Get out of the smoke, chalk up the fingers and climb the indoor wall at The Summit in Kalispell.
From novice to expert, The Summit’s 40-feet wide by 30-feet high wall is the perfect place to practice safety and climbing techniques.
The wall has about 60 marked routes but improvisation is encouraged and with any of the “natural features” being fair game, the possible ascents are limitless. The hardest marked climb is 5.12D and the easiest is 5.4.
The silica and concrete wall is designed for training with an overhanging wall and great friction.
“Gravity is a definite problem there,” said Steve Stahl, lead instructor. The wall slopes from 90 degrees to 120 degrees, making for more challenging climbs. “So in 30 feet you get a lot of workout,” Stahl added.
Open climbing is offered Tuesday through Sunday. Rental gear is available.
How to Get There: From downtown Kalispell, continue north on U.S. Highway 93. Turn right on Sunnyview Lane – near the hospital.