A fun fitness day with the girls! We tried rock climbing at Brooklyn boulders and it was challenging but fun. S/O to Lamuna (I hope I'm spelling that correct) , she was such an amazing guide for our visit. We got to try different level climbs and then the tall wall for the finale. I really enjoyed this experience! I loved the challenge the tall wall gave me but forgot I had to come down and got nervous to jump lol all in all, 10/10 experience would go again! read more

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A fun time with friendly staff. The place has several rooms and floors for bouldering and rock climbing. They also offer student discounts which is a plus for anyone still in school. We did some bouldering for the first time and it wasn't bad/scary, so if you're on the fence I say just give it a try! read more

The wall and climbing are great, however the parking situation is horrible. Also, and this is the main reason for my ZERO STAR review, they switched over to a new computer system and deleted my 10-pack and would not transfer it over despite the fact that I had proof of purchase. Crooks. A 10-pack is worth $261 (see photo). In my opinion they stole 2 weeks of groceries from me! They should not be able to get away with things like this. From other 1 star reviews, it seems behavior like this is a trend for them. read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Proof that the 10-pack costs $261 - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very fun place I would say there are exercise equipments pretty lacking, but for climbing and yoga it's very welcoming I also like that they do different events. Membership is not that expensive for its location, but parking can be very difficult. read more

Great place for fun and fitness. Challenging climbing along with some great kids climbing. yoga, plunges and more. Cool!

I've been here many times over the years, it's a very welcoming environment for all levels of climbers. Would love to see a few more auto belay set ups for when I bring some inexperienced friends but the ones set up are great! read more

Such a lovely place, with lovely staff! I went here for an outing with my niece. This lovely young lady named Georgia was so nice to us, and really encouraged my niece to do her best at climbing read more

BKB has been my happy place for the past 3 years that I've been a member. It's a warm space where I enjoy doing my work, climb, take yoga classes, and lift. The facility is clean and lots of effort is put in to keep it a safe and fun environment. The community at BKB West Loop makes it a unique gym due to the friendliness of the staff and members. A few staff make this gym an especially nice community to be apart of include Harry, Adam, Jorja, Jessica, the amazing route setters and front desk workers that out so much effort in making it welcoming for everyone. Being close distance to my university, UIC, I would say that BKB has been the biggest influence in my college life. I come between classes, early in the morning, and sometimes stay late into the closing where staff is very kind and don't rush me. read more

I was a member of BKB West Loop when they opened in 2014. I was also a member for 5 years between 2018-2023. Today I returned for a session with a third party vendor who operates out of the gym and all I can say is: 45 minutes at BKB was 45 minutes too long. read more

Although climbing isn't my thing per se I think this place is cool for those that do. I came here for an event for my daughter & she had a blast. I'm addition to several different climbing walls & challenge levels there's a a ping pong table as well as a weightlifting section. I believe there's also treadmills upstairs also. The staff were super friendly & attentive also. There's a few refreshments in the lobby & even a kombucha tap. read more

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The gym is pretty large with some bouldering, automatic climbing ropes (I'm new to climbing pls be gentle), and plenty normal climbing walls for the city! The staff is incredibly nice. I went for a special event with Arc'teryx and so it was incredibly crowded on Friday at 4 pm, but that's obviously expected. Plenty of bathrooms and a locker room and treadmills and such! read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Climbing area - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

ATMOSPHERE/ARCHITECTURE: 8/10 Pretty nice climbing gym in the city with very friendly and helpful staff. The members are very easy approach as well and I had a great time trying out climbing here. Unfortunately, I kind of suck at it and it is WAY harder than it looks. SERVICE: 10/10 I had impeccable service with very friendly staff who were knowledgeable about the facility and climbing. I was given an excellent tutorial to the facility by helpful staff. I felt very included despite never climbinb before in my life. VALUE: 9/10 They offer a pretty good deal for 2 climbing session with a $25 package for 2 sessions that gives you a good taste the gym. The monthly package is $99 a month which is on the more expensive side of gyms but they do have a weight gym in addition the main feature of climbing so you get a little more bang for your buck. PROBABILITY OF RETURN: 8/10 Ultimately, I am not sure climbing if for me, but despite that, the atmosphere and overall feel of the place was great and I would definitely consider coming back in the future if I get the urge to climb or explore again. OVERALL: 9/10 read more

We came here for a 1 day trial, and we absolutely loved it! The atmosphere was so friendly, and the place is much larger than we expected. The two bouldering walls have routes that require a good mix of techniques, and the staff members were very approachable when we had questions. As a V3/4 climber, I can't speak much for the harder routes, but it was fun trying to challenge myself! They also have two slacklines, which were fun to try out when I needed a break :) Because we were only there for a day, we didn't want to tire ourselves out too much with the belayed walls, but there were many different walls for top rope, lead, and auto-belay! There was also a weight training area and cardio machines, which were nice to finish up our workout with. The entire facility was very clean, and we'll definitely come back if we're ever in the city for longer than a couple weeks! read more

I haven't been to many places like this so I don't have much to compare to. That being said, Brooklyn boulders is awesome. I never knew I liked to climb and being in Chicago I never had anywhere to climb but now that has changed. My kids and I climb until we literally can't close our hands or stand anymore. It's a lot of fun and I see so much there being offered that I haven't even tried yet. Employees are nice and everyone has always been pleasant to be around. I have been several times over the years and have always had a good time with friends and kids here. Highly recommend read more

Great gym with a ton to climb. Routes for days. Found the grading a little soft, especially on the auto belays. With so many autos would like to have my diverse climbing. The bouldering was soft too but had some unique setting so that makes up for it. With that said, very into this gym. The staff and clientele were very cool. Would probably be a member of in the area. read more

Great facility, wish they had more auto belays, but good overall! So fun with friends!!

My husband and I have been members at BKB for years and we can't speak highly enough of the facility, staff, and atmosphere. We love that we can climb, go to a yoga class, run, or lift depending on how we feel that day. The staff is always friendly and the class instructors truly care about each person they teach. Special shoutout to Ruby and Andy, who are super knowledgeable, personable, and eager to share. Everything at BKB functions holistically to improve your climbing and overall wellness and we couldn't imagine life in Chicago without it. The only small pieces of feedback would be that sometimes the routes get a bit dated and certain nights are pretty crowded (especially with kids). But with their new location coming to Lincoln Park, I'm hoping members can spread out between the two facilities. Definitely swing by and try out climbing and a class if you're ever in the area! read more

This was my first time rock climbing, and I've become a fan! Although I won't be doing anything remotely like Free Solo in my lifetime, I'm glad to say I've checked this off my list of activities to try. There are two different areas, one for bouldering and the other for belaying. Autobelaying was so much fun, especially hanging/bouncing off the wall as you go down! I took the Intro to Rock Climbing class, which was helpful and intimate (only six people in the class). The instructor was knowledgeable and friendly. I like that we all introduced ourselves and answered an ice-breaker question of what's our favorite fruit. It's nice that they provided a free one-day return pass after completing the class. Membership seems pricey, but you get a lot of things with it including one guest pass, access to fitness classes and equipment, complimentary Intro to Climbing + Learn the Ropes for first 30 days of membership, and more. If you haven't tried rock climbing but it interests you, you should do it! read more

Had an opportunity to learn to climb here at Brooklyn Boulders for the first time in an local site event over the weekend. First thing you do for any climb is to sign a waiver then you go get special shoes which is usually two size larger than your actual shoe size. I wear a 9 and the shoe size is 10 1/2. Jason who was my instructor was very knowledgeable and patience. He started me off on the beginner wall and told me how the colors and meaning of the different difficulties to look out for. I tried a few walls and the next day - I knew I need to come back and work more on this skill. I recommend this place for many reason, one is they have a private parking lot and many instructors to pick from. read more

Similar to other reviewers, we had a horrible experience with one of their youth programs. We have been participating in the Brooklyn Boulders "walking bus" since the beginning of the school year. Due to a recent change by the city BB had to get another license for the "walking bus". Totally understand. Kale, the former Youth Program Manager, was wonderful in communicating each week an update on the status so we could plan for alternative childcare. Things fell off the rails when Kale left. Communication basically stopped. I would get an automated email that said "walking bus" was on, then get a call at 2pm that day saying it was cancelled. Thankfully my husband and I were able to pivot last minute but what if we didn't have a second option? When on the phone with Emoni I asked if we could expect the "walk bus" to come back some time soon and was told yes. Then another manager (sadly didn't get her name) called me and said that it was basically cancelled for the rest of the school year that I should request a refund. She even said on the call that they will probably throw in some perks because of my inconvenience. Ha! That will never happen. I paid for the "walking bus" sessions in advance so the manager instructed me to summit a "support ticket" on their website. I did that and things got worse. They tried to claim I only was to be refunded for 5 sessions, even after I provided a detailed PDF from Kale (miss you Kale) that showed all the sessions I paid for and the amounts and there were clearly 7. Finally after not getting anywhere with Owen I escalated my issue to Emoni I was told I would get a refund for my remaining 2 sessions but they needed to figure out something on their end. A few days later I get another email from "Kaley" saying that they can't fulfill my request until I supply additional information. I replied to that email and included Emoni with all the details I had previously supplied. I had sent this info four times now. Owen replied to my reply to Kaley and acted like I was crazy for saying they needed something more and that he processed my additional 2 sessions. Awesome! Finally resolved but annoying he is trying to act like they didn't send me an email asking for more information. Unfortunately this was not resolved. The amount they refunded me was short $3.26. I normally wouldn't care but after all this run around I want my money. I replied again, included Emoni again, outlined the amount missing and just cause included the screen shot of Kaley's email as Owen had removed it in his reply. This is not the way to run a business. This is not a way to treat loyal customers. I spent a lot of money on the "walking bus" since the beginning of the year. I will never go back there. read more

Awesome facility with a large number of awesome and challenging climbs! Good selection of walls for bouldering or walls that have an auto-belay system. Really it's just a world class climbing facility. Super super cool. If you wanna do a fun activity that's not the norm in Chicago, do yourself a favor and check it out ASAP! read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had trouble with the groupon but Joshua who answered the phone was so patient!

Came thru for the Learn the Ropes climbing class to try and get my lady interested in rock climbing, but unfortunately she did not take the bait. Anyways, still a super fun experience. I have to say that hands down Brooklyn Boulders is the cleanest and nicest rock climbing facility I've been to with more than enough routes and walls to keep you busy. Our class instructor Tall Paul was quite a character with his dark/quirky sense of humor but overall really entertaining. The class covered proper safety for top roping which included climber & belayer verbal commands, how to tie a figure 8 knot, how to tie in and how to belay. I wish they covered practice falls in the class. A bit weird since they do test for it on the belay certification test. Keep that brake hand down! Note that the Learn the Ropes class also includes an additional day pass to use within two weeks to take your belay certification test and climb a whole another day at no additional cost. Rental harnesses are super uncomfortable and also kinda sketchy because you only tie in through a single tie in loop rather than the double tie in loops you see on nicer harnesses. So if you're thinking of going for a membership, I'd invest in a harness! I think they only offer this class and a quick 30 min bouldering class but it would be cool if they offered advanced climbing techniques classes to work on fundamentals. Also note a full gym is included with memberships and day passes and they do offer yoga classes on occasion. Although I didn't end up going for the membership, the only reason is that it's a bit of a trek from my place. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to boulder, top rope, or lead climb in Chicago. Til next time, happy climbing! read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Sometimes I look back at it - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the best first time experience at Brooklyn Boulders. I was greeted with a nice smile from Robert. He instructed me on how things went and gave me an grand tour of the place. I bought an all day pass from groupon which is a bonus. I could leave and come back before midnight to climb workout and njoy myself. This place was alot of fun. I was able to conquer my fears for climbing. read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My experience at BKB was awesome. Came in with a day pass and they took care of us. They provide shoes and the equipment needed to wall climb. Both bouldering and wall climbing were great workouts. The gym in the upper level is small, there's a small lounge to hangout, and lockers available, just remember to bring your own lock. Overall great experience, Fiona and Steve were awesome, and great workout on the walls. Will definitely be back soon. read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Tall walls to conquer - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This pic is what happens when you leave your phone with the front desk! Ahahaha Brooklyn boulders is great for anyone from beginners to advanced climbers. This was my first time but it was awesome to see the other climbers who are more experienced tackle some difficult looking climbs! This place was so much fun! There was a great atmosphere, everyone there was very friendly and willing to help. The staff even checked in to make sure we didn't die (we didn't) presumably since they knew we are beginners. We will definitely be back soon. Recommend! read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I won two day-passes to Brooklyn Boulders through a charity raffle and my husband and I had a lot of fun using them. We used the walls that had the auto belay system. The auto belay walls were doable for me (as someone with minimal climbing experience), and they were also challenging enough for my husband (as someone with a fair amount of climbing experience). The staff members were helpful and explained everything very well. Convenient location and plenty of parking nearby. read more

Brooklyn Boulders - Auto belay - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I haven't been here in months but each time I go, it keeps getting better. I really enjoy this place for climbing and fitness. The climbing gym is clean, big, and fun! There are so many routes and bouldering problems that they change all the time. They have lockers and cubbies to store your belongings but sometimes it does get full with a lot of people during peak hours. The restroom/showers are clean. They have practical things for you like towels, mouthwash, cotton swabs, lotion, etc. The employees are really nice, knowledgeable, chill, and easy to talk to. Highly recommend this place and bring everybody! read more

Beware and do not try to use Groupons here. I accidentally purchased 2 groupons (2 day passes). I had already used 1 of the Groupons. I was all set and amped to climb, but when I got there, the guy behind the desk said "BOOOO" when I told him I had a Groupon. Things were downhill from there. He pulled up my account and said the fine print indicates you can't use these Groupons within 6 mos of one another. So my message to Brooklyn Boulders is to coordinate with Groupon and restrict buyers from buying multiple Groupons if you can't use them. Or scrap any involvement with Groupon altogether. Also, good luck with your business model, as you clearly are not trying to encourage membership by turning people away with Groupons. I will be taking my business to First Ascent. read more

We've been here twice now so I feel a little more comfortable reviewing it but when we visit Chicago, we love staying in the West Loop for it's walkability and abundance of good restaurants and bars and the general wonderful vibe. Brooklyn boulders is walkable and has super friendly accommodating staff. Unlike its name suggests, this climbing gym has multiple bouldering walls but also has plenty of top rope and lead routes as well. There area a few autobelay routes as well but not as many. I enjoy the aesthetics of this place too as the walls are all a light wood. I feel that the bouldering routes have some good variability and as a person who lacks significant upper body strength, I appreciate a good variation in slabby routes. Bonus also for a hand washing station outside of the bathroom so you don't have to take off your climbing shoes AND there's a super lovely second floor for lounging with some tables etc. The music in general has been excellent! I would highly recommend paying a visit if you are visiting Chicago or trying it out if you live in the area! read more

I've been a member here for 5 years, and after today I can confidently say that I will never return. There are a few reasons why... 1) The customer service from the employees at the front desk is almost nonexistent. We received blank, vacant stares after asking simple questions about hours of operations for the day (special hours because of a "private event"). No one had a clue; we actually got the correct answer from another member. 2) The overall cleanliness of the gym is repulsive. There are no hand dryers, and none of the towel dispensers work. The carpet in the main room hasn't been vacuumed or cleaned in over a year it seems. And I never see any of the employees caring or making an effort like they used to. We had a lady in a wheelchair ask if we could grab the loose roll of paper towels for her because it was on top of the dispenser, out of her reach. For a gym that seems to be all inclusive, they don't seem to think much about their customers at all. 3) The music choice is GOD AWFUL. Even though this is a different environment than your average planet fitness. I get that. But at least have some higher tempo music that will get your blood pumping and get you excited to be there! The playlist this morning was very close to elevator music or the type they play when you are bowling on a Nintendo Wii. I asked them to change it, and they put on something very similar and mellow. Everyone was talking about how bad the music was and has been. You should be playing music for the members working out, not what you want to hear at the front desk. 4) SAFETY!!!! Where are the people walking around doing safety checks??? I see tons of people belaying incorrectly every time I'm in there and there are no employees around to tell them what they are doing wrong. The most I've seen is a quick, intro about the auto belays, and then they walk away to go hang out at the front desk. There are many other options for climbing gyms in the area, I'm not sure why anyone would choose BKB West Loop before the others, when they are nicer, cleaner, safer, and just make you feel like you're welcome, instead of feeling like you're inconveniencing their day by coming in. read more

On a whim, I decided I wanted to rock climb. I'm deathly afraid of heights so this probably wasn't the best idea. Staff members at the front desk were nice and helpful with navigating the first time process. Our introductory class consisted of a small group of strangers eager to climb along with our expert instructor. This place is huge. We practiced on easy and moderate practice rocks located on the first floor before we graduated to expert status. We migrated to the second floor for the longer climbs. I was strapped into the harness and I got up about 6 feet before things took a terrible turn: I looked down. I became paralyzed by fear and stuck to the wall like white on rice. I don't remember how I got down because I was petrified out of my mind. I sat out the rest of our experience. I will say that our instructor and my group were so encouraging. I may try it again someday because I wasn't terrible despite my blackout experience on the wall. read more

Brooklyn Boulders - I was doing so well... - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came to BKB on a day pass hoping to get to spend more time with my brother and left with a membership. Climbing is incredibly addicting, and their regularly-updated routes are fun as hell. The atmosphere is welcoming and supportive. You'll encounter people who have never climbed before and expert climbers here. What really stands out to me is the staff, though. I've been a member less than two months and several employees already address me by name. Thanks for making my arms feel like jelly and my insides all warm and fuzzy, BKB read more

Whenever I go on vacation, I always make sure that I have time to check out at least one climbing gym. So on my first night in Chicago, I decided to check out Brooklyn Boulders since it's the closest gym to my hotel. I am so glad that I did because this gym is absolutely amazing! If I lived in Chicago, I would definitely get a membership to climb here. Wow wow wow! This is the biggest climbing gym that I have yet been to. Their gym is huge with a good amount of top roping and bouldering for all those rock climbers. The routes according to its levels are decent; not too easy nor is it too difficult to do. They also have a small gym, which is a plus in my book. It's always good to work out after a good climb and not all climbing gyms have a workout place. Also, this is probably the only gym that has a lounge -like place for anyone to just chill. They have several booths where anyone can just sit to eat, study, or hang out. They also have a ping pong table which is pretty cool. I would love to play ping pong or relax at their "lounge" when I need a break from climbing. The staff are so nice and friendly! Since it was my first time there, they were very welcoming and helpful. They do such a good job keeping the gym super clean! The best of the best is that they close late. They close at midnight every night and I normally prefer to climb at night so this would be perfect. Overall, I had a good experience with this climbing gym and I definitely recommend it to climbers that are visiting Chicago or those that want to try things rock climbing. It's quite fun and this is a really good gym to start a new fun hobby. Thank you Brooklyn Boulders for such an amazing climb! I will definitely come back when I visit Chicago again. read more

BKB Chicago, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! You are brand new, shiny, & HUGE. The size of your walls, the continuing variance of your routes, & the array of bouldering opportunities are simply unparalleled in Chicago. You are accessible to climbers of all levels. You do not charge a fee for your belay certs - how refreshing! I have seen climbers ranging from small children to high-fiving grandmothers enjoying themselves at BKB. Your staff are knowledgeable, friendly, & always accommodating. I have been made to feel like part of the BKB community since my very first climb at BKB. You offer gear rentals at extremely reasonable rates. As I slowly replaced my own gear, I found it to be a fantastic convenience to be able to get everything from shoes to chalk from your front desk. Let's not forget the design of your gym - gorgeous art everywhere, wonderful locker rooms & showers, hang-out & resting spaces throughout the climbing areas, & my personal favorite being your hand washing station at the entrance to the main gym. I love washing off the chalk & grime from my hands as I leave the gym for the night with nice, warm water. I appreciate that BKB offers rates & memberships to fit nearly any budget. I specifically enjoy your themed nights - especially your weekly Ladies Nights! Offering a discounted day pass WITH gear rental included in the price? Score! If I could write BKB a love sonnet, I would. Instead, I show my undying love by climbing weekly (sometimes more!) & making sure to participate in as many of your fun events as possible. If you're looking for a great, indoor rock climbing experience in Chicago, I cannot recommend Brooklyn Boulders Chicago enough. One climb, & you'll be hooked (to a carabiner, perhaps?) read more

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This is a great climbing facility. I visited this gym while I was in Chicago for a wedding. I am a regular at BKB-Queensbridge so I wanted to check out their sister gym in Chicago. I came away impressed by the space. The top roping area is enormous and there's a variety of routes. There's a good amount of long routes and also some shorter routes on the upper level. I liked that you had the choice to mix things up. In regards to bouldering they had a variety of good features including a cave, slab and overhang. They also had two distinct sections - one which was ~15-18 foot walls and the other side with shorter 8-10 foot walls. It's always good to have variety. If I lived in Chicago I could see myself becoming a regular at this gym. Next time I'm in Chicago I'll be sure to come back here! read more

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Love this place! It's literally an adult jungle gym/playground! Your day pass gets you wall time for as long as you want. You do need to get certified to go on the ropes (obviously). They are big on safety so they want to make sure you know the basics of rock climbing before you go up. If you climb and feel a bit tired, hit the gym upstairs. They have kettle weights, bar bells, Olympic Rings, two treadmills, rowing machine, a weighted sleigh, etc! I mean it's a lot of equipment for what they already offer. They will be opening a cafe which I can't weight for! Staff is incredible! They're always around to help! read more

Brooklyn Boulders - The self belay wall - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love this place. I probably spend too much time there, but it's hard to leave when BKB presents you a giant playground, awesome routes, fitness classes, and cool staff. BKB has a creative approach to building a community by inviting local artists and businesses to join in. Have you seen the artwork on their walls? - So cool. I hope that they continue hosting awesome events and getting more people hooked on climbing. To me it already feels like more than a gym. As for the pricing, I think it's more than fair. For all that they offer, the BKB membership is comparable to other great gyms in Chicago. Besides, I see the BKB membership as an investment in having a great time while climbing and also building a strong Chicago climber community, not just a monthly payment for some walls and work out equipment. Nice job, BKB. I'll probably see you tomorrow. read more

Brooklyn Boulders - BKB Grand Opening. - Rock Climbing Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Brooklyn Boulders out of all the climbing gyms in Chicago, I think what reeled me in was the student discount. So I got a 12 month pass which comes with 2 buddy passes a month, Which is a good perk. I feel like it kind of sucks that you have to pay to learn how to belay. Maybe its because I'm spoiled because back home at the gym there ( Momentum) They actually teach you for free how to belay then check you and you can climb your heart out. Unfortunately if you don't know how to do these things then you cant really climb unless someone belays you which is fine but you won't be able to belay them. So If you are a member this place is great, if you are looking for a day pass, make sure you know you're stuff. read more

Been a member here since February 2015 when I first started climbing. Love the facility and staff here. I've been to many gyms around the country and internationally and I can honestly say BKB Chicago is my favorite. Pros: Lots of fitness classes. I personally love the Core class on Saturday mornings. Staff are friendly and helpful Great routes. And sometimes they host member routesetting classes and you can set your own! Bright and clean facility Tons of top rope, lead routes, and bouldering routes Location location location. It's only 10 minutes by bus from my office and maybe 15 minutes to my apartment in the loop. Cons: A lot more expensive compared to First Ascent. Can't think of anything else! read more