It is once again time to get out your rope, tie in and climb. Touchstone Climbing is pleased to bring back the Touchstone Roped Series for its third year. This will be a series of five Roped Climbing comps that will be held on Friday evenings, one at all five of the Touchstone locations. All events will include a red point roped comp as well as refreshments, games and prizes. Points will be awarded for each comp with overall winners being announced after the final comp. The first event will be held Touchstone's newest gym, the Great Western Power Co. in Oakland on May 16th. There will be a comp each month for the following five months, with the finale coming in September at Mission Cliffs in San Francisco.

Labels: climbing, comps, concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, oakland, pipeworks

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting the TBS3 Finale on Friday April 4th starting @ 6pm. This is your last chance to rack up points for the TBS3 series as series winners will be announced after the comp.

Never tried a Touchstone Bouldering Series comp? Well, it more fun that you might think since it's more about fun than competition. The entire bouldering area (plus a little more) will be set with all new problems to test your mettle. When you are too tired to climb anymore, we will have beer, beverages & pizza to finish off the night. But don't leave too early because we will have a prize raffle at the end. See you there!

Labels: comps, ironworks

The Berkeley Ironwork basketball rim has been repaired and is ready to go for the summer season. Unfortunately, the towel guy ran into our old rim with his big truck a few weeks ago bending the rim into an ugly mess.

Now that spring has sprung and it's staying light later, pick-up basketball will be getting back into full swing. Typically, Wednesday between 6-7pm is a good time to stop by and play some hoops. Once everyone has shaken off the rust, we will be having a 3 on 3 tournament later in the summer - so start practicing you moves now!

Labels: fitness, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks is now offering a Personal Training special for the rest of winter. Why should you take advantage of Personal Training at Berkeley Ironworks? Because it will give you focus / encouragement / motivation combined with fun, new exercises!

The best part is that you can sign up now and receive a full physical assessment plus two training sessions for only $129!

Contact our trainers directly:
Dawn Miller 510.367.1317
John Downey 510.333.5514
Kristin Rios 415.672.2812
Mike Andrews 510.693.3094
Max Lewin 510.910.2919

Labels: fitness, ironworks

Starting in February, Berkeley Ironworks will be offering 3 MORE CROSSFIT CLASSES! Free for members/ $10 drop-in for non-members!


This program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. The specialty of this program is not specializing. Combat, survival, many sports, and life reward this kind of total body fitness.

Questions? www.crossfit.com

Labels: fitness, ironworks

On Sunday January 27th, Sandra Safadirazieli will be leading a 2-hour Yoga Workshop to benefit the Peter Togakasaki Cancer Fund. The workshop will start at 12:30pm.

Sandra is a long time Yoga instructor here and Berkeley Ironworks and her brother had a similar condition - so she understands the difficulties that lie ahead for Peter. Peter, as you probably remember from last month’s newsletter, is a 26-year-old bike builder at Berkeley-based Wrench Science and former Touchstone employee, who was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in late August. After two unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy treatments at an Oakland hospital, he is now being transferred to Stanford for a bone-marrow transplant.

Labels: event, fitness, ironworks

CrossFit classes have started this January at Berkeley Ironworks! CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide. The classes will be on both Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 12 noon. The classes, as usual are free to members and only $10 for drop-ins. Classes will be taught by well-known CrossFit instructor Maximus Lewin. (http://crossfiteastbay.com/) Stay tuned as the CrossFit schedule at Ironworks might be expanding soon

Labels: fitness, ironworks

This October, Berkeley Ironworks Performance Cycling instructor Jen Worth spent a month of October in Nepal, a country she had wanted to visit for several years. Here is her story:

I trekked the Annapurna Circuit, a classic trek that circles the Annapurna massif and stretches about 220km (137 miles). The Circuit begins at low elevations, where it was downright tropical, and climbs in altitude until crossing the Thorung La pass at 5416 meters (17,769 feet). Along the way, it passes through lowland villages amidst terraced rice fields, villages valleys along a river, and barren mountain villages with prayer flags whipping in the wind.

It is a tea-house style trek, meaning one eats and sleeps in basic lodges while passing through villages along the Circuit. Dal bhat tarkari (lentil soup, rice and vegetables) is the standard Nepali meal, eaten twice a day. I chose to eat like a local as much as possible, except when I simply needed calories and had to down a Snickers and Coke (and I don't even like Coke!). Along the most of the trail, there are no roads (didn't see a car for 10 days!) so all supplies must be carried in on mules or on the backs of porters. To see a small, elderly woman carrying cages full of chickens five deep for hours on end is beyond humbling.

Speaking of humbling, the most spectacular scenery in the world is on display day after day. Rounding the corner in Upper Pisang and having Annapurna 2 staring squarely at me was a moment that took my breath away; I simply couldn't believe I was in the Himalayas looking at the mountains I'd read about for years. Along the Circuit, Nature continually reminds me that I am to be humbled. Landslides show their effect by having taken away parts of the trail, either forcing a delicate negotiation to pick one's way along a narrow path, or to be completely stopped while the army carves a new pathway where one stood the day before. The powerful rivers and many waterfalls are a stunning reminder of Nepal's abundance of water.

Crossing the Thorung La pass was a day I will never forget. We were about to embark on a day starting at 14,600 and ascend to the pass elevation of 17,769 then descend to finish the day at 12,465. I was one of many people to take a 4:30am departure...with snow falling. Perhaps we believed it was just a flurry, or perhaps we all felt safety in numbers. Regardless, it was an eerily beautiful sight to watch the snaking lights of headlamps in a slow processional up the switchbacks. People moved slowly, sucking in the thin, dry air. As daylight showed itself, two things were apparent: there was no end in sight to the snowfall, and many people were showing signs of altitude illness. These two realities were not a good combination. I saw many sick people I wanted to help (as a Wilderness First Responder, I carried extra Diamox), but could not, because I had to keep moving so I would not lose the small group I was crossing with, and because the snow was now joined by whipping winds. The top of the pass snuck up on me, since I was worried about all these sick people! I stopped very briefly to take the obligatory photo at the cairns and prayer flags, and to buy a sick porter a cup of tea.(Amazingly, there's a tea shop at the top of the pass, with the most expensive tea in all of Nepal!) The descent was a tricky one, narrow scree paths were now covered with inches of snow. People slowly tiptoed through the narrow paths that were on the edge of hundred foot drops. Many people, including me, fell several times along these icy ledges. I travelled closely with a Finnish guy, and we joked as we looked out for each other, both of us exhausted but determined to get to Muktinath safely. Nine hours after starting out, we were searching for guesthouses with available rooms. I was never so grateful for taking off my boots!

It wasn't all challenging. This side of the pass was more "luxurious", meaning better lodges with more food options, and hot showers! The village of Tatopani has natural hot springs along the river....a well-deserved soak was never enjoyed so much! It was exactly what was needed, since the next day was a 6000 ft climb up granite steps over 7 miles. The views of Dhaulagiri were our reward at Ghorepani. Sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the surrounding peaks were breathtaking.

I finished the trek on the most important day of the most important Nepali holiday, Dasain. People travel far to be with family, and everyone is dressed in their finest clothing and adorned with tikkas on their foreheads. It was a lovely sight as I caught a ride to Pokhara, a mellow lakeside town Where one typically decompresses after the trek. Many who craved a steak got their fix here, as for me, I just wanted some strong coffee! After chilling out here for a few days, I returned to Kathmandu to do more sightseeing before returning home. The giant Buddhist stupa at Boudha, the funereal pyres at Pashupatinath (the Varanasi of Nepal) and the monkeys at Swayambhunath (aka Monkey Temple) were all stunningly impressive places to visit.

All too soon it was time to leave. The people of Nepal, the mountain scenery and tiny villages, the simplicity, the beauty amidst the chaos all leave a special place in my heart and I know I'll be back.

Labels: ironworks, staff

Peter Togasaki, a 26-year-old bike builder at Berkeley-based Wrench Science and former Berkeley Ironworks employee, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in late August. Peter, had been feeling poorly for weeks but never expected to be diagnosed with this devastating cancer. After two unsuccessful rounds of chemotherapy treatments at an Oakland hospital, he is now being transferred to Stanford for a bone-marrow transplant. The road to recovery will be long (six months or more!) and dangerous. Jess, Peter’s sister and bone marrow donor, greatly appreciates the support and positive thoughts that Peter has been receiving from our community. She writes, “The Peter Fund is still open and any little bit you can give makes a difference. And THANK YOU to everyone who has donated, it's wonderful.”"We’re hoping to rally around Peter and raise enough money to cover his medical/living expenses during this time of need so that he can focus on beating his cancer," says Tim Medina, Wrench Science’s CEO. Information updates and contributions to the Peter Togasaki Cancer Fund can be made electronically. Please visit http://wrenchscience.blogspot.com/2007/11/peter.html

Labels: ironworks, members, staff

The name says it all. They were hoping to win and well...they did, actually, they dominated. Patrick Whalen, Chris Gade, Johannes Burge and Sean Vora absolutely annihilated the competition in the second Berkeley Ironworks 3on3 basketball tournament of the year. In a gripping finale the Hopefuls triumphed over the Monstars 12-1, taking home the coveted prize: one month free membership at Ironworks. The team is seen here having a post game giggle, probably in reference to the one lonely point the Monstars scored. A spectator, commenting on the game, said, "Man, I really thought that one basket was going to be a turning point for the Monstars, but was I wrong, they got crushed!"

The Hopefuls will have a chance to defend their title in the not too distant future. Stay tuned for dates and prizes. Looking to play a little pick-up basketball? There are games on every Wednesday night at 7pm. Come join the fun!

Labels: comps, ironworks

On September 11 after fixing lines, Touchstone members Humberto Marquez, Paul Hara and Ironworks member Bob Boggs, started climbing the Lurking Fear route on El Capitan. The were armed with lots of pre-climbing beta from Touchstone instructor and world class climber Hans Florine plus logistical support (Sherpa duty!) from gym members Margaret Hara, Leo Bates, Ironworks member Leo Burk, and others.

The trio was hoping to climb the route in 3 days with enough emergency provisions for 4. The climb actually took 6 continuous days, including the rappel down. "Bob got real sick the first day and had to go back down. After that, it was tough going. When Bob went down, so did our engineering brain" said Paul. "During the third day Humberto and I considered going down because we were moving so slowly and the top was so far away, but we decided to see how high we could get with our remaining provisions and energy".

The pair finally reached their goal of Thanksgiving Ledge at sunset of the 5th day. Humberto said "Its a beautiful, big ledge with a small cave with a sandy floor. By far the best bivy of the whole climb."

What's next for the pair? They're setting their sights on The Nose route of El Capitan. According to Humberto, "If we can climb a little bit faster, we just might make it!".

Labels: climbing, concord, ironworks, members

Touchstone Climbing will once again host the Touchstone Bouldering Series, now in its third season. With the opening of the Great Western Power Co. in Oakland, the series will expand to seven comps this year, that will be held on Friday evenings, one at each of the Touchstone locations. All events will include a red point Bouldering comp as well as refreshments, games and prizes. Points will be award for each comp with overall winners being announced after the final comp. The first event will be held in October in Concord and will conclude this year at Berkeley Ironworks.

These comps are FREE for Touchstone Members

Concord
October 26th, 2007
in Concord

San Jose
November 16th, 2007
in San Jose

Pipeworks
December 14th, 2007
in Sacramento

G.W.P.C.
January 11th, 2008
in Oakland

Mission Cliffs
February 8th, 2008
in San Francisco

Class 5
February 29th, 2008
in San Rafael

Ironworks
April 4th, 2008
in Berkeley

Labels: class 5, climbing, comps, concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, oakland, pipeworks, san jose, touchstone

In celebration of our newest gym opening later this fall, all Touchstone gyms will be offering a zero initiation fee deal. Take advantage of this great opportunity to save from $50 to $150 off the regular sign-up fee by becoming a member in October.

Those folks wanting to become members at the new Great Western Power Company should contact manager, Lyn Verinsky, to get their names on the pre-opening list. Everyone on the list will be eligible for the zero initiation deal immediately after the gym opens. Or better yet, sign up now at Berkeley Ironworks and start enjoying Touchstone today. Once G.W.P.C. opens, you can transfer you membership to the Power Company for no charge. Remember, the days are just getting shorter and wetter, so sign up soon

Labels: class 5, concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, oakland, pipeworks, san jose, touchstone

Ever wonder what other climbers think about the gyms? Follow this link to find out what other people are saying on Yelp about Touchstone Concord and add some comments of your own.

Here's one highlight:

"For a beginner, this is the place to go to if you want to learn from a knowledgeable staff and a patient one as well. The vibe is a plus and the equipment to stretch out are great. Besides the coffee they offer at the front is definitely needed. The people that worked there when I visited were what I call military safe, our instructor taught us as a group and then made sure we each knew how to tie our own ropes and how to belay properly. At other locations, they will show you how and make sure you know how to, but here they will stay with you for your first few runs up. Safety and fun here are a priority." -Robert B.

You can also find 97 reviews of Mission Cliffs, 33 reviews of Ironworks and even 7 reviews of Touchstone San Jose. Yelp is also a great way to find a good restaurant around the gym to try after your workout.

Labels: concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, san jose

Aug. 20 - 24, 2007 several Touchstone members (Bruce Berg, Dan Brekke, Jaime Grant, Marty Kaplan, and Elmar Stefke) participated in the 16th Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) randonneuring bike event. Much like the Olympics this grand spectacle is held every four years and predates the Tour de France. Cyclists must successfully complete a timed series of rides called brevets, covering distances of 200K, 300K, 400K, and 600K in order to qualify for PBP, which covers a distance of 1200K (actual distance 1227K or 763mi) and over 30,000' of climbing in less than 80, 84, or 90 hours (participants chose their starting time/time limit).

This year's PBP turned out to be tougher than usual. Daily rain and wind combined to make things miserable for many of the 5300 riders from around the globe and the number of abandons exceeded that of previous years, including many 'anciens,' previous PBP finishers. The event was truly unique and spectacular, heading over rollers through green fields and quaint villages out to Brest on the Atlantic and back much the same way. Trying to stretch fifty French words into a conversation that would pass time for hours, staving off boredom and exhaustion in the dark and rain. Sitting in pacelines with a handful of foreign riders who hadn't slept much for several days. Was that "to your left" in Danish? Finally the French along the road, who proved to be unparalleled cycling enthusiasts, constantly clapping, cheering, and urging the riders forward, even in the pouring rain and early morning hours. 'Bon Courage, Bon Route, Bon Chance!'

Labels: cycling, ironworks, members

This Monday, all Touchstone gyms will be open and operating on weekend hours. Standard weekend rates will apply for all gyms. Please contact your local gym to find out the exact hours of operation and pricing.

REMINDER: The Bay Bridge will be closed all weekend. For more info, check here.

Labels: class 5, concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, pipeworks, san jose

Berkeley Ironworks front desk staffer Rose Waters has embarked on a good-will trip to Guatemala to help out at a health clinic in the village of San Marcos de la Laguna. She started out by taking an intensive language school in the Spanish colonial city of Antigua.

She is now in San Marcos and hoping to practice her Spanish, but most of the people there speak it pretty badly if at all, since they are all indigenous and speak the Mayan language Kaqchikel. But she is using her basic Spanish to communicate while helping with prenatals, attending births, observing the naturopathic doctor, works in the garden (they grow herbs that they use for treatments in the clinic), and going around to check on the orphans that the clinic sponsors.

In the picture, Rose may look like she is shaking her fist at the little girl, but she is actually treating her for a cough, fever and malnutrition (that´s why her hair is falling out).

Labels: community, ironworks, staff

Join us on Sunday, August 26th from 5-7pm for a dance-climb fusion workshop at Berkeley Ironworks! This seminar will be offered by AscenDance Project, a group of dancers and climbers who have decided to choreograph climbing to the rhythm of music. Isabel von Rittberg will share with you the joy of moving on the wall to beats.

Whether you simply wish to enhance your fluency when moving across the wall or desire to climb to music, this class offers new ways to explore your body awareness on the vertical plan. Concentrating on the details of your movements allows you to develop an awareness that helps you understand how your body moves most efficiently. By focusing on each movement you can isolate certain positions and accentuate them. This also helps understand and enjoy the dynamics of body transition on the
wall.

No climbing/dance experience required.
Sign up at the front desk.
$25 for members, $30 for non-members

Labels: climbing, ironworks

This past weekend was full of competitions for Touchstone Climbing.

On Friday night, Berkeley Ironworks hosted the 3rd stage in the Touchstone Roped Series. This was the biggest turnout yet for a TRS event with over 128 climbers turning in scorecards. You can check out the complete results here. The next TRS event will be on August 10th at Mission Cliffs.

On Saturday, the Touchstone Cycling teams took to the hills. Well, one very large hill to be exact. Eleven Touchstone team members competed in the 3rd annual Mount Diablo Hill Climb. Touchstone Climbing was a co-sponsor of this event and our Director of Operations, Markham Connolly, built a very impressive start ramp for the event. The Touchstone Women's Elite team had a strong showing by placing 3 riders in the top 10.

And finally as noted last week, Mark Melvin, founder and CEO of Touchstone Climbing, competed in the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run in Colorado. Mark finished the 100 mile run in 37 hours 56 minutes, an hour or two before nightfall the second night. He placed 44th out of 98 finishers and 134 starters.

Labels: climbing, comps, cycling, ironworks, touchstone

Cragmont is a small formation of boulders in Berkeley near Indian Rock, which has a rich history as the training ground for some of the biggest names in technical rock climbing's history.

Cragmont offers about a dozen short, slabby toprope routes from 5.6 - 5.11, and you can walk around to the base from each of the climbs.

To get there, get off I-80 at the Albany exit and go east for 3 blocks, and turn right onto Marin Ave. After the traffic circle follow Marin uphill to turn right on Regal Rd. You'll see the formation on the right up a few blocks - parking is on the street.

Check out Berkeley Ironworks upcoming calendar for outdoor trips planned.

Labels: climbing, hot spots, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting the Red Cross bloodmobile on June 18th from 1-7pm. Summer time is the most important time to give blood, because there is higher demand and often shortages. If you are looking for an excuse to get out of work early, you'll have the best excuse there is: "I'm giving blood!"

For your convenience, you can even go online to book and appointment. Just got to: www.beadonor.com
and enter IRON for the Sponsor Code to book an appointment today!

Labels: community, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting a 3 on 3 basketball tournament on June 16th at 10am. Put your team together and submit your team name at the front desk to be included in the Berkeley Ironworks 3 on 3 tournament for men and women. We hope to see your team submitted soon!

Labels: event, ironworks, touchstone

If you are planning a trip anywhere in the United States and you want to get in some good climbing time, it might pay to check in with Paul Barraza, manager at Berkeley Ironworks. He’s climbed in 30 of the 50 states.

“I took a road trip for two-and-a-half years and just went for it,” he says of his travel/climbing marathon.

The 34-year-old Berkeley native got an early taste of scrambling around on rocks as a child, when his family would go to Indian Rock Park in the Berkeley hills or to Yosemite. But he didn’t get serious about it until he was a sophomore at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

“They had a little rock wall in the football stadium underneath the stands,” he recalls. That was enough to get him hooked. After college he came back to the Bay Area to work for Hornblower Cruises & Events. The pleasure yachting company turned out to be a perfect place for an avid climber.

“You make decent money and work for nine months. During the winter there’s no work, so I would travel for three months,” he says.

Three seasons of that whetted his appetite for the big adventure. He had saved up enough to spend two and a half years roaming the country, covering the northern states in the summer and heading south for the winter. He managed to fit in a couple of weeks of Mexico along the way. When he felt like it, he’d look for a good climbing spot.

The end of the trip found him back in Berkeley. He had worked a little at the old City Rock gym, so when he heard of an opening at Berkeley Ironworks he went for it. After three years behind the desk, he was picked for the manager’s job at Touchstone Concord for two years. Then it was back to Berkeley again for his current manager’s job, where he can bike to work in six minutes.

Whether in suburban Concord or urban Berkeley, climbers are all part of the same tribe. One difference is that the Concord commuters are much less likely to stop in on a lunch hour, he says.

To keep in shape, Barraza has adopted the training advice of Tudor Bompa, the famed Olympic coach who brought victory to Eastern Bloc teams in the 1960s.

“He came up with ‘periodization,’ and this whole program that we try to convert to climbing, and it works pretty good,” he says. The idea is that the body gets used to doing the same things over and over again. To break through the plateaus, it helps to change your routine every six to nine weeks.

“It works pretty darn well,” Barraza says. “The first cycle that I did, I really noticed a difference in how I felt.”

When his workweek is done, Barraza and his girlfriend spend “every climbable weekend” in Yosemite, especially during the winter when cold temperatures help with friction. There’s a lot of exploring to do beyond the areas that have become popular in the past 30 years, he says. In the summer, Tahoe also gets his attention.

Oh, and he’s still working on those 20 remaining states.

Labels: ironworks, staff

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting a Capoeira workshop on Saturday, June 9th from 1-3pm. This workshop is FREE for members and only $10 for non-members.

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art that combines Dance, Fight, Music, Movements and Acrobatics.

Come and join the classes to learn the basics of Capoeira while increasing Strength and Flexibility, improving Coordination and enjoy an exciting and intense workout.

Everyone is welcome, just bring a water bottle and wear loose pants.

Labels: fitness, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting a book release party for the new bouldering guide to Yosemite Valley by Matt Wilder. Come by on May 31st at 7:30pm to see a slideshow by Matt Wilder including images from old school bouldering classics as well as the latest new areas in the Valley. Afterwards, there will b a book signing and some free pizza. There will also be some free schwag! Buy a Yosemite Valley Bouldering guide that night and you will be entered into the prize raffle.

Labels: climbing, hot spots, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting an AcroYoga Workshop on Sunday April 22nd from 10:30am-1:30pm. The workshop is $30 for members and $40 for non-members.

In this AcroYoga workshop, you will learn to "Fly" and melt into the depths of supported Partner Yoga. We will explore what's possible with two and more bodies balancing with our friend Gravity. Come alone, or bring a partner... No Yoga experience necessary, only a desire to experience the unknown...!
Wanna go up? Let's Fly!

Taught by Veteran instructor Tyler Ryan Blank. Please go to the front desk and sign up early to reserve your spot!

Labels: event, fitness, ironworks

On sale at Berkeley Ironworks and Mission Cliffs the ELEKTRA combines the benefit of a comfortable multi-purpose shoe and the convenience of a velcro performance shoe. With the feel of a sensitive slipper, the ELEKTRA will smear on any slick sloper or stick on overhanging faces while being comfortable enough to wear on long multi-pitch routes or gym marathon-training sessions. Narrow, low profile foot climbers and women climbers of all abilities and styles will truly appreciate this shoe. The ELEKTRA is a must-have for every climber who wants a comfortable shoe that fits and performs superbly out of the box.

The Elektra can easily be transferred to any Touchstone location.

Labels: climbing, ironworks, mission cliffs, retail

Longtime Ironworks climber and staff member Jeffrey Kosoff recently returned from Central America. Jeffrey has earned his dive master certification, the first professional level certification in the PADI diving system. Jeffrey studied at the Bay Islands College of Diving on the English speaking, former pirate hideaway, Utila, in the Gulf of Honduras. After completing his course of study Jeffrey traveled north through Guatemala and southern Belize en route to Glover's Atoll. This remote reef complex lies far offshore untainted by large scale commercial fishing and industry and has been designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the best diving in the Caribbean is found here, its outer walls characterized by steep drop offs, excellent visibility and large pelagic animals. If you have any questions regarding travel to the region, its natural history, or the region's diving Jeffrey will be happy to answer them.

Labels: ironworks

Photo caption: USF Law students Andrew Salenger, Zach Hansen, Jenny Yu, Heather Thurgood, Nicole Cabalette, and Liz Hallock discussed the state of the justice system in New Orleans with The Hon. Edith Brown Clement, a Court of Appeals judge for the 5th Circuit.

Front-desk staff at Berkeley Ironworks and University of San Francisco law student Liz Hallock organized a legal aid trip to New Orleans to help Hurricane Katrina victims. The group worked with the Student Hurricane Network, which has brought hundreds of law students to the Gulf Coast to rebuild homes and work in legal aid offices. The USF students were placed with ACORN, an organization committed to rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward. That neighborhood was destroyed in August, 2005 when the Industrial Canal levees breached, ripping homes from their foundations, and a 45-ton barge floated through the area, leveling remaining homes beneath it. The students discovered that one of the major roadblocks to recovery for the people they met was a lack of consolidated information on how to access legal help, and before they left New Orleans, they created a legal resource guide for ACORN members, designed to help residents find information on everything from applying for Road Home program benefits to finding a lawyer. The trip was also supported by the USF Law in Motion Service Program, and more information about the Student Hurricane Network and ways to help can be found at: www.studenthurricanenetwork.org

Labels: community, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting two Total Rhythm workshops, one on Saturday February 17th and Saturday March 17th from 11am to 12:30pm. Both workshops are FREE to members and only $10 for non-members.

The Total Rhythm Fitness Class uses tall, standing drums, combinations of dance and fitness moves, stretching, chanting and clapping all designed to deliver one thing: A dynamic body and soul workout which reconnects students with their natural rhythm.


The 90-minute Total Rhythm Fitness class:
10 minutes - clapping rhythms and cardio warm-up
15 minutes - full-body stretching (no drums)
45 minutes - Total Rhythm workout sequences with drums
20 minutes - "Round Rhythm" with drums and cool down

Labels: fitness, ironworks

We know it's hard to boulder anywhere else but at Touchstone San Jose, but we're inviting our members and friends to rally at Berkeley Ironworks the evening of Tuesday, January 30th, for a night of bouldering San Jose style. Session with Touchstone members in the East Bay and represent what the South Bay bouldering community is all about.
Come show your support for Touchstone San Jose!

***RSVP BEFORE 6:00PM ON TUESDAY 1/30 AT SAN JOSE to get in at Ironworks
for FREE!***

Plan on meeting at Ironworks around 7:00pm. Please carpool
and drive safely!

Labels: climbing, ironworks, san jose

As if 40% off regular prices isn’t cool enough, folks shopping at Berkeley Ironworks can get even bigger savings on the super-saver clearance racks where everything is 70%- 80% off regular prices. Here’s your chance to pay almost nothing for an assortment of pants, shirts, tanks and more. Look for the racks marked CLEARANCE and get ready, nothing is priced higher than $14.99. Make it the excuse you’ve been looking for to visit Berkeley Ironworks. After shopping, you can do some climbing, too!

Labels: ironworks, retail

Michael Eastman, an Oakland native, has been fooling around with art since 1950. It was back then that grandpa put a paint brush in his hand. Only 1 year old at the time, it was silly to say he had anything going. But a few years later, while studying crayons in 1st grade he received his first hard critique for a work titled Santa. His teacher, a nun, pointed out that his subject was draped in purple. It was obvious that Michael saw colors much differently from others. But Michael remembers "being hooked" on the attention. So, this little issue did not deter him from pressing on.

At the age of 7, his pursuit of excellence in drawing with crayons paid off with a contest win. A simple drawing of a cowboy earned a trip to Disneyland for a weekend. "The colors must have been right," quipped Michael. Unfortunately, his drawing talents seemed to wander. But his interest in art did not wane. A high school class in photography rekindled his search for a way to express his vision. An eye for composition in photography and a blossoming career in commercial screen printing was enough to decide to chase art in college. But again, his dreams seemed forgotten as he languished in commercial screen printing for many years.

In 2003 Michael is at street fair where he sees a large print of a digital photograph. With the desire to become a serious artist still brewing, Michael pauses for a moment and thinks "I have found a medium that I can create with." The next day he bought a Nikon D100 and soon after a large format printer. For the last 3 years, Michael has been honing his photography skills while producing large prints from unique digital photographs.

"We are inundated by average or redundant photography on the web, in print and in advertisements daily. This makes it hard to distinguish fine art from the ordinary," observes Michael. "I try to be sure my work is unique, simple, and very good before it gets out of the studio."

Michael will be showing a brand new series of photographs at Berkeley Ironworks from January 3rd to February 15th. You can also check out his website for more information or to check out his photos: http://www.eastmanfineart.com

Labels: ironworks, members

For people who an hour and a half of spinning just isn't enough, Demented Thursdays are back! Starting in December, Berkeley Ironworks now offers two back to back spinning classes starting at 5:30pm, also known as Demented Thursdays.

If you can't make the full hours, for what ever reason, there will be a change over mid-way through the class so you can take either the first hour or second hour of the duo. All-Star cycling instructor Wendy Georges will teach the first hour and Jen Worth will lead the second.

A great idea for those who might be a bit intimidated by the idea of two hours of cycling: take the first class, and if you're feeling gassed, stop at the change over. Of course, if you're feeling good, and a little demented maybe, you can go for two.

Labels: cycling, fitness, ironworks

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. All gyms will be closing Wednesday at 6pm, will be closed on Thanksgiving but will reopen on Friday with normal hours.

(Please note that weekend rates will apply and there will not be any fitness class on Friday.)

Labels: class 5, concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, pipeworks, san jose

Pfizer Neuro Science Group of Northern California was having a week long conference in Berkeley and as a team building experience, came to climb at Berkeley Ironworks. Eighty Pfizer employees spent an hour and a half scaling the walls, some learning to belay and everyone had a great time.

If your company is ever interested in having a climbing event, please contact our front desk and we would be more than happy to book the party or provide more information.

Labels: climbing, event, ironworks

The Crankenstein Comp, held at Berkeley Ironworks on October 20th, kick-started the second season of the Touchstone Bouldering Series. 200 competitors came to enjoy free beer & pizza and 69 brand new bouldering problems.

The competition was tight but Scott Chandler and Cicada Jenerik won the Advanced Divisions. To keep things interesting we raffled off a mountain bike and a pair of climbing shoes. Zenohe Mora won the prize for best costume, dressing up as a mime. Every competitor walked away with a smile and a TBS2 T-shirt in hand.

The prize chest for the series winners is growing all the time so make sure to participate in as many competitions as you can.

Labels: climbing, comps, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting a Charles Chocolates Tasting on Thrusday, October 26th, from 5-7 pm. Charles Chocolates, a local chocolatier based in Emeryville will be at Ironworks sampling their line of gourmet chocolate bars. You might have noticed the chocolates at the front desk; we have been selling them for a number of months now. Join us to try flavors like Caramelized Crisped Rice, Mocha Java, Hazelnut and Candied Orange Peel. If you’re craving a chocolate fix, you can always find these delicious chocolate bars at the front desk.

Labels: event, ironworks

On October 20th, Ironworks will host the first competition of the Touchstone Bouldering Series - Season 2. The series of 6 bouldering competitions is held at each Touchstone facility. Participants may compete in as many comps as they like, and their top 4 scores will count towards their series standings.

Or you can come just to our comp and enjoy FREE pizza & beer (or sodas). But that's not all, DJ STONE FLY will be here to mix some great tunes and help your psyche while you climb on all ALL NEW boulder problems. At the end of the night, we will be raffling off a few prizes, including a mountain bike! Sound like fun? Come and see.

Labels: climbing, comps, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks is proud to offer morning yoga with Raven Nemeroff. Starting October 4th, Raven will be teaching yoga on Wednesday mornings from 7:30-9:00am. Get a good start on the day by attending her invigorating class.

Raven Nemeroff has been a student of yoga since 1997, and received her teaching certification from Integral Yoga Institute in February of 2003. She teaches an accessible yet challenging form of Hatha yoga, appropriate for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. In her classes there is an emphasis on non-competition and working at your own pace. Each practice will include instruction on proper alignment techniques, pranayama, and brief meditation. Her students tell her they appreciate her clear instructions and ability to convey the teachings of Hatha yoga with humor and kindness.

Labels: fitness, ironworks

Big Up Productions and Sender Films have teamed up with Windstopper® to produce the first-ever nationwide rock climbing film tour. On October 3-5, the 2006 REEL ROCK Film Tour comes to Walnut Creek, Berkeley, and San Francisco.

REEL ROCK features two groundbreaking new climbing films by the top producers in the industry: Dosage Volume IV, by Josh Lowell, and First Ascent, by Peter Mortimer. Events are being held in September and October 2006 at roughly 60 venues of all sizes across the United States, with additional tours in Canada and Europe. Reel Rock shows are high-energy events for climbers and mountain enthusiasts to get excited about, incorporating gear give-aways, athlete appearances and signings, fundraising for The Access Fund and local causes, and DVD sales.

This three-day event takes place at:
The Walnut Creek Pyramid Brewery -- October 3rd at 8pm; advanced tickets are available at Ironworks Climbing Gym.
The Berkeley Pyramid Brewery -- October 4th at 8pm; advanced tickets are available at Ironworks Climbing Gym.
San Francisco’s Victoria Theater -- October 5th at 7pm; advanced tickets are available at Mission Cliffs Climbing Gym.

Advanced tickets for all venues are $10, or $12 the day of the show. Climbers Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden and Klem Loskot will be in attendance. For movie trailers and tour info visit: www.reelrocktour.com.


About the Films:

First Ascent
The latest and greatest release from Sender Films (www.senderfilms.com) and director/producer Peter Mortimer, creators of the multi-award winning Return2Sender and Front Range Freaks.

First Ascent features today’s top rock climbers as they lay siege to steep faces and soaring alpine walls in pursuit of climbing’s pinnacle achievement – the First Ascent. Mortimer brings us on this globe-trotting journey to capture the hopes, fears, and truly radical feats of men and women on climbing’s cutting edge.

The film takes us from high Himalayan peaks to deep water soloing on the coast of Thailand, and from the sobering heights of the Black Canyon to Timmy “Urban Ape” O’Neill’s monkey business on the buildings of Hollywood. A preview segment from First Ascent premiered in January, 2006 at the Alpinist Film Festival in Jackson, WY to a capacity audience of 900 members and won the festival’s Grand Prize and People’s Choice Award.

Dosage Vol 4
Big Up's Dosage series is the definitive annual portrait of climbing's state-of-the-art. Volume IV follows the biggest names in sport climbing, trad climbing, and bouldering as they make historic ascents at spectacular locations around the world. Highlights include: Tommy Caldwell's marathon El Capitan linkup, free climbing both The Nose (5.14a) and Freerider (5.12d) in under 24 hours; Chris Sharma's first ascent of Dreamcatcher (5.14d) in Squamish, BC; Dave Graham's first ascent of Coup De Grace (5.15a) in Ticino, Switzerland; Lisa Rands’ first female ascents of scary grit routes in England's Peak District; Sharma and Graham opening a new level of hard bouldering in Hueco Tanks, Texas; and much more.

Director Josh Lowell is a leading creator of climbing films. His company, Big Up Productions (www.bigUPproductions.com), has released seven films, including the top-selling titles in the industry. Lowell has worked extensively with the legendary climber Chris Sharma for years. His Dosage Volume II was the winner of six international film festival awards and was featured in Sports Illustrated and National Public Radio.

REEL ROCK TOUR Film Sponsors:
Petzl, Climbing Magazine, Mountain Gear, Montbell, La Sportiva, Prana, Osprey, Nikwax, and Entreprises

Labels: climbing, event, ironworks, mission cliffs

On Sunday, September 17th, fourteen members of the Berkeley Ironworks Teen Climbing Team took their first-ever team climbing trip to the Echo View and Pie Shop boulders of South Lake Tahoe. Two fathers, David Leoung and Ed Johnson, were kind enough to each drive a van-load of climbers to the mountains. For many of the kids, it was their first opportunity to climb outside. The team members did tons of problems with helpful advice from coaches Kendall Taylor, Jonathan Perry-Houts, and Matt Johnson. Aside from raw fingertips and forgetting a crash pad the day went off without a hitch and everyone had a fantastic time.

More trips are in the works and the Team is looking for adults (like YOU) to help out by driving or assisting in other ways. If you are excited about making outdoor climbing accessible for the Team, please contact Kendall Taylor at the BIW front desk.

Labels: climbing, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks is proud to announce a new program to help the homeless. Stephen Krank of the St. Vincent de Paul Champion Guidance Center designed a 12 week program to help the homeless get back on track. The 'Climb Out of Homelessness' program is made up of two parts: learning to climb at Berkeley Ironworks and the Champion Guidance Center's 'Meet Your Needs Workshop'.

The group's first meeting at BIW was on September 7th, where they were given a belay safety class and tested their new-found skills on the walls. Everyone had a great time and left with a sense of accomplishment and optimism. We hope the participants are successful in their climb out of homelessness and are excited to provide this opportunity at no cost.

Labels: climbing, community, ironworks

Mission Cliffs & Berkeley Ironworks will be hosting Arno Ilgner to teach his unique Warrior's Way clinics on mental fitness. If you are at a plateau or feel that your mental approach to climbing might be holding you back, this is the clinic for you. The 4 hour clinic cost $60 for members and $75 for non-members.

Arno Ilgner has helped hundreds of student sharpen their awareness, focus attention, and understand their athletic (and life) challenges within a coherent, learning-based philosophy of intelligent risk-taking. Ilgner considers the joy and satisfaction in the effort - the "journey" - intimately linked to successful attainment of goals, the "destination." Alumni of his courses now include some of the nation's most prominent climbers.



Please call or visit the front desk to sign up and hurry cause space is limited.

Labels: climbing, fitness, ironworks

A hundred competitors came to climb at the Touchstone Roped Series competition at Berkeley Ironworks on August 25th. A good time was had by all. Local microbrewery Bison Brewing provided us with tasty organic beer and the gym bought pizza for all the competitors. Climbing vendors such as Mountain Hardware, Black Diamond, Five Ten, La Sportiva (and many more) donated tons of prizes. In fact, everybody who turned in a scorecard got a prize!

Dustin Park won the Men's advanced category by flashing a 5.12c, getting to the second box of the 5.13a on his first try, and doing the 5.13c second try. Cicada Jenerik won the Women's advanced category by flashing the 5.13c, 5.12c and getting to the second box of the 5.13a on her second try! She showed the boys a thing or two about climbing and garnered enough points to tie with the Men's advanced winner Dustin Park.

Labels: climbing, comps, ironworks

This monday, all Touchstone gyms will be open and operating on weekend hours. Standard weekend rates will apply for all gyms. Please contact your local gym to find out the exact hours of operation and pricing.

REMINDER: East bound span of the Bay Bridge will be closed all weekend. For more info, check here.

Labels: class 5, concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, pipeworks, san jose, touchstone

Berkeley Ironworks regulars Ed Kolodziej and partner Vivian Peng climb in the gym consistently enough to keep in shape. That fitness came in handy when they decided at the last minute to climb the North Arête of Bear Creek Spire (5.8) to celebrate Ed’s birthday. After the obligatory stop at Schat’s bakery in Bishop for their jalapeño cheese bread, they made it to the trail head (10,200ft) and hiked up to Dade Lake (11,600ft). They reached the base (12,400ft) Saturday morning and managed to top out (13,713ft) at 5pm and make it back to tent by 9pm. “It felt good being able to lead on that rock.” They hiked out Sunday, drove to the mobile station (a great place to eat in Lee Vining), and gorged themselves. They hit a lot of traffic on the way home but still managed to get home before 8pm. It was a good weekend.

Labels: climbing, ironworks, members

Now that the weather is nice outside, many people are starting to head outside to climb. But what if you don't know what it takes to climb outside. Berkeley Ironworks offers outside clinics geared to get indoor climbers up to speed to climb outside. Berkeley Ironworks employee Dave Altman has been climbing for more than 30 years and his outdoor classes are renowned for useful information and historical anecdotes.

Which clinic is right for you?

Basic anchors, knots, rappelling, simple self rescue, & climbing on rock unlike anything in the gym.

More advanced anchors, gear placement, technique, and intro to leading.

Footwork, spotting, games, history, using bouldering to improve technique for bigger climbs & as an independent sport. Emphasis will be on types of climbing different than in the gym.

For more information, prices and schedule; check out Dave's webpage.

Labels: climbing, hot spots, ironworks

Starting the second week of July, Berkeley Ironworks will start the locker room renovation project. We will be working on half of the showers at one time, so there will always be showers available for our members. We hope to minimize the inconvenience of the project as much as we can, but your patience will be much appreciated.

Labels: ironworks

All Touchstone gyms will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th. We will resume normal hours on July 5th. Have a great July 4th Holiday.

Labels: class 5, concord, ironworks, mission cliffs, pipeworks, san jose, touchstone

Finally it's here: a second Sports Conditioning class. Listening to members' requests, Ironworks will now offer the popular sports conditioning class on a second day & time: Thursdays @ 1pm. Personal Trainer John Downey provides a new & different full-body workout for every class. He also customizes each exercise for every participant as well as assisting everyone with their form. No matter what your exercise level is, this class will push your limits. A great way to get in shape.

Labels: fitness, ironworks

Alyssa Conn joins the team at Ironworks in June and will be teaching Pilates mat on Monday mornings at 7:30 am. She is a Certified Pilates Instructor specializing in rehabilitation, as well as an Aquarius, and a Protein Chemist. Alyssa did her Pilates training at the Ellie Herman Studios in San Francisco and has been teaching in the east bay since 2003. She believes that those who practice Pilates gain more than core strength, but also increased wellbeing through body awareness. Alyssa enjoys helping the world stand taller, baking yummy foods, hiking local trails, breathing fresh air, and hanging with her hound-dog, Kaiu.

Labels: fitness, ironworks

It is sunny and warm, this must mean that summer is finally here. And so is the long Memorial Day weekend. All Touchstone Climbing facilities will be open on Memorial Day but will be on weekend hours. Please check out your local gym for the exact hours of operation.

Labels: concord, ironworks

Berkeley Ironworks is proud to host the annual kick-off party the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (AKA BORP) on Saturday May 20th between 2pm and 4pm. BORP is a non-profit organization that provides adventure fitness and recreation for people with physical disabilities.

In December BORP's bike storage facility was burglarized. All hand-cycles, tandem bikes, trikes, helmets and tools were stolen, and in one fell swoop their whole adaptive cycling program came to a halt. The media quickly picked up their story and sparked an overwhelming response from the community. PG&E and Wells Fargo swiftly put up challenge grants, and immediately donations began to pour in from people all around the Bay Area and beyond. BORP has received over $130,000 in
grants and donations since the theft.

Join Berkeley mayor Tom Bates as BORP thanks all of their generous donors for rebuilding the Cycling Program. Don't miss the ribbon cutting ceremony at 3pm that will showcase the brand new bikes.

Labels: community, cycling, event, ironworks

We are pleased to announce the birth of Isabelle Grace Connolly. On Sunday, April 30th at 12:22pm, Markham & Joelle became the proud parents of a healthy baby girl. Markham is the director of operations at Touchstone and the founder of the Touchstone Bike Club. Everyone here at Touchstone wishes them all the best.


And please forgive Markham if he appears a little tired over the next few months, as he gets comfortable with being a dad.

Labels: cycling, ironworks, touchstone

For the enjoyment of our members, especially those who have trouble getting here directly after work, the gym will be staying open until 11 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting in April. Another hour to enjoy the gym…

Labels: ironworks