Route Setters

Touchstone Routesetting

 With nine gyms in California, our killer setting crew is the heart of our business. With out their inspired test peices, you'd have nothing to crush, project, and send. Touchstone is proud to boast the largest full-time routesetting team in the country. With over 12 full time routesetters, Touchstone provides the highest quality routesetting anywhere. With a rotation of 12 weeks or less at all the Touchstone gyms, you will always find a new project to work on no matter which gym you climb in. 


Big ups to Five Ten for sponsoring the team. We'd be nothing with out their amazing shoe rubber, sick designs and amazing apparel. Truth. 

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And so, without further adieu... The one, the only, Touchstone Routesetting Team. 

 frankie2 Frankie - FO
Climbs in 5.10 Teams

Frankie is the Howard Roark of Touchstone Course Setting. You’ll probably hate a FO route until you figure out how to do it and then you’ll swear you always thought it was the most brilliant thing ever.  Frankie doesn’t eat much, but when he does he likes pizza and Chinese food.  He smokes Danish Export and drinks one Mountain Dew every day. He also climbs humid V10 slab off the couch.

Ben - Flea
Climbs in 5.10 Arrowheads  

 LATFH!  Don’t let the pink pants fool you, this kid means serious business when it comes to climbing!  Having grown up in the Bay Area, Flea is a fixture in the local climbing, bike polo, and music scenes.  Want to know anything and everything about early 80’s cartoons?  Need your project done?  Need CPR?  Just ask Ben, he’ll be happy to oblige.

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Bennett

Bennett found climbing only a few years ago and became obsessed. Realizing that there were jobs to be had in the climbing community, he found his way to route setting for Touchstone. Now a seasoned setter of 3 years, when not at work, outdoors or being an all around nerd, you'll find Bennett working his way through an education in Software Development.

Jeremy - Jho
Climbs in 5.10 Dragons

Jeremy has been in the Touchstone circle for a while now but has just recently started setting routes.  His family owns a farm, but he has decided to farm routes instead.  Look for his bouncy giant ear plugs at Ironworks in the evenings, bouldering outside on the weekends, or somewhere in between mobbing super hard in someone else’s car.  Jeremy also has the most unfortunate tattoo this humble narrator has ever seen.  Ask him, he’ll probably show you.

 
 Jeremy2
Lopes Clara_routesetting  Clara
Climbs in 5.10 Dragons 
Don't let her sweet smile fool you. This lady is a stone cold bone crusher.  
Anthony - AV
Climbs in 5.10 Teams

We don’t know much about Anthony.  All we really know is that one night on top of a mountain, an old blond man reeking of Rockstar Energy Drink approached him and told him the secrets of Touchstone Course Setting.  He then hung a shark tooth amulet around Anthony’s neck and disappeared into the foggy night.  Tony claims this gives him power; we try not to mess with that.

 
 tina2
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Travis 
Climbs in 5.10 Anasazi VCS 

<------- Travis is this guy. That's probably all you need to know.
 

Cole
Climbs in 5.10 Teams 

Legend has it Cole s turned down a shot at playing in the NFL to pursue climbing. He says he's climbed for 3 years, resting only to get my eagle scout award and go through the process of being a certified Zumba Instructor (Fact checking needed). Cole now has one cat, lives in Fresno, and is still learning how to smile like a normal parson.

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Charlie20P.20(120of201)

Charlie- CP
Climbs in 5.10 Dragons 

Holy crap. What a nice lookin guy. Climb his routes and you'll be grinning just like him. Legend has it he was raised by a pack of wild beta fish, and now attributes much of his climbing success to his early years. Ask him about it. 
Jacob
Climbs in 5.10
 
Everyone says that Charlie and Jacob bear a striking resemblance. We just don't see it. 
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Kirchoff Bryan_Routesetting Brian- BK
Climbs in 5.10 Dragon

Touchstone's recent Oklahoma emigrant, BK can usually be found complaining about the lack of country music or how scary the city is. But if you like fat-finger pinches or shouldery gasto-clings these are the routes for you.

Eric - McLvn
Climbs in 5.10 Teams 
Two co-dependent high school seniors are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry. 

 Eric2

John20A.20(120of201)

John _JaH
Climbs in 5.10 Coyote Lace Ups
This mild mannered academic made the switch from desk staffer to route setter this year, and hasn't looked back. John is going to school to be a genius, so when you see him carefully crafting his routes look closer... he's actually listening to books on tape. 

 Martijn - MK
Climbs in 5.10 Teams
 
Our Dutch import brought with him European charm, a sexy accent, and some major route setting chops.

Martijn20K.20(120of201)
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Maura - ML
Climbs in Anasazi VCS
With a background ranging from carpenter to magician's assistant to battle robot driver, Maura brings some unique talents to the team. She has recently been voted "Touchstone Route Setter most likely to be found aid climbing." So if you get halfway up the wall and feel a sudden urge to bust some gnarly hook move, you are probably on a ML classic.

Jeff - JPH
Climbs in 5.10 Dragons

Adonis? Eat your heart out. When JPH walks through the door Routes simply set themselves, Forerunning just happens and freshly tapped Maple syrup flows endlessly from the Water Fountains. Which probably explains that route you see off into the distance that has a Golden Shimmer - he set it.

 Hansen Jeff_routesetting
nicholaswray.com-20130502-89  Josh 
Josh as been setting with Touchstone since 2006. Starting Med-School in the next year, he aspires to be an ER doctor. But until that begins, if you don't see him setting a route, you can guarantee he's "Shredding the Gnar" and "Boofing like a Mofo" on some class 5 whitewater.
 

 


 

 

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