Mission Cliffs
 
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Bike Parking at Mission Cliffs

When the Mission Cliffs was built in 1995, bike parking wasn’t taken into consideration. When we first embarked on the Mission Cliffs Expansion project in 2013, we knew that having amazing climbing terrain, killer classes, and a fantastic fitness area wouldn’t be enough. We had to provide a designated bike parking area for our members […]

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Your Edge

By guest blogger and yoga instructor Avram Pearlman In yoga, there is a concept called the edge. Think of it as the limit of your practice in the present moment. Even if yoga is not part of your weekly routine, visualize a place between reaching a little farther and falling over while stretching. This place […]

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Trust and Teamwork at BIW

When soccer people talk vertical it is mostly about getting under the ball and sending it high and as far down field as possible. This winter Soccer Without Borders went vertical a different way at Berkeley Ironworks. Teamwork, trust, leadership and fun were the goals and we hit scored a bunch in January, February and […]

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To Fall or Not to Fall

Reader Q and A In a blog post last week entitled ‘Learning to Sport Climb,’ we included the following statement when giving tips on climbing routes. “..Feeling relaxed on a sport route is essential. Breathe well. Move efficiently. Despite 13 years of climbing, I still get terrified climbing. To overcome my fear on a difficult […]

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Member Profile: Sariah Crull

If you are already a member of the Touchstone family, you know that there is an instant community of individuals similar to yourself to hang out with. You may have also found out by now that we have some of the best teachers in town to guide you through our many fitness classes offered daily. […]

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Soccer Without Boarders at Berkeley Ironworks

When soccer people talk vertical it is mostly about getting under the ball and sending it high and as far down field as possible. This winter Soccer Without Borders went vertical a different way at Berkeley Ironworks. Teamwork, trust, leadership and fun were the goals and we hit scored a bunch in January, February and […]

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Soccer Without Boarders at BIW

We are always happy to welcome community groups into the gym to build confidence, get active, and have a blast. Last month, Soccer Without Boarders, an Oakland non-profit, visited Berkeley Ironworks for a day of climbing. SWB Oakland creates positive team communities for recently arrived refugee and immigrant youth. Harnessing the power of soccer as […]

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Climbing Harder on Gear

Moonlight Buttress in Zion is one of the world’s best crack climbs. With four hundred feet of fun sandstone followed by six hundred feet of amazing crack climbing, the exposure, consistency, and aesthetics make the route nothing short of amazing. Free climbing such a difficult route seems daunting but it is fully possible. While Zion […]

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Learning to Sport Climb

Mary-Kate fought through a series of pockets. At the last bolt, she grabbed a sidepull, pressed her foot onto nothing and made a delicate mantle to the anchors. Ecstatic, she clipped the anchors of Pocket Line, a 5.11 at The Wailing Wall, sending her hardest sport route to date. Mary-Kate, a long time boulderer, has […]

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What Girls Think (About Climbing with Dudes)

We at Touchstone Climbing want to provide our readership with insightful, relevant writing from our members and the climbing community. We hope that this article inspires thoughtful conversation. Please note that the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views held by Touchstone Climbing. By Georgie Abel “You’re pretty strong for a girl,” he […]

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