Climbing Downtown Asheville’s Mountains
A hike at popular rock climbing spots such as Looking Glass will show just how popular the sport is in Western North Carolina. Similarly, a visit to the Climbmax indoor climbing gym on Wall Street will show how popular the sport is right in the middle of town.
This Saturday, the facility will host the Southern Appalachian University Climbing Invitational, in which college students tackle tough routes on the indoor walls. If you’ve never watched a competition like this, you should stop in and have a look. The manner in which these athletes scale vertical surfaces, clinging to the tiniest foot- and hand-holds, will impress anyone.
Indoor climbing is actually a great way to work out, and the convenient location of Climbmax makes it a popular getaway on lunch breaks and in the evenings. Rates vary, depending on membership and whether visitors plan to climb with a rope or without a rope. Those who do the latter can only scale the walls to a certain height to prevent major falls.
For more information about Climbmax, visit their website.
Posted by Mark Vanderhoff, who occassionally visits the climbing gym when he’s not helping people buy and sell homes in Asheville.
