The Climbery Rock Wall
The Climbery
By Diane Chase

We are always looking for inside things to do that do not revolve around watching television. My children have complete understanding of how the TV remote works so my husband and I feel they do not require additional experience. Since my kids are climbing up the walls, really the door frames, we felt it is the perfect time to try the High Peaks Cyclery indoor climbing room. Appropriately named "The Climbery," High Peaks Cyclery has cordoned off an upstairs room, near the yoga studio, dedicated to the practice and perfection of rock climbing.

We are all novices, unless we can count my daughter's habit of hanging from the molding. We are told her particular parlor trick will come in handy but will not be the same experience. We sign a waiver and decide to rent shoes along with the two hour fee in hopes that the tight fitting climbing shoes will help us grip the rock handles.

The Climbery taped routes
The Climbery taped routes

The room is heavily padded but we are still required to only climb up to our individual heights. I am fine with that. I am actually okay just climbing to my daughter's height. My youngest takes off and manages to climb each wall without touching the floor. The colored tape along the walls indicates various routes. Now it becomes a competition between siblings.

Each of us falls one time or another. When our two hour time limit is up, our hands are cramped and our muscle ache in a healthy way. With advanced notice we could have hired an instructor to teach us how to belay but we are just as happy focusing on the lower rock holds without the need to be clipped in.

The Climbery Rental Shoes
Rock Climbing Shoes

My youngest is interested in continuing her rock climbing education so with summer approaching we are told that the staff will start conducting outside classes. I think I need a few more practice rounds with the padded floor.

High Peaks Cyclery Mountain Adventure Center is located at 2733 Main Street in Lake Placid. The Climbery is only open during regular store hours. The cost for bouldering is $7/2 hours or $10 with shoe rental. Clean running shoes can be used but will not provide the same grip as the provided climbing shoes. 

Diane Chase is the author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes & High Peaks: Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities (with GPS Coordinates), covering the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Keene/Keene Valley, Jay/Upper Jay and Wilmington. Diane next guidebook of Adirondack Family Activities in this four-book series will cover the Adirondack Coast from Plattsburgh to Ticonderoga. 

All photos are © Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Time and used with permission