Climbing Gyms Re-Opening. Systems for New Health Environment

A Non wrote: My opinion is climbing gyms are history. No way they can the operate at 25% without rates quadrupling.

I think this is a bit too simplistic. There ± factors from a gym's perspective in this:

On the + side:

• More predictable occupancy means you can have as little staff as required. I bet most gym could have a single person on the premises during opening hours.
• You get a great excuse to bunch the stuff that brings you money but that are also a bit of a pain in predictable time slots (like accreditations/exams if you have any, at least here to lead climb you must pass a test). No one can really complain because, hey, covid.
• If you're smart, reservation services can all be done online, pretty much automatically. It just has to work reasonnably well, doesn't need to be super fancy (because hey covid again).
• Fewer newbies means you don't need to spend as much time caring about people who don't know what they're doing.
• I'd bet more predictable revenues. If people HAVE to get a membership, prepaid for a given period of time, then you pretty much how much money you have to work with for the next few months. And it's all paid upfront.
• If people have more flexible hours (remote work, no more work) then perhaps you can spread that occupancy glut that used to be from 17h onward into most of the day.

On the - side:

• Can't have school groups & the likes
• Can't fill you place to the tits from 17h-21h anymore
• Side businesses like coffee/beer/snacks may not work out anymore
• Might have new insurance bullshits to deal with
• Might be harder to find the time to set routes

It may very well be that gyms will have to downsize. Which IMO doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Adam W wrote: Unfortunately it looks like the protocols are being done by the gyms here too just got this email:

Hello TRG Friends and Family,
I hope you and your family are healthy and safe.  These are challenging times for everyone and we have been working hard to get the gym prepared for a gradual reopening on Wednesday, May 20th. We will be starting with a members-only access at first and then as things settle we will later open to non-members.  

If you are interested in helping us with our (pre-opening flow test) contact roger@texasrockgym.com 
In order to limit the amount of people in the gym at any given time we have set up a reservation system to sign up for climbing sessions.  We will be starting with blocks of one hour and 45 minutes per climbing session, with a 15 minute window to clean before the next set of climbers. We will make adjustments depending on the feedback we receive from our customers. Please keep in mind we will be open for members only during our initial reopening; no day-pass/punch-pass customers and no guests.
CLIMBING RESERVATIONSDuring our reopening our hours of operation will initially be limited and will slowly increase back to normal in time. Our hours will be:

• Monday through Saturday - 10am to 8pm 
• Sunday - 12pm to 6pm
   

We are implementing New Health Protocols to help create a safe climbing environment for our climbers and staff.  Adjustments will be made as we move forward.
 New Health Protocols  

• Entry into TRG will be limited to help with social distancing.
•  Climbing reservations will help with occupancy management.
• Groups will be limited to a maximum of (6) participants.
• Please practice Self screening for Covid 19 using Texas screening methods. 
• Washing or sanitizing hands upon entering and leaving the gym.
• Sanitizing shoes in the sanitizer solution before climbing.
• Regularly sanitizing hands before and after climbing and belaying.
• Maintaining at least 6 feet separation from other participants not in your group. 
• Face covering required when climbing and interacting with other customers or employees.

 Youth Team members and parents will be receiving a separate email detailing how we are moving forward with practices.  Greg Simpson will be leading our team practices so if you have any questions feel free to contact him at team@texasrockgym.com. 
 For the latest up dates on our summer camp program keep an eye out on our website.
For our summer campers keep and eye out on our camp page. We are potentially starting summer camps on Monday, June 1st. The number of kids allowed in camp will be limited depending on the state’s rules.
 We are a small business and all financial support to keep TRG moving forward is greatly appreciated.  We have a few ways to help contribute so please tell your friends and family.

• Crowdfunder with Fundly.com (sponsoring: youth team kids, new route, and holds)
• Gift Certificates (can be used for anything TRG has to offer or give as a gift)

 Last, but not least, to our awesome members who have kept your membership going during all of this... we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You guys are why we exist in the first place and your loyalty to our community inspires us to keep going. You are truly family to us and we can’t wait to see you again very soon!
 Team Texas Rock Gym

Good grief 

Just go outside

To everyone not willing to slightly inconvenience yourself in any way to help anyone ever, I salute you. 

Just to remind everyone how out of touch Texas is, their AG wrote a nasty gram to Gunnision County CO threatening them with legal action over their local public health order...

Good thing they have their priorities straight...

James S wrote: I see people wearing mask in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by no one.

I went out to eat the other day (first day restaurants opened here in Texas) and our server had to use a new pair of gloves every time she brought food to the table. So wasteful.

I see people driving in their car alone wearing a mask.

I heard over the loud speaker at my grocery store that no kissing or hugs are allowed. Even to my wife!?!?

I've had two people on a hiking trail demand I keep my distance from them. What about they keep their distance from me? Or is social distancing just a new excuse for narcissistic people to do what narcissist do?

I know of several people who are extremely depressed from self isolation yet out of fear refuse to even leave their house, even to go to the park for a walk.

I know people who are going shopping every day in a near hazmat suit hoarding all they can. For what? To eat and live in a prison the rest of their lives?

Worst of all, I know way too many people who haven't questioned any of what's going on. They are the problem.

..... people have lost their minds.

I'll be climbing outdoors way more in the coming weeks and not pay my gym to look like a lemming.

To everyone else who goes about their business without a mask, I just want to say, I appreciate you.

To everyone who I've seen out climbing the last 2 months, I've appreciated our conversations and the resemblance of normalcy even more.

I live in Texas and just want to say that although I think some restrictions have been overreactions and I can't stand the virtue-signaling shamers on climbing forums, James S is not representative of most Texas climbers. Some are way too woke, yes, but most of us who are out climbing are doing distancing, wearing masks inside stores, going out in small groups, and generally trying to have fun while trying to keep ourselves and others safe.

James makes some valid points, but he also gives himself away as a tool in others.

Sadly, I've learned that a lot of the comical stereotypes of Texans are true, but please understand that 40%+ of us are not the stereotypes and are deeply embarrassed by the laughingstock Texas has become.

curt86iroc wrote: Just to remind everyone how out of touch Texas is, their AG wrote a nasty gram to Gunnision County CO threatening them with legal action over their local public health order...

Good thing they have their priorities straight...

You're right, but please see my post above. More Texans than you might think are appalled by our "leaders." It's just taking us more time than we expected to start turning things around. You wouldn't believe the amount of bigotry, bluster, and willful ignorance that is rampant across this once-great state.

James S wrote: I see people wearing mask in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by no one.

Well that's silly.

I went out to eat the other day (first day restaurants opened here in Texas) and our server had to use a new pair of gloves every time she brought food to the table. So wasteful.

Seems a bit much...

I see people driving in their car alone wearing a mask.

More silliness

I heard over the loud speaker at my grocery store that no kissing or hugs are allowed. Even to my wife!?!?

Probably about friends greeting friends.

I've had two people on a hiking trail demand I keep my distance from them. What about they keep their distance from me? Or is social distancing just a new excuse for narcissistic people to do what narcissist do?

All it takes is a little consideration from both parties and there's no problem at all.

I know of several people who are extremely depressed from self isolation yet out of fear refuse to even leave their house, even to go to the park for a walk.

Do you know about their health status?  There are people for whom the coronavirus is probably an immediate death sentence.

I know people who are going shopping every day in a near hazmat suit hoarding all they can. For what? To eat and live in a prison the rest of their lives?

Sounds as if they might be overdoing it a bit.

Worst of all, I know way too many people who haven't questioned any of what's going on. They are the problem.

..... people have lost their minds.

You give extreme examples of bizarre behavior and use that to generalize about everyone.

I'll be climbing outdoors way more in the coming weeks and not pay my gym to look like a lemming.

To everyone else who goes about their business without a mask, I just want to say, I appreciate you.

Your examples of mask usage are about dumb overreactions.  It seems clear that there are good occasions for using masks when social distancing isn't possible, especially in view of the findings that there may be many asymptomatic carriers.

To everyone who I've seen out climbing the last 2 months, I've appreciated our conversations and the resemblance of normalcy even more.

The times aren't normal.  Making them resemble normalcy is likely to end up keeping them abnormal for a lot longer.

People can say whatever they want about Texas stereotypes but given how large the state is and the relative few cases here compared to others such as New York seems like we are doing pretty well.

pkeds wrote: I still think 25-50% of climbing gyms are going to go under. Partial openings or not.

People are not going to be able to afford to throw away 100-400 a month and gyms wont be able to afford to stay open. We are heading in to the worst recession that any of us have ever seen.

Adam W wrote: People can say whatever they want about Texas stereotypes but given how large the state is and the relative few cases here compared to others such as New York seems like we are doing pretty well.

You know, that could be because Texas has one of the lowest testing rates in the US. 

Unless someone is feeling symptoms what’s the purpose of a test?  Are we supposed to go waste time and money on tests daily when feeling fine?

Adam W wrote: Unless someone is feeling symptoms what’s the purpose of a test?  Are we supposed to go waste time and money on tests daily when feeling fine?

...because you can spread it to other people? 

Adam W wrote: Unless someone is feeling symptoms what’s the purpose of a test?  Are we supposed to go waste time and money on tests daily when feeling fine?

They are not testing sick people. They are just treating them as if they have Covid. Which is fine, and probably saves some money. But, it also changes your numbers. So, you can’t say that Texas is doing great because their numbers are low.

You are complaining about our numbers but offering no solution.  What do you suggest we get tested hourly, every ten minutes, ?

Adam W wrote: You are complaining about our numbers but offering no solution.  What do you suggest we get tested hourly, every ten minutes, ?

here's a start. keep your state's taxpayer funds focused on solutions to help the current crisis... maybe if texas stopped wasting time and money on crap like this, they could put those funds towards more testing...

Adam W wrote: Unless someone is feeling symptoms what’s the purpose of a test?  Are we supposed to go waste time and money on tests daily when feeling fine?

Here is an article that provides some good rationale for why we need to test asymptomatic people. By now it has been very well established, by multiple studies in multiple labs, that asymptomatic people can shed the virus and infect others. 

It's not for you, it's for others.

https://coloradosun.com/2020/05/05/colorado-state-university-coronavirus-testing/?mc_cid=77f09e5bb8&mc_eid=f7007f4649

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

TLDR: People with no symptoms may be spreading this shit and we don’t have enough data.

Testing in Iceland showed 50% of those  tested positive were asymptomatic.
US NAVY testing showed 60% of those tested positive were asymptomatic.

If infected but asymptomatic person wears a facial mask it reduces probability of them passing infection along.

Google for references.

Adam W wrote: People can say whatever they want about Texas stereotypes but given how large the state is and the relative few cases here compared to others such as New York seems like we are doing pretty well.

James S wrote:  Robert I'll be at the Mossy Wall on Thursday in the AM if you care to help me understand what I'm missing, face to face.

Texas stereotypes speak for themselves, apparently.