By Zoey Grinstead
With the gyms closed and everyone given the order to stay at home, we at Touchstone Climbing are doing everything we can to stay positive, motivated, and active. Our routesetters are not shy to that last one. Every day they’re up and down ropes and ladders, constantly moving piles of rocks around; it can kind of seem like a blur, but out of it, we get the climbs from our setters that we all come to know and love (or hate). Zoey, one of the setters down in SoCal, took a moment to have a quick interview with some of our routesetters to help everyone get to know who is behind that tag.
Matthew Birch aka MB
Pronouns: He/Him
Home Gym: Cliffs of Id
How long have you been climbing and setting?
I’ve been climbing for a mere 33 years, so I’m still a beginner, and I’ve been setting for 23 years.
What inspired you to become a routesetter?
I love the movement of climbing. As soon as I started I was hooked. I loved making up my own eliminate problems at the limestone bouldering areas in the Peak District. It felt like a natural progression to create my own movement indoors.
What is your favorite style of climbing, and how does that translate into your setting?
My favorite style of climbing is technical. It doesn’t really matter what the terrain is, though. If pushed, I would choose steep and powerful technical boulders. Slab climbs, arête climbs, groove climbs, it’s all amazing. I like setting movement that is harder to do if you just try to use strength to complete it. I love how you have to use your body and the subtleties of getting into the right position to complete a move.
How are you staying active and motivated during these times?
Luckily I have a home wall so I’m able to train on that regularly. (You can schedule a private appointment with Matt to learn how to maximize training on your home wall, too! —Ed.) I’ve also started biking to keep active. It’s been about 20 years since I did that!
Do you have any inspirational words for everyone?
Stay positive and in the now. Enjoy where you are and who you are, don’t dwell on what could be and what you think it should be.
Thank you Matt! Hope you’re doing well over there
Wes Miraglio aka WIGS
Pronouns: He/Him
Home Gym: LA Boulders
How long have you been climbing and setting?
I’ve been climbing since 1995, so 25 years. I’ve been setting since 2009, so 11 years.
What inspired you to become a routesetter?
I always looked to the Touchstone Routesetters as the coolest people growing up. I also wanted to work with my hands since I wasn’t cut out for retail after a six-month stint in the mall.
What is your favorite style of climbing, and how does that translate into your setting?
My favorite climbing style is all of them. Roofs, slab, vertical, overhanging, compression, lowballs, highballs, tick-tacky…you name it, I’ll try it. Except for crack. I just can’t jam yet. Climbing multiple styles provides me with a wide range of knowledge of movement. Though sometimes you get cornered into one style, I try to encompass more than just one.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned setting at Touchstone Climbing?
I have learned how to adapt. One week you’re setting commercially, the next week it’s a comp. One week you could be sitting in a harness all week, the next week could be all boulders.
How are you staying active and motivated during these times?
I stay active by taking my meds, taking walks, working out, and watching a lot of climbing competition videos. I have to keep the psych bank charged so when we’re ready to go back to setting, I’ll have some inspiration for some routes and problems to put up.
Do you have any inspirational words for everyone?
Don’t over train! Rest is important. Eat your veggies, and keep going.
