It’s Virginia, you say. OK, granted it’s not California, no Sierras, but we have some pretty cool natural rock climbing places around the Old Dominion. And our sister state, West Virginia, is no redheaded stepchild when it comes to superb climbing opportunities—Seneca Rocks and the New River Gorge. But it’s late November—a little nippy, particularly for first-timers. So, let the indoor climbing season begin. (For many, did it ever end?) I made the call to Kelly at Peak Experiences in Chesterfield County to make certain their doors were open. Silly question.

Our family entourage ranged in age from honest-to-God 29 to more than a few years enrolled in Medicare. Kelly and the Peak Experiences crew helped get everyone signed in, waivered and outfitted in harnesses and shoes. Two of us were belayers, so everyone got plenty of climb time. We started off with safety procedures, knots, tie-in, communication, and then up the walls we went. We scaled routes from the easy party ones to those a bit more challenging.

We’d been climbing for about a half-hour when a shock wave of 3-foot munchkins came running through the door, parents of all shapes and sizes in tow. A birthday party! This just added to our jolly. I love it when kids are having a blast, corralled and mesmerized by the Pied Pipers—the well-trained Peak staff. There’s always the parent with eye glued to his video camera, running in and out, high and low, recording every move of HIS child while nearly annihilating a horde of celebrants shouting the birthday boy up the wall. A portly mom sat on a fake boulder next to us yelling up at her daughter, “Move your foot up. There’s a handhold on the right. Raise your left arm. Just do it!”

We were feeling pretty darn good as we walked out the door about three hours later, leaving a little skin behind. Each of us had climbed routes we thought too difficult, particularly after indulging in such abundance at the great celebratory Thanksgiving repast! Smiles all around spelled a great time, and the slightly smug swaggers suggested a boatload more confidence. And some folks get up at 4:00 a.m. to be the first at the mall?

Peak Experiences is the largest climbing gym in Virginia, and we are lucky to live a half-hour away. The good news is that there are gyms all over our state. See the map at IndoorClimbing.com. www.indoorclimbing.com/map.html?Virginia.—there’s climbing center near you.