GAYLETTER

When I was a kid there’s nothing I wouldn’t climb: bookshelves, roofs, trees, buildings, I was like a little monkey. I would spend hours sitting atop things staring out at the world around me. I felt safe and free up high. I’d almost forgotten what fun it was to climb until last week when I made my way through the snowy streets to the best and biggest indoor rock climbing center in New York. Brooklyn Boulders is a 22,000 square foot climbing gym in a former garage in Gowanus. It has 100’s of climbing paths for everyone from beginners to those closer to Sylvester Stallone in Cliffhanger. It’s a really comfortable space, but what really got me excited is that they have 4 walls with auto belay machines. That means you can climb by yourself and rely on the machine to lower you gentle back down to the ground (it’s pretty scary the first time you try it — forcing yourself to trust the device — but you soon get the hang of it). Chelsea Piers may have a higher wall at 50ft, but Brooklyn Boulders wins on value for money. It’s $25 for a day pass and $11 to rent all the equipment. The cost goes down if you buy a 10 day pass, or if you’re a student. Another plus, the place is filled with plenty of hot young dudes hanging upside down from the walls. If you’re lucky, one might accidentally fall on you.  —tom