Everyone wants to improve at his or her passion. Michael White, a Berkeley resident and Sydney Australia native, began his climbing career during Christmas of 2009. Though a new climber, White wanted to perform better at climbing. He wanted stronger fingers but worried that excessive hang board training would damage the tendons and pulleys in […]
Here’s the method.
* 1. Form a bight in the lead rope a few inches longer than your outstretched arm. Position yourself facing the rock, below the first draw or if you’re hanging on lead, in a solid swinging position. The lower biner must be hanging free from the rock.
* 2. There’s two ways to swing and hit the draw. The granny overswing involves looping the rope over your head and tossing the loop at the biner. The other method involves taking a bight between your index and pink fingers and swinging the bight airplane propeller style. Spin the rope parallel to the rock and clockwise if the biner gate is facing left and counter clockwise if the biner is facing right. Gradually add rope to make increasingly larger circles, zeroing in on the biner’s gate.
* 3. The next step involves hitting the biner. It’s easier said than done. Make sure that you’re not back clipped. If you are and the process took you more than 5 minutes to perform, pull the rope through until you can tie in on the other side of the rope.
Head to your nearest Touchstone gym and try this amazing technique! It gets you automatic cool points if you do it first try!
Mill Valley resident, Kyle O’Meara transplanted from Washington earlier this year and has been crushing the boulders in Yosemite. He flashed Midnight Lightning, the Moffat Start to Midnight, the Force, and a number of other classic Yosemite boulder problems. He’s documented a number of his ascents. In his latest video, he made a super proud […]
Project Yosemite is a collaborative project by Sheldon Neill and Colin Delehanty. The time lapses of Yosemite are breath taking. Take a few minutes to watch some of the beauty in California’s greatest park. Find out more about Project Yosemite.
Every community has its own language and climbing is no different. Meet your average gym climber in this hilarious video from Louder and 11.
California has been experiencing an unbelievably warm and dry winter. Right now, there is no snow at the Buttermilks, or in Yosemite. That means it’s time to get your bouldering on. Mill Valley resident, Kyle O’Meara headed out to the ditch this weekend and dispatched two V10 classics with his dog Kuna. Check out the […]
File this under bad belaying. It’s always amusing to see climbing portrayed in tv, movies or commercials. Feast your eyes on this gem from Doritos, and remember to always keep your hands on the It’s always amusing to see climbing portrayed in tv, movies or commercials. Feast your eyes on this gem from Doritos, and remember to […]
Last week, Brian “Cuz” Hedrick, a 24-year-old route setter at Touchstone Climbing, made the second ascent of the Impossible Wall Traverse at Berkeley’s Mortar Rock. First established by Chris Sharma seven years ago, the V13 problem has bouted many of the strongest local climbers. The hardest boulder problem within 100 miles of the Bay Area starts […]
Touchstone Climbing has been throwing citizen comps for longer than anyone can remember! These events are open to climbers of all levels and bring brand new routes, pizza, beer, t-shirts and prizes to the gyms. Check out this highlight video from our 2010 rope competition at Great Western Power Company in Oakland! To find out […]
In the hills just south of San Jose are a cluster of sandstone boulders. When the winter days are cold, the friction on these rounded Font like blobs becomes amazing. For those looking to do some weekend bouldering near the bay area, Castle Rock is a great option. One of the most important skills required […]
