Indoor Rock Climbing – Old Town
Hands down the most popular climbing wall in Chicago is FFC Old Town’s THELEDGE. Open to FFC members and non-members alike, everyone from the inquisitive novice to the seasoned expert will find a passion worth exploring.
We provide a complete climbing program and an intense climbing experience. Classes taught by a team of seasoned and talented instructors will develop your skills at the fastest pace possible. A wily route-setting team works behind the scenes daily to create an extensive array of stimulating level-by-level challenges that develop the most technically capable climbers anywhere. All in a friendly, comfortable and accessible club setting!
On a typical day you will find 50 to 60 super-fun bouldering problems of widely ranging difficulty – fresh, well marked, and easy to locate. An equal number of toprope routes, considered the best in the country, lurk above, challenging you to unravel their myriad mysteries… and in so doing, become that better climber you want to be! All routes offer appropriate challenges at whatever level you are looking for, from entry level challenges well into expert stages.
For kids, our Kids’ Climbing camp will keep the youngsters from climbing the walls at home. Bring them to THELEDGE! Treat them to the birthday party they’ve been dreaming about!
How about the staff’s workday routine? Is it time to pick it up a notch? Ask us about our corporate team building activities!
THELEDGE, where Chicago’s rock climbing community hangs out!
Open Climbing Wall Hours
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THELEDGE is open* for member and non-member use whenever the club is open, even when the wall is not staffed.
* Climbers who are not yet Certified at THELEDGE cannot use the ropes. Until then, please limit yourself to bouldering below the red line.
note: Children under age 16 may only climb when the wall is staffed under staff supervision.
Staffed Climbing Wall Hours
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| Mondays | 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
| Tues - Thurs | 3:45 PM - 10:00 PM |
| Fridays | 3:45 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Sat - Sun | 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
Open Certification Lesson Times:
Monday - Friday -- Climbers may arrive as early as 5:00PM but no later than 6:30PM
Saturday - Sunday -- Climbers may arrive as early as 1:00PM but no later than 3:00PM
Both Climber and Belayer must be Certified by THELEDGE rock climbing staff. All Top Rope and Belay Certifications are on a walk-in, first come-first serve basis and subject to instructor availability. No appointments. Novices should allow 60 - 90 minutes for a lesson. Climbers proficient in belaying and knot tying will need much less time. All Certifications include a free second visit for non-members. |
6-Week Adult Climbing Classes
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All classes are 1 lesson per week for 6 weeks plus 6 open visits within the 6 week period.
Shoe rental is included. Harnesses and belay devices are provided.
Lessons are approximately 2 hours long.
Class sizes are limited.
Class schedule is subject to change.
Price: $100 member/$150 non-member.
No refunds are allowed.
Register by calling FFC Old Town at 312-640-1235.
Registrations must be completed prior to start date.
There is $25 late fee for same-day registrations.
See class descriptions below.
For more information contact tpetraitis@ffc.com.
beginning Monday, 6.04.12
6:00p BOULDERING 2
6:30p LEAD
7:00p BEGINNER
8:00p BOULDERING 1
beginning Tuesday, 6.05.12
6:00p BETA 4
6:30p BETA 1
7:00p BEGINNER
8:00p BETA 5/6
beginning Wednesday, 6.06.12
6:00p BETA/LEAD HYBRID IV
6:00p BOULDERING 3
7:00p BEGINNER
8:00p BETA 3
beginning Thursday, 6.07.12
6:00p BOULDERING 3
6:30p BETA 1
7:00p BEGINNER
8:00p BETA 1+
beginning Friday, 6.08.12
7:00p BEGINNER
beginning Saturday, 6.09.12
11:00a BETA 3+
11:00a ADVANCED
11:00a BEGINNER
1:00p INTERMEDIATE
beginning Sunday, 6.10.12
11:00a BEGINNER
BEGINNER and SMALL GROUP BEGINNER - A thorough introduction to indoor toprope climbing and bouldering, emphasizing the safe and proper use of climbing equipment, knot tying, and reliable belaying skills. Includes Certification (in Week 2). Fee: $100/members, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
INTERMEDIATE - A course for anyone who has already been certified and knows what fun climbing is, focused on improving climbing and advanced belaying techniques and developing an understanding of what it will take to climb outdoors. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
ADVANCED - A more rigorous course for climbers who have completed the Intermediate class, focused on technique and strength training. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
BETA 1 - A unique approach to improving decision-making and efficiency while climbing. This is a small group format for climbers working into the 5.7 to 5.8 (easy/moderate) difficulty range. Instruction focuses on the best move-by-move options to ascend the newest routes on the FFC-Old Town wall and begins to develop useful route-reading and visualization skills. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
BETA 2 - BETA format for climbers working into the 5.9 (moderate) difficulty range. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
BETA 3 - BETA format for climbers working into the 5.10a/b (moderately hard) difficulty range. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
BETA 4 - BETA format for climbers working into the 5.10c/d (hard) difficulty range. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
BOULDERING 1 - Pure cordless free climbing blending raw power with intelligent technique focusing on V0-/V0/V0+ (easy-moderate) problems. Small group format. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
BOULDERING 2 - Pure cordless free climbing blending raw power with intelligent technique focusing on V0+/V1 (moderate) problems. Small group format. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
BOULDERING 3 - Pure cordless free climbing blending raw power with intelligent technique focusing on V1/V2 (hard) problems. Small group format. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
LEAD - Sport Lead Climbing in all it's magnificence! Lead Belaying. Anchoring. Rappelling. Everything you'll need to know to take it outdoors and nothing less! Small group format. Fee: $100/Members and Pass holders, $150/non-members. Includes 6 lessons plus 6 open visits.
LEAD MULTI-PITCH - Our most advanced course focuses on basic necessary skills needed to tackle long, full-day outdoor multi-pitch sport and trad climbs with speed and safety as the common link between climbers. Some additional equipment required. Fee: $125/Members and Pass holders, $175/Non-members. Includes 7 lessons plus 6 open visits.
Pricing for Members
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| Belay Certification Lesson |
$35 (includes free shoe rental) |
| Climbing Shoe Rental Fee |
$5 |
| Climbing Wall Fee |
FREE! |
| One-Hour Private Lessons* |
$35 |
|
Please contact Tom at tpetraitis@ffc.com for more information. |
Pricing for Non-Members
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| Belay Certification Lesson |
$35 (includes shoe rental and second visit) |
| Regular Climbing Wall Fee |
$15 |
| Students (ID Required) |
$12 |
| Fridays |
$12 |
| Kids |
$12 |
| 10-Day Pass/Expires in 60 days |
$100 |
| 10-Day Pass/Expires in 120 days |
$125 |
| 20-Day Pass/Expires in 60 days |
$150 |
| 20-Day Pass/Expires in 90 days |
$175 |
| 20-Day Pass/Expires in 120 days |
$200 |
| 40-Day Pass/Expires in 365 days |
$400 |
| Climbing Shoe Rental |
$5 |
| 1-Hour Private Lesson |
$50 |
6-Week Beginner Rock Climbing Classes (in association with Chicago Sport and Social Clubs)
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6-Week Beginner Group Class* $150 / Please call the club to register for an upcoming session.
* Fee includes six weekly lessons, six additional open visits, and equipment.
Climbing Programs for Kids
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Note: Children under age 16 may only use the climbing wall under staff supervision.
2012 Kids' Climbing Camp - THELEDGE's Kids' Climbing Camp is a terrific year-round feature of Old Town FFC's climbing school. Open to kids (recommended) ages 5 to 13, the Camp runs 6 days a week and parents can pick a day (or days) of the week that fits their child's busy schedule! Instructors lead kids through all sorts of imaginative climbing games and challenges including everything from make-your-own short bouldering paths to pseudo-mountaineering rescue adventures and a swinging tree house rope ladder. Each day's class size is limited. Kids can be enrolled into any day of the week that has an opening. Parents can begin a child's 10-week enrollment whenever they like into any open weekday class (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays from 3:45 to 5:15PM) or into the a weekend class (Saturdays or Sundays from 9:30-11:00am). Enrollment is $150 for 10 consecutive weekly visits on the selected day of the week or $200 for kids who want to climb twice a week on two selected days. Thursdays and Sundays may be used as open days for kids not enrolled on these days who have missed a lesson and would like to make it up. A trial visit is $35 - which can be applied to a full enrollment fee on the day of the trial. For more information please contact Tom Petraitis at tpetraitis@ffc.com.
Kid's Single Private Lesson - a reduced Private Lesson fee for kids (outside of the Kids' Camp) - $35/hr.
Birthday Parties!
Corporate Team Building Events
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This program offers a customized event designed to foster a non-competitive team-oriented approach to problem solving. Climbing challenges require participants to work on Reliance, Achievement, Excellence and Trust.
For more details please contact tpetraitis@ffc.com.
Toprope Anchor Setting Course at Devil's Lake
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Group trips organized by Tom Petraitis (FFC-OT Climbing Wall Manager) to Devil's Lake, Wisconsin include camping and in depth guidance in the safe setting of solid toprope anchors. Trips usually include two nights camping and two days of anchor setting, instruction, and climbing. Fee varies with group size.
For more details please contact tpetraitis@ffc.com.
