Outdoor Adventures

Rock Wall

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This page last updated on:
05/02/2008 9:57 AM

"Climb Safe, Climb Smart, and Have Fun!"

Summer 2008 Rock Wall Hours

Tuesday through Thursday 5-7 pm

Closed May 26
Closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday and all University Holidays

Summer Session 1: May 19 - June 24 (Closed May 26)
Last day to rent equipment - June 20
All equipment due back - June 23
Last day Rock Wall is open - June 24

Summer Session 2: July 8 - August 12
Last day to rent equipment - Aug. 8
All equipment due back - Aug. 11
Last day Rock Wall is open - Aug. 7

Policies for Rock Wall Use

1. The Carmichael Gym's Indoor "Rock Wall" is open to all students, faculty, and staff who possess a valid AllCampus Card. No "Guest Passes" allowed to use rock wall.

2. All patrons must sign an "acknowledgement of risk and policies" form in order to climb or belay at the wall. If you are under 18 years of age you must have a parental signature.

3. In order to belay at the wall, you must pass our safety assessment. Safety assessments cover rock wall climbing skills such as: equipment use and double checking, knots, belaying, anchor set up and other items.

4. Safety assessments will be given by the Rock Wall Supervisor on a first-come, first-serve basis.

5. If you currently have no rock climbing experience you can climb with someone who has passed the assessment and who sponsors you.

6. All patrons must check in with a Rock Wall Administrator and present their belay card before climbing. If sponsoring a Climb-Only Patron you will be responsible for signing out equipment and belaying the guest. Climb-Only Patrons must have a valid gym membership. No "Guest Passes"

7. All climbing equipment is provided free of charge. This includes ropes, harnesses, helmets, belay devices, anchors and shoes.

8. The Outdoor Adventures Rock Wall Supervisors provide overall safety, supervision, and management of the wall. They are not permitted to belay. However, they will assist you in finding a partner to belay.

9. Upon completion of the safety skills assessment, you will be awarded a colored card based upon your score. See Card System for additional explanation.

10. No gymnastic or climbing chalk is to be used at the wall. Eco balls are permissible.

11. Please report unsafe wall conditions to the Rock Wall Supervisor immediately.

Rules For Rock Wall Use

1. Only Climb when a Rock Wall staff is present. Check in with a Rock Wall administrator when you arrive and present your AllCampus Card and your belay card before climbing.

2. Do not use the "Wall," its equipment, or apparatus, while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or while suffering from or experiencing any symptoms which might impair you.

3.Boulder only at or below shoulder height. Pull mats under the area you are bouldering. We recommend you use a spotter. Do not traverse under top-ropes climbers.

4. Wear a helmet while you are climbing and roped in. We recommend belayers and boulders wear helmets also.

5. All climbing above shoulder height must be protected by a top rope belay.

6. In order to belay become verified by a Rock Wall supervisor. Once issued a belay card wear it on your harness at all times.

7. You are permitted to bring your own harness, shoes, helmet and climbing equipment. Checking them is left to you.

8. When sponsoring a "climb only" guest, you are responsible for the safety of the individual. Double-check your guest and model safe climbing practices. If sponsoring a Climb-Only guest sign them in on the Climb Only sheet, and have them wear a red card. Only 2 climb-only guests per verified climber.

9. Always anchor your belay, We recommend using an open V-model or gus/bus style of belay.

10. Campus Recreation strongly recommends wearing footwear at all times while engaged in rock wall activities. No bare feet climbing. Wear climbing shoes or athletic shoes with minimal lug (no hiking boots) on the rock wall. Wear footwear when moving/walking in and around the rock wall and surrounding area.

11. Please adhere to all staff recommendations. Violating the rules will result in you not being able to climb and/or further disciplinary actions.

If you are an inexperienced climber and want more training check out one of the Basic Rock Climbing Workshops or Belay Clinics through Outdoor Adventures or sign up for one of the Physical Education's Academic Rock Climbing classes ( PE 258 ).

Punch Card System

The color card system has been developed to monitor the safety of climbers. With red and yellow card holders requiring a higher level of feedback and supervision. We work preventing bad habits from forming, strengthen the confidence level of the new belayer and introduce new innovations in belaying.

Once a climber's safety skills are assessed, they are awarded a red, yellow, or blue card based upon their score and how well they performed. We expect all yellow and blue card holders to be proficient belayers.

One of the duties of the Rock Wall Supervisor is to check all climbers/ belayers and monitor safe practices. By no means does it imply that once a climber becomes "Certified" that they are exempt from being monitored. This system simply allows staff members to spend more time with yellow card belayers.

All climbers/belayers will check in with a rock wall administrator before climbing. Please present your card to the staff member and wear it at all times. If you have lost your card please let the administrator know so they can make you a new one.

Climb-Only	-Red Card signifies the holder is not able to belay alone. A red card holder could be a climber who has never learned to belay or did not perform up to par on their safety assessment. All red card wearers must be belayed by a blue or yellow card and sponsored.
Belayer	-Yellow Card climber has successfully completed a safety assessment. Must be constantly supervised by Rock Wall. Demonstrated areas for improvement however were not critical safety issues.
Belayer	-Blue Card climber has completed the safety assessment at the target level. Needs less supervision

For additional information contact the Assistant Director for
Outdoor Adventures at (919) 513-8126.

Frequently Asked Questions

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