ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Climbing walls, bouldering terrain and a special workout gym await at Vertical Ventures.

Being Spider-Man without the benefit of superpowers derived from a radioactive spider bite is hard enough.

What if you are afraid of heights too?

“I would say, climbing has definitely taught me a lot more about myself,” said Bryce Valdez, Director of Fitness at Vertical Ventures.

But before you get high, you start on the ground with the gear — a harness, shoes and chalk.

“It’s just kind of you and your mind. When that happens, you start to learn a little bit about yourself. It’s not just climbing it’s a little bit of soul searching too,” said Valdez.

In addition to harnessed wall climbs, there is bouldering terrain as well. 

It’s where you learn to let go.

“So let’s say you are in a position where you have to fall,” said Valdez, hanging on a wall. “You are gonna let go, bring your arms in and roll back to your shoulders.”

Valdez demonstrates how to fall effortlessly.

And as the head of fitness, Valdez shows off their gym, where an apparatus attached to a hanging bar allows climbers to hang by the tips of their fingers.

The St. Pete space is 20,000 square feet.

There are classes, parties, training and walk-up customer climbing.

Trained personnel take care of your safety needs.

Auto belaying is available as well.