Climb 'Like Spider Monkey' at New Gym

What's a niche sport that challenges men and women equally, caters to a wide range of ages and can't be found in South Orange County outside of Mission Viejo?

The owner of a new gym bets the answer is rock climbing.

Owner Rene Villa envisioned Truhold Climbing as a rock climbing gym built by climbers, for climbers.

The grand opening was Feb. 25, and Villa estimates more than 500 visitors came that day to clamber across some 4,000 square feet of padded vertical obstacles.

He says the courses feature a wide variety of difficulties and angles, which makes Truhold interesting for both new and experienced climbers.

The rock climbing community is growing in Orange County, Villa says. On Monday, Truhold gave out coupons through the online promotion website Groupon, only to run out Thursday. Why the early success?

"Location is key," Villa said. "There is a need for a rock climbing gym in South County. I just saw it as a great way to bring an awesome gym to this city. We’ve got nothing but positive feedback from the community."

Bouldering, the only terrain Truhold offers, is a type of rock-climbing that has no ropes or safety equipment. The concept sounds quite frightening, but the facility has 14-inch thick foam flooring to protect climbers who slip off the walls.

Employee Hayley Dobson, 24, believes this activity is not only a solid workout, but also a fun challenge.

"It's a mental and physical thing," she explains. "Bouldering is very hard because it takes a lot of strength, but it also takes a lot of mental strength. It's a mental stimulation as long as it's physical. I've been working out my entire life and it's boring. I enjoy this."

Truhold offers patrons a workout, but it also boasts a welcoming community of climbers. It’s common to see strangers look out for one another and give guidance and tips as they tackle certain routes on the walls.

Nikke Lawrence, 27, climbed for the first time at the grand opening and has returned several times since.

"Everyone is very welcoming and supportive," she said. "They actually embrace new people here. The only thing that was intimidating for me was the height, but now I feel like I can climb like a spider monkey."

The climbing community at Truhold is diverse, with climbers of different genders and ages offering each other encouragement.

Scott Sanchez, 48, has found himself spending time with climbers half his age. Yet the shared passion for bouldering is all that matters to him when it comes to being a part of the climbing community.

"It's got a nice vibe," he said. "Everyone here kind of supports one another. I think it's the common love of trying to get to the top. You'll see people that are young and fit, and they're not very strong (climbers). And you'll see people that are older and don't look as fit, but they climb very well."

Truhold Climbing is located 5 minutes off the I-5/Alicia Parkway interchange in the Viejo Business Park at the intersection of Via Fabricante and Alicia. The address is 23812 Via Fabricante, Suite A-4, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.

The daily rate is $10 for youth and $15 for adults. The facility also offers shoe rentals for $3. There are also monthly membership rates, costing $35 per month for Youth, $39 per month for students, and $49 per month for adults.