PM - Frequently asked questions

What about liability?
Climbing on a traverse wall (8 foot high only) in a gym is one of the least dangerous gym activities. A study done by Project Adventure, an American outdoor education organization, shows that over the past 15 years, climbing on a traverse wall involved 2.6 accidents per million hours of use. Meanwhile, normal physical education activity actually involved 9.6 accidents per million hours of use. Therefore, the risk of being liable for a climbing injury on a traverse climbing wall are lower that the risk of a school being liable if someone gets hurt either by slipping on the floor or while playing basketball or just by running.

If you have more concerns regarding climbing in your gym, please do not hesitate to contact us. Note: Passe Montagne holds a product liability insurance.

How can I prevent people to use the wall when there is no supervision?
Passe Montagne offers a protective curtain that can be locked. It is extremely durable. However, there are very affordable and easy manners of protecting the wall by putting something over it. Here are a few good examples:
• Simply, put a rope with a sign that says that the wall cannot be used when it isn’t supervised.
• Have visitors sign a release form.
• Place floor mats on the wall using either velcro® or a wire that you tread through eye bolts installed in the anchors, and lock it.
• Get a blue tarp at any hardware store, tread wire into the tarp and through eye bolts that can be installed in the anchors, and lock it.

What is the right "pattern" for installing climbing holds?
Installing the climbing holds is somewhat like playing with a game of Lego®. There are a thousand and one ways you can do it but there is no single right way: all methods are good! As a rule of thumb, you should install about one hold in every third anchor on a plywood wall and every second anchor on a concrete block wall, by simply screwing it in.

IMPORTANT : if the hold is difficult to screw in, stop the operation, clean the hole, verify the alignment and screw the hold gently in once more. A hold has to be screwed in with care; forcing it may lead to breakage of the anchor, or it may even fall out.

With practice, you will discover your own talents as a route-setter and you will learn to adapt the difficulty of the routes and the complexity of the movements required for the climbing activity according to the level of your students and the objectives you wish to attain.

Delivery time for climbing holds and do-it-yourself kit ?
After the confirmation of order, you should have your order in your hand between 6 to 12 working days, depending mostly on transportation time.

What is the warranty?
The climbing holds have a 3 years warranty. If a climbing holds breaks ,call us and we will send you a new one.

Are they climbing wall in my area?
If you would like to know if there are some Passe Montagne climbing wall in your area, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Can I build a climbing wall and how?
See climbing at school, section 7

What equipment do I need for climbing on the wall ?
To climb on a traverse wall (a long wall, lower than 9 feet) you do not need any special equipment .

To climb on a high wall, you will need climbing ropes, climbing harnesses, carabiners and some belay device (Gri Gri or ATC or stitch plate).

What kind of training do I need for teaching climbing on a wall ?
To teach climbing on a traverse wall, you do not need any special training other than knowing games and other activities you can do on the wall.

To teach on a high wall, you will need training on the proper use of the climbing equipment. Passe Montagne can provide that training.

© 2010 PM Climbing Systems
• Member Fédération québécoise de la montagne et de l’escalade
• Member Climbing Wall Industry Group
• Member of Outdoor Industry Association