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euroford
Apr 28, 2003, 7:02 PM
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Registered: Aug 26, 2002
Posts: 2913
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i work in the loop, and would like to head over to a gym for a couple hours after work once or twice a week. which gym would you suggest i attend?
i take the L to work, and would like to take it to the gym and then home (i take the blue line from chicago to jackson to get to work).
i would prefer the gym had some self-belay devices, but would live with good bouldering.
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miarock
Apr 29, 2003, 7:13 PM
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Registered: Jun 19, 2002
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I used to live in chicago and worked at Hidden Peak gym (it is part of Lakeshore Academy gymnastics http://www.lakeshoreacademy.com) . it is right off the chicago blue line stop but is a bit tricky to find the first time so call ahead for directions. however it is pretty much just bouldering and you will walk in and go man this is small, but stick around because some of the best climbers and route setters of all chicago, and there are some damn good ones call this place home, you will not be disappointed. plus the atmostphere is awesome and there is almost always someone heading to the red every weekend (where i live now 8) ). when i was stuck in the flats of chi-town, HP is where you would find me always!
mia
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ryanhos
Apr 29, 2003, 7:46 PM
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Registered: Mar 8, 2003
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Don't forget fitplex! (http://www.multiplexclubs.com/fitplexmultiplex/) It's not the gem of chicago rock gyms, but it's good in a pinch. The wall is small and short, but there are good, hard routes and the bouldering is good. No autobelays, but a paid belay slave with a gri-gri is always sitting around as far as I know. The wall manager is a good guy too.
As for the other gyms mentioned, I would definitely go for Lakeshore because of their awesome Entre-prises 100ft wall. Some of the instructors are dorks, but most are not. (I must clarify cuz I actually have two friends that work there.) LPAC seems to have a nice outdoor wall and I hear they have a fairly good simulated ice wall, but our club never got to climb there because they forgot that we were coming last weekend. Vertical Endeavors reigns supreme if you don't mind the drive to BFE. A++ staff at the gym and on guided trips. Diverse walls throughout the gym and tons of features I'm still finding even though I've been climbing there for almost a year. (Has that ceiling high finger crack always been there?!?) I can't say enough about this gym. There are rumors that they are doing a "college student summer membership" this summer. If this is true, I know where I'll be climbing every weekend. (even if I have to bike out there from the S. Side) If it's not true, maybe the buzz generated from me perpetuating the rumor will convince them to do it anyway.
BTW, has anybody ever seen a guidebook for Jackson Park harbor? (other than the UofC one) The UofC one is out of date since lots of the graffiti has been washed away so I'm interested in doing one with my digicam and the Gimp (photoshop for linux.) I'm happy to do it, but if somebody is already working on it, why bother?
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sroehlk
Apr 30, 2003, 3:31 PM
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Registered: Oct 15, 2002
Posts: 484
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ryanhos - Thanks for all the compliments on VE! I worked at there up until last week (no time anymore :( ) and I never heard anything about a college student membership. Although normally college students get a discount on Wednesdays.
I'm heading over to Lakeshore Athletic Club (the 100 foot wall) tonight for a little climbing. Maybe I'll see some of you there.
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euroford
May 2, 2003, 11:51 PM
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Registered: Aug 26, 2002
Posts: 2913
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now how cool is that, i live within a very short walk to hidden peak. i'll definitly be spending some time there! thanks everybody!
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