Putting on their harnesses. Weaving the rope through their belay loops. Scooping up some chalk (also known as magic climbing dust). Reaching out to scale up the wall. Oh yes, folks, these mighty 4-year-old twins, Thing 1 and Thing 2, are taking their first send up one of the 25-foot tall routes at Athletic Club Alabama’s indoor climbing gym in South Huntsville.

Indoor climbing — Harnesses on. Ready to climb!

However, this isn’t their first spindling experience of dangling from the heights of tall objects such as light posts and bookshelves! They have been reaching for the sky, literally, since they were toddlers. It seems only natural that the next step in their lives should be something of a climbing adventure.

You, Yes YOU, Can Climb

Although Thing 1 and Thing 2 might be the tiniest of creatures at the indoor climbing gym, there are all levels and types of humans who rope up and take a parallel jaunt for old and even new time’s sake!

Being that is it cliché to say, it is very true that even the tiniest of tots to 77-year-old grandmothers have tried their hand and foot (or better yet, hands and feet) at this overlooked sport.

Fancy Schmancy

If you have not taken a gander recently, Athletic Club Alabama off of South Memorial Parkway has undergone quite a few changes. Under new ownership and modern renovations, you might not even recognize the club. With leather couches and flat screen televisions in just about every corner, the 6,000 square feet of climbing surface gym still remains tucked away with some upgrades of its own.

Bouncy soft carpet has been added as well as new routes and staff members. Tim Maddox, American Mountain Guides Association Certified Single Pitch Instructor, manages the climbing gym and provides college credit classes for UAH students. He also puts on climbing workshops and private training sessions at the gym and at local outdoor climbing areas. Just look for the dude with the ponytail who is super friendly and a mountain range of information!

The climbing community of Huntsville is somewhat small, but supple and loyal to their local bedrock. Check out what your local climbers have been doing out at Yellow Bluff during May of this year!

The Beta

Beginners, intermediates, advanced and experienced wall scalers flock to this indoor crag, so don’t be alarmed or intimidated. Be warned, once you go, it’s highly addictive! From rocket scientists and engineers to professional hippies and grey-haired seasoned climbers, Huntsville’s best-kept secret is becoming a commodity for everyone up for a vertical, hanging challenge!

What to expect

When you walk in, you’re likely to see the more experienced climbers hanging upside down and doing laps on the ceiling. You’ll also see folks constantly falling while working in the bouldering cave. This cave is for those who like to climb closer to the ground; falling is minor when you’re just a few feet off the cushy mats. And finally the main attraction: the rock wall.

Bolted into the vertical walls are holds of all different names:

crimps
jugs
underclings
side pulls
gastons
slopers

And you thought they were just called “fake rocks!” If you didn’t understand anything on that list, or want to get a better handle on the rock climbing terminology, click here for a full list of climbing slang and words that seem to roll out of climbers mouths while climbing!

As for the climbing twin prodigies, they never looked down but reached the top…on their tippy toes, of course! There is some chatter about starting up some kid climbing classes and climbing teams at the gym. Look for it on Our Valley Events.