Our Blog
The Sliding Scale at Tufas
April 26, 2023
Flashback to In the summer of 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic was changing the way we all lived and the murder of George Floyd moved the country to act in the face of injustice. Here in Philadelphia, the team at Tufas Bouldering Lounge began asking themselves what we could do to create change and support […]
The Sliding Scale
February 8, 2022
Tufas offers pricing based on a sliding scale. A sliding scale is a tool for building economic justice, and it requires your active participation. If a sliding scale is implemented effectively, everyone pays a similar percentage of their income for the same products or services, while also taking into account the impact that systems of […]
Tufas’ Commitment to Anti-Racist Work
June 22, 2020
Tufas’ is Committed to Our Continued Work to Address Systemic Racism and Inequity Inclusivity has been part of Tufas’ mission from the start, but during this catalytic moment of increased awareness across the world, we recognize the need for us to step up our work to uproot white supremacy in our community. Let us […]
Tufas Talkback: Healthcare Worker – Dr. Rebecca Jaffe
April 16, 2020
Rock climbing outside, especially trad climbing but a few sport routes and boulders as well, is a place of peaceful aloneness for Dr. Rebecca Jaffe: healthcare worker. Dr. Jaffe started climbing at the UPenn Climbing Wall when she came to Philly for med-school, “The manager there at the time, Paul Haraf, was super psyched on […]
Staff Spotlight: Lorrain Ko and Nick Torsitano: Climbing and Physical Therapy
March 9, 2020
Climbing and physical therapy go hand in hand in this Staff Spotlight. Check out the one and only Lorrain Ko and the spectacular Nick Torsitano on what keeps physical therapists climbing, and what keeps climbers coming back to physical therapy. Tufas is a Philly climbing gym but not all climbing gym staff members are […]
Lounge Legend: Travis Pollen – Personal Trainer, Adaptive Bouldering Competitor
February 28, 2020
Adaptive Bouldering Competitor Travis Pollen sat down with Z. Kudratov to recap the Adaptive Bouldering Competition at Earth Treks Rockville. Travis is the inaugural Tufas Boulder Lounge Legend. As Philadelphia’s own climbing gym, Tufas Boulder Lounge is a bouldering gym dedicated to serving a diverse range of bodies in motion. Meet Travis Pollen, Tufas […]
8 Black Rock Climbers to Follow in 2020
February 24, 2020
Rock climbing has a serious diversity problem. Looking to diversify your Instagram feed? Here is a list of black rock climbers and climbers of color to follow! Color the Crag, Brothers of Climbing, and Melanin Base Camp are some of the organizations dedicated to increasing mentorship, visibility, and community among persons of color outdoors. […]
Meet Liam: Our Climbing Gym Intern
February 5, 2020
“I worked at a climbing gym called Tufas Boulder Lounge.” For one month Tufas was lucky enough to have a climbing gym intern named Liam. Reproduced below is Liam’s essay about his experience as a climbing gym employee: the good, the bad, and the light custodial work it takes to keep a premier climbing […]
Send Global: Climbing Out of Depression
January 29, 2020
Climbing out of depression is more literal than it sounds. Recently, bouldering has been making headlines. No, not because of Olympic hopefuls entering into bouldering and sport climbing comps as Tokyo 2020 inches closer. Rather than the Sports section, bouldering is making headlines in Science and Health news. Mood Disorders and Exercise Depression and anxiety […]
Brain Bouldering by Dr. Jane Thompson, Psy.D
January 16, 2020
Last Friday, my husband and step-son suggested that we go to Tufas Boulder Lounge on Saturday. I am not the most adventurous person when it comes to doing things where I could fall, so of course, I thought of about 15 reasons to bail. Not wanting to spoil the fun, I decided it would be […]