Looking for a Climbing Partner
Touchstone is excited to announce that we have a new way for you to find partners to climb with. We have linked up with Climbfind.com This is a cool new service that let's you sign up online, create a personal profile and find partners of similar skill level & climbing style. You can use this to not only find partners for in the gym but also for outdoor climbing areas as well. This is a great new service so be sure to check it out.

Link to your gym directly below, or find it on our website menu under each gym.

Mission Cliffs
Berkeley Ironworks
G.W.P.C.
Diablo Rock Gym
Sacramento Pipeworks

Labels: climbfind, climbing, Partners, Touchstone Web Site

  ¶ Monday, July 06, 2009 0 Comments

  Lightning Safety for Climbers: Stay Safe
Tis the season for some impressive summer storms, and we all know that alongside massive thunder, those summer storms can bring about some extremely impressive, and extremely deadly lightning strikes. As climbers, anytime we climb outdoors in a storm, we are in jeopardy. The good news is there are things we can do to reduce our risk of getting struck.

As always, check out the full article for some more in-depth analysis and reasoning, but now for brevity's sake, here are the top 8 tips for avoiding that summer lightning while climbing this year:

1. Check the weather forecast before going out.
2. Do your climbing in the morning before it storms.
3. Be prepared to change or abandon your climbing plans.
4. Pay attention to atmospheric changes.
5. Get off high places before a storm arrives.
6. Learn to recognize thunderstorms that produce lightning.
7. Use thunder to determine how far a storm is from you.
8. Follow the 30-30 Rule.

There you have it! The 30-30 rule just means if the time between when you see lightning and hear the thunder is under 30 seconds, seek shelter. Wait 30 minutes from the last bolt of lightning before you safely go out again.

Stay Safe this year!

(image via allposters.com)

Labels: climbing, Climbing Safety, Lightning, Outdoor Rock Climbing

  ¶ Wednesday, June 03, 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

  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

  5 Prime Climbing Destinations
We're sneaking up on the season of vacations...schools are about to be letting out for Summer, you might have a few weeks of free time saved up from work, so really the only question that remains is where to go, and when. After reading the article we just found, you might be changing your plans, and re-routing your GPS.

That's right, we just found a great report on 5 different locations that are prime spots if you love to climb. Some of them aren't your typical vacation destinations, but if it's the climbing you're after, you can't do much better than these 5 places. Check out the Top 5:

1. City of Rocks, Idaho - "City of Rocks is a climber's paradise of granite domes set in the grassy rolling hills of southern Idaho...Rock formations from 30 to 300 feet tall provide an abundance of climbing opportunities, from beginner to advanced single pitch cracks to multipitched bolted lines. "
2. Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, Calif. - "The ultimate destination for any climber is Yosemite -- the birthplace of American big-wall climbing. The staggering beauty of the granite walls and green meadows and the unsurpassed climbing continue to lure climbers from all over the world."
3. Indian Creek, Utah - "Affectionately referred to by climbers simply as "The Creek," Indian Creek is THE place for crack climbing, with perfect sandstone splitter cracks of every width imaginable. "
4. Red Rock Canyon, Nevada - "Deep red and orange saturated sandstone, bighorn sheep, wild burros, sunny skies and the lights of Las Vegas in the distance -- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is the Vegas playground for climbers. It offers some of the best moderate, multipitch routes to be found anywhere."
5. Leavenworth, Wash. - "Homegrown granite, great climbing, alpine lakes, mountain goats and a Bavarian village -- it is not necessary to go overseas for this interesting mixture. "

So, as you start planning your upcoming vacation, why not go off the beaten path of typical vacations, avoid the Disneylands and the theme parks and make it a climbing vacation worth remembering?

(image via utahhikes.com)

Labels: climbing, Locations, Outdoor Rock Climbing, Top 5, Vacation

  ¶ Thursday, April 30, 2009 0 Comments

  Sacramento Pipeworks Gets Great Testimonial
Welcome back to the work week. Monday kicks off with Sacramento Pipeworks getting a great testimonial from a community group they recently hosted in their gym. Looks like everyone had a great time and most importantly, a whole lot was learned by all.

The group, called SKYLAB, is a community group that strives to better the lives of youth by giving them a safe harbor to figure out exactly who they are. According to the testimonial they sent, SKYLAB "believes that youth are valuable assets with important ideas, and therefore seeks to provide a safe, creative, nurturing space in which children can pursue their own interests as well as work together to ask questions and present creative solutions to community problems." We couldn't agree more and all of us at Touchstone Climbing agree that children are the most valuable assets. At any rate, here's what some of the kids had to say:

• Christina (11, first time going) said: “Rock climbing was perfect and interesting. I was surprised when I got further past the green and pink rock than I thought that I could. I felt safe, supported and not gonna fall.”
• Dale (9) “I went mostly on all of the walls. When I felt most scared I remembered my past good experiences rock climbing.”
• Mikael (first time going) “I didn’t like the harness but I liked the climbing rope [exercise rope].”
• Jasmine (8) “I had fun. When I was scared I got over the fear by pushing on.”
• Emma (18, Student Intern) “I saw all of the kids finish the day going twice as high as they were in the morning. It was really neat to see.”

Thanks again for a great time and we're looking forward to working with you more in the upcoming future!

Labels: climbing, Community Group, kids, Sacramento Pipeworks, SKYLAB

  ¶ Monday, April 27, 2009 0 Comments

  Earth Day Clean-Up Day April 25!
Short notice on this one, but nevertheless if you're in or around the Sacramento area, this is an event you won't want to miss for a variety of reasons. On Saturday, April 25th, there is a clean-up going on very near the Auburn Quarry. In case you didn't know, climbing is currently banned at the Quarry and event sponsors CRAGS (Climbing Resource Advocates for Greater Sacramento) are trying hard to get that changed. Bottom line, a clean-up is a great way to show some very important goodwill at the same time doing something very good for this planet of ours.

Here is some more information, but make sure to leave your schedules open this Saturday, April 25th from 8:00 am til 1:00 pm. Here you go:

Earth Day 2009 American River Clean-up

Keep it Wild! ~ Keep it Scenic! ~ Keep it Clean!

Saturday, April 25 8am to 1pm

Meet at the old Auburn-Foresthill curved bridge near the Confluence 3 miles below Auburn near the Highway 49 American River crossing.
Check in at the Protect American River Canyons information booth to register and receive your free map of the American River Confluence Parkway, trash collection bags water and snacks. Historic Bridges of the Confluence hike @ 11:30 am. Wear sturdy shoes, Bring gloves, and a lunch.

For more information contact the Auburn State Recreation Area office @ 530-885-4527 or PARC @ 530-885-8878.

Sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation, Auburn State Recreation Area, Protect American River Canyons, ASRA Canyon Keepers and CRAGS(Climbing Resource Advocates for Greater Sacramento)
A very special thanks to clean-up donors, Keep California Beautiful, Auburn Placer Disposal, CHP, PG&E, Raley’s Markets, Grocery Outlet and the Auburn Journal and Auburn Sentinel.

We hope to see you there!

Labels: American River Clean-Up, Charity, climbing, Earth Day, Sacramento Pipeworks, The Quarry

  ¶ Monday, April 20, 2009 0 Comments

  Climbing and Yoga Injury Clinic @ Mission Cliffs
Here's a quick heads up about an awesome free member event that is taking place this Sunday, April 19th from 2-4pm at our Mission Cliffs location. If you're in or around the area, we highly suggest dropping in for this clinic, you can learn a lot and I'm pretty sure everyone will benefit from it greatly.

So, this Sunday, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm we will be having a Climbing and Yoga Injury Clinic that will help you learn exactly how to avoid common climbing and yoga related injuries. Check out the official info about the event:

Focus on Lower Back, Hip and Knee Injuries

CLIMBING & YOGA INJURY CLINIC. Learn to prevent, identify and treat common climbing and yoga-related injuries in this FREE clinic on SUNDAY APRIL 19th from 2-4 PM. This clinic will focus on lower back, hip and knee injuries, but other injuries can be addressed as well, time permitting. Physical therapist David Borgeson will discuss the pathology and treatment of injuries affecting participants. Learn how climbing and yoga can both cause and cure injuries.

David Borgeson is an orthopedic physical therapist at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital Center for Sports Medicine - Corte Madera Clinic. An avid climber of 30 years and yoga practitioner, David has developed expertise in evaluating and treating injuries commonly seen in rock climbers and yoga enthusiasts. He has taught classes on climbing technique and injury prevention for Touchstone for the past 10 years, and incorporates yoga into his physical therapy practice.

Bottom line, if you're in the area, stop in and check it out. Injuries are annoying no matter when, where or why you get them, so the more you can learn to avoid them, the better off you'll be. Your body will thank you, and when you're able to spend more days doing the things you love, and less days recovering, you'll thank us.

Labels: climbing, Clinic, event, Injury Prevention, mission cliffs, Yoga, Yoga Classes

  ¶ Thursday, April 16, 2009 1 Comments

  Climbing Clip of the Week: Homemade Climbing Wall Yesterday, we mentioned that if you have a room or garage in your home that isn't getting much use, maybe a good idea would be to spend some bucks and convert it to a homemade, DIY indoor climbing or bouldering wall that can help you practice anytime you're outside of the gym. Today, I just so happened to find a video of a guy that did exactly that and with great results.

Granted you might not have as much space as the guy in this video, it does show what's possible with a few pieces of plywood and some great holds. Watch his wall, watch him climb on it, and get inspired to make something like it for your Own home.

Have a great weekend, see you back here bright and early Monday morning!

Labels: Bouldering, climbing, Climbing Clip of the Week, DIY Ideas, Home

  ¶ Friday, April 10, 2009 0 Comments

  Empty Space In Your House? Build A Bouldering Wall!
Do you have empty space in your house, whether it's an unfinished basement, a garage you don't use or a family room that never actually sees your family? How about converting it into a mini-climbing or bouldering wall? What better way to keep up on practicing when you're not inside the climbing gym, whichever Touchstone Climbing location you frequent, than doing some climbing and practicing at home?

I just read an article about a family that did exactly that, converted their unused space in their home to a bouldering wall and filled the walls and ceilings with holds and even made their own routes. What better way to stay fit, practice your climbing skills and have FUN while you're not able to be in the gym? According to the article, the Dad of the family, Kevin did all of the work himself:

"Kevin, a handy man, installed plywood around three walls (the fourth wall is a mirror) and part of the ceiling, added "holds" or fake rocks made of resin that he found on eBay and Craigslist and threw a few mats on the floor."

Head over and check out the article, maybe it will inspire you to whip up your own mini-bouldering wall in your own home.

(image via journalnow.com)

Labels: Bouldering, climbing, DIY Ideas, Home, Practice

  ¶ Thursday, April 09, 2009 0 Comments

  Climbing Clip of the Week: Ethan Pringle In honor of the upcoming "Advanced Lead Clinic" taught by the extremely talented Ethan Pringle this Sunday, we decided that this week, our "Climbing Clip of the Week" should be of the man himself.

So, for this weeks Climbing Clip, check out this gem we stumbled across on YouTube. It's Ethan Pringle on the second ascent of a 35 foot Kevin Jorgeson climb in Bishop, CA. It's amazing to see the technique and finesse.

At any rate, check it out, then if you're signed up for his Advanced Lead Clinic, we'll see you at Mission Cliffs on Sunday from 7:30 - 9:30pm.

Labels: climbing, Climbing Clip of the Week, Climbing Video, Ethan Pringle

  ¶ Friday, March 06, 2009 0 Comments

  Great Testimonials From Recent Sacramento Pipeworks Community Group
Sacramento Pipeworks recently hosted a community group, Options for Youth, at our gym and we were fortunate enough to hear back from them with a photo and a testimonial.

The students came and had a day of climbing at Pipeworks and the day was such a success that it looks like they signed up for one day a month of climbing excursions. Check out the letter we received from Brad Astin, the Master Teacher at Options for Youth:

"I wanted to thank you for having our students come climb at Pipeworks. We had class with the students yesterday and they were very excited about the last climbing trip and pumped to hear that we expanded the dates to one per month for future climbing outings. They are already talking about how they are going to climb harder routes! Going into the first climbing outing many of the students were unsure of themselves and how they would perform on the wall. Now all they are much more confident and looking forward to the next challenge. This confidence is carrying over into the classroom as well. These students are more outspoken and participate more in class discussions than they had before. We have also seen increased teamwork and academic performance from these students as well. They know that climbing and participating in the Outdoor Experience program is a privilege and they are taking the responsibility very seriously. Thank you very much for your involvement with our students and our program. We look forward to a continued relationship with Pipeworks."

We were happy to have you and look forward to seeing you again in the future!

Labels: climbing, community, Community Group, Groups, Options for Youth, Sacramento Pipeworks

  ¶ Thursday, February 19, 2009 0 Comments

  Measure Your Ape Index @ Diablo Rock Gym
Did you know that in climbing, the more Ape you are, the better? That's right, your ape index actually says a lot. If you've never heard of an ape index, don't worry, you're not the first, and you certainly won't be the last. Here's a quick update to let you know that for the entire month of February at Diablo Rock Gym we have an interactive art project going on that helps you measure your ape index.

Now, a quick primer:

"Ever wondered what your Ape Index is? Well this month at the DRG you can find out what it is and see how you compare to other climbers. The Ape Index is an informal measure of one's armspan relative to height. Among rock climbers it is seen as desirable to have an arm span that exceeds one's height. Your ape index can be calculated by the subtracting your height from your armspan. The greater the number, the higher your ape index. So come on down and measure yours today - While you still can! "

So if you're in the area head in and get measured, if you're a member, take a few minutes after your next climb or workout and log your ape index. See how you all stack up.

Labels: Ape Index, Artist of the Month, climbing, Diablo Rock Gym, Interactive Project

  ¶ Monday, February 16, 2009 1 Comments

  New Members: Bouldering Safety & How To Fall The new year always brings a lot of new faces in the gym and as such, we thought it would be a good time to remind everyone of some basic bouldering safety. The main thing you need to know, right off the bat before you start climbing, is the easiest to learn: How To Fall. That's right, many people get injured by falling, and landing improperly while bouldering.

Here are the basics:

1. Hit the ground feet first, toes facing forward, with your knees bent.
2. Absorb shock by collapsing like an accordion.
3. Roll backwards to disperse force.
   

The article mentions that you should always scout out your landing area before beginning any bouldering problems. Keep this extra little tip in mind:

"Except in cases where an obstacle looms immediately behind you (e.g. a wall, person, etc.), there is seldom a reason to remain on your feet. Posting your arm behind you can potentially dislocate or break your elbow, wrist, or shoulder. Also take care when rolling forward, as whacking your head on your knees or the wall will reduce your debonair appearance."

Labels: Bouldering, climbing, How To Fall, New Members, Safety

  ¶ Thursday, February 05, 2009 0 Comments

  TBS4 At Sacramento Pipeworks In case you missed the comp last Friday in Sacramento, here is a brief recap of all the in's and out's of what occurred at this year's TBS4 held at Sacramento Pipeworks. By all accounts it was a very successful competition and it makes us even more excited for our next event, to be held at Diablo Rock Gym on Friday, February 20th, so start planning now!

Here's a bit of what you missed:

Held Friday January 23rd from 6-10pm. The 64 climbing problems ranged in difficulty from V0 to V11. 165 competitors from Sacramento, Davis and all over the bay area turned in score cards and were treated to pizza and beer. Prizes raffled at the end included t-shirts, climbing chalk, bouldering brushes, magazines, bouldering guides, chalk bags, coffee mugs and Touchstone water bottles. While scores were being tallied, the crowd was entertained by a slackline competition and a ro-sham-bo (rock, paper and scissors) championship.

Thanks for everyone who participated, competed and enjoyed. It's always a great time.

Labels: climbing, Competition, Sacramento Pipeworks, TBS4, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Tuesday, February 03, 2009 0 Comments

  Climbing App for your iPhone!
If you're the type of climber that likes to keep track of every single detail of your climbs, your work-outs and your daily climb related fitness endeavors, we just found the perfect iPhone application for you.

While none of us have actually tested the app, called SprayCaster, it does look like it might offer a few promising features. According to the article I read:

"The way the app works is that you can log each route you climb, indicating whether it was done on lead or not as well as if you onsighted/flashed or simply redpointed. Based on the criteria entered for each route, a score is assigned to indicate the overall effort associated with whatever it is that you did...Once you save the climbs, you can go back and view the log for an individual day in your history. The basic premise is that you should be able to easily compare your training days based on the score the app has assigned to each day."

Interested? Check it out and report back to us if you like it or hate it. Use something else? We're all ears...sound off and let us know.

Labels: App, climbing, Iphone, iPhone App, Technology

  ¶ Friday, January 30, 2009 0 Comments

  Nicros Training's Three Cornerstones of Training

Labels: climbing, Eric Hörst, fitness, Training

  ¶ Thursday, January 29, 2009 0 Comments

  Mission Cliffs Featured in "The View from the Bay" Mission Cliff was just featured on a popular San Francisco television show "The View from the Bay" that airs on the local ABC channel. Looks like they got some great footage, some great interviews and it's nice to see Mission Cliffs getting the recognition it deserves.

Those on the show sent over Leigh Glaser to Mission Cliffs and let her do a little bit of climbing and filming. The segment highlighted not only our climbing and fitness programs, but also our kids programs, birthday parties and after-school camps.

The video is entertaining, so head over and check it out. Thanks again all of you on "The View from the Bay," it was great to see this. They also had a bit of information I thought I'd relay for any and all of you interested in the after-school climbing we offer:

After School Climbing

Ten week sessions are offered from 4pm to 6pm. Call your local gym for dates & prices.

Suggested ages: 6 to 14
Days: Check with your local gym
Time: 4pm - 6pm
Price: $250 for non-members; $200 for members
Curriculum: Belaying, knotcraft, basic movement technique, rappelling, anchors, mock leading, bouldering, spotting, training, route-reading

Labels: climbing, mission cliffs, Television, The View from the Bay, Touchstone Climbing

  ¶ Tuesday, January 27, 2009 0 Comments

  King Students Climb @ Berkeley Ironworks This past December, Berkeley Ironworks was happy to host a group of four students from King Middle School and it just recently came to our attention that they put up a great testimonial to the outing on the Hayward Unified School District website.

The four students that were selected for the day trip were chosen "by making commitments towards positive change as students and citizens of their school and community." They all got the full lay of the land once inside Berkeley Ironworks and all showed some great promise on the climbing walls.

At any rate, head over and check out the testimonial on their site. I'm sure we'll be playing host to other events like this in the future, so stay tuned.

Labels: Berkeley Ironworks, climbing, Education, Hayward California, Testimonial, Unified school district

  ¶ Monday, January 26, 2009 0 Comments

  New Core Class @ GWPC
Hey all you Great Western Power Co. fans, this one is aimed DIRECTLY at you. As I've mentioned, we're officially into 2009, and I've decided this is the year we're going to get each and every one of you into the best shape of your lives. Ready to join me?

That said, for any and all of you Great Western Power Co. members, potential members, or even just people that have always Wanted to be members, now is the time to join up. We have a new Core Class that is guaranteed to whip you into healthy shape. Don't believe me? Check out this Course intro and a bit about our instructor...trust me, you'll buy it after you read, and see who's teaching:

High Energy Core and Flexibility Class

Having trouble controlling your hips on steep terrain? Can't quite reach that high-step? Two perfect examples of the need to increase core strength and flexibility! Isabel will help you open your hips and strengthen your abdominal muscles. A strong core and increased flexibility will improve range of motion and strength in many climbing positions such as stemming and high stepping. Release more power and gain more control! Being flexible while using strength is extremely advantageous and can develop an entirely new body awareness for all athletes. This class is also a great way for you to warm up and loosen muscles and tendons for your work out or climbing session. Working your abs has never been this fun! This class is open to all levels!

About Isabel:

Isabel von Rittberg has been climbing since 2001, and has been dancing her whole life. Extremely stimulated by all kinds of movement, she includes stretching and a core strengthening workout into her daily routine. Climbing has become Isabel's main drive and spiritual inspiration. It allows her to work proficiently, be attentive, and feel alive. Isabel has combined her passions for climbing, music, and dance by starting her own dance-climb fusion company, the AscenDance Project. Her group conveys the grace and fluidity of a climber's delicate yet powerful movement.

The time is now, stop in, sign up and get to work! The Class starts in February and will be every Thursday from 6-7pm. IF you want a little sample of what you're getting yourself into, there will be a Demo Class this January 22 at 6pm. What have you got to lose?!

Labels: climbing, Core Class, Great Western Power Co., GWPC, Isabel, New Class

  ¶ Thursday, January 08, 2009 0 Comments