+ Do I need to wear a mask when I climb or use the fitness area at Peak?

As of 5/21/21 individuals that are fully vaccinated can remove their masks while in our facilities. Masks are required at all times for anyone that is not fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated is defined as 2 weeks after the last shot in the vaccine regimen.

+ Are Peak RVA and Peak MIDLOTHIAN open?

1. Both Peak facilities are currently open to Members and day pass users.

   • Please click here for updated facility hours of operation: they are listed at the bottom of the page.

+ How are Junior Climbing Team, Training Team and Competitive Team currently operating?

• Training team and Competetive team are up and running.
• Masks are required at all times during practices for individuals that are not fully vaccinated.
• Practices are scheduled at non-busy times
• We will be restarting Junior Climbing Team in the near future
• Contact ashley@peakexperiences.com with any questions about Training Team and Junior Team
• Contact tobin@peakexperiences.com with any questions about the Competitive Team

+ How many people will be allowed in PeakRVA and PeakMIDLO at any given time?

• Per the Governor’s Phase III guidelines, 75% of building occupancy are allowed at one time in each facility. We have chosen to take a more incremental approach, and allow 90 people at one time in each facility. This will change as things progress. Staff are included in these occupancy limits.

+ Are the entrances and exits at Peak Midlothian and Peak RVA the same?

• Midlothian: Same entrance doors, but we have now designated “Enter” and “Exit” doors inside the foyer to provide for separation.

• RVA: ALTERNATE TEMPORARY PARKING LOCATION REQUIRED We ask that you park in the first parking lot on the right as you enter the SCOR complex (the gravel lot), and enter through what was originally our back door. There will be signs that designate parking and the new entrance. Look for our logo! PLEASE DO NOT ENTER AT THIS TIME THROUGH THE BLUE SCOR BUILDING AS WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE POPULATIONS SEPARATE.

+ Do I need to make a reservation to come to Peak and what will the check-in / check-out procedure be?

• You will just need to fill out our Daily Covid19 Health Screening each day that you will be coming in.

• Once you fill out the health screening you can come in at any time and stay as long as you'd like.

• Currently, you can fill out the Health Screening one day in advance.

• Members and guests can only fill out health screening for themselves, unless the member is under the age of 13.

• Specific check-in and check-out procedures to provide for social distancing will be detailed for each facility at the time of your visit.

• We are requiring that everyone checks in and checks out so we can maintain occupancy levels. This applies to anyone coming into the facility whether Member, Guest, or Observer.

+ Will I be required to wear gloves while belaying?

• Gloves will not be required, but you are welcome to bring your own. We appreciate you washing your hands or using hand sanitizer before and after belaying or climbing. There is hand sanitizer available throughout the facilities.

+ What are Peak’s sanitizing efforts?

• We have made every effort to increase our cleaning procedures based on the CDC’s recommendations, including regular disinfecting of surfaces, high traffic areas, and have designated staff cleaning the facility daily prior to business opening. We place a high emphasis on individual personal responsibility to: socially distance, wash / sanitize hands before and after climbs, not touch your hands to your face, and wear a mask when not actively engaged in. Sanitizing wipes and spray will be readily available for all to use throughout each facility. Additionally, we’ve recently installed hand washing sinks in PeakRVA to make this process more convenient for our members and staff.

• Climbing centers are not sterile environments despite our efforts to continually sanitize frequently touched surfaces. We currently have tens of thousands of climbing holds on the walls at Peak and they are grippy as a result of their design as well as the textured material used in their construction. There is not a practical method for sanitizing all the holds every day or in between each use.

+ Do I need to bring my own water?

• Water fountains will be closed

• Bottle filling stations will be available. Nalgenes will be available for sale, but feel free to bring your own. We will not be providing cups.

• Water bottles will be available in our vending machines, as well as snacks.

+ Do I have to use liquid chalk?

• We are not requiring Peak members use liquid chalk in light of the untested theory the alcohol in this product reliably kills the virus. On the other hand, we like the idea of using liquid chalk to cut down on the dust and improve air quality in our facilities! We have liquid chalk for sale at both facilities.

+ In addition to filling out a Daily Health Screening, what other things do I need to do before visiting Peak?

1. We ask our Peak members to follow the CDC’s guidelines for symptoms and self quarantine.

2. Please remain aware of the space you occupy at Peak and the effect it has on others. This includes maintaining ten feet of distance from all others on the floor and on the wall.

3. Virginia requires the use of masks so please put that puppy on before you enter the building.

4. We have been advised to strictly use the bathrooms in the brick building at SCOR and not the ones in the blue building (closest to the indoor fields).

+ How will you handle rental gear?

• We strongly encourage Peak members to use their own gear.

• Peak will not be handing-out lead ropes for the time being but lead certified members may bring their own UIAA approved rope of at least 42M. Lead climbers please be advised: You are not allowed to place your lead rope in your mouth at any time (like clipping) as this rope will be in direct contact with the quickdraws.

• A Member’s Guest using the monthly pass will receive their gear for free.

• Rental gear can be purchased at either facility upon arrival.

+ What will be expected of me while at Peak to help others feel secure?

• Be friendly and warm, but maintain your ten feet of social distancing from all others. Please keep one empty rope line between you and other climbers. Wear your mask at all times and smile - it will show in your eyes. Wash those hands often and for at least 20 seconds with ample soap. Frequently use hand sanitizer. Don’t touch your face with your hands and if you do get right back to that sink. Do that thing where you cough / sneeze in the shoulder of your shirt and away from others. Help us wipe down the fitness equipment before and after each use.

+ What if someone at Peak refuses to comply with these guidelines?

• The lifeguarding efforts of our Peak floor staff have expanded to include these new procedures. We will treat departures from these procedures respectfully and much in the same way we address improper belay technique. We set clear expectations, we educate, and we reinforce. If someone is unwilling to comply they will kindly be asked to leave.

+ How will social distancing affect top rope climbing , auto belays, bouldering and lead climbing?

• Our dedicated team of talented route setters will continue a rotation of taking down older climbs and replacing them with sweet new ones. At any given time in each facility a small area of roped climbs or boulders will be roped off for a period of time before stripping and disinfecting the holds. They will be power washed then reassembled in aforementioned sweet scenarios for you to enjoy. We will do our best to minimize this disruption of your Peak Experience.

• Top-Rope Climbing: To observe social distancing all top-rope climbers and belayers may only tie into a rope that is not occupied by another climber / belayer to the left and the right within 10 feet. This includes distancing from adjacent lead climbers and occupied auto-belays. There will be 10 markings on the wall to help you visualize 10 feet.

• Auto-Belays: To observe social distancing all auto-belay climbers may only hook into an auto-belay that is not occupied by another climber / belayer to the left and the right within 10 feet. This includes distancing from adjacent lead climbers and top-rope climbers. Please be aware of other climbers waiting to climb near you. Auto-belays are wildly popular and our route setters will ensure a wide variety and high density of climbs on each. Peak staff will use disinfecting wipes on the auto-belay auto-locking biners.

• Bouldering: Just like in the roped climbing area we expect all boulderers to strictly observe ten feet of social distancing from others at all times, both on the mat and on the wall. Please take the time to observe where a problem starts, where it ends as well as your fall zone and how it could affect the social distancing of others. Please feel free to communicate with one another about who’s got next and all that good stuff. There may be recommended spacing lines in some tricky parts of the bouldering area.

• Lead Climbing: To strictly observe social distancing all lead climbers and belayers may only address a climb that is not occupied by another climber / belayer to the left and the right within ten feet. This includes distancing from adjacent lead climbers, top-rope climbers, and occupied auto-belays. There may be recommended spacing lines in some tricky parts of the lead-only areas. Please pay particular attention to not only where a climb begins, but where it ends. Peak will not be handing-out lead ropes for the time being but lead certified members may bring their own UIAA approved rope of at least 42M. Lead climbers please be advised: You are not allowed to place your lead rope in your mouth at any time (like clipping) as this rope will be in direct contact with the quickdraws.

+ How will social distancing affect Peak Fitness areas / Fitness Classes?

• The fitness areas at PeakRVA and PeakMIDLO will follow the ten foot social distancing guidelines. Some fitness equipment may not be available initially. An effort has been made to rearrange the fitness equipment to provide for social distancing. We also relocated PeakRVA’s retail area to allow for more room for fitness!
• For the time being our in-person group fitness classes have been suspended. A limited number of TRX straps will be set-up at each facility for your use. Please sanitize the fitness equipment you use before and after each use. This includes yoga mats.

+ Will you have any signage that pertains to mitigating the virus at Peak?

• Yes, we will have lots of new signage and it will change as we move from phase to phase. Please take the time to read it for content and proper grammar.

+ I’ve heard other places are doing things like taking the temperature of every customer before they enter the door. Why isn’t Peak doing that?

• There is a tremendous amount of information out there and a wide variety of responses to the Covid-19 crisis. Peak has a role to play in managing these risks and so does every single member of our community. We’re asking our community to monitor their own temperature and not come in if it exceeds 100.4 degrees F per CDC guidelines.

+ Where will I be able to store my belongings while I climb?

• We will continue to offer cubbies and lockers for any personal items that you would like to store while you climb. We will be cleaning them throughout the day, and between uses. However we recommend that climbers only bring gear that they will actively be using.

Updated 5/25/21