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Frequently Asked Questions

When are you open?

We change our hours depending on the season. Please check our homepage for our current hours and closures.

Is rock climbing hard?

There is no way to tell how you'll do until you give it a try. Some people struggle while for others, rock climbing can be a completely natural thing. Our gym is set up to be the perfect place for beginners and seasoned climbers alike, so there are many problems and routes available for any skill level. 

Will there be someone available to belay me?

While it would be nice to have your own personal belay slave, it's not actually the wall staff's job. You can always come to the gym with your fingers crossed in hopes someone will give you a catch, but come on now, needy people are gross. Grab a friend and take one of our free belay classes so you can experience all the fun. And if all else fails, there's always bouldering.

Can I take my little bro climbing? He can vouch I'm a pretty decent big sis... sometimes.

Sorry, but a parent or court appointed legal guardian has to be present in order for anyone under the age of 18 to be in our gym. Special cases can be made if you make prior arrangements with the Climbing Wall Manager.

When are your belay classes held? And are they really free?

Belay classes are held on Monday and Wednesday nights from 7-9pm, and Saturday's from 2-4pm. They are free but they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend you sign up 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the class to secure your spot.

Who is allowed to use the wall?

Visitors, community members, students, faculy and staff are all allowed to use our wall. Eastern students currently enrolled in classes are allowed to use the gym free of charge (it's covered in your tuition) but community members and visitors need to have a Rec Pass. Community Member and Visitor Pass information can be found here.

How old do you have to be to climb at the EPIC Climbing Wall?

Anyone six years of age or older is allowed in our gym. Parents or a legal guardian must be present for anyone under the age of 18 to be in the Climbing Wall area. Running Start students do not need a guardian present, but must have the wall waiver signed by an adult prior to climbing. Special cases can be made with prior arrangements through the Climbing Wall Manager. For more information, just check out this link: Minors at the Climbing Wall.

Where are you located?

The EPIC Climbing Wall is located in the EWU University Recreation Center in Cheney, Washington. Just click this link to download a copy of the Campus Map or this one to see where the city of Cheney is located.

How can I get involved in Route Setting?

Route setting is the art of creating new routes or boulder problems in a gym. Throughout the regular school year we periodically close the gym early to teach a free route setting course. After the completion of this training, certified route setters are allowed to come in during designated times (usually on Thursday nights)  and set their own routes!

 

I've never climbed before; do I need previous experience?

Absolutely zero previous experience is needed to climb at our wall. If you feel like giving it a try our amazing and helpful staff are always more than delighted to answer any questions you may have. We also offer academic classes through the university. That's right, you can boost your G.P.A. while having fun!

What do I need to bring?

Honestly, not much. We provide harnesses and climbing shoes so all you need is some comfortable clothing.

This place sounds awesome! How do I get a job here?

We are always looking for competent, professional individuals to work at our Climbing Wall. We take applications throughout the year but do require that all employees be certified Climbing Wall Instructors by either the AMGA or the PCIA. We offer this certification at least biannually so check out the EPIC Adventures class schedule or contact Kevin Klim at 359-4015 for more information. If you feel like you would be an asset to our team then fill out a Climbing Wall Employment Application.

 

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