Natural peaks have always been by homeowners looking to enjoy views and military strategists looking to gain an advantage in cartwheel contests. Take the high ground with today’s Groupon to iRock Utah in the Salomon Center in Ogden. Choose between the following options:
- For $15, you get a climbing package for two (up to a $28 value). The package includes:
- Admission for two (up to a $20 value)
-
Shoe rental for two (an $8 value)<p>
- For $125, you get a one-hour party package for up to 15 people (a $260 value). The package includes:
- Admission for 15 (a $150 value)
- One-hour rental of a private party room (a $50 value)
- Shoe rental for each guest (a $60 value)<p>
iRock Utah sprawls a craggy, gray expanse of more than 2,520 square feet of rock faces for surface scalers to scramble up while cradled safely by a top-rope belay system. Shooting skyward to heights of up to 55 feet, the imitation mountainsides challenge climbers, and bouldering areas set aside belay ropes in exchange for guided landings from a shorter altitude onto a soft padded surface or into the arms of someone in a teddy-bear costume. To give climbers new challenges and keep the routes fresh, the climbing holds change positions every month.
The 15-person party allows private access to the climbing facility for one hour, and lets gaggles scramble across the rocky wonderland while shouting gleefully to each other, which is not allowed by the strict park rangers patrolling the outdoors. In a private room, patrons gather together afterwards to chatter about their ascent and congratulate one another on challenging climbs. Though climbers of all ages are welcome at iRock Utah, children younger than 12 should be accompanied by an adult.
Flowrider and iFly
The surfer was getting dangerously close to the crest. It was a huge wave, spanning 34 feet, but the last thing he wanted was to bail in front of his friends. Leaning into the water and weaving side to side, he kept his balance for just a few moments longer before tumbling onto the soft mats and safe bail area of the Flowrider. He'd be ready for the real thing come summer. This is just one of the adventures that await thrill-seekers-in-training at the Salomon Center. Away from the Flowrider's manmade surf, top-rope belay systems cradle climbers as they scale iRock's craggy, gray peaks. Incorporating holds that change monthly, these indoor climbing walls shoot upwards to heights of 55 feet. Alternatively, bouldering areas stay closer to the ground and exchange ropes for padded surfaces. Meanwhile, iFLY exchanges footholds for a column of high-speed, shooting air, which elevates would-be fliers to simulate the feeling of skydiving or being kicked out of a moving UFO.