Climbing Wall

Location: Half Acre Gym, Rm. 145

Hours: The wall is open for bouldering anytime the facility is open, with exceptions (see below).

Top-rope and lead climbing hours:

Summer hours (effective May 14 - August 28):

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 11 am - 1 pm 

Tuesday and Thursday: 5 - 8 pm

Weekends: CLOSED 

Exceptions (the wall may be closed periodically for route setting or maintenance)

Features

There are bouldering, lead climbing, and top-rope climbing routes. The wall has multiple cracks, a cave, overhung areas and less-than vertical climbing surfaces. The wall also has an inclined campus board with three sets of rungs.

Policies

Climbing wall, top-rope, and bouldering policies can be found here.

General Information

• Access
• Cost/Price
• Climbing Equipment
• Dependents and Spouses
• Introductory Climbing Wall Clinic
• Lead Climbing
• Skills Check
• Renting the Climbing Wall

Access

Facility users can access the climbing wall for bouldering anytime the facility is open, with exceptions for classes, facility closures, and rentals. Please follow the posted rules. To top-rope or lead climb at the wall, you must successfully complete either a skills check or an introductory climbing wall clinic.

Cost/Price

The climbing wall is free to all paid facility users. Skills checks and introductory climbing wall clinics are also free.

Top-rope Skills Check

Annual skill checks are required for top-rope climbing at the wall. Skills checks are for people who have prior climbing experience. You need to be able to demonstrate (without prompting) how to properly:

✓ Get into a harness

✓ Tie into a harness

✓ Perform a safety check of your climbing partners equipment

✓ Belay

✓ Break a fall and lower a climber

✓ Demonstrate basic commands between climber and belayer

If you feel you can demonstrate these skills proficiently, ask the wall monitor for a “skills check” during top-rope hours. Participants who successfully complete the skills test must also complete the waiver and assumption of risk form. If you do not have your own equipment, we can provide it for you. If you cannot demonstrate these skills without prompting, then a climbing clinic is for you.

Introductory Climbing Wall Clinics (for top-rope climbing)

These clinics are for those people who have little or no climbing experience and who would like to learn how to climb. Introductory climbing wall clinics are only required for top-rope climbing at the wall if you cannot pass the skills check. Participants who successfully complete the clinic must also complete the waiver and assumption of risk form. After completion of the clinic, participants must successfully complete a skills test prior to being allowed to top-rope climb at the wall.

To sign-up: Call or stop by our office in the northeast corner of Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center

Schedule: January 29 & 30; February 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27; March 6, 13, 20 &  27; April 3, 10, 17 & 24; May 1

Cost: Free

Lead Climbing

In order to lead climb at the wall, individuals must:

1. Have completed the top-rope skills test within the last year.

2. Have the ability to climb 5.8 top-rope without falling.

3. Lead climb 5.7 without falling/stopping/multiple attempts.

4. Demonstrate proper belaying and rope management using a Petzl GriGri2. See the following video.

5. Demonstrate proper equipment checks and commands between belayer and climber.

6. Demonstrate proper clipping technique.

7. Demonstrate the proper mental state (not nervous/scared/anxious).

8. Demonstrate all the requisite skills without prompting within 1 hour timeframe.

If you do not have a background in lead climbing, lead climbing clinics are for you.

Lead climbing skills test

All individuals interested in lead climbing at the wall must pass a lead climbing skills test annually.

To sign-up: Call, email, or stop by the Outdoor Program office. Please specify the date of the clinic you'd like to participate in.

Schedule: Sundays, Jan. 28, March 4, and April 15

Equipment: Harnesses and belay devices are provided complimentary; bring your own equipment if you have it. Personal equipment must be in good working order and UIAA and CE approved.

Dependent and Spouses

• Dependents have limited access to the facility; please see the family recreation page for more information.

• Dependents 12 and under must be directly supervised at all times by a parent or legal guardian at the climbing wall.

• Dependents must be 16 or older to belay another climber, and must pass either a skills test or introductory climbing wall clinic.

• Dependents 15 years old and younger, whose parent has passed a skills test or introductory climbing wall clinic, can top-rope climb without having passed a skills test but they may not belay another climber.

• All dependents who top-rope climb must have a parent or guardian complete the waiver and assumption of risk form prior being allowed to climb.

Climbing Shoes, harnesses, helmets, and belay devices

Harnesses, helmets, rock shoes and belay devices are free of charge for use at the climbing wall during top-rope climbing hours. Rock climbing shoes are available at the equipment checkout desk for use at the climbing wall only (for outdoor rock climbing shoe rentals, please see our outdoor rental equipment information).

Renting the Climbing Wall

UW and non-UW Affiliated groups may rent the climbing wall. All rentals must meet UW and Campus Recreation guidelines for insurance, eligibility, and must follow all climbing wall policies.

1. To reserve the wall, start by completing the facility request form.

2. Someone from our staff will get back to you in regard to availability and scheduling.

3. Please note the two primary rentals that can occur at the wall, below,

Top-rope climbing

Rent the wall and have your group learn to top-rope climb! These rentals are a minimum of two hours and can be divided into multiple days. Add on additional hours to allow participants the opportunity to practice their new-found skills. Participants must be 16 years old or older in order to belay other climbers. Participants 14 and under can top-rope climb while being belayed by our staff, while other climbers in the group can enjoy bouldering on the bouldering wall. All groups utilizing the ropes must have a parent or guardian complete the waiver and assumption of risk form prior being allowed to climb.

1. Group size is limited to 18.
2. A minimum of two hours is needed for an introductory climbing wall clinic ($50/hour for the rental of the facility)
3. Three instructors are required ($15/hour/instructor during regular hours; employee cost is doubled after hours)
4. Shoes, harnesses and belay devices are provided.

Bouldering

Rent the climbing wall for bouldering! Bouldering is a simple, fun activity. Basic instruction and an orientation to the climbing wall will be provided. Typical rentals are two hours in length, but can be longer or shorter (min. of one hour).

1. Group size is limited to 70.
2. One climbing wall staff is required ($15/hour)
3. Rock climbing harnesses are not provided with this rental.
4. No waivers are required.
5. Top-rope climbing is not included.
6. Facility rental fee of $50/hour is required.