A Hill of a Thrill

It used to be that rock climbing was considered an extreme, inordinately dangerous sport practiced almost exclusively by societal mavericks. Today, sport-climbing facilities have taken the sport mainstream, providing popular venues for children’s birthday parties and even corporate events. (Oops, there goes the neighborhood!)

Execs and outcasts alike may find the climax of their next trip to Huntington Beach at ClimbX, newest among local climbing gyms; a massage afterward wouldn’t be too shabby either.

LATE MORNING, 1

Old-style climbers might spend weeks at a time camping at Yosemite, living hand-to-mouth, only reluctantly changing clothes and giving nary a thought to gainful employment. The motivation: love of the outdoors, knife-edge challenge.

New-style climbers are generally squeaky clean, might lease brand-new sport-utility vehicles, are as likely as not to be company bigwigs or university professors and climb outdoors when work doesn’t interfere. Often the motivation: It’s a heck of lot more thrilling than stationary bicycles.

Then there’s the fastest-growing segment of climbers, one that doesn’t fall into either category: kids.

No matter which category you’re in, ClimbX offers several modest-size walls splattered with variously colored hand and foot holds, and instruction for climbers of all abilities, the better to ascend them. A three-hour introductory class covering a range of skills runs $35; classes include a day pass and rental gear.

Otherwise the pass is $10-$12, equipment package $5 per day. You’ll need climbing shoes and a harness, and a chalk bag can be helpful. Even if you don’t take a class, the ClimbX staff will teach beginners to safely belay other climbers--that is, to use the rope to allow for falls without injury--as part of the day-pass fee.

That major detail seen to, climbers can experience much of the thrill of the sport in a comfortable, controlled environment that eliminates most of the risk associated with climbing outdoors.

LUNCH, 2 3

Old-style climbers might head to Millbrook Quality Breads, formerly Weber’s Bakery Thrift Shop, which offers day-old and often fresh loaves for about half the price of grocery stores. You can order fresh loaves at discount prices with three days’ notice.

Many of the world’s top sport climbers are French. New-style climbers may want to do like the top climbers do--eat French food.

Beach Bistro serves a selection of French-style sandwiches such as jambon and fromage--Black Forest ham, Gruyere cheese and Dijon mustard--on a croissant ($3.50) or on a baguette made on site ($4.75); sandwiches come with a green salad or marvelously mustardy potato salad.

Then check out those pastries.

A cornet is a cream-and-strawberries-filled “horn” ($2.75). Cordon Bleu-trained chef Medi Samii supplies restaurants including Darya (in Santa Ana’s South Coast Village) with desserts such as charlotte aux peche, peach Bavarian cream and two layers of cake circled by coconut tuiles ($32 per cake).

AFTER LUNCH, 4

You worked your body at the gym, now pamper it. Among services offered at Skin Deep, the Body Spa are a French back facial, Hawaiian salt glow, exfoliating body gommage and bubbling self-heating seaweed wrap. A one-hour deep-tissue sports massage is $55.

If you overworked your body (a first-time climber at another gym developed a crush on a fellow student, climbed with him for several more hours and couldn’t lift a phone book for three days), consider Body Works Chiropractic, near Skin Deep, in Suite G.

Body Works treats sports and other injuries using applied kinesiology, shiatsu, acupuncture and neuro-emotional techniques.

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1) ClimbX

18411 Gothard St., Unit I (714) 843-9919.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Monday.

2) Millbrook Quality Breads

7351 Warner Ave., (714) 842-5715.

8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

3) Beach Bistro

7862 Warner Ave., Suite B, (714) 842-8839.

8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

4) Skin Deep, The Body Spa

7862 Warner Ave., Suites J and K, (714) 841-3313.

9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday; and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday.

Parking: There is free parking in lots at each location.

Buses: OCTA Bus No. 72 runs east and west along Warner Avenue with stops at Beach Boulevard and Gothard Street. Bus No. 29 runs north and south along Beach Boulevard with stops at Warner Avenue, Ellis Avenue and Main Street.