One of our most frequently asked questions is How do I find climbing partners? Finding a consistent climbing partner can be a daunting task… but the gym is chalk full of potential climbing partners! Check in at the front desk at your local Touchstone Climbing Gym to find out about our next Partner Finder event — or heed these helpful tips.
Meeting solid climbing partners involves putting yourself out there. Internet forums and bulletin boards at the crag are one way to find new partners, but finding a solid long-term partner involves a little more personal effort.
Get involved in the climbing community! Join groups like the Bay Area Climbers Coalition! Meet other climbers and become a fixture in the climbing scene. While a boulderer may not want to climb El Capitan with you, they may know someone who will. Attending climbing events at the gym is a guaranteed way to meet new friends and potential climbing partners. A good climbing partner offers a solid belay or spot.
Nothing beats a partner looking out for your safety, and your skills will long way with developing solid partnerships. Beyond being a solid belayer, know how to manage the rope, learn how to clean pro, and how to arrange pads under a boulder problem.
Work on your spotting, belaying, and trad climbing skills and any potential partner will be psyched. When climbing with a new partner, be honest with your abilities. Hiking all the way out to the base of a long trad route and then learning your partner has never crack climbed can turn a casual climb into a total epic. Honesty helps us find better matches and keeps us safe. Let your partner know your experience. Begin by climbing conservatively and testing the water.
