Even if you are a completely new climber, visiting an indoor climbing wall for the first time needn’t be intimidating. The process of booking and attending a session at a Climbing Wall Gloucester venue is explained here to give you an idea of what to expect.
Arrival and Registration
On arrival for your first session of indoor climbing you will be asked to sign a waiver and complete a registration form detailing health and certain safety issues. This takes about 5 minutes to complete and we ask that you arrive about 5-10 minutes prior to your session start time.
The Induction
In most venues there will be an induction given by staff, that covers off the use of the climbing equipment, how to fall safely and what areas of the venue to use. This induction is given by staff who are trained to a recognised UK climbing instructor standard.
More on Climbing Wall Gloucester can be found at https://www.270climbing.com/.
Reading the Route Colours
Routes are coloured coded, starting with simple grades displayed on routes in plain colour or with minimal features (e.g. holds) and progressing to more difficult grades displayed with more complex features or different colour tape.
Bouldering Versus Roped Areas
Bouldering areas have no ropes and are covered with thick crash mats. Roped areas are climbed with the use of a harness which staff can set up for you. As always, details of the wall and its layout can be found on the website, including specific details on what areas will be open before you arrive.
Pacing Your Session
A typical session lasts for around 90 minutes to 2 hours, so make sure to take time to rest your forearms between attempts to prevent injury. There is nothing wrong with sitting down and watching others for 5 minutes to recharge.
At the End
Return any hired shoes to the desk. The indoor climbing wall will usually have a seating area where you can stretch your muscles to prevent any soreness after your session for 24-48 hours.
Just be aware of the process and you can be sure to get more climbing time than standing around trying to work out what to do first!