FAQs

First Timer and Beginner's FAQ

This looks fun, but I've never climbed in my life. What's the best way to try it?
Give us a call and rent-a-belayer! You'll get a private instructor to get you on the wall and climbing in no time. The best way to do this is with a small group of 2 to 4 people. Or come to one of our special events. We host a great MeetUp group designed to welcome newcomers to the sport. You'll meet other beginners in a casual atmosphere and get climbing fast. Everybody always has a great time. You should also check out our Getting Started page. All the different types of climbing are explained. Then you can decide what suits you best.
What is belaying?
Belaying is the process of managing the climber's safety rope. As the climber ascends, the belayer takes up slack in the rope. This is done with a friction device so that when the climber falls the belayer can stop the rope and catch the fall. The belayer also lowers the climber from the top of the wall.
How do I learn how to belay?
The best way is to take our Climbing 102 course, Intro to Belaying. You'll get plenty of practice and we'll make sure your belaying skills are rock solid. Sorry, we can not allow instruction, lessons or coaching at TRC by non-staffers or clientele.
Do I need a strong upper body to climb?
Rock climbing well requires many things. Upper body strength certainly helps, but is by no means a requirement. Far more important are strong legs, flexibility and technique. Not having a strong upper body will not prevent you from climbing well and you will begin to see improvements rapidly. Many newcomers are surprised and delighted to discover that climbing is very much a mental sport. The best climbers tend to study a route and visualize the movement and climbing sequence before moving a muscle. Patience, thoughtfulness and positive attitude are all richly rewarded.
How old do I need to be to climb?
It's more a matter of size and temperament than age. Kids as small as 4 can usually fit into a harness. Whether they'll have the focus is another matter. At this age though it's best for parents to learn to belay since you know your children best. We begin to teach climbers how to belay (technique used to hold the rope for another climber) at age 14. We offer climbing teams and camps for climbers ages eight and up.
Is climbing a good workout?
Climbing is one of the best workouts around! You will build strength and flexibility while burning calories. You are only pulling and pushing your own body weight, making strength gains natural and healthy. And it’s easy to stay motivated because it's so much fun!
Do you teach classes?
We offer courses for all levels, abilities and ages. We also offer training on specific topics and private instruction based on individual needs.
Do I need to come to The Rock Club with someone else or can I visit by myself?
Climbing is a partner oriented activity and visiting with a friend is a good idea. If you are just starting try our Climbing 101 course. You'll get on the walls and climbing with an instructor immediately without spending time learning complicated equipment. We make every effort to welcome newcomers and ensure that they're on their way to becoming a part of our climbing community. We'll introduce you to other people so you'll have someone to climb with. Better still, join our MeetUp group. It's designed to welcome adult newcomers to the sport. You'll meet other beginners in a casual atmosphere and get climbing fast. Everybody always has a great time.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing that does not inhibit movement. Remember, your clothes need to fit under a snug harness. Tights, sweats, long shorts, T-shirts, tank tops and sports bras all work great. Extremely baggy clothes, especially baggy pants, don't work well. Jeans aren't a good idea either, they tend to greatly inhibit free leg movement. In winter you may want to bring a sweatshirt or fleece for when you're not actually climbing. Jewelry and watches should be avoided! Rings and watches can take a real beating. They get scratched on the wall and can catch on things. If you have long hair it's best to tie it up or into a ponytail.
I don’t own my own climbing gear, do you supply it?
We rent gear on a daily basis. Some classes and programs include gear rentals. We also sell what we rent. If you want to get your own gear please visit our Pro Shop and let our experienced climbing staff help set you up!

General Questions

Are you guys at New Roc City? There used to be a climbing wall there.
We have nothing to do with New Roc City, though they did have a climbing wall at one time. The wall was a part of their entertainment operation and never a true indoor climbing gym.
What's up with the wristbands and cards and why do we need to show them?
TRC uses an ID system to control access to TRC and help make sure people are only doing things that they're qualified to do. We share some facilities with the Racquet Club. For liability reasons it's important that the Racqueteers not have free access to TRC. This system helps make sure that everyone in TRC belongs there.
How often do you change routes?
We're setting new routes all the time. Routes usually have a life expectancy of about 2 months or less. When a route is stripped all the climbing holds are cleaned before being used again.
Is climbing dangerous?
Since there's the possibility of falling, or being dropped by your belayer, the answer can only be "yes." Skiing is also dangerous. You can hit a patch of ice and slam into a tree going 25 mph. Surfing is dangerous as well. You can be knocked unconscious by your board and drown. Similar considerations apply to all such active sports. They all entail risks that can never be fully controlled. However, unlike almost every other "extreme" sport, indoor climbing occurs in a very controlled environment. We don't have ice, moving vehicles or high speed movement. We don't have flying bats or hardballs. We don't have falling rocks to worry about. What we do have, however, are people and people can make mistakes. The greatest indoor climbing risks arise from the climber's own lack of skill, awareness or discipline. The best defense against these shortcomings is training and education. We take pride in our quality instructional programs and industry leading operations. We administer a stringent belay test where skills must be demonstrated. But you must still make the decision to climb and accept personal responsibility for your own safety. For more information please see our safety page.
How do you do the belay test?
To pass the belay test the belayer must demonstrate:
  • Proper use of the harness – doubling back and checking harness on climber
  • Ability to tie in using Figure-8 follow-through knot with additional safety knot through waist belt and leg loops
  • Proper use of commands between belayer and climber
  • Proper set-up of belay device and locking carabiner
  • Belaying without dropping/letting go of the brake hand
  • Switching between belaying and lowering without compromising the brake hand
  • When lowering, brake hand must not go above 3 o'clock position
  • Ability to safely catch 4 falls
Why do you require the figure 8 knot to tie in? Other knots are just as good, or better.
The easier it is for us to monitor safety, the better. The figure 8 is very easy to see from a distance. We have nothing against other knots. But for safety reasons it's essential that we be able to easily see the knot from a distance.
Why do you limit the use of Grigri's? Since they're automatic it seems like they'd be the safest way to belay. Lots of gyms require people to use them.
Grigri's are always a controversial topic. There's no question that they're a useful device in the hands of an experienced climber who fully understands their limitations. However, they can be easily misused and they are far from foolproof. Grigri's are notorious for contributing to inattentive or sloppy belaying, especially with beginners. Some states mandate the use of "automatic" belay devices. Some gyms require Grigri's for belaying, perhaps with the view that it's safer or less demanding of their customers. We disagree. Such a belay system is never taught to first timers climbing outside, and for good reason. At TRC we believe that putting the effort into learning solid belaying skills is rewarded by safer climbing.
Some climbing places have auto-belayers so people can climb by themselves. Why don't you guys have them?
Safety! Most of those places are amusement centers, portable climbing walls or places that treat climbing as entertainment. Such operations tend to have attendants to make sure that the climber is clipped in properly. Auto-belays do away with the critical safety element of the climber and belayer double checking each other. That said, a few climbing gyms do have auto-belay devices. In many cases they have proven troublesome, since they tend to promote inattentiveness. Inattentiveness has no place in climbing. Have a look at this thread for an interesting perspective.
Why don't you allow nonclimbing helmets?
Helmets, like any other protective equipment, are designed to protect against the dangers and injuries specific to the sport. Climbing helmets are designed to protect against falling objects and blows to the head, somewhat like a hard hat. Most climbers consider helmets a necessity when climbing outdoors. Yet a helmet does little or nothing to protect against being dropped as a result of poor technique or inattentiveness. Other types of helmet, such as bicycle or ski helmets are simply not designed to protect against the hazards associated with climbing. That would simply make them ineffective, however. Non-climbing helmets can also obscure vision, communicating safety commands and catch on the ropes. We disagree with the practice of "crossing over" sports safety equipment thinking that "anything is better than nothing at all." This is a case where the alternative may actually be worse than nothing at all.

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