End of an era.

Rock Sport the original climbing gym in Reno NV will be shutting its door on the 13th this month. Rock Sport was born from Sierra Mountaineer back in the mid 90’s. At one time this gym had such talents as Mike Carville, Jay Anderson aka Jay bro, Jim Arnold aka 426, Jason Campbell, Tiffany Levine, Tommy Herbert, Steve Glotfelty, and Mike Sokoloff setting the routes.   Sierra Mountaineer moved and closed after years of being a great Mountaineering store.  It was worth more to the owners to take a tax lose than to stay open.  In the mid late 90 REI came to Reno it opened its doors with a big climbing supply. REI soon put the other local shops out of business.   REI now carries less equipment than I have in my personal gear room. By  the late 90s Rock Sport was a separate business and was eventually  sold.   Rock Sport could not afford to keep its talent  the once great staff went off to do bigger and better things. Now twenty years latter the gym simply can not compete with Mesa Rim.  Although I'm not much of a gym climber I went for one last session this evening.  I had not been in the gym in years. Sad to see a part of the Reno Climbing community gone.

Times they are a changing.  Here you can read the closing statement.

http://www.rocksportreno.com/

“Seasons change with the scenery
 Weaving time in a tapestry
 Won't you stop and remember me
 At any convenient time?
 Funny how my memory skips while looking over manuscripts
 Of unpublished rhyme
 Drinking my vodka and lime
 I look around
 Leaves are brown, now
 And the sky is a hazy shade of winter
 Look around
 Leaves are brown
 There's a patch of snow on the ground
 Look around
 Leaves are brown
 There's a patch of snow on the ground”

Years ago, Rocksport is what got me into climbing--meeting Doug and embarking on a life-long pursuit of rock...
I had some bad times there, and some good times.
End of an era indeed...

Travis if I had to judge the success of Rock Sport and I used you as the measuring stick I would say it has been a very successful gym in turning out competent climbers! You have a great climbing resume.  I’m sure we must crossed paths at some point in time at the crags. Here are some pic’s from the gym I hope they bring back good times.  Stay Safe

Lon

If it wasn’t for Rocsport, I’d never have climbed. I work at Mt Rose and my pass, as well as my daughter’s, we’re unknowingly blacked out during Christmas break. We didn’t know how to spend our days, and my daughter wanted to learn how to climb; the rest is history. Just lead a group through the Tahoe area, from AZ. Thank you Christian for encouraging us. 

RIP Rocksport, I burned a lot of positive energy there!