We’re excited to announce that we’ll be working with Walltopia to build our newest gym in San Francisco, Dogpatch Boulders, built by the Bulgarian wall manufacturing company. With over 1.7 million square feet of climbing walls built since 1996, Walltopia has led the industry in climbing wall manufacturing. Stone Gardens in Seattle, Momentum in Salt Lake […]
On Friday, August 17th, the Bay Area Grip Challenge will be heading to Diablo Rock Gym for another round of tests of grip strength. One of the most active members in the Touchstone grip strength community, Daniel Reinard is known for his vast hand strength. He recently put together a video about one of the […]
In this video, Adam Barczack shows you the proper method to tie into a rope. Being the climber means you must make sure to safely secure yourself to the rope. Check out Adam’s video for details.
Yosemite National Park represents the highest peregrine falcon nesting area in the Sierra Nevada. The park has played a pivotal role in the birds recovery from an endangered species. There are numerous climbing closures to help protect the birds’ nesting areas. As of Sunday, July 15, 2012, all Yosemite Valley Peregrine closures are lifted. […]
Looking to improve your climbing and gain a solid head start on the fall season? On Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m., Justin Alarcon, a long time climber and trainer at the Touchstone gyms, is offering a ten week work shop designed to motivate and train climbers interested in climbing specific training. Justin has been […]
Rock climbing requires a significant amount of gear. A harness, shoes, belay device, and more are all needed to get started. In this video, the basic climbing gear needed for getting started is described. Check it out.
Beginning Wednesday, July 18th, there will be road construction between Berkeley Ironworks and Grainger. The crew will be working on rebuilding a sewer line that runs from 7th to Ashby. The construction will begin near the parking lot and extend to Ashby’s freeway entrance. Be aware of the increased traffic and a road closure because […]
This Friday night, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Berkeley Ironworks will be holding the next climbing competition in the Touchstone Rope Series. For this great event, Touchstone will be giving a little back by donating all proceeds from non-member entrants to the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life. At the comp, Relay For […]
Want to learn a little bit more about climbing and the best ways to move across the walls? Adam Barczak, a rock climbing instructor, helped produce a number of great instructional videos on how to rock climb. Check this one out.
The North Face of any formation is often the most intimidating. North facing rocks receive less sun, tend to be steeper, and more dangerous. In this video, the classic Monty Python crew tackles the North Face of Uxbridge Road. These techniques are essential for harder climbing. Watch in amazement.
