WANT TO KNOW
WHAT MAKES US TICK?
Our Mission
ASCEND fosters an equitable, holistic, community-based, climbing, fitness, and yoga experience.
We exist to bring people together through movement and shared experience. From world-class climbing walls to inclusive programming, we aim to create spaces where everyone feels they belong — whether they’re projecting their first V0 or sending their lifelong goal.
ASCEND is more than a gym — it’s a third place where people come to recharge, reconnect, and rediscover what makes them feel strong. Our team is passionate about fostering authentic relationships, supporting healthy lifestyles, and creating environments that are vibrant, safe, and welcoming to all.
We believe that thriving individuals build thriving communities. That’s why we operate with a long-term focus: balancing growth with sustainability, excellence with equity, and ambition with care. Our business is designed to be a benefit to our employees, members, and neighborhoods — not just a source of profit.
We see ourselves as part of a larger ecosystem — of climbing, recreation, and community well-being — throughout western Pennsylvania and beyond. We honor our role as stewards of this ecosystem through environmental responsibility, advocacy for access, and a commitment to human rights, inclusion, and respect.
Our Values
The values we live by are simple.
The values we live by are simple — and they shape every climb we set, every class we teach, and every interaction we have.
Accessible – We strive to ensure equitable access to climbing and to make ASCEND approachable for everyone, from curious newcomers to lifelong climbers.
Authentic – We show up honestly, put our hearts into our work, and stay true to our roots.
Passionate – We’re lifelong climbers, movers, and community builders — dedicated to stewardship, sustainability, and collaboration.
Hardworking – We put in the effort every day, honoring that strength comes in many forms.
Our Story
LOCALLY FOUNDED. LOCALLY ROOTED.
In 2011, friends and climbing partners Alex, Paul, and Aaron took their shared passion for climbing and community and built something new: ASCEND Pittsburgh. What started as a dream to create a home for local climbers has grown into a regionally rooted company serving the broader western Pennsylvania community.
Over the years, ASCEND has evolved from a single gym into a multi-location organization with a clear purpose — to make climbing, yoga, and fitness more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for everyone in our region. While our business has grown, our heart has never left home.
ASCEND is proudly funded by more than 30 local family and friend investors and supported by local financing — proof that our community believes in us as much as we believe in them.
Today, our focus is clear: to operate a vibrant, sustainable network of climbing gyms that reflect the values of western Pennsylvania — hardworking, welcoming, and community-driven. We’re committed to growing thoughtfully, staying grounded in our mission, and serving our members, employees, and partners with integrity and care.
We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but we do know this: we’ll keep climbing — together — right here at home.
