Hanging out at a climbing gym is a great way to improve fitness and climbing skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere without being outdoors in the rain or cold.

It’s a non-traditional sport combining aerobic conditioning, strength, and flexibility.

Eleven-year-old Brittany Coffman of Boise climbed at The Front Climbing Club on a day off from school in early January.

“It’s fun and builds my arm strength,” said Coffman, who is involved in many sports.

“It is important for our family to be active,” explained her mother, Cynthia Coffman, “and it makes sense to try something like this.”

There’s no shortage of places to climb in the Treasure Valley. One of the newest places is The Front Climbing Club, which opened in November 2009. It’s a good place for beginners and kids, offering birthday parties or overnight gym rental.

But it’s also a destination spot for serious climbers.

“It’s a bouldering gym,” said manager Mike Bockino. “You don’t need a belayer or anyone else. You can just come in and climb alone.”

Indoor climbing walls provide a safe, controlled environment where climbers rehearse their moves. Artificial surfaces feature natural contours with attached handholds and footholds. Beginners gain experience moving on simulated rock surfaces. Experienced climbers maintain their fitness by exercising their skills indoors during the off-season.

Climbers at indoor gyms practice bouldering without a rope.

Bouldering refers to a form of climbing where climbers move horizontally and vertically at low heights along the indoor climbing wall, or natural rock, without the protection of a rope.

It’s a way of practicing movements and has emerged into a form of climbing. Thick 10-inch pads on the floor along the wall cushion the landing if a climber falls off the wall. Portable pads are carried by climbers to bouldering sites at rock cliffs.

Top-rope climbing is another option at climbing walls or at outdoor rock cliffs. The climber’s safety rope runs from the climber’s harness to and anchor at the top of the climb, then back to a partner on the ground, called the belayer.

The belayer handles the rope as the climber ascends. The ground partner manages the rope between the anchor and the climber, and locks the rope if the climber falls to protect him or her from dropping to the ground.

It’s not all climbing at local gyms. At The Front Climbing Club, there’s also weight lifting and cardio fitness equipment.

The club also offers group bookings, climbing lessons, a youth climbing team, a retail shop, and an after-school program on Mondays from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Other facilities with an indoor climbing wall that are open to the public include the Nampa Recreation Center, Downtown and West Family YMCA, and Urban Ascent Rock Climbing Gym located in the former Boise Peak Fitness building.

These facilities provide climbing at regularly scheduled times, structured lessons and special events.

Boise State University Recreation Center's wall offers occasional community and special youth climbing events.

Members at some facilities, such as YMCAs, climb for free as part of their membership, or they pay a small fee.

Options for non-members include day passes for the climbing wall and/or fitness equipment.

Expect to pay $6 to $21 for non-member day passes at a local climbing gyms, and add another $2 to $5 for climbing harness rentals.

Natalie Bartley authored the Boise’s Best Outdoor Adventures mobile app, available through iTunes, and two trail guidebooks. Email: natbartley@earthlink.net.