Rocking Out in Sparks
Getting fitted for a climb.
First step.
Like a fly on the wall.
Reaching the top.
Just hanging around.
Making like “Spider-Man.”
The kids wanted to try something new, so we decided to check out Rock Sport Indoor Climbing Center in Sparks. Being novices to the sport of scampering up walls, we discovered a helpful and experienced staff that told us everything we needed to know to get started.
The staff fitted both of my kids, Julia and Hank, with harnesses and shoes because they would be doing the climbing, and gave me a harness because I would be holding the rope.
The learning curve for rock climbing is easy. Basically, we were told that someone needed to climb and someone else had to hold the rope, which loops through a large metal pipe at the top.
A staff member explained how to tie the proper knots, the best way to hold the ropes, and how to ease the climber down gently after he or she is done (known as “belaying”).
Julia wanted to go first, so we slipped the rope through her harness, tied the knot, cinched the rope to the anchoring person, which, in this case, was Hank, and wished her well.
She stared at the steep wall, which rises about 35-feet up. Little different-shaped, colored knobs, which serve as handholds and footholds, are bolted to the gray surface. She grabbed the lowest one and began pulling herself up the wall.
She actually did pretty well on her first try. She made it about half way up the wall before signaling that she was tired and wanted to come down. To descend, she leaned away from the wall, hanging on to the rope, and Hank gently lowered her to the ground.
Next up was Hank. While never having tried rock climbing, he found the going easy. After securing himself to the rope, he quickly grabbed a handhold and began scaling the wall. In short order, he had made it to the top and was ready to be lowered.
After that, the two alternated between which one would climb next. On her third attempt, Julia finally made it to the top of one of the easier climbs (it was in use earlier so she had started out doing some of the more difficult climbs). That particular wall has a bell at the top that beginners can ring when they reached the summit.
Hank made several assaults on the most challenging climbing walls–several are built outward, so you’re leaning away from the wall when climbing while others have large shelves that must be climbed over–before sticking with the mostly diagonal climbs.
By the time they were both ready to call it quits, we realized that the time had passed so quickly that we’d managed to spend about half of the day rock climbing.
Rock Sport offers about 7,500 square feet of sculpted terrain, including some slabs with challenging overhangs. Daily rates are $12 per person plus $5 for equipment (shoes and harness). Monthly memberships are also available.
It’s located at 1901 Silverada Boulevard in Sparks. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 775-352-7673 or go to www.rocksportnv.com.—Richard Moreno
