Experienced Climbers

 

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Using Your Own Equipment

• Climbers are encouraged to use their personally owned climbing equipment.
• All harnesses and belay devices will be inspected by GVC staff before being allowed to be used

 

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Four Types of Climbing

ON 14,000 SQUARE FEET OF CLIMBABLE SURFACE

Bouldering

• The first thing you see when you walk in the gym is our extensive bouldering area and our free-standing boulder.
• Bouldering is climbing without a rope on shorter walls protected by thick foam flooring and a spotter.
• All climbers, age 16 or older, will be allowed access to our bouldering area after completion of the Gym Orientation.
• Our bouldering area contains routes for all levels of climbers on walls ranging from 13 feet 15 feet.
• Climbing our free-standing boulder allows you to “top-out” much like the boulders you climb outside.
• The 16 inch foam impact attenuating system covering the entire flooring area will help you reach the top with less fear of falling.
• Bouldering is dangerous! All boulderers must be aware and adhere to all GVC rules and policies regarding bouldering at all times!

 

Auto-Belay Climbing

• Grand Valley Climbing offers 9 TRUBLUE Auto-Belay stations located around the gym.
• Auto-Belay systems allow climbers to climb to the top of a wall, up to 40 feet, without having to worry about a belayer holding your rope.
• Auto-Belay systems are perfect for the solo climber. Just clip in, check the clip, climb, and let go!
• All climbers, age 14 or older, will be allowed access to our auto belay climbing areas after completion of the Gym Orientation.
• All climbers, age 13 or younger, must be accompanied by an adult chaperone during Gym Orientation in order to be allowed access to auto belay climbing areas.
• All climbers, age 13 or younger, must be accompanied and clipped in by a chaperone at all times in auto belay climbing areas.
• Climbing on an Auto-Belay is dangerous! All climbers must be aware and adhere to all GVC rules and policies regarding Auto-Belays at all times!

 

Top Rope Climbing and Belaying Certification Process

• Top rope climbing systems allow climbers to climb to the top of a wall, up to 50 feet, using a second person as a belayer to hold the rope of the climber which is attached to the top of the wall.
• Grand Valley Climbing offers over 40 top rope climbing stations located around the gym.
• All climbers looking to certify on top rope must complete a GVC Top Rope Belay Certification. Simply ask a staff member if you are ready for this certification.
• Upon completion of certification, you will be given access to belay any climbers on the top rope system.
• WE DO NOT ACCEPT OTHER GYM’S OR INSTITUTION’S CERTIFICATIONS.
• In order to be certified, belayers must demonstrate the following to Grand Valley Climbing Staff…
  • Proper figure-8 knot construction and use and checks
  • Proper belay device/carabiner/rope setup (ATC or GriGri)
  • Proper climber communication/checks
  • Proper belay technique (brake hand must never leave rope)
  • Proper fall arresting technique
  • Controlled lowering of the climber
• If you need a refresher or would like to learn how to belay on top rope, we invite you to our Introduction to Indoor Climbing Class offered 2 times a week.
• 24 hour waiting period is mandatory between certification attempts. We will keep certifications on file for one year.
• Climbing and belaying on top rope is dangerous! All climbers must be aware and adhere to all GVC rules and policies regarding top rope climbing and belaying at all times!

Lead Climbing and Belaying Certification Process

• Lead climbing systems allow climbers to climb to the top of a wall, up to 50 feet, using a second person as a belayer to hold the rope of the climber. The rope is attached to the climber and the wall through quickdraws, or clips along the climbers path up the wall. If the climber were to fall, their most recent clip and belayer will protect them.
• Grand Valley Climbing’s most striking feature is the “Lead Pit”, offering steep climbing on a variation of medium to hard level routes up to 50 feet.
• GVC also boasts several lead accessible areas on all of our other walls. Ranging 30 feet to 50 feet.
• All climbers looking to certify for lead climbing or lead belaying must complete a GVC Lead Climbing and Lead Belay Certification. Simply ask a staff member if you are ready for this certification.
• 24 hour waiting period is mandatory between certification attempts. We will keep certifications on file for one year.
• WE DO NOT ACCEPT OTHER GYM’S OR INSTITUTION’S CERTIFICATIONS.
• In order to be certified to lead climb, climbers must demonstrate the following to Grand Valley Climbing Staff…
  • Proper knowledge of back clips and z-clips
  • Proper communication/checks before and during climb
  • Proper clipping of quick draws (no skipping clips, no back clips, no z-clips, clips both top anchors)
  • Proper body positioning while climbing and clipping (no foot over rope, proper comfortable clipping stances)
• In order to be certified to lead belay, belayers must demonstrate the following to Grand Valley Climbing Staff…
  • Proper knowledge of back clips and z-clips
  • Proper communication/checks with the climber, before and during climb
  • Correct maintenance of slack to the climber during climbing and clipping
  • Maintains brake hand in control of the rope at all times
  • Proper understanding of effect of lead falls on climber and belayer
  • Maintains correct positioning in respect to wall and climber at all times

  *If you have not lead climbed before but would like to learn, we highly recommend enrolling in our Introduction into Lead Climbing and Belaying Course. Our instructors will teach you proper rope management, clipping techniques, and train you to belay a lead climber.

• Lead climbing and lead belaying are very dangerous! All climbers must be aware and adhere to all GVC rules and policies regarding lead climbing and belaying at all times!