A WORD ON SAFETY
Climbing is inherently risky. The need for safety systems beyond reproach is obvious. The equipment developed by the climbing industry doesn’t fail when used properly. But the system is passive—participants must engage. This dictates the need for personal responsibility to allow the sport we love to exist indoors at all. Our liability release’s primary purpose is to agree on this principle. Without this agreement, we do not allow users in our facilities.
Touchstone has developed guidelines of review, and rules during climbing, that we feel minimize the chance of injury to a participant. We have found the primary cause of a mistake on the part of a climber to be inattentiveness. Our philosophy regarding the safety protocol for climbing is to focus on principle.
BOULDERING
The popularity of bouldering has grown rapidly in recent years. With that growth has also come the increased awareness of and emphasis upon safe bouldering techniques for both the climber and the spotter(s). Even though you may only be a few feet off the ground while bouldering, climbers and spotters must still take precautions to ensure their own safety and the safety of other people in the bouldering area. If you have questions about etiquette or safe practices, do not hesitate to ask!
Personal Responsibility. Bouldering involves risk. All falls are ground falls. All boulderers must be willing to take personal responsibility for their own safety.
Safety Requirements for Bouldering
- Don’t boulder unless you know how to fall—feet together for strength, or springy and apart if stable.
- Don’t break falls with your hands or arms.
- Use a spotter for difficult or risky moves.
- Know how to spot. Be active and poised to orient falling climber correctly onto padding.
- The bouldering area is for adults—children under the age of 14 must be supervised.
