Calgary Climbing Centre Chinook

This place is a blast, plenty of high wall climbs and a nice bouldering section. The place can be quite busy but the community that comes in is very friendly, willing to chat and give advice and everyone waits their turn.
The routes are changed frequently and the staff do a great job making sure that they cover the bases from beginners to advanced. They also have plenty of hear but make sure you need a harness as I just left mine in a corner while I bouldered.

Imagine this scenario. You’ve been sitting at home by yourself way too long, staring at the same internet meme over and over again. Arguing with some dick on some thread over the aesthetics of NO ONE ELSE CARES ABOUT. Your fingertips smell like… no they’ve TURNED into nacho chips. And the last 50 pictures in your instagram have been nothing but selfies of yourself, in your skivvies, unshaven. And your pets have gotten sick of you (including the fishes). AND your girlfriend/​boyfriend) is a series of posters and wallpapers. Not happy with this grim state? Then you need a HOBBY. A constructive one at that. At least, one that gets you out of your hole.
Enter the ever so popular rock climbing and bouldering. Enter Calgary Climbing Center. Enter me doing a review about the CCC.
For a long time, I’ve wanted to try bouldering, which was a shorter version of rock climbing but involved more physically challenging climbs. When a friend invited me out, I said «why the heck NOT?» and came along. But through a misunderstanding I ended up in the WRONG location. Unfortunately I had already paid my drop-​in and rental fee so I had to make the most out of it by myself.
Luckily I made buddies with the guy behind the counter who took an interest in my BJJ workout shirts. We traded secrets of the «trade» and he gave me a few starting pointers while I told him how to defend himself against female attackers (what women can’t be violent assailants? Sexist pigs).
So enough about me. CCC is a very busy location but with a large group of people climbing and bouldering, there seemed to be a lot of room to move around. I was mostly in the bouldering section and had fun climbing till my limbs felt like rusty pipe cleaners. They had crash pads that went within the whole bouldering area which made the place feel like one awesome adult playpen.
The drop in prices were about average what it would cost to drop into a gym as a non-​member. Rentals were ok, the shoes were neat but weren’t too comfortable, which from what I understand is what makes good climbing shoes.
I’ll certainly be back because this is a location close to home.

I went to this place for something fun and new to do with some friends. The instructor was really great — he gave us very detailed instructions and explained all the safety measures to us. I would’ve liked to have climb a bit more, because the instruction took up quite a bit of time, but since the activity can be dangerous if not done well, I do appreciate the thoroughness. My one criticism about the climbing center was just that we were asked to take our shoes off at the front entrance, however, the entrance floor itself was a little dirty.

CCC is great. Really clean, great routes and a great bouldering wall.
Different from the Crux, this place is always really busy — which is great and also not so great.
You will always meet someone here if you would like to meet people who climb. Everyone has always been super friendly, is always willing to help you out if you need a belay partner or some tips or whatever. It’s great!
Sometimes later in the evenings (8pm-​ish), it almost gets TOO busy. I suggest getting there a bit early (around 6) so you can have some time to climb before the rush.
And if you’re searching for good looking, friendly people — you got ‘em. Every. Time.