This homewall lives in El Paso, TX, not far from the famous Hueco Tanks State Park. Owners Natalie Jaime and Daniel Isaac built their backyard homewall for those days and nights they can’t make it to Hueco.
When did you build your wall?
April 5th, 2020.
How long did it take you to build?
3 days (ish).
Not including holds and padding, how much did it cost you to build?
About $300 – mostly for wood and screws. We are lucky because we already had t-nuts and three panels of plywood provided by a friend who wasn’t using them!
Did anything in particular inspire your wall design?
Dan: Survival.
Natalie: the limitations of our space. We knew we couldn’t build inside, and we rent, so we measured the space and figured out which direction of the wall would provide the most shade and lucked out with a 10ft wide by 12ft tall wall! Also- Dan wanted to build a 60-degree wall but we compromised on 45 🙂
What was the most difficult aspect of the design and build?
Going to the hardware store during the pandemic!
What would you do differently?
Bigger is always better 😛
What is your favorite aspect?
Dan: I love everything about it.
Natalie: I love the slopey rails on the sides. I also love that Dan was a routesetter in ABQ for a long time and is really good at coming up with problems :). I also love that the problem creations are limitless, and you can work very specific movement without worrying about the wall changing every few months (unless you want to change it!). I am in graduate school and work from home, so this wall is going to get me through the next few years of life! Haha. Oh, and I also love the wooden rail that is at the very top :). And….I LOVE our Tony Yaniro Power bulb holds – they kick my ass all the time :). So much love for our little wall…
Any words of wisdom to aspiring homewallers?
Dan: Don’t be afraid to pick up the hammer and do it yourself.
Natalie: If you live in a larger city with multiple gyms contact them and see if they are selling used holds for cheap! We didn’t have to buy any holds because Dan has accumulated them over the years. Also, do what you can with what you have. It doesn’t have to be a fancy tension board or the latest greatest thang. People train using some simple and small boards and still manage to improve and have fun!
Do you have any connection to climbing brands or gyms?
Natalie – athlete for Mad Rock Climbing
Also – we are extremely partial to Send Climbing because they are a tiny tiny climbing business based out of Hueco Tanks (our home crag :)) Shout out!!!!!
