rock wall

When climbers walk into a new gym, the first thing they notice are the walls. How tall are they? Are there roped areas and bouldering areas or just one or the other? Next, perhaps the climbers will notice the holds and the routes on the walls. Are routes distinguished by colored duct tape on the walls or is each route set using holds of a specific color? How crowded are the problems? How hard do the routes look? One of the last—yet possibly one of the most important—details to be noticed is the flooring. Most climbers are aware that the padded flooring in a gym protects them; it catches them safely as they pitch backwards from the wall after trying a tough move. But do climbers really take the time to consider how important this flooring is for preventing or minimizing injury?