FIRST TIME CLIMBING
Helping Everyone Climb
First time climbing? Don’t worry or be intimidated! The basics of climbing are quick and easy to learn.
Discover Climbing
The best choice for beginner climbers
Join our 45-minute course designed for ages 14+ (younger climbers can join as โadd-onsโ). Learn essential Top Rope climbing skills, including belaying. Walk-ins welcomeโarrive 15 minutes early to check in and gear up. Bonus: Enjoy 2 weeks of FREE facility access after your class. Take your first step into climbing today!
EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS
You Love Climbing – Come Climb at Vertical Adventures
Useful Tips for Climbing at 5.Life Locations
Sign The Waiver
First-Time Visitors: Save time and sign your waiver online prior to your visit.
Bring Your Water Bottle
The climbing gym is equipped with a filtered water dispensers, so bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.
Take A Class
We are here to help you through your 5.Life journey. Learn the beginner basics and develop and diversify your skills.
Join a Community Event
Climbing is not just about the workout. It’s about the community and helping everyone feel welcomed and invited to participate.
Our Most Popular Classes
Discover Climbing
Join our 45-minute course designed for ages 14+ (younger climbers can join as โadd-onsโ). Learn essential Top Rope climbing skills, including belaying. Walk-ins welcomeโarrive 15 minutes early to check in and gear up. Bonus: Enjoy 2 weeks of FREE facility access after your class. Take your first step into climbing today!
Explorer Kit
The best deal. THREE intro climbing classes; giving you all the tools you need to kick off your climbing journey. Plus a FREE month of climbing.ย
Develop Lead
In this 2 session course, you will learn the proper lead belay techniques and best practices for clipping, rope management, and falling.
What are our Guests Saying?
Don’t just take it from us, let our guests do the talking!
“The instructors here are nothing short of amazing. So helpful, so kind, and so fun. I’ve had nothing but great experiences getting comfortable with climbing and learning new things at vertical. Shoutout to River who is my favorite instructor and helped us progress in climbing so much”
“I hadn’t been in over 10 years. The new gym is terrific! Tons of routes for any skill level. My 4-year-old loved it. Shout-out to Zach for his help and encouragement!”
“LOVE Vertical Adventures. Madie was amazing with my daughter – patient and supportive and fun. Highly recommend!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take a class or make a reservation to climb at your facility?
Walk-ins welcome.ย
Supervision guidelines do apply, see question below regarding kids climbing in facility.ย
We do recommend booking a High Five for the ultimate experience. Book Now
If you're new to Vertical Adventures, but not to climbing, here are some steps to get you on the wall once you arrive.
ORIENTATION
Everyone must complete an orientation before being able to climb. To save time when you arrive we recommend you complet your waiver prior to arriving. Waiverย
TOP ROPE EXPECTATIONS
Everyone MUST have a Belay Card visible on their harness whenever they are belaying. Ask a team member about doing a Top Rope check when you arrive.
Top Rope Belay Check Requirements:
- Correctly tie in with a figure-8 follow-through knot.
- Correctly load and use a Petzl GriGri.
LEAD CLIMBING EXPECTATIONS
Everyone MUST have a Belay Card visible on their harness whenever they are lead climbing or lead belaying. Ask a staff member about doing a Lead Climb/Belay check when you arrive or call in advance.
Lead Climbing and Belay Requirements:
- Bring your own rope and belay device
– The rope must be at least 30 meters long - Assisted Braking Devices (ABD’s) are required to lead belay
- During the lead check, participants will be required to climb a 5.9, take a fall, and demonstrate proper lead climbing and belaying techniques
Itโs my first time, what do I need to do?
EVERYONE entering our facility is required to sign a waiver and complete a brief orientation.ย Children under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign a waiver for them and watch the orientation video. Supervision guidelines apply to all youth climbers.ย
Can kids climb at Vertical Adventures?
Under 18 years old
A parent or legal guardian must sign a waiver and watch the orientation video.
Under 14 years old
Not permitted to belay (hold the rope)
Must follow these supervision guidelines:
4 years and under can climb within armโs length of their supervising adult. Each adult can only supervise two children this young at a time.
5-7 years old can climb under direct supervision (can see and hear them at all times) of an adult. Each adult can only supervise two children this young at a time.
8-14 years old can climb under direct supervision (can see and hear them at all times) of an adult. Each adult can only supervise three children this young at a time.
Alternately, we offer youth classes check, them out here.
Can anyone belay or lead climb?
To belay or lead climb at our facility, you must first pass a proficiency assessment with one of our team members. Our team is available most days and times to conduct a proficiency test, no appointment required.
For lead climbing and belaying, you must provide your own rope, and use an Assisted Braking Device (ABD).
Kids 14 and over may belay after completing this waiver and passing a proficiency assessment with our staff.ย
What kind of climbing do you offer?
We have bouldering which is climbing on shorter walls with no rope and lots of padding; top rope walls where a rope has been fixed at the top of the wall and a climber requires the support of a belayer; and we have lead climbing which is where experienced climbers clip the rope into the wall as they climb up.ย
Do you have Auto belays?
Nope! While itโs always awesome to get a free ride, we are passionate about communityโฆso we want you to meet new belay partners irl. We have partner finder nights. We have a belay partner board. We will make belay partner calls over the PA system. We WILL help you find a climbing partner.
What is good gym etiquette?
Weโre so glad you asked! Climbing is dangerous, so you must always be aware of your surroundings while in the facility. Keep space between climbers, donโt walk between an active belayer (person holding rope) and their partner, and donโt hold ropes if you have not passed a proficiency to use them. When bouldering, stay off the mats until youโre ready to climb, down climb a few holds when possible to avoid jumping from height, and if you fall hug your arms to your chest, land on your feet, and roll onto your back to disperse the force. See our orientation video for more information!
We are on Instagram
We are so excited so see everyone tonight at our Open House!
We ask that you do not park across the street if our main parking lot is full, please park next to VA instead!
Are you stopping by tonight?
#vaohio #climbingby5life #614climb #ohioclimb #vaopenhouse
Thank you @powellparksandrec for hanging out at VA today! We are so happy we got to show you the ropes ๐
Feel free to stop by again anytime for more adventures! ๐ง
#vaohio #ohioclimb #614climb #climbingby5life #powellparksandrec
Never learned to hold the ropes? Friday`s the day.
Family Community Day is at Vertical Adventures โ climbing, crafts, and s`mores by the fire, all day. $9 Discover Climbing (ages 14+) is a 45-minute class that opens every top rope wall in the gym, for you and everyone you bring.
Book your spot โ link in bio.
#vaohio #climbingby5life #ohioclimbs #5life
Hey early birds! Did you know our gym opens at 7am on Tuesdays and Thursdays?
This gorgeous view of the sunrise is just an added perk ๐คฉ
#vaohio #ohioclimbs #614climb #climbingby5life #sunrise
VA is full of fun things hiding in plain sight!
Would you try this out?
#vaohio #climbingby5life #climb614 #ohioclimbs #verticaladventures
#tbt to last year`s Youth Open House.
Curious about our youth climbing programs? This is the easy way in โ no pressure, no commitment. Come have some fun on the wall and see what your climber thinks.
Ours is back Sunday, August 9, 4โ6 PM.
๐ RSVP link in bio
#tbt #vaohio #climbingby5life #5life
July brought some real changes to the gym. New flooring is in and it already feels different underfoot. Summer camp has been packed this month โ great to see so many kids on the wall. Personal Training is going strong, our adaptive climbing sessions kept going strong too, and a handful of new lead lines went up for anyone looking for something new to work through.
A lot happened in one month. What stood out to you?
#vaohio #climb614 #ohioclimbs #gymclimbing #climbingby5life
Last call! ๐ง Volunteer for Adaptive Adventures tomorrow
We still need hands on deck for tomorrowโs Adaptive Adventures session. Come give back and get rewarded.
Volunteers receive:
โข A 5 punch pass
โข Breakfast on us
โข 25% off one retail item (link in bio)
Grab a spot before it fills up. See you on the wall!
๐ Bloc Garten
Last call โ How to Project is tonight, 7:30 at Bloc Garten. Spots still open.
Learn what "projecting" actually means and how to work a route until you send it.
Link in bio.
#climb614 #blocgarten #climbingby5life #5life
Huge thank you to our flooring crew for 8 straight days of hard work โ you knocked it out and we couldnโt be more grateful.
Our new floor is in, and it feels amazing.
Quick reminder: weโll be resetting routes this Thursday and Friday, so expect some walls to be closed while our setters work their magic.
Come check out the new floor for yourself โ see you at the gym! ๐งก
๐ง Q2 Access Fund Update
Your $1s at checkout added up to real impact this quarter โ and we matched every one of them, dollar for dollar.
Here`s where it went:
๐ชจ South Central Pennsylvania Climbers โ $386.25
๐ชจ Eastern Pennsylvania Alliance of Climbers โ $375
๐ชจ New River Alliance of Climbers โ $795.21
๐ชจ Ohio Climbers Coalition โ $500
๐ชจ Friends of Muir Valley โ $800
๐ชจ Red River Gorge Climbers` Coalition โ $824
๐ชจ The Access Fund โ $2,108
Community donated: $2,894.23
5.Life matched: $2,894.23
Total impact: $5,788.46 ๐
These organizations protect the crags, boulders, and trails we all love to climb on.
Want in? Swing by the Welcome Desk and we`ll get you set up โ it`s just $1 at checkout, and we match it every time.
๐ in bio
#ClimbWithPurpose #AccessFund #5LifeClimbing #GiveBack #ClimbingCommunity #ProtectOurCrags
We`re of the opinion that being a "good climber" means more than just being strong, its knowing the skills to get you and your partner home in one piece.
Join us on August 18 at 6:30 PM for a 90 minute clinic where we cover the basics do`s and don`t of building anchors.
Contact
614 888-8393
6513 Kingsmill Court
Columbus, OH 43229
Stay Connected
Hours
Mon, Wed & Fri 11 AM- 10 PM
Tue & Thur 7 AM - 10PM
Saturday 9 AM - 8 PM
Sunday 11 AM - 6 PM
