RockQuest Climbing Center — Attraction in Sharonville

Tough to write but had kind of a rough experience today at Rock Quest. I’ve been once before and really enjoyed it but unfortunately had a bad experience today. The person working the front desk full on yelled at me over the importance of the waiver for the 12 year old I had brought with me being signed by his mom. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the importance of making sure those things are done properly, especially for kids - but the way I was yelled at was unwarranted and beyond aggressive. They then made a joke about insurance as an attempt to lighten the room which just came off weird. That person clearly brought their temper to work and took it out there too. When we had gotten that sorted out the person asked if we had been there and if we needed any help getting started. I told them I had been once but the 12 year old I brought with me had not and asked if they could still show him how everything worked. They shrugged that off and said I could do that and clip him in since I had been there before. A little confusing considering how worked up they had gotten about the waiver. Several of the autobelay routes were also being re-placed so we didn’t really have as much to do as the website advertises (usually 4-6 autobelay routes open daily). Not writing this to ruffle any feathers, hopefully just giving RQ some...

Disclaimer: only bouldered there, but it's a far cry from a really quality modern gym. The bouldering is tiny, short, many holds look like they're not washed between sets (not uncommon, but really annoying), and graded in pairs of grades (V1-2, V3-4, etc.), which is a pretty big range. Mostly overhanging, which is cool for crushers, but a relatively athletic person that I came with never could send even a V0. Other than being tough there, the ranges were relatively in line with my experience with other gyms (up to V4 or 5, at least). Everything's smooshed together, so there's little room for belayers to get away from the wall to get a good view or get the rope off the climber and little room for resting /waiting boulderers (there's a lot of that, since there's so little space on the wall). Gear shop had pretty good selection and prices. Didn't see campus board, hang boards, etc., but they may be there somewhere. Employees I dealt with were fine. Disclaimer 2: haven't been to the other gym in town. Overall, it was a place to get a quick, if frustrating, session in while in town...

Let's just say that there really isn't that much climbing in the Cincinnati region, so there isn't much choice. I've been climbing for the past 4 years, and this is the first place that I see that you need to tie yourself down when belaying. They also require a double fisherman's know at the end of the figure 8 knot...as if to save you from a bad figure 8 knot? I think it's better to teach people how to do the 8 knot well and the rest is history... I guess what I'm getting at, is that you have to get used to the over protectiveness of the place. Other than that, the staff is friendly and you can always find someone to climb with just by asking. In general, it's a good place. Going on a weed-end can get a bit nerve wracking with all the groups of kids that come in, so if you need your space, try on...