Thurston County Rock Climbing Scene Rising To The Top, Both Inside And Out

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By Tom Rohrer

Derik Renfroe (right) and Chase Olson, a route setter at the Warehouse Rock Gym, continuously explore local forests for new routes.

A main goal of rock climbing and bouldering is to constantly head towards the top, using various routes, techniques and skill.

As climbers in the Olympia area reach new heights on local boulder and inside gyms, the sport, and its culture, continues to expand.

“It has become much more accessible and wide spread to new people,” said Sierra Blakely, the Gym Manager at The Warehouse Rock Gym in downtown Olympia.  “People are starting to realize it’s really fun.”

While some may participate in traditional climbing, in which supports are removed once a section is cleared, or sport climbing, which has set anchors that have been previously installed, all those that climb in the area form a special bond with one another.

“One of the things I enjoy most is the friendship and just being with your buddies,” said Chase Olson, a route setter at the Warehouse Rock Gym who has been climbing for five years. “Really, once you get involved in the scene everyone knows everyone.”

Olson’s friend and former co-worker Derik Renfroe concurs.

“It may be a small climbing community, but there are just a bunch of really good friends,” said Renfroe, who just left his position at the gym as head route-setter. “And I think you can see it becoming a bigger circle.”

Olympia area rock climber Chase Olson (left) attempts to move up a boulder in the Capitol State Forest as friend and fellow climber Kevin Erickson (right) looks on. Photo by Derik Renfroe.

In an effort to cut down on travel costs and drive time to other areas of the state and region, both Olson and Renfroe, along with help from others, have been exploring the back woods of Thurston County to find their next target to climb.

Olson says he uses Google Maps, Flickr, and topographic maps to locate new boulders, recently focusing on the Capitol State Forest area.

While his efforts won’t earn him paychecks, they earn new climbing opportunities for him, his close friends and future generations of climbers.

“We just always had to drive a lot, and other areas that are popular, such as Leavenworth, are really crowded,” Olson said. “So it’s been a lot of hiking, and exploring and it can be expensive, erratic and has taken up a lot of man hours.  I’m not getting paid to do it, but that’s not why I’m doing it.”

By finding new outside boulders and routes to climb, the local climbers can put their practice to the test.

“Climbing in gyms, I do that for preparation to go outside,” Olson said. “That’s the point of it, and there is nothing better than getting together with your buddies, shutting your phone off and climbing all day.”

When new routes are found, Renfroe said he implemented them onto the walls at the local gym, so to better improve the muscle memory for himself and those who will explore the outside areas.

This increase in known outdoor climbing spots has led to a huge influx of new climbers and participation.

Olympia area climber Wes Tooley heads for the top at the Warehouse Rock Gym in downtown Olympia.

“The (Warehouse Rock Gym) doubled its business last year,” Renfroe said.  “And you can just see new people always coming in or checking out new spots.”

“I’ve not been climbing all that long, but you can see there is more people doing it and trying it out,” Olson said.  “I think it can only become bigger.”

Renfroe is now ready to put his passion for the sport into a new business opportunity.

About four months ago, he was approached by a friend of his father’s who fell in love with the downtown Olympia gym.    After a couple of weeks, the friend offered Renfroe the opportunity to help open and operate a similar gym in Rochester, which Renfroe will call the Core Rock Climbing Gym.

Renfroe said that he has ordered lumber for the gym which is scheduled to open this upcoming October.

“This is basically my dream, and it’s a big risk, but I know it’s one that will pay off,” Renfroe said.  “I’m beyond excited about it.”

With the creation of a new gym in the area, and new participants coming in by the truckload, those closest to the sport know where it’s heading.

“I think it’s got a great future,” Olson said of rock climbing. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it became an Olympic sport.”

Competitions within rock climbing have increased as well, with the Warehouse Rock Gym holding an annual contest in October.  Renfroe says the Rochester Gym will be holding a contest in November as well.

Local rock climber Kevin Erickson looks to defy gravity as fellow climber Derik Renfroe looks on. Photo by Chase Olson.

“I think people should be excited to get involved, because the people are so positive and it’s just a fun, physical activity,” Renfroe noted. “I became involved because lifting weights and running wasn’t doing it for me anymore and this sport provides great exercise and fun.”

While a majority of the participants of the sport are between their twenties and forties, Blakely says age does not matter.

“We see a lot of people of all ages, and that’s what makes the sport so appealing to an extent,” Blakely says. “It brings people together.

For more information on the Warehouse Rock Gym, visit www.warehouserockgym.com.  The gym, located at 315 Jefferson St NE (behind Alpine Experience) is open 7 days a week.

Monday – Thursday – 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Friday – 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

Saturday – 9:00 am – 9:00 pm

Sunday – 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

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