Stronghold Climbing Gym

The Stronghold's community and staff includes many LGBTQIA+ climbers.  We stand with the trans community as the new executive branch relentlessly demonizes them and strips them of their rights. This bigotry abandons the American ideals of equal justice, liberty and the right to pursue happiness. Our trans community members and colleagues deserve so much better.

If you would like to climb in the community with LGBTQIA+ climbers, climb with us anytime, because there is no us without them.

The ***rcrush.wallflowers affinity group for q***r, trans, and gender diverse climbers meets tonight, 02/18, at 7:00pm - 9:00pm @ Lincoln Heights.

We are also proud to host occasional meetups of , who stopped by the gym this past Sunday, and will be returning on March 9th.

This Thursday, 02/20, at Echo Park, we have our Blue Tag Clinic & Echo Park Night Market!

If you're a V1-V2 climber, our Blue Tag Clinic is recommended for you. In this 2-hour clinic, learn climbing techniques and drills to help you climb blue tag boulder problems (and top rope routes!). Sign up here: strongholdclimb.com/ep/bluetag

EPNM is our monthly community event that highlights some of the incredible creativity and entrepreneurship in our climbing community. This month, we'll host cactusboy_la, pennygrillog, and Melooki! So come by from 6-9pm to support small business and get a bouldering session in!

It's your LAST CHANCE to join our amazing community with zero initiation--our membership sale ends today (lhttps://strongholdclimb.com/lh/membership/). Current members, don't forget you can bring a first-time gym visitor this Valentine's Day for free!

We welcome all the new members to our growing community!

We're sending out a Valentine...

To immigrants, whose work makes our country function,
To trans Angelenos, for the courage to be themselves,
To Black Angelenos, because Black lives still matter,
To LGBTQIA+ Angelenos, who know that love is love,
To women, who lost federal protection of their bodily autonomy,
To everyone struggling, during this gut-punch of the last few months.

We love you. Take care and stay strong. Better days are ahead, though we have to fight for them.

Interested in multipitch climbing outside? We have a two-session course beginning Sunday, 02/16, that can teach you the basics of climbing multi-pitch routes, including belaying from above, setting up multipitch anchors, transitioning between pitches, and more!

Click the link strongholdclimb.com/lh/multipitch for more info and to sign up!

📍The Nuwuvi, Southern Paiute Ancestral Land [Red Rock, LV, Big Bad Wolf]

Make a new friend this Bring a Friend Friday, 02/07, with our new Belay Partner Tags! Signal a potential belay partner simply by attaching this card to your harness.*

Another reason to bring a friend: we have our monthly Thai Massage Class with Christina from 7:15-8:45pm.

Another, another reason to bring a friend: we extended zero initiation to 02/14! Tell your friends!

*bringing a guest does not go towards members' use of their monthly guest pass; belay partner tags can be obtained at the front desk

Have a fear of falling when lead climbing? Take our Fear Management clinic--Take the Fall--this Wednesday, 02/05, with others who are in the same boat!

Take part in this 3-hour clinic and have honest group discussions about fears and other mental barriers. You'll learn to assess and manage real vs. perceived risk and have opportunities to conquer some fear through practice.

If interested, click the link in our bio--there's a few spots open!

The first rain of the season brought us a much-needed breath of fresh air. We thank all our members for their continued support of our gyms, which is what allowed us to extend a helping hand to folks who lost so much in the January fires.

Come move and climb with us in February--we've extended our zero initiation sale for two more weeks, so let your friends and family knows it's not too late to join our community!

Stronghold Dad Hats are back in stock!*

*Model is 5'7 and wearing 13 hats.

Over the last week, we have seen many new faces and families in our gyms who have been affected by the fires. We feel greatly honored to serve as a refuge for community members who are looking for a place to be, to connect, to rest, and to climb.

In response to the devastation caused by these fires, we are offering:

• Free membership through the end of February for those who have:
- Lost their home.
- Had their income severely impacted by fire.
• Free 5-day punch passes for firefighters

If any of this applies to you, please come in or email us at [email protected] to sign up. Also, if you haven’t gotten back on your feet by March, talk to us; we will work something out.

To all others, our zero initiation sale is still on through the end of January. Your memberships allow us to extend a helping hand for situations like these. See https://strongholdclimb.com/ep/rates/ for member benefits and more info.

We look forward to climbing our way with you into better headspaces, healthier conditions, and stronger futures.

This Outside Magazine article on the fires includes the stories of staff members at the Stronghold affected by the fires. 💔

“It Was a Horrifying Escape.” Survival Stories from the Los Angeles Wildfires. The fires in Southern California have impacted millions of lives. These outdoor athletes share their stories of evacuation, loss, and community relief amid the disaster.

Join the SCMA (https://www.rockclimbing.org/) for a talk on the Bugaboos. New date: Jan. 29.

Dear Members,

We plan to be open regular hours tomorrow, Friday, 1/10, (6 am - 11 pm in Lincoln Heights and 8 am - 11 pm in Echo Park) in anticipation of air quality improving overnight. If air quality does not improve as expected, or if the situation changes for the worse in other ways, we will close one or both locations again, and update this post.

Yoga and fitness classes at Lincoln Heights will not be held on Friday, 1/10.

Thank you to our dedicated staff for making re-opening conceivable.

We hope that you are staying as well as possible in these difficult circumstances. Please visit us when you are able, and take care until we see you again.

The Stronghold

Dear Members,

We have made the difficult decision to remain closed in Lincoln Heights tomorrow, Thursday, 1/9, due to continued poor air quality.

We will be open in Echo Park 10 am - 9 pm, with the management team behind the desk. Please take a break with us in Echo Park, even if it is just to charge your phone, shower, or use WiFi.

These fires have touched many staff and friends of the gym with their devastation. We want to get back to business as usual, but first we all have to get through the crisis. Please try to stay safe. Our thoughts are with the first responders and everyone in the fires' path.

Wishing you strength & resilience,

The Stronghold

Photo credit: Our Brewery neighbor , looking out at on this dark day.

Dear Members,

Due to the air quality in Lincoln Heights, our gym there has closed early today.Air quality in Echo Park is better, and we will be open in Echo Park until 9 pm. If you need a place to be or to shower, please visit us in Echo Park.

Many staff and community members have been affected by the fires. Our hearts go out to everyone hurting today. We hope for a break in the winds and are grateful for the many first responders doing battle.

We expect to be open tomorrow regular hours (6 am - 11 pm in Lincoln Heights,
8 am - 11 pm in Echo Park) and will update this post if that changes.

Stay safe,
The Stronghold

Photo credit: Our Brewery neighbor Kevin Break () (taken earlier today).

Beginning this Sunday, 1/12, we have a two-part Trad I & II series to help you learn the fundamentals of trad climbing.

Trad I (1/12) will cover trad gear, racking up, active versus passive gear, placing cams and nuts, building alpine draws, when to extend, and more.

Trad II (1/19) will cover trad anchors, belaying a follower, multi-pitch transitions, basic crack climbing technique, mock leading, and review and practice of all skills.

Click the link: strongholdclimb.com/lh/trad/ and sign up today!

📍The Nuwuvi, Southern Paiute Ancestral Land [Red Rock, LV, Physical Graffiti]