Indoor alpinism

A friend of mine put chains on her VW wagon and off we went to the climbing gym. We were the first ones there, and its warehousey interior was so cold we could see our breath. Gradually other intrepid souls appeared, several of them local legends in mountaineering. Not enough snow yet for back country skiing, they said, and by the time it was expected to arrive, darkness would be coming, as well as high winds. So we all merrily froze our fingers and toes on cold plastic holds.