Reaching New Heights at the Penticton Rock Climbing Gym

On Sunday afternoon I hopped in the car with my co-worker Kelsey Davis and took a road trip to Penticton, to check out the new outdoor pursuits center.

The new facility is located on Ellis Street, just footsteps away from the beach in Penticton. It’s the perfect spot for an activity before or after checking out the beach, a local café, or even a brewery.

The building, which is an old greyhound station and car detailing shop doesn’t look like much from the outside. The walls weren’t that high, so before checking out the inside we questioned how the climbing would be.

When Kelsey and I arrived Mike Hill, who is in charge of marketing and business development, and is the co-owner of Hoodoo Adventure Company Ltd, which owns the center took us for a tour.

I was completely blown away by the facility and the business they have going on in the Okanagan. Even though the walls were not that high, the climbing was still pretty impressive. As soon as we walked into the gym area the walls were being used and several families and groups were there checking out the new gym.

All weekend long Hoodoo Adventure Company had special offers going, as it was it was official grand opening.

For someone who has never gone rock climbing I was impressed with the layout. The wall offers about 70 per cent bouldering, which is climbing without a rope, and 30 per cent rope climbing used for teaching and skills training.

In the bouldering section of the gym there are huge mats covering the floor, so climbers never had to feel unsafe while climbing. You have the option to climb on slanted walls, on overhangs, and even through a small cave like design.

Kelsey and I grabbed our rock climbing shoes, which are extremely snug, and got harnessed up. We started off with an instructor named Tomás Oyarzún Montes giving us some tips on the rope climbing section. Once we got the hang of that we decided we would take the plunge and try bouldering.

Let me start off by saying I thought rock climbing would be a lot easier than it was! Oyarzún Montes stood by us step by step, and may have laughed at our failed attempts of bouldering a few times, but those problems wouldn’t stop us from continuing.

Once Oyarzún Montes let us know that we were using our arms too much, and instead it should mostly be legs we sort of got the hang out it. Sort of being the key word. We twisted our bodies, grabbed the little rocks, and pushed with our legs.

It was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed, but my body is thoroughly exhausted now.

Hoodoo Adventure Company has something great going for them in Penticton, as they’re now the first ever indoor rock climbing facility in the area. They’re big into hosting birthday parties at the gym, and I for one know where I’ll hosting my 23^rd birthday this year!

On top of having the indoor rock wall, they also have a party space, which can be rented out by fitness instructors, or other businesses, as well as bike and kayak rentals.

The staff were extremely friendly and the facility was open and bright. It was the perfect first rock climbing experience.

Next up I want to experience their kayak wine tours. Who is with me on that one?

But first… I need to rest my arms.