pimpin and crimpin » Awesome

Shit We Like: Movement Climbing Gym

bronco — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:23:29 +0000

Seems that every city in the universe has a climbing gym, some better than others. Out here in the front range, where every third person climbs 5.13, we are lucky enough to have 3 1/2 climbing/training facilities. While all of them have their attributes, the new kid on the block, Movement, seems to have their shit pretty dialed in…

Limit came back from Rifle this year and explained to me that the new buzz word for the season in that steep canyon was “fitness.” While we poked fun at how there always seems to be a little word that infiltrates the minds and hearts of the Rifle faithful each season, it donned on me that “fitness” is where it’s at. Whether you’re a route climber, alpinista, boulderer, etc. we can all use a little more “fitness” to accomplish our goals. Enter Movement gym, whose motto happens to be “climbing+fitness.”

This plastic Eden finally landed in Boulder, CO during the summer months this year when most climbers were tending their outdoor projects. To the chagrin of some, the long awaited facility busted on the scene with weekend of FREE climbing, BBQ, and other Grand Opening activities.

“Another Gym in Boulder?” The naysayers were out there, I heard’em, however, I seem to see those same people tied in to the steep Voyager wall that now looms over the main section of Movement. Let’s just say this, once you see the place, you will more than likely wanna slip those climbing booties on and get after some good ole plastic pullin.

Let’s check off the top five reasons that YOU should be climbing at Movement:

1. Peer Pressure. Let’s be honest, it’s new, it’s hip, you’ll be a cool kid if you set foot in the place.

2. Energy. The psych from this vault of awesomeness is literally oozing from the walls. Fact: if you’re psyched you will climb better.

3. Modernity. Exercise equipment has cable television built in! This may even get me on the treadmill.

4. Routesetters. I mean a gym can only be as good as its setters right? I don’t care how many buckets of nifty little plastic holds you have or how steep your walls are, its gotta be bolted down with some experience and creativity. Well, Movement has the setting situation on lockdown! Don’t you even worry bout it, just go and climb that shizzy!

5. Greenieness. I small bird told me that Movement is the most environmentally friendly building in Boulder! Say What? Another bird, or maybe the same one also told me that their energy bill for last month was $19!

6. Affordable memberships. Memberships include cycling classes, yoga classes, state of the art Techno Fitness Equipment, and yes, of course, climbing.

7. Website. Scope the site here. Up-to-date information on the haps of the gym, great gallery, and climber profiles. Track your route progress via the Redpoint section of the site.

8. Towels. I love fresh towels, go ahead, ask for one at the desk you’ll get it!

Okay, so I went beyond my 5 points, but that should let you know how sick this place is. Prediciton: after a winter of boulderites climbing in this gym the website known as 8a.nu will explode, which in turn, will make the universe explode.

There’s more to “training” than just screwing around in the gym, which is usually what I do. If you really want to get serious about things, then check the variety of programs, teams, classes and one-on-one private instruction by the professional and psyched coaches and trainers at Movement. You want it, They have it.

Here’s the details on Rates, Directions and the like…By clicking you are agreeing to go to Movement and work on that Fitness…CLICK NOW!

Here’s some official photos that should have you salivating to become a strong gym rat. Thanks to wadedavid.com for sending these our way.

Easy Days

wig — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:12:54 +0000

Everyone has nights out that leave you broken, tired and more or less hungover the next day. I believe the term is overconsumption, and my dad calls it “overachieving.” I, however do not prefer such negative terms. I prefer words like “awesome” and “dude, this is awesome.” Then again in the morning it seems like I forget how much “fun” the night before was. In any instance, when you wake up you’re throats scratchy from screaming at each other in the bar and smoking too many cigarettes, and you’re head throbs and makes you feel like you could throw up any second and never stop, you HARDLY want to take your ass out to the crag to do some sending.

The real problem about this scenario is not that it happens too often or that it sort of ruins your morning and maybe even your evening. It’s that it typically happens on a Friday or Saturday which as you very well understand are the nights before big weekend climbing days. This tends to ruin any chances of hard climbing unless your name is Limit and can push your body to the upper stratosphere of the deadly hangover realm. I have witnessed this. A lady at the crag became pregnant and gave birth in the 9 minutes it took him to onsight this thing at Shelf while me and Bronco flailed helplessly on something I’m certain was far easier.

We all know though, that you can’t just NOT climb. That’s rule number 3 in section 8 of the official P&C handbook. So you head out only to find you can’t pull down to save your life. SO WHAT, YOU’RE WEAK. When this occurs it’s officially time to declare an easy day to save all face and avoid making troublesome excuses to your friends later about suckingbigtime.

I recommend everyone learn vital ways to magically morph climbing days into easy days. It’s especially important that all climbers be on the same schedule when embarking on easy days. If you have a few wanting to crush and the other few unable to do so you become instant fodder for their insults which according to section 15 article 4, they are required to dish as much shit as possible when faced with crusher to chuffer ratios equal to or more than 2:1. Basically, if more than half the group is crushing that day, you are without excuse. you little bitch.

This means it’s up to you to convince those who did not have the fantastic night that you did that climbing moderates may be a good idea.

This can be achieved in a few ways. Some more creative than others. Some downright pathetic. And yet still others that stealthily and effectively eliminate the need for anyone to climb hard.

1. Belay, bitch. Belay.

It is unlikely anyone will make fun of the person that belays them all.fucking.day. When I say All Day I mean all day in it’s entirety. If you are going to be a little girl then put on your little dress and belay like the little bitch you are. For everyone. Until they are done.

2. Chunder

I haven’t used this one ye because it takes someone far more special than me to pull it off correctly. When one of your compatriots begins to goad you a bit about your inability or lack of motivation bend over a little bit and literally throw up on their shoes. This will without a doubt leave them a) speechless b) confused. When you come up wipe your mouth and say something like, “What were you saying?”Instant relief.

3. Beer Me Bro!

Bring some beer to the crag! Nothing says climb some easy shit like getting drunk underneath some cliff in the mountains. If there’s beer in the vicinity it’s likely no one will think twice about what you’re climbing and why. Especially if you’re the one that bought it.

4. Dude, Where’s my Shoes?

Dude. Really. Just leave your shoes at home “on accident.” I mean what are they going to expect you to do when you can’t pimp that little crimp and smear that little footer with your size 4 ultra down-turned moonboots brah. Of course you can’t send. Do them in YOUR floppy little Testarosas? Yeah right, suck one…

5. Never Ending Story

Everyone is going to warm up a bit when they get to the crag. Take this time to move slow and climb some easy stuff. When they are about ready to move onto some harder things tell your friends your shoulder is a bit tweaked and you’d like to stretch it out some more. No harm no fowl there. Your partners would never want you injured of course! After warming up again, find another person in your fold and do it again. Continue this warm up practice as long as you possibly can. If you’re talented enough, you can do this all day without raising any suspicions, but you have to try hard.

Good luck out there. If all this fails. Cowboy up. And friends, if you find a whiner in your crew. Harass them until they cry.

America! BAWSE.

wig — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:44:47 +0000

You know it. I know it. American climbing. It’s awesome. Well… I haven’t exactly climbed out the country yet so I’m not sure if I’m an expert on that, but since ignorance occasionally seems to be another tenant of ‘Murkan culture I’m gonna run with it. In honor of Independence Day I’ve decided that we need some good old fashioned Americana in this post. So crack open a freedom bomb, read up, and enjoy the rest of the holiday by getting blasted and shooting something with fireworks. I mean just look at Tommy Caldwell on the left that’s as American as you can get! He’s like a patriotic nine fingered ninja climbing robot. The cover even says LAND OF THE FREE! SHIT! Anyway I decided to make a list. Since we have 50 states I’m writing/compiling the 50 (because 50 is obviously the most patriotic number) things that are good about climbing in the Land Bruce Springsteen (literally the boss…) sings about.

50 Awesome Things About Climbing and America

1. Girls in Verve shorts.

2. Fixed Draws

3. COMMUNITY! Never separate climbing and community! Reach out to other climbers! (LifeAndClimbs via Twitter)

4. Avery beer challenges! (Colette McInerney)

5. Mexican food in yo FACE!!! Technology that is IMPERIAL!!! We bang Three 6 Mafia at the CLIFF!!! BAWSE! (Joe Kinder)

6. You can make fun of little teenagers that say allez when they climb.

7. Wal-mart Super Centers on climbing trips (Emily Harrington)

8. Climbing with wristbands, tank tops, jeans and an iPod boombox at the base. (Sam Elias)

9. Lauren Lee.

10. BBQ’s on top of things like Castleton

11. Whiskey Wednesdays at the DOWNER!

12. The interesting non-climbers who own the climber campgrounds: Mike Shultz/HP40, Miguel/Red River Gorge, Roger/New River Gorge etc. (lacquement via twitter)

13. Our dude did 5.15a and b FIRST. JUST LIKE THE MOON BITCH! WE FIRST!

14. Cliffhanger, Eiger Sanction, Vertical Limit…

15. John Long’s Anchors.

16. We are naturally good at rodeo clips because we actually have… rodeos.

17. ads like THIS.

18. Amercia’s Next Top Model used CLIMBING as a photo shoot. BECAUSE IT’S BAWLER.

19. Options. Sandstone, splitters, towers, granite, bouldering, big walls, buildings, roadside craggin, limestone, all without need for a passport. (Jer Collins)

20. Can I text you an answer? I have to go get some bourbon (Wade David)

21. Utah

22. Rocky Mountain National Park (Spot Gym via facebook)

23. El Pasito burritos in Hueco (Sarah Orens)

24. Watching redneck wanna-be’s unknowingly almost kill each other on bumbly routes (Misty Murphy)

25. Our climbing videos are unparalleled.

26. Magically we can support 5 major climbing magazines…

27. American blow cannot be further from the French blow.

28. We got hard scary trad that Euros don’t do

29. Coffee. By the acre.

30. 2 words. Stone Newdz

31. It’s something the whole family can do and does do (Luke Laeser)

32. Because I don’t have to. (Val-o-rie our sometime graphic designer)

33. Akon. (Paige Claassen)

34. acquiring climbing shoes for free really isn’t THAT hard.

35. Aliens. SHIT yes.

36. Joe Brooks and Timy Fairfield, what would America’s premiere sport climbing crags be without their artistry?

37. Our chossy limestone we somehow get Euros to visit.

38. We know how to dirtbag. Without shame.

39. The only country where being a homeless, jobless, unwashed dirtbag who freeloads off his attractive, employed, educated girlfriend who climbs V9 is something to aspire to

40. Nachos, hot-dogs and chicken wings are crag food. click.

41. Drive up, belay from a chair in your trucks bed crags like Rifle.

42. Coors Original Brewed in the Rockies. down the street. In my hand right his second actually.

43. Which is why this list is taking a turn for the worst beuase this is my fifth.

44. We got this thing called El Cap. We also got this thing called Lil’ Wayne and this other thing called Rick Ross.

45. That Osbourne kid tried to climb and looked lame.

46. Hemingway repped for us, “There are only 3 real sports: bull-fighting, car racing and mountain climbing. All the others are mere games.”

47. CCGOTW duh.

48. Alcohol is a very large part of our climbing culture.

49. Climbing clothing is actually getting cooler…

50.

Alright guys. This is lame but I don’t care because I’m leaving for the weekend. I’m leaving the last one open for comments. Winner gets a free t-shirt. Can you handle it!?

awww damn.

wig — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:51:34 +0000

Hey check it. We got some Patagonia lovin’! Cedar Wright is out there with Renan and they cut a video for us (and you) check out their blog at Vericalcarnival.blogspot.com (note the P&C shot glass. fully rad)

Whiskey Wednesday: Ander Rockstad

wig — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:19:06 +0000

Have you ever seen a man with sun beams coming out his ass? Ander Rockstad is this man. The man is a beacon of happiness. When he gets sick he throws up rainbows and jelly beans. I’ve never seen anything like it. Dude is seriously psyched all the time.Ander is another one of those burgeoning super climbers who never has money. I like that because I never have any money either. Ander nearly single handedly saved our Hueco trip a few weeks ago when Stella the van broke down and left us stranded in BFE, NM (aka Albufuckme). Ander turned Matt Segal from this (the very depths of depression and hell– the moment he found out exactly how much his car was going to cost to fix)

into THIS with nothing more than a smile, a wink, and a massive box of Lara bars.

Also Ander sells some sort of salvy balmy shit that makes your hands awesome for climbing. It’s called A-Balm, appropriately. Support a bum climber before he has to go on food stamps. The man is a golden bright shiny ball of happiness. So tip your glasses to him tonight, or buy him a drink (non-alcoholic). Food stamps dont work at the downer.

CCGOTW: Anna Kornke

wig — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:54:06 +0000

Alright everyone. I know Cute Climber Girl Of The Week kinda got to be like… Cute Climber Girl Of The Month. That’s my fault I haven’t been on it. I have a whole stack of chicas that crush now and you’ll be getting them much more consistantly. I know you like them because… well we have google analytics and it told us you pervs look at this part the most….sickos.

Name: Anna Kornke

Age: 21

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Is there anything good at all in Albuquerque?
Hmm, nothing too spectacular in Albuquerque, but we’re close to a lot of awesomeness. Oh! Except food. There’s good food here.
Like all the green chili? I heard you can get green chili on your McDonald’s hamburgers.
Heck yeah, man! Even McDonalds knows what’s up.
What’s your favorite Monopoly piece?
The boot for sure…or possibly the wheelbarrow.
Why?
I honestly don’t what the other ones are.
If you’re gonna get drunk. What do you like to get drunk off of?
Beer.
What’s your favorite beer?
Eh, I like the brown beers. The local Marble Brewery makes a sweet Nut Brown. I like Heini too. However, I was just introduced to the White Russian. Now that is a sweet drink.
Are you familiar with the Dude?
The Big Lebowski. Oh yea apparently there is a Big Lebowski bowling festival and they make huge vats of White Russians.
What’s the best part about being a girl climber?
Well, I can’t deny that it feels good when I show up a guy at climbing.
Do you get hit on at the gym?
Sometimes. It can be pretty funny, but my boyfriend works there so usually no.
Why’s it funny?
This guy came up to me the other day while I was trying to find a route to climb. He asked me what I was doing standing there with I rope in my hands. I was nice, but on the inside I was like I’m at a climbing gym with a rope…I’M CLIMBING! He was clearly nervous.
What’s your favorite cereal?
Lucky Charms! My parents never bought it for me but when I moved out it was Lucky Charms all the time. I hate soggy cereal
What’s your favorite movie in the entire world? Only pick one.
Easy. Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She’s so pretty and classy but wild at the same time.
Do you do anything else besides rock climb?
I go to school full time, and do some ninja work on the side.
Ninja work? Tell me more about that.
Well I dress in black, flip around everywhere I go, and throw flying stars at evil people.
What’s your favorite cuss word?
Well most often used would probably be the classic “shit.” “I hate this shit.” “That was some badass shit”. My favorite I wouldn’t consider a cuss word, but it’s just fun to say: bajango.
Bajango? What the shit is that?
You’ve never heard bajango!? Greatest word for the female anatomy ever!
For vag! Gimme the funniest example ever of that used in a sentence.
You’re asking too much. It has to come naturally.
What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever seen or heard?
Well, I got a finger in a cup at work the other day. That was pretty gross.
A finger in a cup? That sounds like a spin-off of the famous internet porn phenomenon. You’re going to have to explain that one a little better.
I’m working in a microbiology lab right now and some little old lady got her finger taken off so the docs put it in a cup and sent it to us to see if it was growing any microscopic bugs.
What do you want to say to all the boys out there drooling over you that check this site?
anna: sings and dances my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, but seriously I would say I’m taken, so wipe that drool off your chin.
Hmm, does that sound bitchy?
Nope…

Twitter

wig — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:30:45 +0000

We have absolutely no idea what twitter is. At all. It seems stupid. Tell a bunch of people what we’re doing? Why? Can’t I do that on facebook already without having another place to sign in? Why give status updates to a bunch of people that don’t really care anyway.

“I’m brushing my teeth. It’s good.”

“I’m taking a bathroom break. It’s good.”

“I climbed today. It’s good.”

Well none of this make sense but it didn’t stop me and Bronco from getting one anyway. We keep saying that they will be for strictly PandC business only but I’m sure you’ll hear about what we ate for dinner and when we smoke cigarettes before too long if you follow our “tweets.” Who knows.

What you will certainly also see, though is the process of updating the blog. I know we’ve been super slackers lately and it’s lame but we’re trying to roll out some new stuff. Shirts. Posts. Sections. Site designs. All that shit.

If you want to stay privy to all the new junk that’s going on and maybe why we didn’t post when you wanted us to then click on these links and check out what we’re saying.

Wig’s Twitter

Bronco’s Twitter

I promise there are better posts coming today but I wanted to get this one out of the way because it’s certainly the stupidest thing I’ve ever written for this site. I apologize.

Cooking With Wig: Economic Crisis Edition

wig — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:20:41 +0000

I’ll avoid all the blabber about the current economic situation since A) I don’t understand it, and B) I don’t really care. I just know it is apparently making money hard to come by. Since I do know at least that much about it I decided it was time to make a Cooking With Wig for the economically stressed climbers of the world who may need some ideas to help save money on little things like food. Use this recipe whenever you’re feeling pressed for cash. It’s guaranteed to save you money and fill you up.

Step 1: Go buy all of this

Look at all these great ingredients! Make sure you have a little extra. They are super cheap and what if your friends want some of your delicious new meal. You have to be prepared.

Step 2: Heat this up in the frying pan

You have to let it simmer for quite some time. It’s kind of a slow cook sort of thing. You can tell it’s done when it starts smelling delicious. Just look at that hot steam cooking action!

Step 3: Put it on a plate and eat that shit up!

Eat it on up. If you made it correctly you’ll be able to taste the myriad of flavor this dish has to offer. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it has to taste like crap! Make sure to make enough for your roommates. Remember it’s super healthy too so you won’t gain any weight!

Step 4: Enjoy.

Sit back pour yourself a glass of whiskey and enjoy a fine meal by yourself or with friends. Once you’ve saved enough money eating this, you can finally move off your friends couch and into a home of your own.

(Actually it’s probably smarter just to steal your roommates food and get a job. You bum.)

CCGOTW: Anna Duong

wig — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Name: Anna: Duong (du-wong)
Age: 26
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Location: New York City
Of all your travels what’s the wildest story you have from a climbing trip?
Are you just assuming that I have wild trips? Because most of them have been pretty mild. Well, I guess Croatia was nuts, but in a scary sort of way It was mostly so because it was my first time trying out deep water soloing, and it scared the shit out of me. I remember the very first day we got to this awesome overhang right above the water, and I was the most eager of all to just jump out there and climb. With absolutely zero perspective of how scary a 25 foot free fall is, how rough the waters actually were, and how shitty of a swimmer I am, I climbed as high as I could get. For the rest of the trip, I developed a phobia for jumping into the sea from even ten feet. While the other boys were having blast because they started off slowly and gradually became used to it, I was constantly terrified. It was still awesome, but those videos of Sharma and Loskot are bullshit.
How’s that?
They make it look so comfortable and easy you know, they’re all smiling as they’re torpedoing into the water. When you look back at pics of me as I’m falling, my face is filled with complete terror.
What’s your favorite climbing style?
Bouldering, hands down. I used to obsess over sandstone overhangs, but now I’ve developed a real fondness for slab climbing especially on granite.
What are you doing in New York?
School. Dental school.
Dental School? You’re into teeth?
Yep. One of my friends made this funny observation about me. I have a fetish for block-shaped objects. All they could name were boulders and teeth, but I guess that about the two biggest things going on in my life right now, so perhaps they’re onto something.
What other blocky things could you possibly be into?
Um, dogs with big blocky heads, square shaped containers and I’m a sucker for fancy square-shaped packaging. That’s all I can think of for now.
Would you rather eat hot dogs for the rest of your life or drink milkshakes?
Oh, too easy! Milkshakes, of course! As long as they aren’t chocolate.
You don’t like chocolate milkshakes?
No, I’m not a big chocolate fan in general. I know that makes me sound like a space alien, but I really don’t prefer it.
What would you do first if you won the lottery?
Plan out an entire year of traveling, definitely, and put my parents into early retirement. Isn’t that what you’d do?
I’d buy a whiskey distillery.
What are you going to do after dental school?
Probably work for a couple of years until I’m good enough to open my own practice. Once that happens, I hope to be able to work just enough to pay my bills and play the rest of the time. I feel pretty lucky to possess a genuine desire to be a dentist because in the end, they seem to have some pretty sweet and forgiving lifestyles. I’d like to be able to climb for the rest of my life, and I think I’ll be able to if I play my cards with this whole teeth vs. boulders thing.
Where do you go climb locally the most around New York?
I guess the Gunks, but it’s been a while since I’ve done that. After school started, I’ve been pretty restricted to climbing on plastic. Which is fine for now, it just gets old really fast. NYC needs more variety. Plus I’m a much better climber outdoors than in a gym.
Except for DWS
You fucker. But yes, you’re right. Except for DWS. I just need to try it a few more times
If you could pick the brain of any “pro climber” over a nice stiff drink who would you want to talk to?
No one. I’m the worst at keeping up with the names of pro climbers. Oh wait. Dave Graham, but I wouldn’t even care to pick his brain, just steal his powers. He’s one climber I actually love to watch. He’s so technical and precise, I find it very mesmerizing. But picking brains, I guess doesn’t appeal to me because I hate learning that people I look up to in one way or another actually have really shitty personalities. Oh but I will say I’d like to pick Ivan Greene’s brain, but for other reasons. Perhaps I’d just throw a roofie in his drink then throw him off a bridge. I would probably not care to pick Chris Sharma’s brain except to tell him that he’s got some pretty bad gum recession and should probably lay off on the unfiltered cigarettes. I’ve never seen a young man age so fast!
What’s the best climbing shoe out there?
La Sportiva’s Katanas. There is no better shoe out there for my feet. If there ever comes a day when they discontinue those shoes, I will have to buy up every pair I can get my hands on.
What’s the best and worst thing about being a female rockstar?
Getting to show up little punk-ass boys that like to assume pretty girls don’t know how to climb. Worst thing for me is having to accept the fact that I have to try a lot hard to send things that guys can breeze through because they don’t have extra weight in their ass and shorter arms.
Let’s do some word association.
5.14
Shitty
Oh wait. That’s not what I meant. Next.
Coffee
Starbucks #234000023. That’s the one I go to every day.
El Cap.
Old news
Slopers
Horsepens40. My favorite place in the world!
Michael Jackson
Pedo
8a.nu
What the hell is that?
Who’s the hottest female climber out there right now?
I really don’t know. There’s one lady I saw in an article about the Squamish Roctrip and she had a weird, long last name I can’t remember. She looked like a beast, but a pretty one. Her last name has a hyphen in it. Dark hair, very tan.
Was it Vera Schulte-Pelkum?
That does sound familiar. She is actually very pretty, isn’t she?
She’s real pretty.
Okay then. I pick her.
Do you think dating a climber is necessary?
No, but I would never date a non climber.
…
You always meet people with non-climbing spouses or whatever, and they say things like, “Its nice having climbing as my own hobby to get away.” That just means that your girlfriend or boyfriend sucks too much to join you. I couldn’t imagine not dating someone who climbs.

Shit We Like: MPHC

wig — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:39:01 +0000

In the cold concrete world of Manhattan there isn’t much that satisfies climbers. I mean sure you can go to Central Park and piddle around on the little pebbles they call boulders, but to what end? I never got that much satisfaction from projecting routes with names like Sweat of the Rapist and turning down crack heads that ask questions like “So you’re climbing these rocks? You smoke rocks too?” Never the less there is one shining beacon in the grey mess of buildings, so like a mouse in a maze trying to find cheese I’d navigate my way a few days a week to Manhattan Plaza Health Club to get my fix with a rowdy bunch of New Yorkers likeminded enough to care about one thing: climbing.

The climbing gym is located inside the Health Club on the corner of 43rd st. and 10th avenue. It’s a short walk from Time Square so it’s accessable by nearly any subway you feel like taking. Though a little on the small side, the bouldering is unrivaled in NYC and you don’t have to pay your life savings to get in like some other gyms. They have a top rope room that admittedly are like super high-ball boulder problems with ropes (but still worth it to climb). In the bouldering room is the steepest lead wall I’ve ever seen with long sustained (and fun) sport climbs.

The staff is probably the coolest bunch of climbing idiots you ever met too. Soon as I arrived in NYC they took me under their wing and taught me the intricate ways of being a climber in the big scary city. They have excellent route setters and a good variety of grades no matter what kind of climber you might be.

There are plenty of good eats near the gym as well. Between Landsdown (best burgers after the wonderful comps MPHC put on), dollar slice pizza (self explanitory), Rudy’s (free hot dogs with pitcher purchases), and Happy family lunch specials you’ll never go hungry in between sessions.

If you’re not a douche, hit up the staff for good drinking nights and weekend climbing. They might climb circles around you but at least you’ll get a proper tour. When you’re in the city for vacation or anything be sure to hit up the gym and tell them Pimpin’ and Crimpin’ sent you. They might just give you a little off the day pass.

For more info go to their websites:

Myspace
MPHC.com

All photos provided by Joshua Pestka