Ascend.
Important Policies
All participants must check-in at the climbing wall desk prior to climbing.
Participants must be members of the St. Olaf community.
Participants must sign the climbing wall specific waiver and policy form annually. The waiver can be signed during open wall hours only.
Participants must follow the Climbing Staff’s instructions at all times.
Climbing Attire
Participants must wear clothing that covers their chest and buttocks fully.
Participants must wear climbing shoes when on the wall. Street shoes are not permitted.
Participants must remove rings, or any loose jewelry before climbing.
Headphones are not permitted while belaying or climbing on the top rope wall.
Belay Certification Information
Information regarding belay clinics, belay certification renewal policy, and lead belay/climbing clinics are found here.
Interested in learning how to belay?
Belay clinics are offered twice a week throughout the academic year and are open to all members of the St. Olaf College community.
This one-hour session is designed to teach you the essential skills needed to safely and effectively belay. After completing a clinic, participants are required to pass two belay tests before belaying independently.
All testing is conducted by our qualified belay instructors to ensure safety and competency.
Already know how to belay?
All members of the St. Olaf community are required to renew their belay certification each academic year. This applies to everyone, including those who hold a current certification from another climbing facility.
To renew your certification, you must pass one belay test administered by a qualified instructor.
If the test is not passed, the instructor will evaluate your performance and determine the appropriate next steps, which may include attending a belay clinic or additional practice.
Interested in learning how to lead climb/belay?
Lead clinics are offered each semester when there is enough interest expressed by qualified climbers to hold an clinic (minimum of 4 climbers).
This 2 hour session is designed to teach you the essential skills needed to safely and effectively lead belay and climb. After completing a clinic, participants are required to pass two lead belay/climb checkoffs before taking the lead belay/climbing test. You are required to pass all of these before lead belaying and climbing independently.
In order to qualify for the clinic, you must climb a 5.9 on top rope clean with no falls or takes on the rope. A lead climbing instructor must watch you climb in order for you to qualify for a lead clinic.