NEWS
A First Time Climber’s Guide to Everything
We believe climbing is for everyone. After all, if you can climb a ladder, you can scale a wall. However, we get that trying out a new kind of adventure can be a little nerve-wracking. Whether you've decided to take your first steps into the world of indoor climbing or are contemplating the idea, welcome! You’re in the right place.
Here at Peak Experiences, we believe climbing is for everyone.
After all, if you can climb a ladder, you can scale a wall. However, we get that trying out a new kind of adventure can be a little nerve-wracking. Whether you've decided to take your first steps into the world of indoor climbing or are contemplating the idea, welcome! You’re in the right place.
But fear not! Our friendly staff can guide you through everything you need to know, and teach you how to manage the risks of climbing, and your fears too. So, let's strap on our climbing shoes, chalk up our hands, and dive into the excitement of our favorite sport!
If you get to the end of this blog post and still aren’t sure where to start, our Climbing Sampler might be perfect for you!
No, seriously, climbing is for everyone.
All ages, sizes, and ability levels are welcome in climbing. We have a wide variety of route difficulties, with a handy bouldering grade chart available in our gyms to let you know the difficulty level of the route you’re eyeing. We have routes that are as simple as a ladder, ones you can try once you’ve got a hang of things, and ones that pose a serious challenge to anyone who attempts them.
Climbing isn’t all about upper body strength. No pull-ups necessary! Climbing is a puzzle on the wall you solve with your body – it requires a combination of body awareness, core tension, grip strength, leg strength, and yes, some upper body strength to get you up the wall. Practice is the key to “sending” (finishing) your route.
Community is the core of the sport. You’ll build trust and communication skills when you spend time climbing with a partner. It’s also very normal to talk to and encourage your fellow climbers in the gym! You’ll meet the friendliest people inside Peak, happy to give advice if you’re looking for it.
What to Expect
Lots of lingo. Sometimes it sounds like climbers are speaking their own language, but you’ll figure it out quickly. Most of the time, people will know what you’re talking about. It’s perfectly fine to call a donut-shaped hold a donut, instead of a pocket or a hueco. Check out our Glossary for Climbers to see if you can pick up a couple words!
Climbs that will challenge you: we have a wide range of difficulty levels for a reason. You’ll gain confidence from the progress you’ll make on routes that are hard for you.
Some serious soreness. Climbing requires the use of muscles you probably have never used so specifically. It’s perfectly normal to have sore muscles and some raw skin on your hands after a climbing session.
What You Need to Bring
A completed Assumption of Risks Form! Everyone who comes into our gym needs to fill out this form, regardless of participation level. We don’t charge entry to folks who are just watching.
Show up in comfy clothes, ready to move. Sweatpants, athletic pants, leggings, t-shirts, and tank tops work just fine. You’ll probably want to wear long pants; our walls are very textured, just like sandstone would be outside. Loose-fitting clothing or jewelry (especially rings) can get caught on climbing holds or ropes, so leave those at home. Short nails also make gripping holds easier.
We have climbing shoes and harnesses available to rent, but you’re welcome to wear closed-toe, snug-fitting athletic shoes if you’d prefer not to rent shoes.A reusable water bottle. We have water coolers for you to fill your bottle from, but can’t guarantee our supply of paper cups won’t run out.
All About Indoor Climbing
There’s a lot that goes into indoor climbing, and we know that it can be overwhelming to figure out at first, so we put together this guide for anyone looking to get started in the great indoors.
There are no age or weight restrictions to try out climbing. We have a variety of equipment that can fit all shapes and sizes. If you can climb a ladder, you can climb at Peak Experiences!
the basics for new climbers
There’s a lot that goes into indoor climbing, and we know that it can be overwhelming to figure out at first, so we put together this guide for anyone looking to get started in the great indoors.
There are no age or weight restrictions to try out climbing. We have a variety of equipment that can fit all shapes and sizes. If you can climb a ladder, you can climb at Peak Experiences!
At Peak, we do not require a certification to climb, but our roped-climbing belay systems require certifications. We can provide you with both instruction and any necessary certifications!
Here at Peak Experiences, we offer a few types of climbing
Bouldering, which is climbing on our shorter walls over padded flooring. Bouldering does not require a harness or a rope.
Roped climbing, which is climbing our taller walls while tied into a harness and another individual takes up the rope slack as you climb, catches you if you fall, and lowers you to the ground.
Auto belay, which is climbing our taller walls, while attached to a device that will catch you and lower you to the ground.
Bouldering
We offer bouldering at both of our locations, Peak Midlo and Peak RVA, though the areas look a little different.
To ‘Start’ a “boulder problem”, you look for the tag(s) that indicate the grade of a boulder. There may be more than one start hold and tag for that route, and if that is the case, one hand must be on each hold. If there is just one, both hands must be on the start hold. From there you follow the holds of the same color to the top. The ‘top’ of a boulder at Peak RVA is the highest hold of that boulder problem. At Peak Midlo, it’s the numbered section of the top of the wall, indicated on the start tag(s) of that boulder problem.
The only equipment you need to boulder is climbing shoes, which we have available to rent in a wide range of sizes, but if you’d like to climb a little higher, we have hundreds of rope routes to climb, and harnesses to rent as well
Roped Climbing
Roped climbing refers to routes on the tall walls in the gym, for which climbers must use a harness and a rope system to ascend the wall. Between our two locations, we have many dozens of climbs of a variety of difficulties available for you to try! First time climbers will likely be climbing routes using our double-wrapped top-rope system, in which the climber’s harness is attached to a rope that is wrapped twice around a reinforced steel ‘belay bar’ at the top of the route.
There’s also an advanced type of climbing called Lead Climbing, or Sport Climbing, where the climber ascends the wall with a rope attached to their harness, and the climber clips the rope into bolts that are in the wall along the route.
We offer a Learn the Ropes class if you’d like to learn the safety systems for roped climbing, but no experience is required if you’d like to use our auto-belay systems.
Auto Belay Devices
Auto Belays are devices that are attached at the top of the route and clipped into a climber’s harness. When a climber falls while climbing a route, the device is able to ‘catch’ them gently and lower them slowly to the ground.
They’re awesome for many reasons! You don’t need a climbing partner to use an auto-belay, and you don’t need to know how to tie a knot or use a belay device. This makes them perfect for first time climbers, but experienced climbers love them too. You can repeat routes as many times in a row as you’d like, which helps to build endurance and strength.
Auto-belay sound good for you? We require those using the Auto-Belay device to watch a video and pass a test for certification. Click here to watch our Auto Belay Video and learn more!
What is an Auto Belay?
climbing’s latest innovation: auto-belays
Auto Belays are great tools that allow participants to climb “roped” walls without a human belayer. Instead, the climber clips into the auto belay device, which connects to the top of the wall. If the climber falls or finishes the climb, the device is able to ‘catch’ them gently and lower them slowly to the ground.
Here at Peak Experiences, we have 20 Auto-Belays between our two locations, giving climbers access to more than 2 dozen routes without the need for a belayer. Our team of routesetters makes sure to put up routes accessible to all levels of climbers across our gyms, but also focuses on simpler routes where the Auto-Belays are hung.
Why are Auto-Belays great?
They’re simple to use
Climbers don’t need to learn how to tie a knot, or use a belay-device to be able to use an Auto-Belay Device. We just require certification in order to use these devices, which is a quick process! Scroll to the end of this article to watch our informative video about Auto Belays. When you’re ready to take the next step, ask one of our front desk staff to test you, which is a quick 10-minute-or-less process.
You don’t need a climbing partner
Climbing is all about community… until your climbing partner bails, again! An auto-belay device will never leave ‘ya hangin’.
You can use them for endurance workouts
It’s impolite to make your climbing partner belay you up and down a route 10 times, in your quest to build climbing endurance. However, an Auto-Belay device won’t complain. Just make sure you’re giving the other climbers in the gym their turn as well!
Watch our Auto Belay Video
Group Auto-Belay Passes
Auto-belays are the perfect way to introduce a group of folks to the world of indoor climbing. We offer discounted day-passes for groups that come in together to use our Auto-Belay Devices, with a minimum of 6 people to qualify.
Click the button below to go to our Group Auto-Belay Page and book a group pass.
A Climber's Glossary
Climbing has a ton of terms and slang! It can make coming into the gym pretty intimidating for a new climber – which is why we put together this handy glossary of common climbing lingo.
Climbing has a lot of Jargon
Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating journey into the vertical world? Whether you're lured by the rugged beauty of nature's rock formations or intrigued by the challenging walls of an indoor gym, climbing pushes your limits and rewards you with an incredible sense of accomplishment.
But hold on a sec! Before you grab your trusty harness and lace up those sticky-soled shoes, let's make sure you're equipped with the expansive lingo of the climbing community. Fear not, my fellow new climbers, because today we're going to dive into a crash course on climbing terms. Consider it your secret code to unlocking the vertical playground!
An incomplete list of basic climbing terms
Arete
Derived from the French word for "ridge", an arete is an outer corner that can be used as a hand hold.
Belay
The act of controlling the rope for the climber, providing tension and catching them in case of a fall.
Bouldering
A style of climbing done on lower heights without ropes, making use of crash pads or a mat for protection. Here at Peak we have 16ft bouldering walls at Peak RVA and 8ft walls at Peak Midlo! Come in and try the two different styles!
Carabiner
A metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to connect climbing equipment, such as ropes and harnesses.
Crag
A small or large outdoor climbing area with multiple climbing routes.
Crimp
A type of handhold or grip that requires using only the fingertips to grasp a small edge.
Crux
The most difficult or challenging section of a climbing route.
Dihedral
The inside of a corner – where two walls meet.
Drop-Knee
A technique where one knee is dropped down and pressed against the wall to create balance and reach. The key to reach is keeping your hips into the wall, and a drop-knee can help get one hip close into the wall.
Dynamic Rope
A stretchable rope used for absorbing the impact of a fall.
Dyno
A dynamic move that involves jumping or leaping to a distant hold.
Flag
Extending one leg to the side or back to maintain balance and prevent swinging. Think of it like using your leg the way a monkey uses their tail; shifting bodyweight to create balance.
Gaston
A type of hand movement that mimics opening two elevator doors, creating pressure outward.
GriGri
A popular brand of belay device that uses assisted braking to help catch a falling climber.
Heel Hook
Placing the heel of the foot on a hold to pull or push against it. The key to a good heel hook is to point your toes down, creating tension in the hip and allowing you to use that tension to draw yourself into and up the wall.
Lead Climbing
A style of climbing where the climber ascends while attaching the rope to protection points along the route.
Mantle
A move where the climber uses their arms and hands to push down on a ledge or hold and bring their body up onto it.
Quickdraw
A set of two carabiners connected by a sturdy sling used to attach the rope to protection points.
Route
A predetermined path or line established by climbers to ascend a specific rock or wall.
Slab
A climbing surface that is less than vertical, often characterized by smooth and friction-dependent movements.
Smear
Pressing the sole of the climbing shoe against the wall to gain friction and support, as opposed to using a defined foot hold.
Stem
Using opposing pressure between two surfaces to maintain balance and move upward.
Rock-over
Shifting weight from one foot to the other while using leverage to move the body upward.
Top Rope
A climbing technique where the rope is anchored at the top of the route and runs through an anchor point, providing protection from above.
Toe Hook
Hooking the front part of the climbing shoe, your toes, onto a hold to gain leverage.
Undercling
A handhold that is grasped from underneath, with the palm facing upwards.
Dear Greater Richmond,
The unjust death of George Floyd and so many before him has stopped us in our tracks. And by "us" we mean the leadership of Peak Experiences. The ongoing protests have tripled the gravity under our feet, forcing us to pause and reflect deeply. These events have made the topics of equality and justice inescapable for our company leadership. We have been listening. We have been trying to understand. And we are in the process of coming to grips with opportunities we've missed to be better.
We provide some pretty incredible opportunities for people to explore, challenge, connect, and succeed in countless ways. Generally, we take great pride in what we do and how we do it. For years we've had a Vision Statement for the company. We've kept it as an internal document for use at staff training and guiding our big decisions. We haven't put it up on the wall just yet because there's an uncomfortable distance between where we are and where it requires us to be. At times we have achieved its lofty ideals in dramatic fashion, and we've been terribly inconsistent at other times. This is one of those times.
Peak Experiences is not here to tell you what you must do. Truthfully, we are struggling to determine what we need to do. We also welcome respectful dialogue on our social media platforms which recognizes that no single path will bring us to a better and more just place. We believe that Black Lives Matter, but we also know that uttering three words is not enough.
We are presently searching our hearts for the opportunities we've missed and the reasons why, as well as things we can do about it. It is no secret that people of color are wildly underrepresented in the sport of rock climbing. We have to do what we can to lower that barrier to entry in our own communities. As an initial start towards that end, we have created 25 Peak Experiences memberships that will be shared with disadvantaged people of color in our surrounding communities. This is one small measure we can implement quickly to encourage greater connection, dialogue, and understanding in our own “home”. Reality set-in for us however when we realized we didn't precisely know who to share these memberships with. We could only think of a small handful of organizations off the tops of our heads who might be able to help us distribute them. That too was an eye-opener and something we have to come to terms with. We would welcome your input.
There are vast numbers of folks in our community in great pain. It is more clear than ever that they have always been in pain. We do not pretend to know what that feels like and perhaps we never will. However, that does not absolve us of the responsibility to seek greater understanding and a deeper commitment to doing our part to alleviate that pain.
Sincerely,
Kevin Tobin - Owner, Peak Experiences, Inc. tobin@peakexperiences.com
Scott Powell - Owner, Peak Experiences, Inc. scott@peakexperiences.com
Temporary Closure due to Coronavirus
Dear Peak Community,
Peak Experiences is committed to protecting our community during the COVID-19 outbreak. In that spirit, we have decided to close both of our climbing gyms and cancel all classes and events effective Monday, March 16th. We will continue to update you regarding any changes to this timeframe, and will reopen when we can responsibly do so.
We understand that climbing and our gyms are an important part of your lives. This decision was not an easy one to make. Many of you have thanked us for remaining open and providing a place to relieve your anxieties. Remaining open also allows us to maximize the financial security of our employees. However, the health and safety of our members, guests and employees remains our highest priority. Even though we have no knowledge of any infected person entering our facilities, we’ve made this decision to do our part in protecting our community.
MEMBERS: All memberships will have a prorated credit applied to the next billing cycle or be frozen during this closure and reactivated when we reopen. You do not have to do anything to process that. Our normal $20 freeze fee will of course be waived. Prepaid memberships will have their end date extended proportionally to the duration of our closure.
GROUP, CLASS AND CLIMBING PROGRAM REGISTRANTS: If you have paid a deposit or fee for a group or class taking place during this temporary closure, we will be reaching out to you to discuss options for rescheduling, or being credited or refunded.
PASSAGES ADVENTURE CAMPS: We fully expect to run our summer camp programs on schedule. We encourage you to continue to register for our summer sessions which are filling quickly.
We deeply appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time. For over 21 years Peak Experiences has been humbled by the compassion and commitment of our community. We look forward to reopening as soon as it’s appropriate in order to give all of us the opportunity to come together again. Until then, continue to support each other and remain the passionate and positive people that you are. Physical distance is important, but please help us to maintain our connection to each other. Reach out to your friends and family frequently, and to us anytime. We will continue to monitor our membership portal, emails and social media sites. Together, we will get through this.
Here are some relevant email contacts should you have any questions:
For our Midlothian facility operational questions contact: neil@peakexperiences.com
For our Richmond facility operational questions contact: keith@peakexperiences.com
For Passages Adventure Camps questions contact: tobin@peakexperiences.com
For Jr. Climbing Team, Training Team and High School Clubs contact: sam@peakexperiences.com
For Competitive Team questions contact: mlondrey@gmail.com
For membership or group events specific questions contact: info@peakexperiences.com
Coronavirus Precautions
Dear Valued Members,
Like so many of you, we have spent the last several weeks learning about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and how it is impacting the world around us. During this time, the health and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. In light of growing concerns about the spread of COVID-19 we want to make you aware of actions we have been taking to fulfill this commitment, along with some ways you can help.
Steps we’re taking in our facilities and with our staff:
Increased cleaning in our facilities.
Our staff will be regularly disinfecting surfaces such as railings, doors, door handles, counter tops, fitness equipment, yoga mats, computers, phones, iPads, and bathrooms.
Increased availability of disinfecting and sanitizing materials for your use throughout our facilities.
Increased deep cleaning outside of normal operating hours.
Encouraging all employees to practice respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene, and other precautionary measures that mitigate transmission.
Instructing sick employees to stay home, and sending home any employees who appear to have acute respiratory illnesses (i.e., cough, shortness of breath).
What we’re asking of you:
Feeling sick? Skip your climbing sessions until you feel better.
Do not wear climbing shoes into the bathroom.
Wash your hands vigorously for no less than 20 seconds with soap and water, especially after coughing or blowing your nose.
Sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are also available for use.
Cough into a tissue or your shirt. But a reminder, if you’re coughing a lot it’s probably best to avoid the gym. Other members and the community will thank you!
If possible, avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes while in the gym, and avoid person to person contact.
Your health and safety are extremely important to us, and our goal is to manage the risk so that Peak facilities continue to be a place where you can come and climb, work out, and socialize. As we continue to monitor the CDC and WHO information on the Coronavirus, we will keep you updated on any changes to our operations or procedures by way of our website and social media.
If you have any questions please contact one of our facilities, or email info@peakexperiences.com.
Thank you for taking this situation seriously and doing your part to keep calm and climb on!
UPDATE TO OUR RICHMOND LOCATION: SCOR has made the decision to close their facility, but our climbing facility is still open. Be aware that the bathroom in the blue SCOR building is closed and locked. You will still enter through the main entrance in the blue building and proceed up the corridor as you normally would, then follow signage for the bathroom located next to the entrance to the outdoor field. See a Peak staff member if you have questions. We ask that you please respect SCOR and their space while they are closed.
USAC Divisionals - Volunteers Needed
January 18 and 19 at Peak Richmond
Volunteers needed - FREE food and t-shirt for all Volunteers
The week of January 13 the bouldering area will be closed and fitness classes will be modified to accommodate routesetting. PeakRVA will be closed during the competition but will open roped climbing after.
Competitors will register through USA Climbing
Mile High Climbing Fundraiser
Challenge yourself and support Adaptive Climbing in Richmond.
Peak is working with it's community partners to provide more opportunities for Adaptive Climbing. A big barrier that our community faces is a lack of qualified individuals to support and run these events. That's why we are working to bring the Paradox Sports Adaptive Climbing Initiative course to Richmond! This course will give our community the opportunity to learn from THE experts on Adaptive Climbing, so we can provide high quality experiences for those who need a little extra assistance.
Learn more about Paradox Sports here: https://www.paradoxsports.org/
To bring this awesome opportunity to Richmond, we need your help! We will be running a "Mile High Climbing Challenge" to raise money for this course. Details on this fundraiser are below, but keep an eye out for more info at our front desks.
How does it work? To participate, you will purchase a score card from your favorite climbing spot. Then use it to track your total distance climbed. You then have 4 weeks to climb that mile. Those who complete their score cards will be eligible for all kinds of awesome swag from climbing vendors and local sponsors.
Then anyone and everyone is invited to celebrate success at Vasen Brewing. Vasen will then donate a portion of the proceeds to our cause. Even if you did not participate in the Mile High challenge, you can still come out and support the community.
When? Starting Jan. 13th and going until Feb. 10th, with a celebration event at Vasen Brewing after the end of the 4 weeks. (specific date and time TBA)
Where can you participate? Peak RVA, Peak Midlo, and the VCU Carry Street gym.
Cost? $10 per score card (gym access and gear purchased separately)
Who else is involved?
-Sportable: Sportable is an adaptive sports club with a mission of creating opportunities and transforming lives of those with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sport.
-Beyond Boundaries: Beyond Boundaries is a non-profit based in Richmond, Virginia specializing in guiding participants with disabilities, veterans, at risk youth, and recover programs on outdoor adventures.
https://www.beyondboundariesrva.org/
-VCU OAP: The Outdoor Adventure Program at VCU runs the climbing wall at the Carry Street gym and supports Adaptive climbing through their office of disability serveries.
https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/outdoor-adventure-program/climbing-and-bouldering/
-RVAclimbs: A division on RVApaddlesports. RVAclimbs introduces new and seasoned climbers to the wonders of climbing throughout the James River Parks system.
Got questions about this event? Interested in becoming a Local Sponsor? Want to support this program or Adaptive Climbing in another way? Contact george@peakexperiences.com
VCU Events - WFR Course and Red Rocks Trip
The VCU Outdoor Adventure Program has two great events upcoming, a Wilderness First Responder Course and a climbing trip to Red Rocks in Nevada.
The Wilderness First Responder course is open to the public and will be taught at the Monroe Park Campus at the Outing Rental Center. We will meet everyday from 8am-5pm, with one evening of CPR and one overnight at the Rice Rivers Center. The course starts on Saturday, January 4th and finishes on Saturday January 11th.
