Rock Climbing Gyms for Beginner Lessons

[Whiteman]

As I get older--and #50 is just a few days away--I have to keep expanding those horizons and that experiential base. So in addition to all of the reasonably ambitious lists I've picked for the next year or so, I've decided this is the year to try a little climbing. I am starting at the beginning.

I see there are a few climbing gyms in the Boston/Providence area. Anybody have any thoughts/experiences with these places for lessons, etc. etc.?

Thanks!

 

[jfb]

You might want to join the AMC Mountaineering Section:

http://www.amcboston.org/mountaineering/2instruction.html

 

[TCD]

Boston Rock Gym is one of the oldest and best known rock gyms around.

Gyms are a great place to learn basics of climbing and belaying. Be careful in the transition to outdoors:

>Many gyms are equipped with semi automatic belay devices like the Petzl GriGri. Outdoors you probably won't use one of those ($). So be sure you know how to belay.

>Many gyms are "top rope" only, so you can't learn how to lead.

>You really can't learn how to place gear (as opposed to clipping bolts) in any gym. Don't underestimate it.

>Communication between climber and belayer in gyms is often casual / sloppy. Can't afford that outdoors.

>Many objective hazards exist outdoors that are not present in the gym (sun, rain, bees, snakes, rockfall, etc.).

Have fun!

TCD

 

[Pucknuts61]

Every so often REI has a beginners class at Metro Rock in Everett.
I haven't check it out, but it seems a good way to see if you like climbing before investing a lot of $$ in equipment.
I think it's $65 for a 3 hour class and all equipment is provided.
Good luck.

 

[professor]

After briefly dabbling with climbing in my younger years (mid-1970's), I pretty much stopped as other pastimes kept me busy. In all honestly, I wasn't very good either. At the time, it seemed like an endless succession of one-armed pull-ups, and frankly, I never was very good at those. A few years ago ( was 45 at the time), a climbing wall/gym opened up in my town (I’m not in the Boston area, so I can’t help you in that regard), and I thought it would be fun to expose my grade-school age kids to the sport. Of course, that meant that dad had to get back into it as well. What a blast! While muscling my way up the wall is clearly no longer feasible (funny things happen to the old strength:weight ratio as years go by!), I amaze myself with some of the moves I can do, with practice. It also has proven to be something which is fun to do with my kids, although I am much more confident belaying them than they are belaying me – they are only 10 and 7. It is very hard to get a kick of adrenaline when you have only a hour to blow in suburbia, but this really fits the bill. Climbing walls does seem more like vertical tai chi than rock climbing, however. The above caveats on converting climbing wall skills to outdoor skills are well taken, but I can relate that it has given me a much better feel for my limitations, and more importantly , for my strengths. I have no delusions of going out to climb El Capitan, but it has given me the skills and confidence to take on more challenging scrambles and slides than I might have done in the past, thus enhancing my already numerous outdoor activities. Go for it, and enjoy! There are a lot worse things you could be doing with your mid-life crisis.

 

[Paul Skelly]

I can personally vouch for the Boston AMC's intro to rock program. I took it last year. It's a great way to get outside and on the rock every weekend for a few weeks. It's a really knowledgable group of folks who teach the course, and the best part is that you'll get to meet dozens of other people to climb with nearby. You live in Westwood? The class was taught last year at Rattlensnake rocks and Quincy Quarries in the Blue Hills.

 

[Whiteman]

AMC Course

I read through the course outline on their site and it looks excellent. All in all it also looks incredibly convenient, except for the optional (read mandatory) intro session on Wed 3/2, which is impossible that particular night.

I was also really interested in experiences people had at the local climbing gyms, where I would like to warm up some pretty unused muscles (pull up what???!!! I liked that reference to strength:weight ratio. Hate to go there!).

Thanks for the leads

 

[nartreb]

rock gyms

Hi Dave,
If there's a YMCA near you, ask them about rock climbing. Several in the Boston area have (small) walls and are very beginner-friendly. They also will do outdoor courses (how to set up topropes, for example) once the weather gets a bit warmer. The disadvantage is that most of them only offer climbing one or two nights a week.
I've been to the BRG many times, so I can answer one of TCD's concerns. (I haven't been to Metro yet).

>Many gyms are equipped with semi automatic belay devices like the Petzl GriGri. Outdoors you probably won't use one of those ($). So be sure you know how to belay.

Most everybody at BRG uses ATC-type belay devices, and that's what their classes will teach you (though you can use GriGris if you prefer - and they're not expensive as lifesaving equipment goes: around eighty bucks).

The rest of TCD's points are excellent. Climbing in the gym isn't the same as climbing outdoors. Outdoor climbing (other than bouldering) requires a whole slew of additional skills. But a gym's a good place to start learning.

---D

 

[TMax]

I think climbing gyms are great to work on muscle-building and confidence in being able to make ever-increasingly difficult moves. But it really is a very different experience from the outside world (DUH). The element of real danger is gone. That's a good thing for helping you practice "risky" moves but doesn't always translate back to the real deal. Either way, it's a lot of fun!

 

[jfb]

Although I haven't visited this place, it looks pretty good on its website:

http://www.rhodeislandrockgym.com/

 

[giggy]

I had some dealings with the rhode island rock gym - all positive. I went on one of their outings for ice climbing and was very reasonably priced. The guides were , safe, knew their stuff, and great people. I think thet have. a indoor class that is really cheap to start learning.

I also have heard good things about the amc class. But - if you can't do that - try the RI rock gym. I don't know much about indoor climbing, but the gym looked good to me.

I dealt with a guy named Jeremy and was a cool guy.

 

[Mad Townie]

David, I started gym climbing at 48, having never done anything like it before (except maybe hiking Mahoosuc Notch!), and it was a gas. Gyms really help you with the whole balance thing, which is probably more important than that foolish ratio many of us dread. Besides, the mantra is, "Climb with your legs, not your arms."

I climbed at the Maine Rock Gym, but I've heard excellent things about the Boston Rock Gym--from what I understand it pretty much set the standard in New England.

As for outdoors, climb as a second with someone who really knows what he or she is doing. You'll have a pretty good idea when you're ready to try leading. There are some beautiful climbing venues out there.

 

[Halite]

David, I started gym climbing at 48, having never done anything like it before ...

I felt a little crazy, and seriously out of my element, when I started climbing a year ago at 41. The local gym seemed dominated by young apes slapping up majorly difficult routes. But I quickly discovered there are quite a few silverbacks out there still climbing strong!

As for outdoors, climb as a second with someone who really knows what he or she is doing...

This point is critical not just for learning, but especially for safety. I've seen some pretty scary practices out there, even from people who have been climbing a lot of years.

I ventured away from my local rock gym this weekend for a change of pace. One of the guys working there told me about a gym in New Bedford, MA, called Carabiners. Based on a scan of their website, the gym looks pretty incredible.

 

[Darl58]

rock gyms

I started climbing at an indoor rock gym at 40 and loved it. I now climb outside every chance I get and was in Yosemite climbing last Sept for 10 days. It's a wonderfull sport that requires total concentration letting you forget about everything else in your life. The views can be amazing!

I still go to a rock gym during the winter to stay in shape and to keep my strength, plus it's a great group of people! Climbers are friendly and enjoy helping others start out. I think the gym is the best place to learn the basics and to gain strength. Climbing uses a lot of muscles, abs, legs, shoulders, etc.. Make sure you stretch first and don't try to overdue until you are ready.

I suggest if you really like it take an anchoring course before you start climbing with anyone. Even your best friend can screw up, and at least having some knowledge will let you know if you want to climb on an anchor or not. Don't be afraid to talk with your climbing partner and to always check each others knots and belays, even in a gym!!! You can be talking and forget to tie in properly or lock a biner.

 

[Whiteman]

It looks like you've learned a lot in one year!

Halite: Assuming that shot is of you in your avatar, crawling along that rock, WOW. Something to aspire to!

I also saw that Caribiner's website. The place looks like it is about 3X larger than anything else around. Plus it has the gym facilities for strength work, which I don't recall seeing at other sites (though they all seem to have showers and retail shops). See you there!

 

[Halite]

Halite: Assuming that shot is you in that avatar, crawling along that rock, WOW. Something to aspire to!

That is not a stunt double.

The guy taking the photo--Bob Clark--is one of the 'silverbacks' I referred to in my previous post. He has been climbing for 30+ years and moves beautifully over rock. He combines a still youthful enthusiasm for the pure pleasure of climbing with a mature sense of keeping it safe.

The cllmb in the photo at Ragged Mountain is a good example of this. My objective for the day was to work on balance and get an introduction to anchor placement. Instead of leading one of the standard routes, Bob linked together a series odd traverses, some of them on areas of the rock that aren't frequently climbed. On the standard routes at Ragged, Bob could probably set an anchor with his eyes closed. Prior to taking this photo, Bob was in new territory. So he set one anchor, thought about it, and then hunted around for a better anchor. I had to wait a long time while he did this, but felt a lot better when I got to his belay point at saw how solid his anchor was.

This approach is in strong contrast to the 'epic' I witnessed the week before in approximately the same area of Ragged Mountain. A very experienced climber was leading two others with double ropes. The ropes were old, communication was poor. There was a lot of shouting and rock fall, along with a scary bit of free-soloing because of lost patience. Everyone got out of it in one piece. But it would not be the type of climbing experience I would want.

 

[charlos]

a bit of gym bouldering may be a fun start & intro to climbing.
all you need are shoes and some chalk