My husband and I purchased a punch card here on Friday in anticipation of using it when we regularly visit his mother throughout the year. We have both been climbing on and off for the past 8 years with our most recent year after returning from parenting and a hectic lifestyle, at Inner Peaks in Charlotte and are at levels between V4 and V6 (I am a 4, he is a 5-6). We have been climbing throughout the country at different climbing gyms the past season for travels and discussed our findings at Triangle Rock club with other visiting Climbers on Friday. The unfortunate conclusion was that this gym does not have national standards for their climbing sets. It was frustrating and discouraging to find that though we do climb at intermediate levels throughout the country, their levels here in Raleigh at this gym are their own language and standard. The V2 or V3 sets are the equivalent of a V5 or higher. They all lack in sufficient footholds as well, even the basic and "easy" levels where you would hope to not discourage someone entirely new to climbing. We spoke to a regular climbing who is buddy with the setter crew and he told us that the setters all do advanced climbing; evidently past remembrance of how a beginner climbs and the requirements needed for those who are unfamiliar with how to begin either bouldering or rope climbing. Inner Peaks regularly has the owner visiting and checking up to ensure there is consistency of route levels to appropriately reflect the level nationally. I would truly hope TRC would have the same. It is extremely discouraging to see that there are setters who don't take into consideration the various levels of climbers and do not set the routes to national standards. Unless you are a part of their pack, your understanding and ability to work with their routes is botched from the start. Super disappointing. We still intend to come back and use the punch card, but depending on how things are when we visit, we may not make too much use of the rocks and will focus on their extremely impressive and well-stocked fitness gym instead. It's a bummer, because when we visit family and go on vacation we try to maintain our climbing status and not being able to do much at a gym makes it rather pointless in trying. Looking forward to seeing your routes better reflect national standards. According to previews reviews over at least the past six months, they will read the reviews of the same concern I'm expressing and little to nothing has done. Perhaps this time something will be done? I don't need a response telling me my opinion is valuable. I need...
Read moreI've frequented this location and TRC's morrisville location for about 4 years now. I simply can't get enough of this place and in the time frame i've known it, the company/gym has continued to improve. This location has substantial bouldering walls, with a decent amount of top ropes/lead climbing (as opposed to Morrisville having more top/taller top ropes/lead climbing section). The skill level/grades of routes at each portion range from beginner to expert, and new routes are set periodically. In the facilities' last expansion, a sizeable yoga/fitness class room, a large fitness/ more of your typical gym type equipment room, plenty of couch and table space for those waiting or taking a break, and a room usually used for private parties (i.e. birthday gatherings or whatnot) were added.
I started going with a 10-pass card and supplemented with a friend's membership free pass. As a full member, you get 1 free pass a month to share with whoever you would like. It's great for introducing newbies or bringing a friend who is on the fence about joining! I took the plunge into full membership, which is a monthly charge with liberty to suspend or cancel any month/length of time. It allows me to visit either location (this one or morrisville) and access to all the fitness classes the gym offers. I have shamefully not gone to any other classes other than yoga, but am absolutely in love with how often the yoga classes are (almost once if not twice a day!), the different types offered (vinyasa flow vs power vs fundamental), and most of the teachers.
This place is pretty awesome- offering all the indoor climbing one could desire with the extra perks of legit fitness classes galore, a normal 'gym', quarterly member nights, sign-up climbing classes (intro, lead, etc.), and special member events. There is a once a week meetup group, boards for people in need of climbing partners, coaches, youngster and adult climbing leagues, and the ability to hold climbing parties. Like I said in the beginning of the review- I can't get enough. The staff have been wonderful. I feel like I am a part of something special :) Keep up the...
Read moreA little surprised at the service we received after reading all of the positive reviews. We took our kids on a Sunday to go rock climbing. Check in was a struggle, there were several people behind the counter but no one seemed to know what was going on. After check in we watched a short video and they turned us loose.
As others have stated there are only a few auto belayed devices. My kids found themselves waiting, so I went and inquired about belaying them. “David” behind the counter was pretty rude in general. I was eventually able to pry out of him that it could be done on the spot. I paid and a nice you g lady came over and gave me instructions.
Now I’m going to preface this next part, I have a basic knowledge of rock climbing and rappelling/belaying.The young lady showed me the basic principals, how to attach the belay line to the harness and so forth, she then had me attach it and perform a few belays. She asked if I had any questions, I said no and she said “she would let me belay her, your ready for the test.”
I was then sent back to the counter and a different girls began administering a verbal test and had me perform some belaying. She then told me my hand placement had been wrong and that she couldn’t pass me, even though every time she pulled the rope to simulate an unexpected fall I stopped it. She also said I couldn’t retest the same day. Now I understand that belay is very important and that done improperly someone could be hurt or killed. The problem I had was one, if you require it to be done a certain way, teach that way and stress it must be done that way and two had I known I only had one shot at this I would have probably spent a tad bit more time practicing, the girl teaching me made it seem like the test was no biggie and I was ready .
On the plus side the rock climbing itself was fun and my...
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