Over at Climbing.com, Chris Wright has put together a "how-to" for packing your bag in such a way to make you the most efficient.

Learn This: Pack Smarter

When I see that guy on the trail with a tent, banjo, puppy, and pony keg swaying from carabiners, I’m just left wondering why. Why do so many of our otherwise reasonable mountain buddies want so badly to strap their kit to the outside of their sad, under-utilized packs instead of just putting it all inside? First is the matter of style. I’m not talking about what kind of jacket you’re wearing; I’m talking about whether you’re the guy making it look easy or making it look ugly. Here’s another way to look at it: You wouldn’t strap a banana to the outside of your grocery bag, would you? Then why do you clip water bottles and cams to the outside of your backpack? Bags are meant to be filled, and we should all strive to put our gear inside our packs. Not only will you win those style points, but your pack will carry better because the load will be properly distributed on the frame and not sway. If all of your things are inside, they won’t get in the way, fall off, get snagged, or get wet. Take a look at the pros: Steve House didn’t summit the Slovak Direct on Denali with a Nalgene swinging from a biner on his pack. Here’s how to pack for success.

Choose the right packThere is no single tool for every job, but you can find one pack that will work for most of your trips. The pack that I take to the Himalaya is often the same pack I take to Alaska or the Cascades. You want something that’s big enough to carry everything for the climb, yet small enough that it won’t get in your way on-route. My favorite is a model that expands to 50 liters, cinches down to 30, and weighs 2.5 pounds. It’s light and versatile. I have a quiver of bigger and smaller packs, but this is the one I use most.

Sort your gearTry dividing things into a few categories before you load them. The first group is the little stuff you might need in a hurry, like a headlamp, food, and water. That’s going in the lid for easy access. The rest of your gear is going to fit into one of two categories—things that can change their shape (such as a jacket), and things that can’t (like a pot or water bottle). These subsequently fall into two additional categories: light and heavy.

Arrange by weightTo keep your pack’s weight in line with your center of gravity, it’s better to pack rigid, dense items (rack, cooking gear) in the center of your pack near your back, especially with high-volume packs. Then position lighter items near the top and outer layers of the pack.

For the rest of the tips click here.

A Long Climb With the Right Nutrients

When you are faced with a long climb it is important to make sure your body is properly prepared before you even step foot onto that rock. Thanks to the folks at Climbing Magazine we have some great tips as to how to properly prepare your nutrition for a long climb. Preview the article below or read the full story here.

"Fuel Up"

Proper Nutrition for a Long Climb 

BY: Matthew Kadey, Registered Dietician

Any serious climber knows the intense stress of a sun-up to sun-down climb. To maintain flexibility, power, balance, and muscular endurance, you need good nutrition and hydration before and during your climb. Making smart food and drink choices can help you move quicker, tame those screaming muscles, and achieve better mental focus (read: less risk of injury). Here’s how to fuel the machine.

The Night Before the Climb

If you’re preparing for a full day of climbing, you’ll benefit from a dinner largely based on nutrient- rich carbohydrate foods, such as whole grains, beans, and fruits. This will help assure that your muscle glycogen— the primary fuel source for intense exercise—is fully stocked. Roughly 65 percent of the meal’s calories should be derived from carbs. Also include some lean protein, such as chicken breast or tofu, and healthy fats including avocado or olive oil.

Eat this:

Black bean burgers topped with guacamole with a side of quinoa
Whole wheat pasta with ground, grass-fed beef, red sauce, and salad
Chicken and vegetable stir-fry with brown rice

Read full article here.

The Importance of H2O

It is extremely important to properly fuel your body. Thanks to our friends at the American Heart Association we are able to truly understand the benefits of staying hydrated and how it plays a key role in your day. Preview article below or see full story here. 

Staying Hydrated - Staying Healthy

When the temperatures rise, getting enough to drink is important whether you’re playing sports, traveling or just sitting in the sun.

And it’s critical for your heart health.

Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles remove waste so that they can work efficiently.

“If you’re well hydrated, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard,” said John Batson, M.D, a sports medicine physician with Lowcountry Spine & Sport in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and an American Heart Association volunteer.

Dehydration can be a serious condition that can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet or a headache to life-threatening illnesses such as heat stroke.

How much water do you need?

What does being well hydrated mean? The amount of water a person needs depends on climatic conditions, clothing worn and exercise intensity and duration, Batson said.

A person who perspires heavily will need to drink more than someone who doesn’t. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, may also mean you need to drink more to avoid over-taxing the heart or other organs. People with cystic fibrosis have high concentrations of sodium in their sweat and also need to use caution to avoid dehydration. And some medications can act as diuretics, causing the body to lose more fluid.

Thirst isn’t the best indicator that you need to drink. “If you get thirsty, you’re already dehydrated,” Batson said.

Batson said the easiest thing to do is pay attention to the color of your urine. Pale and clear means you’re well hydrated. If it’s dark, drink more fluids.

“50 Ways to Find Co-founders”

The Gravity Vault was featured in Inc. on Monday, March 31st, 2014 entitled “50 Ways to Find Co-founders.” The article was written by Inc. Reporter Bill Murphy Jr. and was a list of 50 ways to find a good co-founder. The Gravity Vault was featured as number 18 under “Playing sports together” and included information about how Lucas and Tim developed the basis for their partnership through rock climbing. Check out the full list here or preview below. 

18. Playing sports together

I heard a lot of stories of former teammates working together. Similarly, Lucas Kovalcik and Tim Walsh met through a mutual friend in high school and grew a friendship based on a love of rock climbing. Now they run Gravity Vault, a franchised, indoor rock climbing business.

See full list here.

"Rock-Climbing Generation at Foot of U.S. Startup Ascent: Economy"

The Gravity Vault was featured in an article titled, “Rock-Climbing Generation at Foot of U.S. Startup Ascent: Economy” than ran on Friday, March 21, 2014 on Bloomberg.com. and BusinessWeek.com. Read below to learn about how young entrepreneurs are creating businesses poised and ready for growth. The article includes information about Lucas and Tim’s backgrounds, the concept inception story, and how they are enjoying their lifestyle by operating a rock climbing gym. Preview article below or read full story here.

"Rock-Climbing Generation at Foot of U.S. Startup Ascent: Economy"

BY: Shobhana Chandra

Lucas Kovalcik and Tim Walsh turned their passion for rock climbing into a business. Their success helps show why U.S. entrepreneurship probably is about to get a shot in the arm.

After toiling at jobs such as hotel management and wireless network administration, the high school friends opened Gravity Vault in 2005, a cavernous 13,000-plus square foot (1,208 square meter) gym for those wanting to work up a sweat by rappelling faux walls, overhangs and arches. What began in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, as a six-person operation -- including their wives -- now has two locations with 45 employees.

“We learned what we enjoy doing, and part of our skill set is knowing who we are, what we’re good at,” said Kovalcik, 37.

A record 93 million Americans will be 30 to 49 years old in 2030, a group that includes the Echo Boomers born to the Baby Boom Generation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation projects. Kovalcik and Walsh, 38, are part of this age bracket, the one most likely to start new businesses, which research shows account for a disproportionate share of job creation.

“We should expect more new businesses to be created,” said Dane Stangler, vice president of research and policy at the foundation, a Kansas City, Missouri-based private group focused on education and entrepreneurship. “That’s a positive for the economy. It’s a piece of good news in the standard narrative about how we’re aging as a country.”

Read full story here.

Olympics Debut Ice Climbing

This year marked the debut of ice climbing in the Winter Olympics. Thanks to the folks at Gear Junkie we have the opportunity to hear an insiders perspective straight from Sochi of what it was really like. Read the full article here or preview below.

"Ice Climbing At The Olympics. Insider's Perspective From 'World Stage' In Sochi"

BY: GORDON MCARTHUR

When the world came to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, ice climbing was right there, front and center. While the sport was not a competition, the exhibition wall introduced spectators from around the world to a sport often practiced in remote and rugged wilderness.

Gordon McArthur, a climber from British Columbia, was in the mix. The Wigwam-sponsored athlete stopped in Russia to take part in the exhibition as he toured for the World Cup competition with Team Canada.

“There wasn’t any official competition. Just a group of amazing athletes from all over the world showcasing the sport in front of the world,” McArthur said. Below, he shares the experience of climbing at the Olympics in Sochi. —Sean McCoy

Read full article here.

Have fun and climb safe

Climbing is exhilarating and fun, but it is important to know the basics and stay safe while climbing. The folks at Rock & Ice have provided us with some great tips and belay technique to keep you out of the hospital and on the mountain. Preview the article below or read full story here.

"How to Climb Safe: Belay School"

BY: Tyler Stableford

I’ve always viewed trad- or ice-climbing falls as more serious than sport whippers. Heck, most of us, myself included, have become so accustomed to dropping onto bolts that we now fall more often than we send. The casualness has trickled down to belayers, who scratch their dogs and lounge in lawn chairs as their partners plummet earthward.


Turn that sport route into a thin crack or frozen pillar, however, and—whoa!—falling suddenly becomes a horrible prospect: What if that TCU rips, or ice shears? Even as a belayer, when I hear the cry of “Falling!”, I tense up and brace hard for the upward jolt.

Paradoxically, a good firm catch may be exactly the wrong move—an unyielding belay can double the impact forces on the top piece of gear, a critical consideration when leading on natural gear.

For this installment of Climb Safe, Rock and Ice Publisher Duane Raleigh and I field-tested impact forces during a common fall scenario—a nine-foot whipper with about 55 feet of rope out—using two belay techniques. For one set of falls, I belayed with a Petzl Grigri anchored securely to the ground (a static belay) while Duane hurled himself off the rock; for the next, I clipped the Grigri to my belay loop and, leaving myself unanchored, jumped up at the moment of impact, yielding a dynamic belay.

Read full story here. 

“Gravity Vault Brings Franchising to Climbing”

Recently The Gravity Vault was featured in Climbing Business Journal. The article focused on the growth and development of Gravity Vault. Lucas discussed the growth plans for the brand and the positive feedback that Gravity Vault has been receiving from prospective franchisees. Lucas further discussed the brand’s recent opening in Middletown and their upcoming opening in Allen. The article details the amount needed to open a franchise with Gravity Vault. Preview the article below or read full story here.

“Gravity Vault Brings Franchising to Climbing”

If you type the search term “climbing gym franchise” into your favorite web search engine, there is only one name that comes up. That name is Gravity Vault.

Like almost every successful climbing gym in North America, Gravity Vault wants to expand. But unlike other gyms, they are going about it in a totally different way.



New Jersey-based Gravity Vault Climbing Centers is the first climbing gym company in America, and possibly the world, to franchise their brand. After 8 years and building two corporate locations, Gravity Vault just opened their first franchised location in Middletown, New Jersey. They have also signed a contract to open their second franchised location in Allentown, PA later this year, and are looking at Hudson County, NJ for a third corporate location coming soon.

The big question many traditional developers are asking is why franchise your brand? For Lucas Kovalcik, co-founder of Gravity Vault, it comes down to changing people’s lives through the sport of climbing. Kovalcik and his partner Tim Walsh have decided that the most effective way to introduce the sport, and their brand, to new climbers is to help other entrepreneurs open climbing facilities with the Gravity Vault name.

Read full article here. 

Gain Confidence in Yourself: Climb Higher

Want to conquer your next big climb? Look at the attitude you take going into it. Thanks to the folks at 360 Sports we have a few tips to boost that confidence. Preview article below or read full article here.

"Positive Mindset: 5 steps to gaining confidence"

BY: 360 Sports

Having confidence is the key to achieving many great things in life. It's about the attitude you choose towards life and situations. Its also the way you think and feel about yourself.

Maybe you lost it somewhere along the way – a few lost matches, a failed relationship, unhappy about your appearance or a loss of job. Loss of confidence stems from feelings of failure, disappointment, doubt and low self esteem.

Here's a 5-point plan on to how you can get it back quickly:

1. Focus on the positive. Stop looking for what's wrong and see whats right. Look for the best in things and people and if you do something well, then compliment yourself on it.

2. Self talk. The voice in your head, the one that wakes up with you in the morning, stays with you all day and goes to sleep with you.. that one! The way you talk to yourself is probably the most crucial element in how you feel about life and in gaining confidence.

Read full article here.

Meet Sam Wright

The Gravity Vault Middletown finally opened its doors Saturday, January 13th. Learn more about our own franchisee, Sam Wright and why he decided to join the team!

Although Sam Wright, 45, always wanted to own his own business, it wasn’t until his daughter, now entering her freshman year of high school, introduced him to Gravity Vault that he even dreamed he would be a franchisee. “She’s not really into traditional sports but more X-games type of stuff,” Wright says. “About five years ago, she had her birthday party at a Gravity Vault that’s about an hour away from us. We’ve been going there ever since because now she’s on a competitive team, and there’s just not anything like it in our area.”

Long before children, Wright graduated with an accounting degree from Bucknell University in 1990. After spending time as an auditor, he went back to school and received his MBA from New York University in 1998. From there, he joined Arthur Andersen performing due diligence on companies to be acquired by clients, working for the firm in New York and in London before doing the same for Ernst and Young when the former imploded. After examining companies for a living and watching his family become more and more involved in rock climbing, Wright realized Gravity Vault could be the way to satisfy his long-term desire to have his own business. “It’s going to give me the opportunity to get more into a growing sport and also run a company,” he says. “I’m excited for the rock-climbing aspect of it but also excited to be a business owner. And of course, my daughter is excited to be able to climb closer to home.” Wright thinks the gap in the market and the fact that the sport fits right in with New Jersey’s surfing culture both will lead to success in his first franchising adventure.

Grand Opening in Middletown, NJ

The Gravity Vault announces their grand opening in Middletown, NJ. This addition makes a total of 3 locations in their rock climbing franchise thus far.

Saturday, Feb 8th is the opening of the new location. They will be offering specials all day along with prizes, food and more! With over 14,000 square feet of climbing they have plenty of room for friends and family.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Knots

How much do you really know about knots? No, not the kind that entangle women's hair, but those that are essential for us to climb. Our friends at climbing.com have provided us with facts we never knew about knots. Begin below or read full article here.

"10 Things You Didn't Know About Knots"

BY: Jeff Achey

Knots: they attach us to ropes, connect slings to trees, substitute for dropped gear, secure tents, create belay anchors. Like the Force, knots surround us, protect us, and bind our galaxy together. Even a sport climber whose shoes close with Velcro knows a few knots. But here are a few things you might not know.

1 The word “knot” is related to knob, knoll, and knuckle, but not to knowledge. It is knoten in German, knot in Dutch, knut in Swedish, nudo in Spanish, and noeudin French.

2 The Inca’s only “written” language was a system of knots tied into necklace-like “documents” called quipus, or “talking knots.” Some scholars think quipus recorded only numbers, but others believe that they also told stories and encoded historical events. A select class of Incas apparently interpreted the knots, and the code has never been definitively deciphered. Knots were also used for record keeping in ancient China, and the Chinese Book of Changes, almost 2,500 years old, associates knots with contract and agreement.

3 The “bitter end” of a rope refers to its working end, intended to be tied off to a bitt, a cleat-like fastening point found on docks. If a longshoreman bobbled a thrown line or missed his tie-in move as a ship came in to dock, he might be left “hanging on to the bitter end” as the untethered ship drifted perilously past its mark.

Read full article here.

Climbing Prep Done Right

Before you climb you must take necessary measures to prepare. The warm up is often over looked and rushed through. Thanks to our friends at Climbing Magazine they have provided a few stretches to work out the kinks and strengthen the body. Take a few extra minutes to read and start incorporating into your daily routine! Read full article here or preview below. 

Stretch and Strengthen

By Amanda Fox

Stretching is an often-overlooked aspect of the pre-climbing routine. The following stretches pull double duty; not only do they lengthen your muscles, tendons, and ligaments for the approach—therefore preventing injury—but they also provide more mobility and flexibility on the wall so you can climb smarter and stronger. Pick and choose from the following stretches, or do all of them at the trailhead or before you leave basecamp. Hold each posture for at least 10 slow breaths.

Frog pose
Open your hips to reduce strain on the knee joints

Start on all fours. Bring your forearms to the floor and clasp your hands. Widen your knees one at a time, as far apart as possible; knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Flex your feet and keep your tailbone slightly tucked.

Supine Spinal Twist

Relax and realign the spine

Lay on your back with your arms straight out to the sides, palms up and forming a T, legs extended. Bend your left knee into your chest, and lower the knee to the floor on right side of your body; try to keep both shoulders on the ground. Turn your head to the left to deepen the stretch. Hold, and repeat on the other side.

Read full article here.

"Forty-six fascinating ideas that raised 1/2 billion dollars"

The producers of CNBC’s “Power Pitch” posted a year-in-review video featuring highlights of the last year on Thursday, December 26th. View the video here!

"Forty-six fascinating ideas that raised 1/2 billion dollars"

By: Erin Barry

This year, Power Pitch featured 53 founders from 46 start-ups—all with the courage to step up and deliver a 60-second pitch to experts and potential investors. They faced tough questions (and judgments) from some of the biggest names in venture capital, social media, fashion and food.

We’ve had a blast producing this series and look forward to featuring more in 2014.Thanks to all the founders and panelists for participating, and to all our viewers! And a huge thanks to all of our startups for sharing their big ideas:

You can view the entire highlight video here.

“Gravity Vault, indoor rock-climbing franchise, targeting new facility in Lehigh Valley”

This article focuses on Gravity Vault expanding to Lehigh Valley. Jared Esposito discussed why he decided to go with the Gravity Vault concept and further discussed the real estate process of finding a facility. Lucas and Tim expanded on being named New Jersey Small Business Persons of the Year and further discussed the history of the Gravity Vault Brand. Read the full article here or preview below. 

“Gravity Vault, indoor rock-climbing franchise, targeting new facility in Lehigh Valley”

By: Nick Falsone 

Jared Esposito wants to literally get folks in the Lehigh Valley off the ground, but he first needs to figuratively get his own business plan targeting the region off the ground.

Esposito, of Upper Saucon Township, this month signed a franchise agreement with The Gravity Vault, an indoor rock-climbing facility in New Jersey that has won accolades in the growing rock-climbing community and from business leaders in the state.

The business’s founders, long-time friends Lucas Kovalcik and Tim Walsh, opened their first facility in 2004 in Upper Saddle River, N.J. A second one then opened in Chatham, N.J., but the agreement with Esposito would create the first one west of the Delaware River.

Kovalcik and Walsh, who earlier this year were named New Jersey Small Business Persons of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, say what their facilities offer is far more substantial than the typical indoor rock-climbing apparatus found in some local gyms and collegiate fitness centers. The Gravity Vault will feature at least 30-foot-high ceilings and up to 20,000 square feet of climbable surface, the founders say.

Read full article here. 

"SBA honors owners of The Gravity Vault Indoor Rock Gym in Chatham"

Owners, Tim Walsh and Lucas Kovalcik traveled this past Tuesday to Washington D.C. and were welcomed as special guests to the White House. They have climbed their way to the top since opening in 2005 and are looking to the future, adding more locations. Preview how they got there below or read the full article here.

"SBA honors owners of The Gravity Vault Indoor Rock Gym in Chatham"

By: Independent Press

Two long-time friends and New Jersey natives, Lucas Kovalcik and Timothy Walsh know what it is like to climb to the top. They took their passion for fitness and rock climbing and turned it into a successful business.

Today the owners of The Gravity Vault LLC, a premier indoor rock climbing facility with locations in Chatham and Upper Saddle River, were named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2013 New Jersey Small Business Persons of the Year.

In making the announcement at the company’s Chatham facility, SBA’s New Jersey District Director Al Titone said Kovalcik and Walsh were selected for the award based on criteria that include: Staying Power (a substantial history of an established business); Growth in Number of Employees; Increase in Sales; Financial Strength of the Company; Innovativeness of Product or Service Offered; Response to Adversity and Contributions to Aid Community Oriented Projects.

Read full article here.

Refresh Your Training

Are you tired of the same old routine when you head into the gym? Thanks to Climbing Magazine we have some fresh ideas to try next time you come in. Read full article here or begin below.

"New workouts to refresh your gym training"

By: Julie Ellison and Alex Biale




Thanks to your local climbing gym, rock climbing is a four-season, every-day-of-the-week sport. It’s always sunny in the plastic paradise, even during the dark, cold, and wet winter months. Easy and instant access should do wonders for your climbing, but there’s a fatal flaw to many climbers’ training regimen: monotony. It’s easy to fall into a blah routine or just hop on any 5.10 with the shortest line. But infusing your workout (and it is a workout) with purpose, variety, and motivation will yield big results in your strength, endurance, and power. We teamed up with professional coaches and trainers to develop 13 workouts that will maintain psych for the gym and your winter training. The best part? All you have to do is climb. No complicated multi-month schedule to follow—just pick a specific workout and go. Of course, the upside to training is not only a more impressive ticklist come spring, but a beautiful and awe-inspiring physique to go with it. We know you didn’t get into climbing for those rippling muscles, but we haven’t heard any complaints.

Benefit key

Power: High-intensity movement or maximum strength combined with speed and the ability to do a hard move quickly and forcefully; climbers need this for “big” moves, lunges, and dynos, among others

Endurance: The ability to do lowintensity work for a long time, meaning how long you can stay on the wall

Power-Endurance: The ability to sustain high-intensity movements; being able to do many hard moves in a row

Technique: How to move efficiently with footwork, hand moves, sequences, beta, etc.

Continue to full article here. 

"Upper Saddle River Rock Climbing Franchise Eyes Pennyslvania Expansion"

The Gravity Vault is looking to expand into Pennyslvania, and you could be the next owner! Preview article below or see full story here.

"Upper Saddle River Rock Climbing Franchise Eyes Pennyslvania Expansion"

By: Myles Ma



UPPER SADDLE RIVER — Lucas Kovalcik and Tim Walsh, owners of the Gravity Vault, want to expand their indoor rock climbing gym franchise to Pennyslvania,Lehigh Valley Business reported.

The business is looking for buildings of 10,000 to 16,000 square feet, with ceilings at least 30 feet high, Walsh said.

Full article here.

"Entrepreneurs Eye Indoor Rock Climbing Franchise"

The Gravity Vault's Tim Walsh and Lucas Kovalcik were recently featured in an article on lvb.com. Begin the article below or read the full story here.

"Entrepreneurs Eye Indoor Rock Climbing Franchise"

By: Brian Pedersen

Two entrepreneurs are looking to bring an indoor rock climbing gym franchise to the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Lucas Kovalcik and Tim Walsh, founders of The Gravity Vault, are natives of Bergen County, N.J., and are looking to open a Bethlehem or Allentown area location in the first quarter of 2014.

"We are currently hitting the pavement, looking at locations, finding the right real estate," Kovalcik said.

Walsh said the business is looking for buildings of about 10,000 to 16,000 square feet, with good visibility, column spaces and a ceiling height of at least 30 feet.

Read full article here.

Back to the Basics

Just getting started in the sport of rock climbing? Thanks to the folks at REI we can provide you with the necessary information to start you on your adventure. Read in this article about the benefits of an indoor gym vs. outdoor bouldering. Read full article here or begin below.

"Getting Started Rock Climbing"

BY: REI



For physical fitness, fun and, yes, adrenaline, nothing beats rock climbing. Despite its daredevil reputation, rock climbing can be enjoyed safely by any reasonably fit person with proper instruction and equipment.

In this article, REI Outdoor School instructors offer tips and video instruction to serve as a basic primer. But keep in mind thatprofessional instruction is essential for any beginner—especially if you are heading outdoors. It takes more than reading an article and viewing videos to make you a climber!

Types of Rock Climbing

The rock-climbing world consists of a number of small niches. Consider which aspect of the sport interests you the most.

Indoor Sport Climbing

This can be at a climbing gym, sports club or even a home climbing wall. Some REI stores also offer a climbing wall or freestanding pinnacle where you can learn. Indoor walls have artificial hand and foot holds placed in sequence to create routes of varying difficulty. Route setters can move holds easily, creating an endless number of fresh, new climbs.

Read full article here.