Rock Climbing Wall » Climbing Wall

Design Considerations For Climbing Walls

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:13:46 +0000

Wall climbing is a sport, which needs a lot of strength and determination. But the design structure of the wall plays an important part too. That’s simply because, if the design structure is not the way the climber wants it to be, there is no way that he can even think of scaling the wall structure. In case, you are considering designing the climbing walls, you should be assured the wall climbing industry offer you variety of materials and like equipments. Therefore, as a buyer, it is important for you to know the importance and the drawbacks of the various materials and equipments available, ensuring that you don’t compromise over its quality, so that you get the best wall climbing design.
The first thing that you can do is draw the design of your current climbing wall, even a simple outline would do for this matter. It is always good to draw a sketch first, since that helps you to determine the different facets of the climbing wall. If you’re good with numbers, then the measurement aspect of the climbing wall should come naturally to you. However, you may find it a bit tough to get the angles right, in the beginning. Therefore, for this purpose, it is advisable that you take all the dimensions according to the scale.
Some of the important things that you must consider with respect to designing a climbing wall are as follows:
. Keep the expenses within your budget. This simply means that you have to choose the materials and the design that you can afford. This is particularly important in case of climbing schools and other institutions alike. Therefore, when opting for any climbing design, you have to remember the design that you have selected must be at par with the latest wall climbing designs in the world, so that the wall surface wouldn’t have to be changed too often.
. Another important consideration that you possibly cannot avoid is the fact for whom the climbing wall will be designed, i.e., whether it is for professional climbers or for the amateurs. The design also depends upon factors such as frequency of the climbers’ visits, their skills, etc. This simply means that you have to make certain accommodations for the climbers according to their needs and at the same time introduce some challenging courses to sharpen their climbing skills.
. Whatever wall surface type you choose, you have to remember that it should have a long life. With respect to the longevity of the climbing walls, there are many options that you can consider. One of the most important aspects that you have to remember is that the wall you have selected must be flexible to the evolving nature of this wall climbing sport.
Therefore, when it comes to the installation aspect of the wall-climbing surface, you have to take all the above-mentioned factors into consideration.
Apart from these basic factors, other aspects that you have to look out for would include taking the help of an expert licensed engineer for the installation purpose and the assistance of a wall climbing designing professional. The wall climbing design can really act as the deciding factor in determining whether the wall climbing experience will be exciting or will it just be too dull for the climbers.

Putting The Finishing Touches To A Climbing Wall

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:01:02 +0000

So, you have finished construction of your climbing wall. Once the woodwork is complete, it is very important to go on to the final phase of your climbing wall, i.e. painting and final finishing. Your wall should look like a mountain face and should be safe to practice on.
You can sand the surface, which you want to be painted. Remove any sharp edges in your ply joints and also around your drill holes by sanding them with a sanding machine or manually. Then apply a coat of primer to the wood. You can also apply latex primer if you want the wood to have a genuine sand or rock like finish. Primer helps the paint to stick well with the wood and hence prevents chipping and bubbling. If your wood is wet, then you will have to dry it first before you can start applying anything on it.
Mildew can also be removed from wood by applying bleach mixed with water at a 1:4 ratio. You can use any exterior paint for your climbing wall and since most of them have a fungicidal agent added to the paint, it should prevent further mildew attacks from taking place. To protect any non-painted surface or the floor, cover them with old newspapers or cloth or apply tape on it.
If you are planning to provide a sand like finish to your climbing wall then you can add sand to your paint in the ratio of 1:10. Since sand settles down very fast in your paint pan or container, you will have to constantly keep on stirring your paint mixture before every application. You can also change the sand to paint ratio to achieve a different finish. Also, you can use golf tees to plug in your T nut holes so that the primer and paint does not go into the threading of your T nut.
If it does, you will have a hard time fitting your holds. The final touch is bolting on your holds and jugs to your wall. You can use different footholds at the bottom of your wall, but as you progress higher, you will require very few and none at the top. As per your climbing skills and the construction of your wall you will require some jugs at the bottom and some at the top of your wall. You can buy an entire ready made set of plastic or wooden holds which just need to be bolted on to your wall. Buy one according to the size of your wall and the number of holds required.
You will also require a good mattress, which breaks your fall without breaking your bones in case you slip and fall. The mattress should be around 10 to 12 inches thick and should not only cover the entire base of the wall but should also extend away so as to cushion your fall if you slip while swinging from one hold to another. Your final finished wall should look like a genuine rock wall for you to get into the real mood of rock climbing.
So, once your climbing wall is ready, go in for a test climb. Then call your friends and neighbors over for a rock climbing competition and have fun. Arrange rock climbing related theme parties. Happy climbing.

How To Design A Climbing Wall

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:03:55 +0000

The three-dimensional model you made of poster board or construction paper is now ready to be transitioned to design drawing. Begin with a simple sketch to define the dimensions. CAD or computer aided design software may be used or you can draw it by hand. CAD is not required, if you can define the entire dimension mathematically.
Each joint or edge should be labeled for the exact distance from the last joint. The distance from existing structure such as wall, floor, ceiling is to be referred. Establish distances, angles and dimensions of the entire structure. Take into consideration the thickness of the plywood sheathing, and the wall studs also, considering the width of the anchoring structure and keep sufficient margins.
Lumber: Actual size and Nominal size
In the US, the size of the unfinished wood is called as nominal size, after the wood is plainer and sanded to the actual size. Usually plaining and sanding will scrape off a quarter or half inch from the nominal size. However, plywood has the same nominal and actual size.
In over hanging sections, spacing and size of the joist will dictate the joist span length. Greater span lengths require larger joists.
An engineer is the right person to determine the design specifications for an overhanging wall, as many factors such as strength of the wood, reinforcement of the joists, and the type of anchor has to be considered.
Climbing walls being heavy need really strong support. The support should not only be able to bear the live load of the climbers, but also bear dead load of the wall itself. Live load of the climbers varies with every move the climber makes and at times can be many times the weight of the climber. The stress the wall undergoes requires it to be supported strongly, if the climbing wall is going to be supported by an existing structure. Then you have to make sure that the existing structure is strong enough to support the climbing wall.
Vertical walls transfer all the weight to the floor, but also exert angular force on the joints away from the wall. In steep overhang sections, three forces are acting on the wall; the weight of the wall itself, the climbers weight, and the forces caused by the climber’s movement. It is advised to seek expert’s and specialist’s opinion before proceeding.
The load the wall is likely to be subjected to will determine the type and size of the joists, anchors, and the thickness of wall studs. Existing structure should be strong enough to take the load of the climbers and should hold itself after being subjected to enormous stress exerted by the climbers. In vertical walls the plywood will offer a lot of vertical strength, but the support should be strong enough to take the live load stress, torque, and resist shearing.
Taking expert advice from structural engineers will ensure that all engineering considerations are taken into account and specifications for the material required finalized. Once this is done, you will be better placed to budget for the material required to build the climbing wall.

Rock Climbing Practice Walls

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:01:57 +0000

A majority of people who indulge in sports aspire to sustain their body strength, no matter what. You would also come across a few individuals who would rather spend their free time working out at gyms, jogging in the closest park, or occupied in the strenuous world of ball games. An individual, who would rather not emphasize a lot on weightlifting and the likes, could go in for a much better option-rock climbing.
Why select the option of rock climbing? Well, it is quite simple, climbing is ranked as one of the most daring and gripping sports in this present day and age. Apart from enhancing one’s body muscles, climbing builds a sense of discipline. There definitely are quite a few barriers, which require to be overcome by a rock climber. Through these, the rock climber’s mental control is irked because his mind is tickled with the intent of applying new tactics to conquer the barriers. On the whole, climbing brings on the power of both, courage and wit.
While a person sets out to go rock climbing, he is blessed with the opportunity of viewing the world from the top. He is also very lucky to soak in the first rays of the morning sun. Furthermore, he enjoys a sense of triumph and contentment. The person should not be frightened of climbing as it is a safe sport as long as the climber is wearing and carrying the appropriate tools and gear. Moreover, he must also gather the experience required to help him go further.
Rock Climbing Practice for a Novice
For all the novices, it would clearly be dangerous to undertake the difficult, steep treks. It would be a much better idea and safer too if they could practice rock climbing on the indoor walls. The climbing walls are man-made objects that consist of crannies and hooks that provide the individual with an actual rock setting. It is during the practice sessions on the climbing walls that the trainers are able to instruct the climber on the appropriate utilization of the legs and arms, the rappel as well as the ropes.
The Actual Handling of Rock Climbing
Rock climbing walls are equipped with the essential parts that stick out to allow the climber to gain a foot-hold. On the other hand, the individual has to apply tactics and assessment to climb the wall or the rock. A single wrong judgment could result in an accident. Being a climber, an individual is supposed to have a vigilant mind. All the way through the lessons, a person is trained to identify his strong and weak points.
A majority of the rock-climbing novices rely on their equipment. The expert rock climbers on the other hand observe the surface to identify the number of free strokes they can apply. Trips for rock climbing could turn out to be costly, particularly if the weather plays havoc. In this case, they would have to acquire an alternative path for the activity.

What Are Climbing Holds

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:01:56 +0000

By the end of the twenty-first century, rock climbing had reached high popularity levels as a sport. The sport that combines the intense activities of mountaineering and trekking had become a recreational activity accepted by the local populi. Besides, the sport is not limited to adults alone, even children can pursue it both as a hobby and career. In the United States alone, there are over 100,000 recreational athletes, and more and more people have started to develop an interest in it.
And why shouldn’t they? The sport is an all-round activity that requires an athlete to develop coordination between all five senses. The sport compels its athlete to be constantly vigilant and maintain a disciplined mental composure during the ascent and descent. Simultaneously, the sport however enjoyable it may seem, is not recommended for people with height disorders, especially vertigo. Even if an individual does learn the basics quickly, climbing a towering rock can be hazardous. The sport requires continuous surveillance under experts and coaches.
The first climb should be performed with proper safety equipment and guidance. The sport requires its students to master every involved aspect and to make it mandatory to use complex safety tools and headgears. Each of the equipment involved in the sport should meet with the required standards, as faulty equipment can result in injuries and wounds that could scar you permanently.
Many enthusiasts prefer pursuing rock climbing in the countryside, but not all people have the time and money to do so. For such individuals visiting a climbing gym or setting up a portable climbing wall should serve their purpose. Artificial climbing walls are created on a wooden or iron framework, and the holds are created separately. The holds are made of resinous or plastic material, with a stone or sand paper finish. The climbing holds mimic the feel and condition of a natural rock and each of the holds can be customized to create a difficult level.
For smaller walls the holds used are few and should be well placed, to duplicate routes of original rocks. For climbing such a wall, a climber would need strong hands and chalk. Chalk is a solvent absorbent and easily absorbs sweat and other liquids, offering a dry grip to climb. In case of taller walls, a single climbing hold could be a junction of many routes.
While purchasing the climbing holds, make sure you clarify whether the necessary screws, t-nuts and bolts are present. If they are not equipped, you may have to shell out extra money for the needed hardware, thus adding up to your expenses. Also, make sure the holds have been created considering the design of the wall. For instance, if you plan to outfit your 45degree steep overhand, you would have to make sure the holds accommodate the particular degree.
Climbing holds are usually sold as part of multi-piece kits, with every kit having a varied number of colors and sizes. Holds are available according to your necessities. They offer a comfortable grip and are ergonomically designed. You can also buy climbing holds that have a UV protection coating, which enables them to deal with the outside elements that could harm it.

Your Guide to High Performance Climbing Walls

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:10:34 +0000

High Performance Climbing Walls are perfect options for Universities, Indoor climbing facilities, Health clubs, YMCA’s, Recreation centers, or any facility that needs a custom rock climbing wall with a climbing features, durability, and high quality look.
High Performance walls are usually built on a steel framed superstructure. This gives the builder the liberty of implementing indefinite ideas like cracks, free standing pinnacles, archways, huecos, aretes, and much more. After erecting the steel frame, builders can sculpt the high performance surfaces to create a flawless clear and unique look along with micro-relief. High performance climbing walls come in more than 25 base colors and have higher level of aesthetic choice for every kind of climbing facility.
Various indoor rock-climbing facilities are on the look out for return participants and a loyal client base that are aware of the fact that durability and route setting are paramount, when it comes to building a high performance wall.
Texture
The textures have been developed to ensure durability as well as flexibility to absorb high impacts caused by falling climbers. High Performance texture systems are known to support two or more T-nuts per square foot. This helps in allowing a proactive route-setting program, to unfailingly challenge participants with novel and motivating climbing. This provides climbers with varied route- setting options and more holds on the walls.
High-performance climbing walls should be able to provide a texture with a considerable amount of micro-relief (pockets for footwork, surface variations, and edges), which also add up to the complete feel and look of the wall.
Design
If you are interested in getting a high performance-climbing wall installed in your home or health club, you can hire wall-climbing installers/builders. Considering the infinite possibilities of design, when it comes to building the High performance climbing walls, constructors would be enthusiastic to create varied facilities, right from a showpiece walls in smaller spaces to world-class facilities in large spaces. You can also opt for a bouldering terrain along with the high performance system. These areas could either be completely standing or wall mounting.
Building Specifications
Following are some of the specifications mentioned by the wall installing company before embarking on the wall-building projects:
. Drawings, design, modeling and construction would be carried out by the Company
. Free maintenance, durable welded steel framing system according to the Climbing Wall Industry Group (CWIG) standards
. T-nuts would be installed at a ratio of 2:1 square foot
. Highly sculpted cracks, aretes, archways and built in features
. You would get to choose from more than 25 different base colors
. Cast fossils and micro-relief built into surface
. Lead anchors and 3.5″ steel belay bars would be built according to CWIG standards
Pricing for building the High Performance Wall
Every wall-building project is unique. The installers always need to know, what you would like to include in your wall and the subsequent budget. Depending on your budget, the installers can give you a rough estimate about the overall costs for the wall building. Make sure you are in constant contact with the installer before, during and after the building of the wall. This helps you in maintaining the wall and acquiring added information about climbing.

How To Construct Your Own Home Climbing Wall

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:10:32 +0000

If you are contemplating on the idea of building a home climbing wall in your garage, home or apartment, you should consider several factors. Do you have ample space to build the wall? Do you have the necessary skill for building one? Irrespective of the number of inhibitions you have to deal with, there is no doubt that a home climbing wall would offer you a convenient space for workouts and would definitely enhance your rock climbing skills. It may not be as adaptable as one at a climbing gym, but would surely require a much smaller area and budget.
Now, that you have evaluated the factors and finally decided to build a home climbing wall, lets get down to the building process. Given below are some certain steps you would have to follow to ensure that you have an efficient climbing wall:
Planning
You will have to decide where you will be building the wall. For instance, if you are looking for simplicity, your garage would be an apt place to build the wall. While assessing the present condition of the garage, check for the ventilation, humidity, heat, etc that could turn out to be issues during certain seasons. For example, if you live in an area that gets very cold during winter, you may have to install a portable heater.
Expenses
Before you start building the wall, you would have to estimate the budget and the various tools needed for building the wall. If you start building a wall without any budget, by the time you actually finish the wall you might end up getting a hefty bill from the departmental store. Or worse, you may even have to stall the project half-way due to insufficient funds to finance the construction.
Design
Designing the climbing wall could be a critical issue. Identify the level of difficulty you have in mind while building the wall and the purpose. According to many rock climbers and home climbing wall constructors, straight vertical walls are great for beginners and considerably easy to build and alter, according to the difficulty levels. Don’t forget, you wouldn’t want to make the climbing wall too complicated; build whatever you deign. The modular design is a challenging one. You can even break the wall and reassemble it in a different configuration.
Construction
The construction stage could be the most frustrating or the most interesting part of building the climbing wall. If you have carefully planned and sketched an effectual design, constructing the climbing wall could be an easy job.
Finishing
This is the last stage before you crank the holds on. This would include adding a fall zone, preparing the surface for paint, and sand texture.
So, if you have a large garage or any spacious room in the house you no longer use, you have ample space for building a climbing wall. If you do not have the talent required to build and craft a climbing wall, you can hire someone who would provide you with the design as well as construct a climbing wall on the basis of the skills you possess.

Build a Climbing Wall- The Planning Phase

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:17:17 +0000

Before preparing the plan of the climbing wall, clear and concise training objectives have to be defined. The wall could be built to increase your muscular strength or increase endurance. Different types of configurations are responsible for imparting the type of training desired.
Once the objective is finalized, identifying the location is the next important step to be taken. Climbing walls can be built to fit any size; even if the space is limited an awesome wall can still be built to be effective in your training. Different rock shape, curves, turns, and angles can be achieved by being a little creative.
Climbing walls are generally used for training purposes, hence there is much importance attached to the defining of training needs. When the objective is to increase the endurance then the walls have to be built vertical and if the training objective is to increase strength then the use of overhangs is required. After defining your training objective the next step is to visualize the basic shape and form of the climbing wall. Different sizes, shapes and angles will make the wall more interesting and appealing.
When training objectives, area available, and funds and material required are taken into account, a realistic mental plan of the wall is formed. The creative planning process includes preparing a scale model of the mental plan. The design phase, which is more analytical and deals with the quantifiable aspects of wall constructions, comes next.
After taking into consideration the height and width, a scale model can be built using heavy poster board or construction paper. An ideal scale would be 1 inch equivalent to 1 foot. The scale model built should be easy to work with and easy to replicate. When using poster board do not try and bend the board to fit the angles, as the plywood during the actual construction is less flexible.
Climbing walls are three-dimensional and two dimensional paper drawings do not help in conceptualizing the building plan. The three-dimensional model will help in ironing out any flaws at the conceptual stage itself. Establishing the shape, height, and width is possible with the model. You can also have a ballpark cost estimate worked out with the three-dimensional model.
If the wall is going to be installed on an existing structure then the structural strength of that structure assumes importance, as it should be able to take the additional stress of the wall being installed.
Freestanding walls offer many advantages that walls fixed on existing structures don’t. Freestanding walls are portable and can be transported to a new location; they do not damage existing structures, and are suitable for renters. However, freestanding walls are difficult to design and are certainly more expensive than the fixed walls. The freestanding wall structure has to support its own weight and have a perfect balance so as not tip over in case of all climbers are on the same side.
Modular plans can be assembled and reassembled in different shapes and angles according to the training needs of the climbers. Plans with adjustable angles offer more flexibility in creating shapes that challenge the climber’s physical abilities and also help in overcoming space constraints.

Setting Up A Climbing Wall

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:01:19 +0000

Many Health Experts believe that a rock-climbing wall is an answer to the regular gym problems a layman faces. The sport by itself offers a whole-body workout and strengthens an athlete’s back and hands. It is the only overall exercise kit that is portable enough to remain in a single room or in the backyard of your house. Thus, the best possible option is to manually construct a rock-climbing wall at home.
The process may require your carpentry skills and good amount of resources, but most of them easily found at home. The resources include a free continuous wall, holds and reasonable floor space. The holds can be easily arranged as the wall is being built, thus creating your own unique climbing route.
The wall must have developed angular faces and forty-five to sixty degree elevation between the verticals and overhangs. This is where guidance from an engineer or a veteran rock climber is essential. An engineer could offer more precision in construction by designing a variety of blueprints regarding the angles, the placement of the holds, sizes and location.
A home rock climbing wall, also known as ‘Woodie’ is specifically created on wooden frames. But if you do have a termite problem, an iron casting is recommended. Wood is more appropriate because it is organically disposable, safe and agrees with the human skin (you wouldn’t want scratches and wounds to mess with your climbing experience).
A general design of a Woodie would require separate construction of its individual wall faces, which is later combined to form a compact framework. The framework is then attached or rested on a free wall in the house, leaving no gaps in between to ensure safety. If the surface is free-standing, the framework should be three dimensional to be structurally sound. The faces can be enveloped with plywood or hard plastic sheets. By spending a little more, you can include smaller panels with thick resin and a stone coating offering the same feel as natural rock.
As the wall nears its completion, you will be left with a tougher task of arranging the holds. In such cases, using an expert guidebook would do well. A guidebook would offer instructions on the placement of each hold and selection of bolts. Every hold has its own unique style built to protect the climber from a freefall. When tightening bolts, it is advisable to use a T-handle hex wrench. The specialty of this wrench is that its makes it easier to fix the bolt head inside the hold. If you are looking at building a good route, restrict the total number of holds and space them well.
A rock climbing wall becomes more challenging as its height increases, which is why selecting an isolated area with a towering ceiling should serve your purpose. Just in case, you would like to construct in your backyard, it is better to use a children’s tree house or a dead tree stump. The most important detail that shouldn’t be ignored when constructing a climbing wall is that the wall should be sufficiently agile to handle dynamic movements and shift of load on its surface.

All You Need To Know About A Rock Climbing Wall

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:01:13 +0000

A rock climbing wall is a manufactured wall that can be found in gyms and amusement/theme parks. This wall provides a safe alternative to beginners interested in climbing. Instead of starting to learn the tricks and intricacies of rock climbing on a natural mountain, that can be extremely dangerous, the learner can hone his skills under the guidance of experienced trainers and gradually progress towards climbing natural cliffs and rock faces. Even non-serious climbers can have fun climbing these walls during their leisure time.
Rock climbing is an excellent sport that not only offers fun, but also provides a full body workout. It is a superb way to get into a great shape. However, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Apart from the physical stress and strain involved, special equipment used for rock climbing needs to be hired for testing and improving your skills on a climbing wall. The gym or park lets you hire this equipment on payment of charges on a ‘by the hour’ basis. Some times other charges like entry or membership fees etc also need to be paid. This makes it an expensive hobby to indulge in. Even if you buy your own equipment, it will cost you a tidy sum, as climbing equipment is fairly expensive. If you are a serious climber, you might save a bit in the long run.
Rock climbing walls are specially built structures that have adequate hand and footholds that allow a climber to scale the wall. Without exposure to such holds that simulate those offered by natural rocks and crevices, it would be impossible for any climber to learn advancing up a mountain face. Different rock climbing walls are manufactured to offer varying degrees of difficulties in climbing. A small wall in a theme park may not be all that grand and a gym would be a much better option.
You can start by training to overcome easy obstacles in climbing during the initial stages of learning and as you gain experience, you can gradually learn to tackle progressively higher and varied difficulties. A gym has the facilities to let you learn the basics at your own pace and progress towards learning new styles and techniques of rock climbing, using the climbing wall.
Rock climbing walls are artificially constructed using brick or wood. More modern constructions use manufactured steel and aluminum. Other types of climbing walls are of premade fiberglass panels, granite slabs and concrete sprayed on wire mesh. One of the most popular materials used to manufacture climbing walls are thick multiplex boards with drilled holes. Every hole houses a special arrangement allowing modular hand holds to be fixed on the wall.
The whole face of the climbing surface of the multiplex board is covered with textured products. Concrete, paint and polyurethane loaded with sand are also used. Apart from the textured surface, the wall can have many surface structures that can be in the form of overhangs, underhangs, indentations, cracks, and protrusion. Grips to resemble outdoor rock face are also formed on the walls. Some oversized grips may have smaller grips bolted on to them.