Just Go For It | My First Indoor Rock Climbing Experience in Chicago!

Today my friends and I tried bouldering at First Ascent Block 37 - and we're officially hooked! Located on the 4th floor of a mall (same level as AMC), this climbing gym is surprisingly spacious with awesome vibes! 🎢 🪨 What's Bouldering? Bouldering is rock climbing without ropes or harnesses, typically 3-5 meters high with thick crash pads below. Compared to traditional climbing, it focuses more on technique, strength, and problem-solving - each route is like a puzzle! 🧩 💰 Lessons & Pricing As beginners, we took a 1-hour guided session ($49 for first person, +$29 per additional person). Splitting between 3 of us made it super affordable! 💸 📌 What to Know Before You Go ✅ Sign waiver online beforehand to save time ✅ Rent shoes (they're... well-used 😅) or bring your own ✅ Lockers available for bags and belongings 🧗🏻‍♀️ Our Climbing Experience The coach first taught us how to fall safely (super important!). Key tips: - Keep arms straight to conserve energy - Focus on using your toes, not whole feet - Plan your route before climbing (it's like "rock climbing sudoku"!) ✨ Climbing Lingo 101 👉 Beta: Route suggestions between climbers 👉 Dyno: A dynamic jumping move (looks cool but hard!) 👉 Commit: Go for it without hesitation! The swing technique (monkey-like movements!) was especially fun - though I was too scared to fully let go 😂 💪 Facilities They've got workout equipment too! Many climbers train after sessions (just remember to change shoes). 🌟 Final Verdict: An AMAZING first experience! Highly recommend starting with a guided session. We'll definitely be back! 🔥 #JustGoForIt #RockClimbing #Bouldering #ChicagoLife #NewbieClimber