One crack at a time; The new Rock Haus Climbing Gym is the largest climbing gym in the state with more than 13,000 climbable feet
With spring and all its unpredictable weather making a comeback, there is a new way to prepare for outdoor activity while staying dry at the same time. The Rock Haus, Logan’s newest and largest climbing gym, is located in front of the Fun Park at 1780 N. 200 East. With more than 13,000 climbable feet, a wandering granite crack along with cracks for ratchets, fingers and fists, lead routes up to 41 feet high, top roped routes up to 35 feet high and 150 different routes, the Rock Haus won over some students as soon as it opened five weeks ago.
“Of course, I was here the first day it opened,” Nate Mitchell, a senior in history, said as he hurriedly put on his climbing shoes. “It is so rare to find such a great climbing gym like this in a town this size. We are really lucky to have it.”
Anthony Richards, facility manager and sophomore majoring in crop science, said the Rock Haus just wants to promote the sport of climbing. “That is why everybody who comes in for the first time gets about 15 minutes with one of our staff who teaches them how to belay, and also why belayers get in free,” he said. “Though most of the people who come in to belay their friends, by the end of the session, want to put on some shoes and climb the wall as well.”
The Rock Haus offers discounts to USU students with exact deals outlined at www.rockhausgym.com.
“We also lined up a deal with Al’s Sporting Goods so that all of out members get a discount on climbing gear so they don’t have to keep renting the gear here,” Richards said, noting they do have shoes and harnesses available for anyone who needs them. Along with renting out gear, the Rock Haus also offers courses in climbing that range from basic to advanced.
Richards said, “All of our classes are taught on a one-on-one basis, though we can teach more than one person at a time if it makes the situation more comfortable for the people involved. We give very individualized attention to all of our customers.”
The Rock Haus offers a board where people can meet other climbers. “We are a very social place, especially on Wednesday nights,” Richards says. “The place is like half climbing, half social, and it’s nice.”
Rock Haus does require that customers pass certain tests before doing some activities such as lead climbing.
“The tests are just there for insurance and safety purposes. We are not going to let someone go up and get hurt. We are here to have fun,” Richards said. With more than 13,000 climbable feet, the Rock Haus is the largest climbing gym in the state and is modeled based on The Quarry climbing gym in Provo, he said.
“A lot of your routes are set by route setters up from The Quarry, some of whom have more than 10 years of experience setting routes, so they are going to feel very smooth, very fluid, just good to climb and they are constantly changing,” Richards said. “In three months, all the routes will have changed. The great thing about indoor climbing is that you can come at night, you don’t have to drive forever to get somewhere and the weather is always perfect.”
-nealmsnow@cc.usu.edu
Rock Haus opened five weeks ago and has stayed busy ever since, providing students with 13,000 feet of climbable walls and rental equipment.
Rock Haus is open at night for climbing and all routes change periodically so you never climb the same wall twice.