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Article updated: 12/22/2012 9:05 AM

Climbing shifts indoors, goes ropeless on boulders

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Joyce Lu of Albany, N.Y., scales a wall at The Edge Halfmoon indoor climbing center in Halfmoon, N.Y. The number of indoor climbing gyms has exploded in the past decade.

Associated Press

Ashley Van Patten, left, belays for Kelly Harrigan at The Edge Halfmoon indoor climbing center in Halfmoon, N.Y.

Associated Press

Helen Ho of Albany, N.Y., climbs a boulder at The Edge Halfmoon indoor climbing center in Halfmoon, N.Y. The design and the weeknight crowd at The Edge reflect two big trends in climbing: toward indoor gyms and low-elevation challenges that don't require a safety rope.

Associated Press

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A giant faux boulder dominates the cavernous space inside suburban Albany's newest climbing gym, a whale of a rock with twentysomethings often clinging to its undersides, straining to mount the 16-foot-high lip through subtle balanced moves and brute strength. As often as not, climbers drop off the bumpy surfaces of the pale blue boulder. The design and weeknight crowd at The Edge reflect two big trends in climbing, toward indoor gyms and low-elevation challenges that don't require a safety rope.
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    • Joyce Lu of Albany, N.Y., scales a wall at The Edge Halfmoon indoor climbing center in Halfmoon, N.Y. The number of indoor climbing gyms has exploded in the past decade.
    • Ashley Van Patten, left, belays for Kelly Harrigan at The Edge Halfmoon indoor climbing center in Halfmoon, N.Y.
    • Helen Ho of Albany, N.Y., climbs a boulder at The Edge Halfmoon indoor climbing center in Halfmoon, N.Y. The design and the weeknight crowd at The Edge reflect two big trends in climbing: toward indoor gyms and low-elevation challenges that don’t require a safety rope.
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