Climbing During COVID-19

We are excited to share some good news! After over two months of postponing adventures in the mountains, we will begin resuming our guiding operations and open our climbing gym, June 1st. It’s been a strange and delicate journey to reach this point – we appreciate your support and stoke for future adventure. 

While you’ve been doing your part to help flatten the curve, we’ve been working tirelessly to prepare for this day. We have special procedures in place for our guides and clients to manage the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. We invite you to read the details below, and join us in managing this risk. 

For anyone who can’t yet make it out in the mountains with us, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and join our email list (Subscribe at the bottom of the page) to stay in the loop. 

We look forward to sharing more adventures in the mountains with you soon!

- Estes Park Rock Climbing

We will be updating this page frequently as the situation evolves. If you still have questions after reading the FAQ below, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We understand the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic; our goal is to provide our clients the experience they seek without compromising their safety or the safety of our staff. We are adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines and timelines, as issued by Larimer County and the Climbing Wall Association. 

General Business Practices:

  • We will encourage our employees to use conservative social distancing behavior while not at work to reduce their exposure to COVID-19 and therefore the exposure to our clients.

  • All staff will receive oversight / training / auditing by management to insure they understand how to follow these guidelines, and those set forth by Larimer County.

  • Staff will be supplied with the necessary PPE and cleaning supplies needed for the guidelines.   

  • EPRC will offer and focus on privately guided trips. No large or commingling groups.

All Client and Guide Screening Questions:

  • Do they have a dry cough?

  • Shortness of breath

  • Sore throat

  • Diarrhea

  • Have they traveled in the past 30 days?

  • Have they been in contact with any one known to have the CoronaVirus?

  • Use the CDC Self-Checker.

Rock Climbing/ Mountaineering Guidelines:

  • Meet and gear up all clients outside of our office.

  • Guides and clients will drive separate vehicles to the trail heads.

  • Communicate to clients the goal of maintaining 6 feet apart throughout the trip.

  • Demonstrate skills like putting on a harness, tying a knot, belaying, etc.

  • Use techniques like clipping in instead of tying in to reduce close contact with clients.

  • Guides to carry a number of face masks and gloves/ PPE to provide protection in the case of a need to perform 1st aid or assist a client closer than 6 ft apart.

  • Guides to carry hand sanitizer for themselves and clients for use before and after sharing climbing gear.

  • Helmets and metal climbing gear will be disinfected each day after use.

  • Ropes and other soft goods( harnesses, belay gloves) will be put on a 48 hr rest/ use cycle

  • Climbing shoes will be sprayed and disinfected after each day of use. 

Climbing Gym: Covid-19 Guidelines

  • We will be following the CWA Road Map to Reopening and Larimer County Guidelines.

  • Reservation only. 2 hour slots available with a maximum of 4 people per reservation.

  • Hand sanitize before using the facility and when leaving the facility.Use your own gear when applicable. (Shoes, harness, etc)

  • Use a face mask & Maintain 6 feet apart.

  • Climbing wall, hang boards, campus rungs and all other used gear will be cleaned & disinfected after each reservation.

  • We will operate as a member only facility, to limit the amount of users in our facility. No day or punch passes will be available at this time.

  • If you are sick in any way, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have recently been in contact with an individual with Covid-19 symptoms, do not come to the gym.

  • If, you test positive with Covid-19, please CONTACT US and we will shut the facility down for 48 hours and perform a deep clean. You will remain anonymous and no personal information will be released.

Climbing Route Maintenance

  1. Climbing holds and walls cannot be cleaned between ascents or daily in a manner that eliminates transmission risk. The impracticability of sanitizing holds between each ascent can be mitigated by climbers rigorously adhering to proper personal hygiene practices.

    • While the primary mode of transmission of the novel coronavirus is through airborne droplets, there is a possibility, however remote, of transmission from surface contact, particularly touching of the face after hand contact is suspected.

    • Climbers are to disinfect their hands prior to climbing.

    • Proper climber hygiene should also include frequent hand washing, proper respiratory etiquette, and refraining from touching the face, particularly during and immediately following climbing.

Customer Hygiene

  1. Customers should respect physical distancing guidelines and allow for appropriate space between other climbers and staff.

  2. Customers should wash or sanitize their hands frequently.

  3. Customers should not touch their face while climbing or without first washing or sanitizing their hands.

  4. Customers should practice proper respiratory etiquette and not cough or sneeze without appropriately covering their nose and mouth.

  5. If a customer is sick, experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or has recently been in contact with a high-risk individual they should not go to the gym.

  6. If, you get sick with Covid-19, please CONTACT US and we will shut the facility down for 48 hours and perform a deep clean. You will remain anonymous and no personal information will be released.

  7. Customers should limit the number of partners that they climb with to either household members or a select few partners.

  8. Face masks are required until Larimer County Safety Guidelines change.

CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information

What you need to know

  • Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.

  • Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

Watch for symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fever

  • Chills

  • Muscle pain

  • Sore throat

  • New loss of taste or smell

This list is not all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Please use the Self-Checker button as a guide to help you make decisions and seek appropriate medical care.

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately

  • Trouble breathing

  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

  • New confusion

  • Inability to wake or stay awake

  • Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.