Boise, ID

Late in the school year, this past season, I was fortunate to transport several classes of Boise High School students to Peak Fitness, located a the south end of 25th St. The address is 308 S. 25th, next to I-84.

Around 10:00AM, one class of Boise High students, numbering about 30 or so, clambered aboard my bus. Along with the students, one Physical Ed teacher. My paperwork said it was a charter to Peak Fitness. From the name, I thought it was something like Gold’s Gym.

I made a joke with the teacher to the effect, that some of the football sized students didn’t look like they needed to lift anymore weights. He had a good laugh at my expense, then told me that Peak Fitness, was an indoor rock climbing wall.

He went on to say, that it was one of many reward activities given out to students whom had met certain goals in school. He said that the students, were going to learn the basics of rock climbing then get to try out on the wall. It sounded fascinating. Lucky for me I also had my camera!

It was a short trip to the building from Boise High School. Located at a dead end street, I had to make a u-turn with my bus then park next to an empty field. As the students disembarked, the teacher informed me that I could also come into the building with them.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in the door, was this massive artificial rock wall, that went from floor to ceiling. They say that the sculptured wall is a replica of the City of Rocks-A popular Idaho rock climbing site. I’m not sure how tall the whole thing is but I hear that some of the routes up the wall approach 43 feet!

. For about an hour or so, the kids were given Level 1 instruction in ‘Belay,” or the art of managing the ropes. Afterwards, the instructor took them over to the wall and divided the group into pairs. The students took turns, one staying on the ground to manage the ropes, while the other attempted a climb. It took them a bit of time to master the art of belay, and most did not get more than four or five feet off the ground. They then traded places, taking turns at both belay and climbing.

In less than an hours time, I noticed a few brave souls scampering up the rock wall like Spiderman on the side of a Skyscraper! I thought it must be easier than it looked then asked one boy who belayed down on his rope harness, in front of me.

“My dad and I are rock climbers,” He exclaimed. “We come here a lot to practice.”

Not to be outdone, a few kids who told me it was their first climb, actually made it near the top. One brave kid attempted to climb up and over a small outcropping not too far off the ground. He almost made it over the top, but at the last second, he lost his footing and swung out over our heads on his safety rope. “Darn,” He said. I was this close!” We all chuckled.