Rock walls: Climb Every Fiberglass Mountain

"British climber George Mallory famously said he wanted to climb Mount Everest because it was there.But there or not, experts agree that climbing is a great workout, so if you cannot get to a mountain, fitness centers are bringing a mountain to you. Rock climbing walls have been cropping up in gyms and on playgrounds ever since Don Robinson, a British lecturer in physical education, created the first one in 1964. By 2005 at least 9 million people were estimated to be participating in the sport in the United States alone.’Indoor rock climbing is one of the best workouts you can imagine,’ said climbing instructor Abby Nelson of Chelsea Piers Sports Center, which offers climbing classes in New York City. ‘You use legs, core, arms, hands, and it gets the adrenalin running.’ In fact, Nelson said scaling the 65-square-foot indoor rock wall at Chelsea Piers can be a more efficient workout than climbing the real thing."

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5AF1XO20091116