Indoor climbing wall opening in Sandpoint

SANDPOINT — As projects go, this one is about as grass roots as it gets.

A small group of local rock climbing enthusiasts have banded together to form Sandpoint Rock Gym, a non-profit, co-operative bouldering gym in the Old Grain Mill. There will be an Open House at the gym, located across the parking lot from Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, on Saturday, March 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The climbing wall, the brainchild of Sandpoint’s Christian Thompson, is far from finished, which speaks to the grass roots nature of the project. It started with 12 people each donating $100, and eventually will end with more than 1,100 square feet of area for climbing.

“We’ve gotten a little bit of money donated, but mostly it’s friends pitching in what they can pitch in,” said Thompson, a former guide and instructor who has been climbing for more than 20 years. “Right now all of us are volunteering our time to make it happen. Step by step, each piece of the puzzle is coming together.”

The open house on Saturday marks a chance for any and all interested parties to view the project and to get excited about another fun indoor activity in Sandpoint. There will be gear raffles, climbing films, refreshments and most importantly, a one-time only membership offer for climbers of all ages and skill levels.

Anyone who signs up Saturday to be a charter member will receive half off the normal rates — $100/year for adults and $50/year for kids 18 and under. After Saturday, the prices will climb back to $200/year and $100/year, respectively.

“My vision is that people will trickle in over time,” said Thompson, who hopes to have the walls completed some time in April. “Once the gym is created and open, it will be a nice center and focal point for the local climbing community to rally around.”

Thompson has been encouraged by the local support and people’s willingness to help financially. He even had a guy from Seattle, who most likely will never use the gym, send a check to help the cause.

Because the ceiling will limit the walls to just over 12 feet in height, the gym will not use safety ropes and is therefore technically considered “bouldering.”

A non-profit venture, any and all money raised will be put back into the maintenance and improvement of the gym. The group is looking for donations of any kind, whether monetary or necessities like holds, old climbing shoes and chalk bags.

For more information, contact “christian510@gmail.com,” or visit “www.sandpointrockgym.com.”