How realistic is a ceiling crawl/cling, can it actually be done?

Question

I have very little experience with climbing and so I would like to get an idea of how realistic a ceiling crawl or just a cling actually is with the existing gear available. For clarity:

This is a ceiling crawl:

This is a ceiling cling:

I would imagine that these two would be a combination of body conditioning and the gear available, so would be interested in exactly how much training/experience would be involved? I have definitely found images of climbing upside down although again I would love your thoughts on how realistic this is:

For example, does it require only a specific surface, specific shoes or other gear and also is there any way it could be done on an inside ceiling? Please let me know if I need to add any additional details that are missing.

Answer 1

The first is clearly fake - look at the person standing on the ceiling to the left. Not a problem as it illustrates what you're looking for. I have a photo of my daughter in a similar upside-down room. To do it for real you'd need holds on the ceiling or something as smooth as glass for suction cups. What I thought might be holds are probably just footprints.

The 2nd pic is apparently a still from the movie Serenity so probably not 100% real either. The legs on that angle would need incredible strength in muscles that aren't normally so strong, especially as her left foot is relying purely on friction (the right is supported on a pipe, but her hip adductors would still be holding much of her weight). *

In the 3rd, on the other hand, there's a grippy surface with holds, so a suitably accomplished climber could do it.

Very few ceilings would have enough to get hold of. Some industrial or industrial-styled locations might, hanging under a catwalk or utility trays. If you can find a big enough set, you could get in some initial practice on some monkey bars. Even I can just about do an inverted crawl on those, and the fact they're good holds means you can fall safely feet-first. It's not the end goal, but to give you a feel of where you need to build strength.

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* Summer Glau, the actress in that 2nd shot, is apparently a ballerina by training, so will be strong and flexible. I still reckon she had technical help and a clip of that scene shows her in statically in place, not helping see how it's done. See the discussion over at scifi.se: How was this shot of River Tam on the ceiling managed in Serenity? for further discussion. The answer there implies a combination of undoubted physical ability and trickery.

Answer 2

The picture of Summer Glau is real. From an interview with Sci-Fi-Online:

SFO: Was there anything they told you to do and you thought 'no way'?

SG: [Laughs] The split on the ceiling, but we got up there and we did it. When I was up there it didn't hurt. There was a guy who was helping me, and they had to rebuild the hallway three times because they had to measure my legs. If it's off an inch I can't hold my leg up. So I would get in a split and get situated and I stood up there between takes. It was easier than I thought.

Answer 3

Climbing typical indoor ceilings is impossible without destructive gear (i.e. something that essentially punches holes, for some kind of holds that get anchored in the ceiling). A usual ceiling won't be smooth and non-porous enough for suction grips and there is no way to hold on otherwise. Also note that you need leg holds to keep your body up at the ceiling unless you just want to campus it with your legs hanging down.

As for the pictures, the first is obvious nonsense (bad shoes, no holds, nonsense body position). The second seems to be just at the edge of possibility. The climbing approach @Spratty suggested in the comments to a different answer might just be theoretically possible but seem to be very much on the edge. Though I wouldn't put it past some of the super talented climbers. We're talking the top olympic class climbers would be my guess. The third picture is quite realistic. Whether or not it's photoshopped (hard to tell) it's definitely completely feasible. The rock is very coarse with what seem to be decent holds. It's far from easy, but definitely possible and might even have been climbed to that point without belaying for the photo. The one argument for why it sill might be photoshopped, is that if you want a photo without a rope you likely also want it without a harness.

To get some idea what the top people can climb, with only shoes for gear Silence by Adam Ondra is currently the top rated (i.e. hardest) red pointed (i.e. climbed without aid, in one go, without resting on rope) route. Adam took about 4 years projecting it, I believe, and he's widely believed to be in at least the top 5 best outdoor climbers on the planet if not the best. Silence is pretty good for your question since a large part of it is overhanging and the holds are stupid small, though still completely huge compared to what you would get on a typical ceiling.

Just to clarify stupid small, a novice climber might not be able to use many of those holds to climb on a vertical wall, and this one is close to horizontal in places.

Answer 4

how realistic a ceiling crawl or just a cling actually is with the existing gear available..

It is indeed very realistic, however, it is as dangerous as anything done without proper gear. Standard crashpads that you see in climbing/bouldering gym are just fine for this.

I would imagine that these two would be a combination of body conditioning and the gear available

Correct! Add experience and practice/technique to that list. For some it takes years to get to this point, for some it is just a matter of a few weeks. But, to be honest, I haven't come across people who managed to climb roofs and overhangs in a matter of a weeks. Months - yes. Not to undermine anything but I touch-based this topic about time-spent because of your explicit admittance about having limited climbing experience. A lot of effort goes into developing technique to climb as well as to fall safely. It is one of the trickiest learning curves.

so would be interested in exactly how much training/experience would be involved?

The only possible answer is 'adequate effort/experience'. This can not be generalized as it may (in fact, will) vary from person to person depending upon a lot of aspects.

does it require only a specific surface, specific shoes or other gear and also is there any way it could be done on an inside ceiling?

An overall advice: I'd start with attempting various climbing routes in a nearby climbing gym. At a certain point, I'll figure out that my shoes aren't good enough, and thats when I'd invest into a good pair of shoes. Eventually, under the proper guidance, when I'll attempt tougher routes involving dynamic moves, overhangs, roof sections - I'd precisely know what gear I need and how to use it with proper technique.

Now if I try to quantify this for my case, it would take years, and still I may not get to the point where I can cling/crawl on to roofs! But, what I would have gathered over this period would be experience and technique.

Speaking of climbing, what I might be able to achieve in an year, I have seen others to that in months.

Answer 5

The 3rd image is likely real. Using a reverse search with google lens it comes up in many photos including stock photos and is not overly high off the ground.

It could still be photoshopped but appears to be climbable.

For those curious, it seems to be in Mallorca Spain.

Answer 6

The third finals stage of Sasuke (a.k.a. Ninja Warrior) has featured a not-quite-horizontal hanging climb for at least the last few seasons. This obstacle (which competitors traverse without ropes, but over water to keep them safe when, not if, they fall) is pretty similar to your third picture. So... it's definitely possible, but even S/NW competitors struggle on this obstacle, and they're the best of the best.

To be fair, S/NW competitors have to be well rounded, not just good at climbing... but it's still not something I'd recommend for a casual activity.

As far as "what's required"... hand and foot holds that you can grip despite being upside down. The rest of the surface shouldn't matter (aside from needing to be sturdy enough to support your weight), but you're basically supporting your weight by your fingers and toes. You're obviously not going to be doing that on a typical ceiling.

If you're really dead-set on trying this sort of thing...

1. Start with (almost) any ceiling that will support your weight. You probably want a surface that isn't going to give you splinters or such, however.
2. Install something that will keep you safe when you fall off.
3. Install a bunch of climbing grips. Make sure you know how to do this properly so they can support your weight hanging from them in the orientation in which they will be installed.
4. Have fun?

That said... you mention you "have very little experience with climbing". If you can't climb a vertical wall, you absolutely are not going to be able to manage an upside-down horizontal climb. Start with vertical and work your way up to greater and greater inverted angles. And you probably should be doing this at a proper climbing gym first.

Answer 7

The second shot can't actually be done. Assuming enough strength it might just be possible to be in that position, but how do you get there? Without both feet pressing against the wall she will fall. Thus as she's trying to get into that position she falls off.