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Crux Climbing Center brings the outdoors to you with indoor rock climbing
Implementing exercise into your life has incredible benefits. Besides keeping physically fit, exercising also keeps the mind sharp. It’s healthy to set aside some time every week to focus on physical activity; to let the day-to-day matters like bills and work-stresses melt away. Finding an activity that suits you is key to maintaining a routine; exercise should be fun. If you hate running, don’t try to get in shape by running. It’s always a good idea to try new activities. Have you tried climbing?
Whether you are an advanced or a greenhorn climber, there’s a good time to be had at Crux Climbing Center. Fifteen different thirty-five foot climbing walls tower overhead, inside the facility. Crux offers over one-thousand climbing routes of varying difficulties; there is a wall for every climber.
In business since 1995, Crux was born from a love for climbing and an inspiration to bring the benefits of climbing to the public. Climbing provides incredible rewards for body and mind. Physically, climbing strengthens your whole body, as it necessitates use of arm, leg, and core muscles. As for the mental: “Making your way up a climbing wall is like solving a puzzle…it’s both a physical and mental process,” explains Crux owner Melanie Harbers. Climbing is as strategic as it is physical; first-time climbers are often surprised by their ability to complete a wall that they never would have imagined they could do.
One of the unique features of Crux is what is referred to as a No Slack auto belay system, which allows for self-sufficient climbing; you don’t need someone else on the ground managing your rope for you. The main objective for the auto belay system is that guests can come alone and make their own schedule without depending on someone to belay them.
Though climbing is a solo sport, there is great camaraderie within the climbing community, and Crux has developed programs that use climbing as a means to bring a sense of team spirit to groups. Groups participate in teamwork-building exercises such as a timed group climb; where groups of 3 or 4 compete for the fastest combined climb time; and a blindfolded partner climb, where pairs take turns being blindfolded and instructed on where and how to climb by a partner. The exercises help boost self-esteem for individuals and nurture the sense of community within the group.
Another great offering from Crux is the Crux Alone Youth program. Crux Alone Youth allows kids ages 10 to 13 the opportunity to climb without mom or dad hovering over their shoulder. Crux Alone Youth offers kids a chance to exercise and develop their climbing skills, as well as meet other kids their age who share an interest in climbing.
Crux’s Rope and Pole Challenge offers another climbing option: this area of the facility consists of a single rope, rope ladder, and climbing poles of varying heights.
Seasoned climbers will find Crux a great place to refine their skills, with three advanced lead climbing walls and a bouldering rock.
Crux offers several payment options: you can pay the day rate or purchase a punch card, which is good for 30 visits at a significant discount. The punch card is transferable across friends and family. College Nite offers climbing’s stress-relieving benefits for the student budget, and Family Nights offer a discount so that everybody can join in the fun. And while fun is always on the top of Crux’s list, it’s safety first! First time climbers are required to complete a short safety class before climbing.
Besides the great physical benefits, climbing offers an incredible sense of autonomy. Harbers shared more than one inspirational story of handicapped climbers who rose above their personal “boundaries” thanks to Crux. What Crux wants to make clear is that everybody is welcome to climb; this is not an exclusive climbers-only type of gym. Crux is a place for anyone who is looking to progress him or herself and have a fun time doing so.
So whether you aspire to one-day scale Half Dome, or are just looking for something a little more exciting than a treadmill in a stuffy gym, test your hand at climbing, and do it at Crux Climbing Center!
Crux Climbing Center is located at 1160 Laurel Lane in San Luis Obispo. Visit cruxslo.com or call (805) 544-2789 for pricing and hours of operation. |
