Planet Rock Heck is BACK!

6hrs of Planet Rock Heck is a partner-based endurance rope climbing competition where teams of 2 compete against each other to send the most number of routes over the course of 6 hours. The 2025 event will take place on Saturday, November 15th from 6pm-12pm at the Madison Heights location.

The goal of Planet Rock Heck is to send as many routes humanly possible, CLEAN with no falls and no takes, over the course of 6 hours. Partners must belay each other, belayer substitutions are forbidden and can result in disqualification. Both partners must have belay certifications on file prior to registration. Lead routes are off-limits unless both partners have completed and passed a lead check.

THE RULES

TEAMS: Teams consist of two climbers. There are no “solo” climbers, or solo awards or solo anything. Team members will belay each other, no outside help with belaying. Teams will need to come up with a unique (and appropriate) name. If not, a default team name will be assigned by Planet Rock.

SCORING: Each team will keep track of its climbed routes and laps, via the honor system. To receive points, climbers MUST SEND every route with no FALLS, no HANGS, and no AID (from gear or belayers). If you fall or hang, you must be lowered to the ground immediately and either restart the route or move onto a different route. Team members do not have to climb the same routes, but each competitor will only get points for routes that they climb. Individual scores will be tallied as a team total.

POINTS: Points will vary for each route, depending on grade difficulty. The higher the grade, the more potential points available (i.e. 5.12 scores higher than 5.7). Climbers will also get more points for leading routes vs. top roping them (when both options are available). Top rope-only routes and lead-only routes will be scored evenly.

CHEATING: (Please don’t do this). Staff will be monitoring the gym for safety reasons. If for some reason or another we suspect anyone of cheating (or get reports of cheating from other competitors), Planet Rock reserves the right to disqualify teams. Disqualified teams will not be considered for awards.

WINNERS: There will be prizes for the winners of three categories: Advanced, Intermediate, and Recreational. Categories will be determined by final placements in each event.

LAPS: Climbers are permitted to do up to THREE laps on a route, but only if you do them without resting in between. If a rest is needed or required between laps, the next team waiting is permitted to jump ahead of you.

LINES: You are not technically “in line” for a route if you are currently climbing a different route. In other words, you cannot “reserve” routes in advance. The next team in line must be on the ground, ready to climb and belay.

HEADLAMPS REQUIRED: The final hour of the competition will take place in the dark (aka lights out). Headlamps are required for both team members to climb during that period.

SPECTATORS: The gyms will be closed to public climbing. Spectators are welcome, but spectators cannot belay or climb.

Planet Rock Heck Restrictions

• Age Limit: 16 years old
• Belay Certified: Both team members must be Top Rope and/or Lead certified by Planet Rock prior to registration
• Event Capacity: 80 teams of 2

2025 Registration Dates

• Oct 1st: Early Bird Registration Opens
• Oct 15th: Early Bird Registration Closes
• Oct 16th-Nov 14th: General Registration Window
• November 15th: 6hrs of Heck

2025 6hrs of Heck Schedule

• Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
• Check-in: 5pm
• Rules Meeting (mandatory): 5:30pm
• Climbing Starts: 6pm
• Climbing Ends: 12pm
• Awards Ceremony: 12:30pm