"When I first walked in, I felt like I was entering Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The boulders look like giant Everlasting Gobstoppers!" climber Dennis Wright exclaims. It may not be a magical chocolate factory, but The Circuit is definitely a wonderland. Built by a handful of local, dedicated boulderers, this new bouldering destination in Portland, Oregon offers 10,000+ square feet of wall space, over 300 boulder problems, and one big, positive attitude. The Circuit recently opened its doors late September to answer the high demand for quality indoor bouldering in Portland. "The Portland bouldering community has needed a climbing gym like this for years. It's been a long wait, but The Circuit has been worth it," says member John Tran. Marcy Tomi is ecstatic about the bouldering paradise, "This place is amazing. Great vibe, super spacious, and tons of unique routes. It's a world of endless challenges with a soft, super spongy floor." The layout is very open and roomy, with boulders ranging in size from 11 to 16 feet.

Matt Slayton, the operations manager, is keen on making sure the gym's 300+ problems change on a regular basis to keep this boulder field fresh and fun and he can back it up. "I'll be here until three in the morning everyday if I have to, to make sure the problems are being rotated out," he says. But don't worry, he shouldn't have to stay that late with the highly motivated and friendly staff he's assembled to keep the joint running smoothly.

Yes, 300+ problems. When you walk in the front door, the "it" hits you. Not the 10,000+ square-foot space, but how cozy and friendly it feels. When walking upon this urban crag, the first thing you encounter is the Kiddie boulder. The Kid's topout boulder features three faces with terrain varying from slabs to overhang. The most noticeable feature on the Kid's boulder is the slide. To heck with down climbing or a walk-off, whiz down the backside of a boulder on your rear!

The next feature encountered is the Orange boulder. The Orange boulder's front roof section juts out like a heinous overbite, with a low, steep roof turning onto an eight-foot headwall. This boulder holds some very interesting problems and should be a part of everyone's circuit. One of its faces starts a little slabby, and its last five feet are knocked back at a 30 degree angle - which really enhances that "whoa" feeling a boulderer should experience at least once during every session.

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The chocolate factory for climbers

The big Red wall sits across from the Orange boulder. Angled at 35 degrees, the problems on this wall are long, proud and tall. The Red wall has expansive overhangs, but can be conquered by climbers of any ability level so long as courage is with them. When you sit down to start a problem here, you know that in the next 15 feet there will be no relief from the terrain to save you from the pump that's coming.

Next we have the sleek, Black topout boulder. It sits silently, like a dark submarine in deep water, and it lures climbers up its overhanging, bulging sides. This semi truck sized boulder, between 10 and 13 feet tall, is an awesome part of the boulder field and will either help you hone that elusive manteling skill, or give you scabs on your stomach from bellying up like a beached whale.

Hold on tight, surf's up! The mighty Wave wall is waiting. Over 40 feet across and 15 feet tall, it transitions from a slight overhang to a steep, rounded belly. Like the imposing grey sides of a warship, this wall looks ready to battle it out. Many battle cries come from the endurance required to finish the superb, long traverses hosted by this wall.

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