Making the Transition from Gym to Crag:
In the Gym |
At the Crag |
Do this Instead! |
|---|---|---|
| Loud music fuels your climbing session. | Loud music may disrupt others trying to enjoy the outdoors, including landowners. | Leave the speakers at home or at least turn them off when others are nearby. |
| Lowering off the top anchors is the norm. | Top anchors may not be regularly monitored for wear. | Minimize impact on top anchors when lowering. |
| Gym staff clean up chalk spills, and provide trash cans for bar wrappers and discarded finger tape. | Chalk spills and trash are your responsibility. | Clean up after yourself and pack out your trash. |
| You stash your pack and unused gear in a locker. | Sprawling gear can crush plant lift, trample sensitive soil, and disturb other climbing parties. | Be aware of where you’re dropping your gear and contain it as much as possible. |
| Fixed draws on lead routes are standard. | Landowners may not appreciate the visual impact of fixed draws. | Know the rules before you go, and don’t leave draws on your project unless they are allowed. |
| You do your business in the bathroom. | You do your business in the wild. | The best methods for human waste disposal vary depending on what kind of environment you’re climbing in. Know before you go: ontarioallianceofclimbers.ca/poop/. |
| Climbing in large groups is no big deal. | Climbing in large groups is not always appropriate, especially when the crag is crowded or in areas where access is sensitive. | Stay low profile—climb in pairs at crowded crags and in areas where access is sensitive. |
| Gyms implement rules and standards to encourage safety, but it’s the climber’s responsibility to double check gear and partners. | The great outdoors contains many natural elements that can create hazardous situations, and it’s the climber’s responsibility to manage those hazards. | Climbing is inherently dangerous inside and outside. Be aware, find a mentor, and double check your gear and your partners every time. |
Adapted, with permission, from a poster provided by the Access Fund. The gym is not just a crag without walls. Please use these responsible outdoor climbing practices at the crag.