PLASTIC PARADISE: NORTH WALL - CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS

Where is it?
824 South Main Street, suite 106 Crystal Lake, IL 60012

What’s in it?
We have 15-plus toprope stations and a sick bouldering area with an upper and lower cave (terrain varies from slab, to vertical, to overhanging). For sport climbing, a 30-foot-plus roof beckons you to clip draws all day long, and we have three cracks (mostly hand jams). There’s also a full pro shop with everything you need to get started climbing or expand your trad rack, plus the latest climbing books and DVDs. Our slack line is usually up, the routes are constantly new, we have vegan cookies in stock, and there are members in the gym any time of the day waiting to get in on a session with you!

Standout Feature?
Our back wall — one of our steeper walls, it also yields great highball bouldering. Beware the routes with crossed tape! You will be humbled.

Any comps?
We annually host ABS and SCS comps. Age Requirements: 14 to belay; any age to climb.

Hours:
Monday-Friday: 12-10pm
Saturday: 9am-9pm
Sunday: 12-6pm

Contact: climbnorthwall.com; (815) 356-6855; northwall@sbcglobal.net

THE LOCAL

Name: Kristen Myren

Age: 17

What do you like most about the gym?
I love the people I climb with; they’re like my second family. We have consistent regular members, plus new faces. I get to meet new friends all the time and watch the first-timers become regulars. When are the best sessions? Once the morning and afternoon kiddy minions are gone, regulars hit the gym mid- to late-weekday evenings and weekend nights.

Any insider information we should know?
No amount of information can protect anyone from the characters here :)

Rate the gym on a scale of 1-10:
11.375: it’s my home gym! But for someone who doesn’t have an umbilical cord to the gym maybe a seven, because vertically the walls are only about 20 feet high. On the other hand, bouldering here is great and we have tons of highball problems.