Veteran rock climbers describe rock climbing as being like running a marathon, only you get the adrenaline rush in shorter, more intensely concentrated spurts—which can induce hallucinations about the rock climbing you back. For $30, today’s Groupon gives you taste of this rush with two rock-climbing introduction packages at Hangar 18 (a $60 value). Each package includes a 60-minute rock-climbing lesson, a full day of climbing after your lesson, and all the equipment you need . Take your pick of any of three Hangar 18 locations in Upland, Riverside, or Hawthorne.

With more than 35,000 square feet of textured climbing terrain, world-class bouldering, and massive caves featuring routes up to 70 feet long, Hangar 18’s fake rocks are fit for kings who rule the wall with an iron fist made out of gold. The new Riverside facility has one of the largest freestanding bouldering walls in the country and 10 times as much roped climbing as any other gym in Riverside. The Upland location has a massive bouldering wall, two huge top-rope areas, an enormous cave, and a 40-foot long roof climb across the ceiling, 40 feet off of the ground.

During the 60-minute lesson, rock-groping newbies will get schooled on every aspect of the climbing craft:

• The equipment: Do my legs or my arms go in this harness loop?
• Knots: How do I tie a Monkey’s Fist?
• Belaying: What is this?
• Commands: What to tell your rope-holding partner. Also, when you say, ”Whoa,” to your horse, you must only say it because you want to stop, not slow down.

Climbing in a rock gym is nothing like grappling the plywood-and-plastic climbing walls at your company picnic. Rock gym walls are covered with state-of-the-art textured products that mimic the conditions of real rocks (indentions, protrusions, overhangs, underhangs, and cracks included). Indoor climbing is a great way for someone to get started, or a perfect after-work and climb-during-inclement-weather alternative for experienced climbers who want continuous practice. Buy a few Groupons and learn how to climb with people you trust. Buy three and learn to climb with someone you’re highly suspicious of plus a friend you trust to watch your back.

Reviews

Yelpers give Hangar 18 a perfect five stars, Insider Pages reviewers give it 4.5 stars, and Citysearchers give it four. > * Wow! What a state-of-the-art climbing gym! I have been to quite a few climbing gyms and none so far compares to Hangar 18 in Riverside…I can’t say enough good things about the staff… If you are a newbie, you will definitely be in good hands. – Debbie Y., Yelp > * I absolutely love this place! from the moment i walked in i knew i was going to have a great time. state of the art facility. Huge facility! Crash pads surrounding the entire bouldering area. the friendliest and most helpful staff around. – Dustin T., Yelp > * Hanger 18 has the tallest indoor routes of any Socal indoor gym I know… The bouldering area is really good. The staff redo it frequently. I am very impressed with Hanger 18. – Janic L., Insider Pages