Schedule

The ASCEND community offers a wide range of events and clubs to help you achieve your goals, on and off the walls. Sure, climbing is the best thing ever, but you never know who or what else you might fall in love with. So step out of your comfort zone and join in on the fun! Click on each class title in the calendar below for a full description.

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

Equity

ASCEND's Equity + Outreach department has a lot going on these days. Learn more and get involved!

EQUITY + OUTREACH

Clubs
Queer Scouts

Queer Scouts is a LGBTQ climbing club, with the goal of creating connection and a safer and more inclusive outdoors community. Just look for the Queer Scout mascot, the tiny rainbow unicorn! Meet-ups are from 7p-9p at ASCEND Pittsburgh + ASCEND Youngstown on various days, so be sure to check the schedule and register below. See you there!

Club Captains:

  • Pittsburgh: Mische Holland, Cat Schrading
  • Youngstown: Jenna Johnston

Facebook | Instagram

Not an ASCEND member? Enjoy a discounted $10 Club Day Pass while attending these meetups!

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

Women On Walls (WOW)

An ASCEND social club where women climb, learn, and WOW each other! Just look for the WOW mascot, an adorable stuffed cactus! Meet-ups are from 7p-9p at ASCEND Pittsburgh (South Side) unless otherwise noted. Stay tuned for meet-up dates at ASCEND Youngstown! 

Club Captains: Nancy Tran, Lora Waybright, Patrice Lehocky 

Facebook | Instagram

Not an ASCEND member? Enjoy a discounted $10 Club Day Pass while attending these meetups!

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

MC1R (Many Colors | 1 Route)

ASCEND’s MC1R group is a gym-affiliated club that serves as an inclusive space for people of color and ethnic minorities to climb together and explore the outdoors while supporting each other mentally and physically. Anyone is welcome to join (PoC and white people alike), and all are encouraged to participate, expand their community, and develop climbing skills while also engaging in conversation around racial and social justice. This group believes that systemic racism and oppression is prevalent in all settings and that it is important to intentionally create opportunities to challenge and rewrite that narrative. By having these conversations in a setting that is comfortable and openminded, and that is rooted in an enjoyable practice, participants can anchor these difficult issues to a more relatable context.

We encourage people of all backgrounds to ask questions, participate in the monthly conversations, and learn about the group. For further information, talk to our staff, or email the MC1R coordinator, Rachel Stachelrodt. 

Facebook | Instagram

Not an ASCEND member? Enjoy a discounted $10 Club Day Pass while attending these meetups!

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

Cycling Club

Each month we will host a group ride with various distances and speeds. Pick the best fit for you then stick around after for some climbing. Weekly rides can be generated from anyone in our cycling community. Simply make a post on our ASCEND Cycling Club Strava group with where you’ll start from, how far you’ll go and what your expected pace will be. Current rides from the Pittsburgh, PA location only, but let us know if you'd like to spearhead a Youngstown, OH chapter! ASCEND Cycling Club is also proud to be a part of the Big EL at ASCEND BikeMS team. Looking for a way to get in miles, have fun, and give back?

If you're interested in becoming an ASCEND Cycling Club Ambassador or help kick things off in Youngstown, send us a message to help build the group's presence. In order to participate in Cycling Club you must complete the ASCEND Clubs Waiver - different than the ASCEND Facility Waiver. Registration is merely a courtesy to give us a heads up. If you don't register, but show up, cool! If you register and bail, no worries!

Club Captains: Eli Johnson, Emma O'Brien 

Facebook | Instagram | Strava

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

Run Club

ASCEND Run Club formed in Pittsburgh in April 2017 and was later expanded in Youngstown in March of 2022. We're a casual group of climbers who are also born to run! Any and all are welcome and do not need to be a member of ASCEND to participate.

PITTSBURGH

  • Details: We meet every Monday evening near ASCEND Pittsburgh's front desk at 5:45p to mingle and warm up, and take off promptly at 6p! If you're late, you better be fast ;) Typically, everyone starts together and links with similar paces for a 4 mile or 8 mile run around the South Side, ending back at ASCEND. 
  • Connect: Facebook | Google | Strava
  • Club Captain: Ben Kinley

YOUNGSTOWN

  • Details: We meet every Monday evening at the parking lot near the suspension bridge in Mill Creek Park at 5:45p to mingle and warm up, and take off promptly at 6p! If you're late, you better be fast ;) Typically, everyone starts together and links with similar paces for a 2, 4, or more mile run around Mill Creek Park. 
  • Connect: Facebook | Google | Strava
  • Club Captain: Joshua DeChant

Facebook | Google | Strava

In order to participate in Run Club you must complete the ASCEND Clubs Waiver - different than the ASCEND Facility Waiver. Registration is merely a courtesy to give us a heads up. If you don't register, but show up, cool! If you register and bail, no worries!

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

Sustainability Club

The ASCEND Sustainability Club is dedicated to making the world a better place through environmental stewardship, community engagement, and the promotion of sustainable practices.

Club Values: Sustainability. Environmental justice. Responsible outdoor practices. Curiosity. Respect.

Club Captain: Gretchen Uhrinek

Not an ASCEND member? Enjoy a discounted $10 Club Day Pass while attending these meetups!

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

Book Club

The ASCEND Book Club is a way for members of the community to read climbing and climbing-adjacent books together and share our thoughts and experiences! Whether you’re an avid reader or haven’t read a book in years we encourage you to join us! Meet ups will be 6-7pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. You don’t need to be a member to participate, and we (the Club Captains) are super excited to meet you all! PLEASE REGISTER BELOW!

Club Expectations: Ideally, club members will participate for an entire book, but anyone is welcome drop in. It is ok to not follow the reading schedule, as it is merely a suggestion to guide discussion during the meetings. The Club Captains are happy to lead discussions, but participants can also bring discussion questions! Join our Google Group so we can stay in touch in between meetings! This will be our main mode of communication.

ASCEND will aim to purchase 4 of each book, available for members to borrow. Then, we'll add them to our growing gym libraries for others to enjoy for years to come!

TLDR (which is funny for a book club!):
- Participation is FREE. Non-ASCEND members may purchase a discounted $10 Club Day Pass if they wish to climb on the day of the club meetup.
- We meet from 6-7p on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Changes to this schedule will be shown below, so be sure to check back and register for each meetup.
- Join our Google Group so we can stay in touch in between meetings!
- In person only (for now) in ASCEND South Side's Parties + Groups room on the mezzanine level.

If you haven't already, read up on how to create your new online account and get our new app HERE.

Otherwise, view the schedule and book classes and programs HERE.

Volunteers

We are seeking enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to contribute to our community engagement groups, The ASCEND Community Advisory Board (CAB) and ASCEND Clubs, as a CAB Member, as an ASCEND Club Captain, or a Youth + Adaptive Event Volunteer. CAB Board Members and Club Captains should be dedicated to their roles for a consecutive 12 months. As a "thank you" for supporting the ASCEND Community, both CAB Board Members and Club Captains will receive a free membership and $50 in ASCEND Merchandise.

LEARN MORE + APPLY

The ASCEND Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a community-led group that works alongside ASCEND's management to create an equitable, just, and safe environment for all. The CAB presents tangible and specific internal recommendations and external actions to better engage with the local community, create new opportunities in climbing and recreation, and raise awareness around issues of social and racial injustice. The CAB holds ASCEND accountable to its goals and operations and aims to be a net positive force not only in the climbing community, but in the city of Pittsburgh.

ASCEND Club Captains have the responsibility of hosting regularly scheduled meet ups at the gym, recruiting new members, and creating a welcoming and safe space for those who join. Our current clubs are MC1R, Queer Scouts, Women on Walls, Run Club, Cycling Club, Sustainability Club, Volunteer Club, Book Club (coming soon!), Chess Club (coming soon!). Typically clubs meet weekly in the evenings, however as Club Captain you will work with the Event + Community Director to set the club schedule. Ideally there will be two Captains per club to help spread out the responsibility of being at each meet up and spreading the word about the club.

Youth + Adaptive Event Volunteers are trained volunteers who will stand by and stand up when a new event is announced. We partner with a variety of organizations, some large, some with adaptive needs, some youth focused, and some with other special considerations. To host these large or complex events, we need your help! Complete THIS FORM and we'll be in touch. Note: These volunteers will not receive a free membership, but some events may offer perks and incentives such as complimentary day passes, food, or merchandise.

Films

ASCEND is excited to present outdoor adventure films! Many of these films will highlight adventurers and trail blazers of all backgrounds, genders, races, and abilities. Join us to celebrate the growing diversity in the outdoor community and to give back to organizations that support that growth.

Next film: TBA

Previous ASCEND Sponsored Films: 5 Point Film Festival, (2020 Road Tour), 5 Point FIlm Festival (2018 Road Tour), Reel Rock, 13, The Sharp End, No Man's Land, Endless Abilities, 5 Point FIlm Festival (2017 Road Tour), Reel Rock 12, Uncharted Lines, Reel Rock 11, Reel Rock 10, Reel Rock 9, Reel Rock 8