It’s Time to Climb at Wild Walls!

Winter. It’s a rock climber’s kryptonite. As temperatures drop and daylight dwindles, outdoor climbing spots are less than optimal during the frosty months. How do we keep our sanity until spring? Are we destined for months of hangboard hell? No way, Jose. Thanks to Wild Walls Climbing Gym in Spokane, climbers of all levels have access to some of the best rock climbing in the area.

Located at 202 W. Second Avenue, this massive facility houses two standalone climbing towers, a sprawling back wall and an extensive bouldering area. Climbing ropes hang down like multi-colored vines, and the climbing holds on the walls are just as mismatched.

Joshua, Taylor and I hit up Wild Walls on a Friday night. Although it was busy, the facility is large enough to absorb the big crowds. We were greeted by a pair of super friendly Wild Walls employees behind the front counter. They made sure we had signed their liability waiver (you can fill this form out online beforehand to save time).

Need some climbing gear? You can score some shoes for $5.5o and a harness for $3.25. If you need both, Wild Walls offers a bundle package for $6.50. Pretty damn cheap. The day pass itself goes for a cool $15. If you’re 14 or under, you’ll just need to take $10 from your allowance for a day pass. Not too shabby if you ask me!

Once you get all your bits and bobs for climbing, it’s now time to make a choice. Top rope or boulder? Top roping requires a harness, a rope that’s already set up by the Wild Walls staff, and an experienced belayer. This last one’s a biggie. If you’re not belay certified by Wild Walls, you won’t be able to belay in their facility. You can receive your certification in just a few minutes from the gym’s staff.

For those who are unable to belay (or don’t feel like top roping), the bouldering at Wild Walls is a real hoot. A combination of caves, lie-backs and slabs will cater to all skill levels. For the accident prone, the bouldering area is blanketed with thick, cushy mats. Because of these fluffy mats, many climbers drop from the top of the 10′ wall onto their feet without snapping their ankles. Isn’t that great?

Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed without the use of ropes or harnesses. While it can be done without any equipment whatsoever, most climbers use climbing shoes to help secure footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry, and bouldering mats to prevent injuries from falls. (source: Wikipedia)

For those looking for more, Wild Walls offers yoga classes for members and non-members alike. This place has everything you need to fend off your cabin fever as a climber this winter.

After reviewing every aspect of Spokane’s climbing gym, I would proudly recommend this to anyone looking to climb – not just in the winter, but year-round. It’s a great place to test your climbing abilities in a controlled, casual environment.

For more information about Wild Walls, you can visit their website by clicking here.

Have you ever climbed at Wild Walls? Share your experience in the comments below!