands after a long day climbing. We've all gotten the climbing calluses and major skin irritations for using too much chalk for too long. Now, if you stop into one of our Touchstone Gyms, you can buy something that will help all of that, immediately.

Check out the new product we have in stock, Joshua Tree Climbing Salve:

Help your skin heal after a hard day of climbing!

Joshua Tree Salve contains a carefully designed combination of natural ingredients blended into an effective salve and packaged in convenient to carry and use containers. Designed to heal any skin irritation without softening the skin!

Why no softeners??? Because a healthy callus is your body’s own natural protection, and it hurts when they get soft and peel!

No Scents - No Softeners - Saves Calluses - Lush Moisturizers - Powerful Healing

Pick up a container of Joshua Tree Climbing Salve at your Touchstone Climbing gym today and let the healing begin!

*Joshua Tree Climbers Salve is made with 100% Organic ingredients. Click here for a description of them and their functionality.*

Labels: Climbing Equipment, Climbing Salve, Medicine, Store, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Wednesday, May 06, 2009 0 Comments

  Bolts Being Removed from Tahoe Landmark
If you've ever climbed in or around Lake Tahoe, you're most likely familiar with the huge rock formation that in the past, has been a popular climbing spot. You're likely also familiar that it's been about a year since climbing was officially banned after "a decade of legal battles involving the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, and the Access Fund, a Boulder, Colo.-based advocacy group for rock climbers."

To make a long story short, the Washoe Tribe won and climbing was banned. As such, the official removal of the climbing bolts has now begun, and looks to take about a month to complete, weather depending.

The debate between the two groups was a long and intense one, and according to reports, all centered around the following:

"According to Washoe lore, Cave Rock was a sacred place where tribal elders communed with powerful spirits...The Access Fund maintained the ban was unconstitutional because it gave a religious groupo exclusive control over public property. "

Nevertheless, climbing is now banned, so if you were a fan of Tahoe climbing, it's time to set your sights elsewhere.

(image via alpinist.com)

Labels: Cave Rock, climbing, Climbing Ban, Lake Tahoe

  ¶ Tuesday, May 05, 2009 0 Comments

  How To Buy Rock Climbing Shoes
When it comes to rock climbing, indoor or outdoor, one piece of equipment that is worth its weight in gold, is a good pair of rock climbing shoes. If you've never climbed in proper shoes, you'll be shocked how much better you are, feel and how much higher your confidence will be once you get into them. They are vital, but many people aren't aware just how important they are.

We just found a good post that offers up a brief primer on what to look for, and why you should be looking, when it comes to rock climbing shoes. Basically, rock climbing shoes are specially made and designed "with a special kind of rubber that provides friction when climbing on rock. They also are formed so that a climber can jam their foot into a crack, or smear on a flat slab. Thus, they have a significant advantage over sneakers or boots."

When doing the actual shopping around, here are a few things you should look for:

"...consider doing so at a specialty climbing shop. It’s easier to make an informed purchase after trying the shoe on for fit and comfort, and the sales staff can help finding a particular shoe for different kinds of climbing (for instance, sport climbing on short routes versus trad climbing on long routes). The shoes should fit snugly, but not so tight as to cut off circulation. The store might have a simulated climbing surface to try out the shoes on."

Our advice, come into one of our Touchstone Climbing gym locations. Our staff can help you make the best decision possible, and you can even try them out right there on our walls. Remember, don't neglect the shoes, they'll take your climbing to new levels.

Labels: Climbing Equipment, Climbing Shoes, How To, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Monday, May 04, 2009 0 Comments

  Mission Cliffs Yoga Workshop This Sunday!
One more little note about a great event taking place this Sunday, May 3rd, at our Mission Cliffs location. We're hosting a Yin Yoga Workshop, Sunday, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. Here is a bit more on what's going on, and why you shouldn't miss it:

"Yin Yoga workshop at Mission Cliffs

...this Sunday Start this month feeling relaxed. Join Kate Schox for a Yin Yoga workshop on Sunday, May 3rd from 5pm - 6:30pm. Enjoy a practice of opening up dense connective tissue using long-held relaxed floor postures. This is an all levels class, beginners welcomed. FREE member event and offered on a first-come/first-served basis."

Hopefully we'll see you there!

Labels: Events, mission cliffs, Sunday, Yoga Classes, Yoga Workshop

  ¶ Friday, May 01, 2009 0 Comments

  Climbing Clip of the Week: Breathtaking in Borneo Today's Climbing Clip of the Week comes via ClimbingNarc.com and really does show how far technology is coming in the world of climbing. No longer do you have to wait months and years after a climbing trip has been made to see footage of the expedition, now, you can see it literally hours after the climb has been made.

So, for this week's Climbing Clip of the Week, we're going to check out some absolutely breathtaking climbing that took place in Borneo. Climbers Mark Synnott, Conrad Anker, Kevin Thaw, Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold and Renan Ozturk went to Borneo to tackle some big walls and sent home videos of their trip. This is part 2 of the series, so feel free to head over and check out the rest here.

Nevertheless, enjoy the video, and enjoy your weekend. Start submitting some climbing videos of your own, we want to feature our very own climbers!


Borneo Dispatch Video #6 "As Free As Can Be" from renan ozturk on Vimeo.

Labels: Big Wall, Borneo, Climbing Clip of the Week, Climbing Video

  ¶ Friday, May 01, 2009 0 Comments