Climbing Wall

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 and a crack wall.

• All personal items should be place in an available cubby inside the climbing area or a complimentary digital locker outside of the climbing area.

• Food and drink are permitted only in the main lounge area.  Water and sports drinks in plastic sealable containers are permitted in all areas.

• Top rope and lead climbing may only occur during supervised climbing wall hours.

• Climbing equipment including, but not limited to, harnesses, carabineers, belay devices, ropes, and slings must be UIAA and/or CE approved, and in safe working condition, free of excessive wear and abuse.

• Loose chalk is not allowed. Liquid chalk is available throughout the Climbing Wall facility. Chalk balls are available for purchase.

• Climbing on any surface that is not climbing wall surface is prohibited.

• Climbers are not allowed to walk or climb barefoot.  Shirts must also be worn.

• Only climbing wall staff may change, modify, and adjust climbing holds, routes, and boulder problems.

• Only Outdoor Program staff are allowed to instruct any and all skills in the climbing facility.

• Climbing wall staff and/or Half Acre staff reserve the right to intervene if they feel an individual's climbing activities are unsafe.

• Failure to comply with any policies could result in removal from the climbing wall, and/or revoking of climbing wall privileges. 

Top-Rope and Lead Climbing Policies

• All Top-Rope and Lead Climb climbers must pass either an annual skills test or successfully complete an introductory Climbing Wall Clinic.

• Climbers must user ropes directly above the route they intend to climb to avoid unnecessary swing (pendulum).

• Climbing above the Top-Rope anchor points is prohibited.

• Hip belays, munter-hitch belays, and using a Figure 8 device are prohibited.

• All knots, belay devices and harnesses will be inspected by the climber and belayer before any climbing commences.

• Harnesses, belay devices, and helmets are available for checkout during Top-Rope hours for free.

• Ropes will be attached to the harness using only a figure-eight tie-in knot in addition to having a safety knot or at least six (6) inches of tail to the knot.

• Climbing commands must be used at all times.

• Belayers must remain standing while belaying.

• No loose hair, jewelry, or loose clothing is allowed, and must be kept away from the ropes and belay devices at all times.

• Do not adjust knots, belay devices, or harness while climbing.

Bouldering Policies

•  All bouldering on the tower and top-rope wall shall not exceed the twelve (12) foot mark as indicated by the horizontal painted line.

• Climbers are not allowed on top of the bouldering wall.

• Down climbing is recommended upon completion of bouldering routes.

• Top-rope and lead climbing activities have priority on the tower and top-rope teaching area during supervised wall hours.

• Spotting is strongly encouraged for all bouldering activities.

• Do not boulder, traverse, or stand under other climbers.

• While bouldering, be aware of other wall users, both climbers and bystanders.

Dry Tooling Policies

• Dry tooling is allowed for bouldering and top rope only—NO lead climbing.

• Dry tooling is allowed only during times when the gym is not busy—Half Acre staff retain the right to not allow it at any time. Use good judgement and spatial awareness.

• ONLY rubber-tipped gym specific training tools are allowed. These can be rented from the front desk.

• Helmets are REQUIRED while bouldering and top roping, for both climber and belayer; tethers are REQUIRED when top roping and must be attached to the rope—not your harness. Eye protection is STRONGLY encouraged.

• Stein pulls are NOT allowed.

Access to the Half Acre Climbing Wall is determined by access to the entire Half Acre facility.

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

The Outdoor Program offers a full spectrum of climbing clinics, classes, and trips. These include:

• Intro Climbing Wall Clinic

• Indoor Lead Climbing Clinic

• Outdoor Sport Climbing Clinic 

• Intro to Multi-Pitch

• Trad is Rad

• Climbing Movement Clinics

• Outdoor Climbing Foundations

• Crack Climbing Clinic

• Gym to Crag Clinic

• Bouldering Competitions

For full descriptions, dates, and to register, please visit our Events page.

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 staff member for a “skills check” during rope climbing 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.

Annual skill checks are required for lead 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

✓ Demonstrate proper belaying and rope management

✓ Break a fall and lower a climber

✓ Have completed the top-rope skills check within the last year

✓ Lead climb 5.8 without falling/multiple attempts

✓ Demonstrate a safe fall

✓ Demonstrate proper clipping technique (no back-clipping or Z-clipping)

✓ Demonstrate basic commands between climber and belayer

If you feel you can demonstrate these skills proficiently, ask the wall staff member for a “skills check” during rope climbing 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.

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).

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.

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.

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.