Post-Competition

Wow! What a crazy week it has been! It's been a while since my last post but so many things have happened in that time. The SCS climbing competition at your very own Granite Arch climbing gym was a big success this Saturday! We had a terrific turn out of contestants and team Granite Arch did so well! I'd like to congratulate each and every member of our team for your hard work and efforts paying off. I'd also like to give a shout out to all you supportive and encouraging team parents for your commitment to your child(ren) and our our team! We couldn't have done it without you. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. I also want to congratulate all of our dedicated coaches and GA staff for doing such a great job and making this competition and excellent one.

As far as our routes, I received a lot of helpful feedback on many of our comp routes. I thank those of you who shared your thoughts with me. You share with me a passion for excellence in this gym and I appreciate it. This week I will be changing the placards on our 34 comp routes to normal gym placards, adding names and displaying the ratings so everyone can enjoy a taste of the competition. For those of you who are lead tested at Granite Arch I highly encourage you to bring along your own lead rope and try our lead routes from the competition. We set four new lead only routes on the arch and hey are waiting to be enjoyed! If you are interested in learning more about Lead climbing ask our awesome desk staff about signing up for our next Lead climbing course. You won't regret it! See you on the wall! And please, don't forget to climb responsibly. We want everyone to make it home after a good day of climbing. Rock on!

<>< THOR

New Traverse!

Alighty, we have some fun new things for you all today. I set a new traverse with awesome new tape that Adam picked up last week! Check out the pic below or just come in and see it for yourself (the name might give you a hint). This traverse is a bit longer than its predecessor (white tape w/ black squiggly). It's a' Me! Mario! begins at the narrow arête wall by the gym entrance door (now with a new route), wraps around the first arch pillar then finishes where the old traverse also finished, or visa versa. The extra length makes this V3 traverse pretty pumpy but that's what makes it fun! If you'd prefer you can cut under the small arch and trim off about a dozen holds form the problem for a shorter warm up experience. It's your climb! Put in what you want to get out of it!
Like A Cat is the new route on our wall previously used for speed climbing. This wall is the closest section of wall to the gym entrance door. Please, if you plan on climbing this balancy arête-with-a-side-pull make sure your belayer is in full control of the brake line and fully alert! The anchor at the top of this route is NOT double-wrapped and will not aid in slowing down the climbers descent when they fall or are being lowered! Spread the word too. This is a fun wall with a realistic, outdoor style belay anchor (cold-shuts) at the top instead of a steel cylinder. Enjoy the climb, but enjoy climbing responsibly more!

Once again, thanks for reading! I'll be out of town all next week but if something comes up that is newsworthy, it will appear here. Have a blessed weekend. Climb hard! Think harder!

<>< THOR

Prep Day!

Hey ya'll! I wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading our blog and supporting Granite Arch! Today we dedicated our morning to gym maintenance. Check out Adam rock'n the grinder as we clean up some old bolt holes under the roof! There were no new routes set today, but rest assured, there are some awesome things coming in the near future!
For those of your who haven't yet heard, Granite Arch Climbing Center will be hosting a climbing competition on Saturday the 27th of this month!! Check out our Facebook page or our website for info and details or ask us questions when you come in for your next climb sesh'! See you on the crags!

Vedauwoo and Friction Climbing

For all my friends out there who are unfamiliar with friction climbing, aka Slab climbing, fear not! Your are not alone. Friction climbing is a style of climbing that lacks "normal" holds and requires the climber to focus on balance and footwork. This requires patience and poise but is no less exciting than "normal" rock climbing. Slab climbing gets its name from the large, unbroken, and pitched-in slabs of rock where large amounts surface area contact of your climbing shoes is ideal. A few miles north of Laramie, Wyoming is a big, granite, climbing haven called Vedauwoo (pronounced vEE-duh-voo). Vedauwoo is known for offering many styles of climbing and slab is one of them! Vedauwoo granite is sharp, abrasive, and full of crystal; perfect for friction climbing, terrible for keeping skin on your body. I first experienced slab climbing in Vedauwoo last summer and I loved it! Vedauwoo is home to my favorite friction route and today I have brought a little piece of Wyoming slab to Granite Arch! Look for Drop-Zone (blue tape) on the right-most bar on the Cave wall (left of boulder room entrance if facing toward the boulder room). Bring your balance and fancy footwork for this unique route. Give it a try and tell me what you think! And, as always, your constructive comments and feedback are appreciated.


Don't forget to join, comment, and share this blog to stay connected and informed on routes, route setting info, and more! Thank you for supporting Granite Arch Climbing Center!

First Comp of the Season!

I want to send out a huge congratulations to our Team Granite Arch competitors! This weekend our awesome team competed in the local competition held at Rocknasium in Davis. I had the privilege of experiencing the event and watching our team put all their hard work to the test. They climbed hard, with outstanding attitudes and I can speak for all the staff when I say our climbers made Granite Arch proud! Well done team! We want to give a special thank you to the parents of each team member as well. Thank you all for you dedication to your child, for getting them to practice and always being there  for them to encourage and support them. It is paying off in amazing ways!

Stay posted for updates on new routes this week and I'll see you on the wall!




Setter's Corners readers DON'T FORGET to enter your email address on the right column to keep updated on new route sets by email!

Humming Bird and Living Water

Ever wonder what a Humming Bird feels while in flight? Perhaps you're thirsty for some Living Water? Whether you're curious or not there are two new routes available on the arête wall under the Trueblue auto belay! Come give 'em a shot let me know what you think! Don't forget to share your thoughts on any route by filling out a Route Setter Feedback Slip (just a small blank piece of paper provided for you on the wooden podium in the main room). Get pumped! Get climbing!

Setter's Corners readers DON'T FORGET to enter your email address on the right column to keep updated on new route sets by email!

Hello all!
Welcome to our new Route Setter's Corner.

Here you will be able to read about our new routes as they are set, give feedback and discuss techniques with our resident setters.

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS IN THE RIGHT COLUMN >>>