Vertical Hold vs Mesa Rim

If you enjoy getting a constant lecture from a person who has only been climbing for 6 months about everything you have learned in 27 years of climbing is wrong, go to Mesa Rim.  Their staff has no experience with actual climbing.  Also, be prepared to take a ticker number to get on a climb.  Who wants to go to a gym where you have to wait 20 minutes for a single top rope climb?  I will never go back to Mesa Rim.

My personal annoyance with VH was just that the routes would stay up forever.  Because the gyms aren't massive and the routes are short then it would be nice if they updated the routes more often but they would take 3 months, sometimes 4 or 5 months to reset a route.  But it all depends what you're looking for I suppose.  Mesa is super crowded at peak hours and pricey and people are less chill etc, but still worth it IMO.  More routes, longer routes, setting happens more often, more variety of holds, more fun routes with more diversity of styles.  Plus once they open the new san marcos location next year there is a tiny chance that maybe the other locations will get a bit less busy.

Mark Fletcher- SOOOO true.

       I'm glad that I am not the only person who feels that the Mesa Rim staff are off their rocker! I pulled my membership a few years back along with my family's memberships after getting into an argument with a staff member who does not climb but was trying to correct my wife's belaying as i'm up on lead!!! Talk about being unsafe. I personally really like the Grotto. Much better vibe and MUCH better boulder problems being set there. VH staff seemed very friendly and helpful the times I've been there. Best advice I can give is get a punch card to different gyms and try them all out. Happy gym hunting. Lots of real rock in SD to climb during the week as well. It's free AND you can enjoy a beer as you belay your partner. Try that at Mesa Rim and see how long you last :)

+1 for incompetency of certain Mesa rim staff. Some know what they are talking about and the others..... Well probably have never touched a rock outside.

Mounir F wrote: who needs a gym membership when you have world class cragging on perfect rock at the beautiful and solitary Mission gorge right in your backyard ?

This.

Mesa Rim is where I started climbing at. Problems are fun and reset frequently but going at peak hours is absolutely horrendous. Also, having to climb alongside their kids climbing team sometimes drive me crazy

VH locations are cheaper but the holds and routes are of lower quality. Almost feels like those mobile climbing walls you'll find at fairs and whatnot sometimes

The Grotto probably has the best vibe and problems imo. I’ve met a few people here I’ve ended up going outdoors with. Only one location however, w/ middle of the pack pricing

I used to be a member at Mesa Rim but I switched over to Vertical Hold within the past couple of months. I prefer the height of the walls at MR, but the crowds and the increase in monthly prices made me switch. If you live in your van, you'll probably like MR because they have shower accommodations and VH does not.

Overall, Vertical Hold is kinda ghetto. The rock ground really bothers some people but it's not really a deal killer for me (reminds me of being outside? lol). I like the route setting at VH more actually; the grading feels more realistic to outside IMO. They do lag on changing it up but they are getting better with that. They do have auto-belays that are nice to jump on when you want to get a couple of quick laps in. If you need a partner you'll most likely have someone come up and ask you if you need a belay/want to climb, unlike Mesa Rim...they use an announcement speaker and it genuinely feels more like a fucking dating service.

This is all personal preference though. Both are good gyms.

Jake R wrote: My thoughts,
I’m a member at Mesa rim. Before vertical hold took over, solid rock was where I climbed. When I was at solid rock (now vertical hold) i really felt that “community”. Granted this was when I Didn’t have a kid so i went consistently at the same time. Idk what the vibe is at vertical hold, but the longer routes and location of Mesa rim is why i switched.
Now that I regularly go to Mesa “with a 3 yo” I really enjoy the vibe. Sometimes the music selection is fucking garbage and the after work rush there does suck really bad. I also really like the current crew they have there, everyone is chill and friendly (except one chick) a year ago I wouldn’t have been able to say that about the crew. My gripe with the mission valley gym is that there’s an entire wall devoted to speed climbing which rarely gets touched and we’re not allowed to use it. WTF. And now there’s a mini version of the speed climbing route for peewees that’s blocking half of the short wall. 

No more free grotto buddy passes for u ingrate ! Lol mesa rim = hella lame corporate non climb vibe seemingly run by Gaga’s lil monsters.  Having climbed at 30+ gyms over the years mesa rim was the worse in terms of staff attitude and general Ca douche baginess. If u happen to spot a mesa rim tag on a  harness near you , you will fully understand this warning! 

Thirdly, the finger crack at Mesa Rim Mission Valley ain't 12+.  

Yeah it is.

Cryin Sheridan wrote:

No

Have you climbed it? 

Jake R wrote: Yeah it is.

Try the Pirate at Suicide (12+ tips/fingers) and report back to us.

Cryin Sheridan wrote:

I got about 5/6 of the way up before I had to hang, and Lord knows I don’t even come close to climbing 11+, much less 12+

You climbed the 11 part of it, the top section is 12 (indoor 12 obvs). Compared to the other gym grades its 12+. Compared to the Pirate, the biggest sandbag at suicide, obvs not.

To chime in about Mesa Rim not having a "community". That is plain old wrong. Its a super knit community. Whoever got that impression might want to take a couple more visits.
To chime in about Mesa Rim being crowded: Yup its nuts. BUT you get to meet a TON of locals. If you are new to the area it is a great place to make a lot of friends fast.

Thomas Claiborne wrote:

Try the Pirate at Suicide (12+ tips/fingers) and report back to us.

Not if you aid it ;-*

crag cat wrote:

You climbed the 11 part of it, the top section is 12 (indoor 12 obvs). Compared to the other gym grades its 12+. Compared to the Pirate, the biggest sandbag at suicide, obvs not.

To chime in about Mesa Rim not having a "community". That is plain old wrong. Its a super knit community. Whoever got that impression might want to take a couple more visits.
To chime in about Mesa Rim being crowded: Yup its nuts. BUT you get to meet a TON of locals. If you are new to the area it is a great place to make a lot of friends fast.

Really? It seems consistently hard within the realm of hard climbing at Suicide. 

Thomas Claiborne wrote:

Really? It seems consistently hard within the realm of hard climbing at Suicide. 

And you’ve climbed the pirate I assume? 

Ziggy Chalkdust wrote: mets fans v. yankees fans.

Cryin Sheridan wrote:

If you knew me and how I was climbing, you'd know I don't one-hang 5.12+ finger crack.  Don't take it personally.  It's not 12+.

Okay let’s remove that shiny metal placard next to it. Cryin Sheridan lets climb it. 

Jake R wrote:

Okay let’s remove that shiny metal placard next to it. Cryin Sheridan lets climb it. 

If you climbed at woodson you'd realize this is no where near 5.12+. It is like Jaws just longer. So I think the original grade of Jaws is appropriate. 5.10c

Thomas Claiborne wrote:

Try the Pirate at Suicide (12+ tips/fingers) and report back to us.

Dude... the Pirate is a face climb! Could not get a finger into it. Unless the pin pounders have returned. 

Tell that to Tony...