http://www.climbhangar18.com/upland/

Friday's workout - Hangar 18 rock climbing - upland 

This gym is out of my "test area" but my sister recently started going there and got Jason and I a free one day climbing pass so we all went and tried it out.

So here is a quick overview:

Very stinky place!!
I'm sure there is a big learning curve but you can have fun on a first day too. 
You have to overcome any fear of heights.
You put your full trust in the gear, ropes and your belayer (buddy on the ground holding the rope). 

  
 This is a pretty large gym with lots of different options for any level of climber. You get a quick safety lesson before you start but nothing on form or actually climbing. You use a lot of forearm and finger strengh or at least I did :) There is no one actually helping you and there was only one guy working - answering phones, doing the safety setup, checking people in and giving gear etc. Would have been nice to have someone on the floor to give climbing tips to newbies. And man... the place was very stinky... seems like they could have done something about the smell. 
You can really get your body to reach muscle failure... on the more difficult climbs if I couldn't get a good hold or find the next grip after a bit my arm or hand muscles literally fatigued and I had to let go. Anyway probably a good way to gain muscle strength.


So the nitty gritty: 
You can get a good muscle workout here but at the beginner level I wasn't sweating much or breathing hard at all
It's fun to challenge yourself and pick more difficult climbs
The place could definitely use a good scrubbing down
Nice safe convenient indoor option for climbing
No one's butt looks good from below! ;)

Would I recommend this gym? Sure... if someone is looking for a climbing gym - but as a regular place to workout - no. It was fun to go with the family for a day... I mean where can you climb and climb to your hearts content - but I didn't love it.