Movement Blog

Walk into any climbing gear shop and you might feel like you've entered a hardware store on another planet. Walls lined with technicolor shoes, endless arrays of ropes, and about 80 different kinds of metal bits and pieces with names like "grigri" and "ATC" that sound more like Pokémon than climbing gear. But here's the good news: getting started is actually pretty simple. While experienced climbers might geek out over their trad rack or the latest belay device, beginners only need a few key pieces of gear. The rest can come later as you grow into your climbing journey. Planning your first visit? Check out our beginner's guide here.

We sat down with Movement Colorado member and Golden Meet-Up Group leader Jacqui to chat about all things climbing. Check out our conversation below!

We’ve all been there. You’re crushing your gym projects, feeling like royalty in the V4 realm, and then someone says, “Let’s take it outside.” “Everything’s a hold because it’s not color-coded,” they claim. “And the scenery is epic—c’mon, it’ll be an adventure,” they add. Suddenly, you’re in the back of a Subaru, headed to a crag you’ve never heard of, fumbling with a topo map and guidebook, trying to decode cryptic beta while sweating over the great unknown.

What is a Spray Wall?

You might think route setting is just drilling plastic holds onto walls all day. And sure, that's technically part of it - but saying that's all there is to setting is like saying painting is just putting colors on canvas or cooking is just throwing ingredients in a pan.

Picture this — it's the last week of December. You're not sure what day it is, pie is becoming one of the major food groups, and it's day five of hosting the parents. Doesn't a gym session sound good right about now? Read on for the ultimate guide on bringing your family and friends along with you to Movement, whether you're traveling or hosting this holiday season!

Fear is a natural response when climbing, whether you're scaling towering walls or tackling tricky boulders. It can keep you sharp, but it can also paralyze you if left unchecked. Managing fear is key to building confidence and finding joy in climbing, and one of the most effective tools you have is your breath. Here are some breathing techniques to help you stay calm and focused during your climbs.

In our gyms, everything is inspected regularly—bolts, anchors, quickdraws, you name it. But out at the crags, where there isn’t a Rockstar facilities team to back you up, it’s up to the climbing community to keep each other safe. At outdoor climbing areas, on public land, there is no routine maintenance or inspection by land management agencies, and all work is done by local volunteers. This means as climbers we are responsible for the bolts and anchors we choose to use! Thankfully, with the help of the American Safe Climbing Association (ASCA), caring for the crags you love has never been easier.

Here at Movement Fountain Valley, we're so psyched to introduce our new gym director team. We'd like you all to meet Tiff, who stepped into the Gym Director Role back in October, and Tara who became our Assistant Gym Director earlier this November. Together, they make up “TnT” — a powerhouse team dedicated to keeping the stoke alive and the community thriving. Tiff and Tara aren’t new faces around here. They’ve each been integral parts of the Movement family for years, bringing their passion for climbing and community to every aspect of what they do.

As the new year rapidly approaches, many people are starting to think of what they want to accomplish—whether it’s climbing a higher grade, overcoming a plateau, or improving nutrition. However, a common pitfall many people find themselves in is setting goals that are too unattainable. So how can you set goals that you can actually stick to? Here’s six tips to make sure your resolutions are both challenging and achievable.