Okay, so let me tell you about this place I went to the other day – inSPIRE Rock Indoor Climbing & Team Building Center. I’d heard about it from some friends, and since I’ve been looking for a new way to get some exercise and maybe meet some new people, I figured I’d give it a shot.
First off, I drove over to the location in Spring. I found out that there is also one in Cypress, but Spring is closer to me. Parking was a breeze, so that was a good start. When I walked in, I was immediately struck by how massive this place is. I mean, they’ve got over 42,000 square feet of climbing space! And the walls? Seriously, they go up to 63 feet high. It was a little intimidating, but also super exciting.
I checked in at the front desk, and the staff were really friendly. They explained the different types of climbing they offer: bouldering, top-roping, and lead climbing. I’m pretty new to this, so I decided to start with bouldering, which is basically climbing lower walls without ropes. It seemed like a good way to get a feel for things.
- Bouldering area: This was a blast! There were tons of different routes, marked with colored tape, so you could choose your difficulty level. I started with the easiest ones, of course, and gradually worked my way up. It was definitely a workout, but a fun one. I even chatted with a few other people who were bouldering, and everyone was really encouraging.
- Top-roping area: After I felt a little more confident, I decided to try top-roping. This is where you’re tied into a rope that goes up to the top of the wall and back down to a belayer on the ground. They had a brief training session to show you how to tie the knots and use the belay device, which was helpful. Then, I started climbing! It was definitely a different experience than bouldering, but really cool to get up higher on the wall.
- Lead climbing area: I saw some people doing lead climbing, which looked pretty intense. That’s where you clip the rope into anchors as you climb up. I’m definitely not ready for that yet, but it was cool to watch.
After a couple of hours of climbing, I was pretty tired, but in a good way. I grabbed a drink at their little cafe area and relaxed for a bit before heading home.
Overall, I had a great time at inSPIRE Rock. It’s a really cool place to challenge yourself physically and mentally, and the community there seems really supportive. I’m definitely planning on going back, and maybe I’ll even try that lead climbing someday!
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a fun and challenging workout, or just a new way to spend an afternoon, I’d definitely recommend checking out inSPIRE Rock. It’s a great place for all skill levels, and the staff and other climbers are super friendly. Just be prepared to use muscles you didn’t even know you had!
