Walls are made for climbing

Global Climbing Day is Saturday, and Richmond has 3 different opportunities for you to challenge yourself to a rock climbing adventure.

Triangle Rock Club is one of dozens of gyms partnering with outdoor clothing company North Face to celebrate with a special event.

Walls are Made for Climbing runs from noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 21 at its Thalbro Street facility. You can register for a free full day of climbing. Protip: you can sign the safety waiver online so you can get up the walls as soon as you arrive.

Triangle Rock Club is celebrating Global Climbing Day by making day climb tickets free | Photo by @trianglerockclub_rva

If you’re already involved in the climbing community, the club is looking for volunteers proficient in top rope belay equipment to help out the other expert employees. A harness and climbing shoes will be provided.

Triangle Rock Club is also waiving its activation fee through the end of August for a monthly membership. Besides having climbing walls up to 47 feet high, members and their guests can take classes in the yoga studio or fitness room + recover in the sauna.

Peak Experiences is also celebrating Global Climbing Day at its two facilities. Its first indoor rock climbing facility opened in Midlothian over 20 years ago. You can find more Peak Experience rock walls in the Sports Center of Richmond for paying members. At either location, you can get an all-day climbing pass for $10. This month, Peak members can bring an unlimited number of guest passes for first-time climbers.

For an outdoor option, check out the Manchester Climbing Wall. It’s located under the Manchester Bridge + operated through the Friends of the James River Park organization. This wall is built from old abandoned train trestles equipped with the bolts + shutts needed for traditional and sport climbing.

One outdoor climbing option is the Manchester Rock Wall | Photo from JamesRiverPark.org

Whether you’ve never been up a wall or you’re an experienced lead climber, Global Climbing Day is a perfect way to beat the heat for one of our last summer Saturdays in Richmond.