Wild Rock Ltd T/A Far Peak conditions of use
Risks - “The British Mountaineering Council and Wild Rock Ltd recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.”
Although the climbing centre is an artificial environment the risks involved are no less serious than when climbing outside on a crag or mountain. There is an additional risk that bolt-on holds can spin or break.
The soft flooring under the bouldering walls are designed to provide a more comfortable landing for climbers falling or jumping from the bouldering wall. THE SOFT FLOORING DOES NOT MAKE THE CLIMBING ANY SAFER. Broken and sprained limbs are common on this type of climbing wall despite the soft landing. Uncontrolled falls are likely to result in injuries to yourself or others.
Climbing beyond your capabilities on any wall is likely to result in a fall. Any fall may result in an injury despite the safety systems in place to avoid it. You must make your own assessment of the risks whenever you climb.
Our Duty of Care - The rules of the climbing centre set out below are not intended to limit your enjoyment of the facilities. They are part of the duty of care that we as operators, owe to you the customer, by law. As such they are not negotiable and if you are not prepared to abide by them then the staff must politely ask you to leave.
Your Duty of Care - You also have a duty of care to act responsibly towards the other users of the centre. Statements of ‘Good Practice’ are posted around the centre adjacent to the relevant facilities. These describe the accepted methods of use and how customers would normally be expected to behave towards each other.
Unsupervised Climbing - Before you climb without supervision the centre expects you to be competent in the use of a safety harness, a suitable knot to attach a rope to the harness and a belay device to secure a falling climber or lower a climber from the wall using a rope.
You are required to register to accept that you know how to use the equipment, that you are prepared to abide by the Rules below and that you understand the risks involved in your participation. Wild Rock will check your competency at initial registration.
Anyone who has not registered is classed as a novice and must not climb without supervision. Unsupervised climbing is just that! Staff will provide whatever help and advice they can, but instruction in the use of equipment or climbing techniques will only be provided where it has been booked and paid for in advance. If you are not confident in the use of any climbing equipment or technique then do not attempt to use it without the supervision of someone who is competent to do so.
Supervised Climbing - An adult who has registered at the centre and demonstrated suitable competency may be able to supervise up to two novice climbers as long as they are prepared to take full responsibility for the safety of those people. Groups of three or more novices must only be supervised by an instructor holding the relevant Mountain Leader Training Board qualification, insurance and first aid, this individual will have to book in and be pre-approved by the Centre Manager.
Children – All children within the centre must be supervised by an adult, unless they have been assessed by the management and registered for unsupervised climbing. Wild Rock has a separate child protection policy that is available for viewing when requested. No under 5yrs allowed on the main bouldering wall unless at special designated times when over 3’s may be acceptable, or with a competent climber to directly supervise. Special sessions are also run for under 5’s.
Association of British Climbing Walls standard rules
General Safety
• Report to reception on each visit before you climb.
• You must exercise care, common sense and self-preservation at all times.
• Report any problems with the walls, equipment or other climbers’ behaviour to a member of staff immediately.
• Be aware of the other climbers around you and how your actions will affect them
• Do not distract people while they are climbing or belaying.
• Stand well back from the climbing walls and behind the yellow & black lines unless you are belaying or spotting a climber. Never stand directly under someone who is climbing.
When Belaying
• Always use a belay device attached to your safety harness with a locking karabiner.
‘Traditional’, or ‘body’ belaying is not acceptable.
• The attachment points on belay bags are provided to give support to people belaying a climber who is much heavier than they are. Direct belays from these attachment points are not acceptable.
• Always pay attention to what the climber is doing.
• Always stand as close to the climbing wall as is practical unless you are using one of the attachment points on the floor. Sitting or lying down is not acceptable.
Top Roping
• Many of the climbs in the centre have top ropes already in place. Do not take them down to use on other routes.
• Do not use your own ‘quick draws’ to lead the top rope walls.
Leading
• When using the lead walls you must supply your own appropriately rated dynamic rope.
Do not use the centre’s top ropes for lead climbing.
• Running belay attachments (runners) are already provided at intervals on the lead walls so you do not need your own ‘quick draws’. You must clip all the runners on the route you are climbing. At the top, clip into the locking karabiner or both top karabiners.
Bouldering
• Always climb within your capabilities and descend by down climbing.
• Never climb directly above or below another climber, always remove your harness when bouldering.
When Climbing
• The tall walls are designed to be climbed using a rope for protection. Solo climbing is not acceptable on these walls. Always use a rope to protect yourself on these climbs.
• Always use a safety harness to attach yourself to the rope.
• Always tie the rope directly into the harness using a suitable climbing knot. Clipping in with a karabiner is not acceptable.
Far Peak Climbing standard rules
• No smoking or alcohol on the premises. No admittance to those deemed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• No food or drink on the climbing fl oor areas unless in sealed container.
• Rucksacks/gear only within the cafe areas or in the lockers provided.
• No access into the interior wall areas cordoned off areas or private/staff only/
no admittance areas.
• No running in the centre, no throwing of chalk and any marking of any walls or flooring.
• No climbing over the top of any of the climbing walls or above any top anchor points.
• Immediately inform a staff member of any spinning holds you become aware of. Duty Managers periodically check for spinners but they can be dealt with sooner if you tell a staff member.
• Staff are here for your safety and have a duty of care to make comment on bad belaying/unsafe practices. Anyone who does not adhere to up to date safe practices even after comment will have their registration revoked and will be recommended to attend a Refresher course. We reserve the right to refuse entry to customers for reasons of safety or inappropriate behaviour.
• Do not block fire exits or isles.
• If you require assistance, please ask a Wild Rock staff member; please be aware that if that staff member is in charge of a group you may have to wait for assistance until their clients are safely at ground level.
• Only Wild Rock Staff may instruct at Far Peak, any other persons performing
paid instruction will be asked to leave the centre unless specifically cleared with centre management.
• Those persons who have been signed in as novices may climb and belay under the supervision of the registered user who signed them in. Registered users who are cleared to supervise are limited to a maximum of 2 novices. Supervising users must NOT climb whilst supervising. Supervision means not leaving the ground and ensuring your charges safety. Wild Rock recommends that novices do not use the main bouldering wall as injury to inexperienced climbers is likely in this area. Use of the main bouldering wall is permitted with supervision.
• Always be aware of climbers above who may fall at any time, this includes roped areas.
• If on a low level traverse of the roped climbs, feet must remain in the 1st panel or maximum 1 metre above the ground, do not traverse beneath other climbers.
• No soloing of any roped/lead routes under any circumstances.
• Do not lead any climbs where a rope is already in place.
• When top-roping a previously led climb, a second must climb on the side of the rope running through the quickdraws, unclipping as they climb. This will avoid any risk of a pendulum fall; if a second person then wishes to top rope the route they can only do so if those quickdraws have been re-clipped.
• No back-clipping or ‘Z’ clipping.
• Use correct belaying technique as per manufacturers recommended methods according to your chosen belay device. Always be attentive.
• Wild Rock recommend that you descend from the bouldering wall by down climbing as jumping or an uncontrolled fall can result in serious injury.
• If aged 17 years or under. NO SIGNED PARENTAL CONSENT FORM = NO CLIMBING. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT EXCEPTION; ANY QUERIES IMMEDIATELY REFER TO C ENTRE MANAGEMENT.
Children under 14 must wear a helmet for any climbing activities unless directly supervised by a competent climber. Only those under 16 who have been given consent from a Wild Rock Instructor and signed consent from a parent or guardian may climb without a helmet.
• If a member of Wild Rock Staff approaches you to amend a best practice issue or shows you a skill, this skill applies only to the situation at the time of teaching, it may not apply to other climbing situations either indoor or outdoor and you should seek professional instruction for all your future climbing situations, courses can be requested through Wild Rock.
• No unauthorised photography.
• The Low Ropes course is an extension of the climbing centre and therefore is classed as a climbing activity – the same standard rules apply as bouldering.
• Wild Rock accepts no responsibility of liability for any loss or damage to any persons property in relation to the usage of Wild Rock and the surrounding parking areas.
• Personal property being used at or left at Far Peak is entirely at customers’ own risk.
• Usage of automatic belay stations is subject to the terms and conditions stated at the unit’s location. Usage is for over 8 year old members, junior competent members and persons under Wild Rock instruction. Age 3+ are permitted to use the auto belay under direct supervision of a competent climber. All usage is subject to permitted users reading usage instructions prior to each use and signing the confirmation sheet at reception.
• When participating in a competition hosted by Wild Rock, all competitors and spectators will be required to abide by all rules and restrictions specific to that day, in addition to all Terms and Conditions as above.
