To celebrate Touchstone’s 20th Anniversary on October 2nd, this month we’re taking a walk down memory lane. Long before The Studio Climbing was Downtown San Jose’s premier indoor climbing gym, there was Touchstone San Jose. Art Balaoro shared some of his memories from this gym that closed in 2009. Oh man… There are so many […]
Cliffs of Id, Touchstone Climbing’s largest gym to date, is currently under construction in Culver City. Here are frequently asked questions that we’ve been getting. When are you going to open? 2015 That’s not a date… That’s not a question… Ok ok, I’m really really excited about this gym and I want to climb here, like, […]
September, or “SENDtember”, is a particularly exciting month for those who want to hone their skills at Touchstone Climbing. We have a wide array of clinics going down at each gym, but here are some extra special clinics coming up in September. If you want to climb on real rock, perfect your competition climbing, or join an on-going […]
This summer MetalMark Climbing desk staffer Michelle left her house in Clovis, California, and ended up in Bishop! “It took 9 days, and when I finished the ride through Yosemite I didn’t really want to stop,” said Michelle. “I loved the feeling of just being able to go and do what ever. Even if that means […]
Have you ever thought about your climbing habit and wondered if you should pick up an endurance sport to round things out? Any while you’re at it, something that engages the lower half of your body? Markham Connolly, Touchstone’s Director of Operations, can relate to your quest. Fifty years young and an avid cyclist, Connolly decided to compete in […]
As we draw closer to celebrating Touchstone’s 20th Anniversary, we’re taking a walk down memory lane and running to old staff members! Our staff is the bread and butter of our company, and while we’re always sad to see them go, it’s so fun to see what they’re up to these days! Who are you? […]
In 1995, when the indoor climbing industry was still in its infancy, we built an indoor rock climbing gym in San Francisco. Mission Cliffs was the largest climbing gym in the country, and set a new standard for what a climbing gym could be. As the years have passed and indoor climbing has gained popularity, […]
Meandering around the weight room at Pipeworks, you will hear many distinctive conversations. If you listen closely, you may even hear of the modern day search for gold! Literally. Member Conan Ridzik has spent a number of years panning for nuggets of the precious commodity that drove many fortune hunters out to California. “If you […]
Yesterday was beautiful and sunny. Today, it rained for hours, soaking the rock. The entire town of Squamish soaked after a night and morning of wet weather. Climbing in coastal areas like Squamish, Mickey’s Beach or the bouldering in Humboldt can be fickle at best. There’s a few tips to making sure your next climbing […]
You’ve seen her at the gym, at a local crag and maybe even frolicking through the mountains with her little dog too. Get to know our girl crush, Andrea “Dre” Arends in our August Member Spotlight! How did it all begin? What’s your story? I grew up in Antioch and come from a small family. I also […]
