Gary Rall Owner & Founder

Setting Initials: GR

Gary has been climbing throughout the West Coast for almost 40 years. On a trip to England in 1987, he got the idea of building an indoor climbing gym. While there, Rall heard about a community center that had a climbing wall where people kept in shape during the winter months. He thought of Portland’s rainy weather and decided to build the Portland Rock Gym. It turned out to be the second gym in the country, and the first to use modular holds. His wife, Julie, actually came up with the phrase “rock gym” as they named the business.

Gary is a pioneer of rock climbing in Oregon. He has a multitude of hard FAs and FFAs under his belt, established Rat Cave, been regional coordinator of the Access Fund earning their 5.13 Service Award for securing public access to the Carver Bridge Cliff & Boulders, and helped to create the modern american rock climbing industry.

Erik Allsopp General Manager

Setting Initials: EA

Erik started climbing in college the notorious mountains of Pennsylvania. After spending too much time on the east coast he headed to Colorado and climbed as much high alpine granite as his schedule allowed. He has also been a backcountry wilderness guide, skier and has a striking suspicion of avalanches. In the Northwest, he digs the climbing at Smith Rock and the skiing that Mount Bachelor and the Northern Cascades offers. Outside of the gym he is probably down the street at Triumph Coffee or in the gym training for some audacious goal, like climbing Mount Hood from the North, South, East and West all in one day. Favorite Climbing Location(s): Moab, Rocky Mountain National Park, Bishop, Red Rocks, Smith, Rumney etc...

Ben Wilson Head Guide, Route Setter

AMGA SPI, Setting Initials: BW

Ben has been climbing for about five years. The story of how Ben got started is best told his own words: “As a runt growing up outside Boston, I lived in some housing projects where the maintenance would charge residents $20 if they ever locked themselves out to get back in (which was illegal). My mother, a creative woman, used to have me free solo the porch scaffolding and the rafters under the eves to break in through an open window or porch door and unlock the apartment from the inside. This is when I discovered my confidence with the Y axis. My mother only charged $5, and sometimes I would sneak a slice of American cheese from the fridge and fold it up into a cube and eat it.” His favorite places to climb are Cathedral Ledge, NH & Red Rock, NV. Besides working at PRG, Ben is also a Research and Development Test Pilot for the nonprofit Pacific Space Flight. He is a self proclaimed Expert Minesweeper with a 52 second record. Aw yeah, Minesweeper.

Griffin Fuller Lead Route Setter

Griffin started climbing 2003 in his home town of Cincinnati Ohio. He soon after started to compete in American Bouldering Series and the American Sport Climbing Series where he quickly began winning regional, divisional and national titles. In 2013 He moved to Portland Oregon and shortly after began setting for Portland Rock Gym.

While Griffin Spends most of his Free time climbing at Portland’s many local Craig’s you can also catch him hanging out with his three cats or chilling with his dog Remington.

Setting Initials: GF

Tony Frey Route Setter

Tony is a veteran in the setting world, and comes to the PRG setting crew with a wealth of experience and prior knowledge, from setting routes for competitions all over the U.S., to founding and running his own hold company, Crater Holds, to setting, coaching, and head-setting at various gyms across the U.S. Tony has been in the business so long, he even used to coach PRG's current head-setter Griffin on the climbing team when he first started out! Tony has been setting up a storm at PRG since he came on full-time in 2018, but has previously set on and off for the gym since 2012.

Tony currently lives in a yurt and when he's not climbing spends a lot of his free time cycling!

Catch his routes around the gym under his initials "TF".

Ben Wilson Head Guide, Route Setter

Ben Wilson has been climbing for more than 10 years. Originally from the east coast, Ben made his way out to Portland to attend Portland State University. It was there that he discovered his love of climbing and started setting at the University Gym.

When Ben isn’t out climbing or guiding he can be found flying his hot air balloon or working on a prototype space suit.

Ben marks his sets as "BW"

Leah Bell-Johnson Guide, Route Setter

Bio coming soon!

Leah sets under the initials: LBJ

Ben McMullen Head Coach

Ben Started climbing six years ago at Edgeworks Climbing in Tacoma,Washington. He quickly fell head-over-heels in love with climbing and spent more time at the gym then he did at home. He loves climbing not only for the physical workout it provides but also how every climb is a different puzzle that you need to figure out. After two years of climbing he got a job coaching at Edgeworks. He has been working with youth for 14 years, everything from day care to youth pastor to coaching, and having the chance to combine his love for climbing with his love for working with youth has been a dream come true.

Pavlo Kostenko Assistant Coach

Pavlo Kostenko (Paul) comes to us from the country of Ukraine. Paul has been climbing since 2014 starting here at the Portland rock Gym. He started coaching youth competitive team in 2016 and has been loving it ever since!

Raina Miller Studio Manager

Passionate about helping improve the health and well-being of her clients, Raina has been a Personal Trainer for 15 years. She believes fitness should be approached from a total lifestyle perspective. With this in mind, she helps each client to make changes that are conducive to living stronger, happier and healthier lives. Raina believes that what you do in the gym, should make you better at what you love to do outside of the gym. She always encourages her clients to make athletic goals rather than aesthetic ones and has derived a great deal of joy from watching them succeed at things they hadn’t thought possible.

Raina holds several Personal Training Certifications including Corrective Exercise, Performance Enhancement, and Special Populations Specialist from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She owned her own gym and Personal Training studio in San Antonio for 4 years where she trained a variety of clients, including ballroom dancers and high school athletes. She also developed a group exercise class program that was hugely popular with her clients and neighbors.

Having lived the first 30 years of her life in the Rocky Mountains, Raina knew South Texas was not going to be her forever home, so in August of 2015, Raina decided that it was time for a new adventure, the mountains of the Pacific Northwest were calling. Within a couple of months, she had closed the doors to her gym and hit the road for Portland where her heart belonged. Raina loves the outdoors, and in her free time can be found hiking, in creative pursuits, reading, and hanging out with her husband and two beloved cats.

Brenda Martin

Brenda fell in love with working out after attending a morning group fitness class with a friend a year and a half ago. Like most, she struggled to get into a groove with any workout class, and would certainly never have called herself a morning person. While the workouts were tough and the early mornings were even tougher, soon she learned to love the sweat and was motivated by her new fitness friends. She took this new found energy and passion for health and fitness and turned it into fun and motivating group fitness classes for PRG!

Brenda has been an avid climber for two years, having just lead her first two routes outside this past summer. When she isn’t on the rock wall or working on her deadlifts, you can find her riding her bike around town, searching out delicious sour beers, and nerding out on all things transit.

Brenda loves using fun and functional fitness training, coming up with creative workouts, and playing the jams that will keep you moving, (even at 7:15 am!). Whether you want to build muscle, burn calories, or get lean, Brenda’s classes will help you achieve a wide range of fitness goals with cardio, core, and strength work.

Camille Soleil

Originally from the Midwest, Camille found yoga several years ago to stay active as a lifelong "picked last for basketball in gym class" kind of girl. It quickly transformed from being just a physical practice to a source of healing, stress relief and community that she has a passion for sharing with others. Camille strives to be a loyal listener, friend and healer both on and off the mat, leaving each student feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and cared for by the end of class. She believes prioritizing stillness, deep stretch and meditation to complement more rigorous activity is the key to living a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Christina Provencio

Christina’s practice began in college when a dorm mate invited her to yoga at the rec center on campus. She fell in love immediately and surrendered to an eternal life of conscious practice and learning. Never before had she been asked to breathe this way, to listen this way, to move and stretch this way, to be this way. Yoga quickly became more than the balance she needed to get herself through the stressful times; yoga became Christina’s spiritual fire and connection to an evolution of movement.

During her time in Southeast Asia, the asanas were brought to life for her in a traditional experience. Traveling from village to village, Christina sought out guidance and training under Buddhist monks. She learned to quiet the mind and surrender to the power of meditation.

Today, yoga continues to challenge her as she strengthens her relationship with herself. As this connection deepens, she is able to share her heart and passion for this life to the people around her through practicing yoga side by side. This ever growing love has presented Christina with the opportunity to teach and share her spiritual journey with our yoga community.

Emily Henderson

Emily has been in love with movement ever since she was a child, which is what led her on a path of ballet and contemporary modern dance. Through dance she created a deep understanding of the body and its capabilities of expression as well as its limits. After years of dancing professionally she experienced multiple injuries that put her dancing career on hold. She fortunately found strength and healing when she dove into a daily yoga practice. Her passion for yoga led her to receive her 200 hour Yoga Teaching Certification with Padma Karma Yoga in Kovalam Beach, India.

Emily strives to make yoga attainable for all students which is why her yoga classes have a deep focus on accessibility, safety and alignment. Her goal is to create a space where her students feel encouraged to express themselves, become curious about their experience, and most of all have fun!

Gina Bixby

Gina discovered yoga as a teenager while thumbing through a running magazine, which featured an article on BKS Iyengar and several photos of yoga poses specific to runners. She immediately went out and bought Light on Yoga and tried to mimic the poses in the book. After practicing for a few days, she was hooked, even at that rudimentary and imperfect level. Despite the limited exposure, she was attracted to the focus and centering yoga provides, the connection to breath and movement, and the ability to find a mental flow through that focus. Fast forward years later, and yoga, running and climbing have been constants in her life, all due to those common denominators: breath, movement and flow. Gina loves sharing her passion for the various practices yoga has to offer - there's literally something for everyone and everybody to be found somewhere in the yoga lexicon. She believes an hour on the mat each day can enhance mental awareness, emotional balance and inner calm, as much if not more than the physical and healing benefits yoga offers. After years of practicing, Gina decided to get her teaching certification, specifically to share the gift that is yoga with others. As an instructor, Gina enjoys experimenting with different sequences and introducing her students to new variations on familiar poses and bringing a playful and joyful attitude to the practice.

Jen Ward

Jen started "Rolling like a Ball" to Mari Winsor videos in her Brooklyn apartment in 2000 and soon began classical instruction at Happy Now Flat Belly. As a dancer through age 20, Jen was excited to find movement like Pilates to help transform her body post dance years. Pilates also helped her decrease stress and she was soon taking work breaks to head to group reformer classes. Jen loved the body/mind results and noticeable changes in her breath patterns so she began her teacher training at Core Pilates NYC in 2010. She later studied with Momentum in 2013, then found Pilates again in 2017 when healing from an injury and overwork. She got to see Pilates through a different lens when her body initially couldn't perform even beginner movements. As she healed, became stronger and then completed a third comprehensive training program with Peak Pilates in 2019, Jen became more inspired than ever to share this work as an integrative health practitioner. As an Acupuncturist, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Health Coach in addition to Pilates Instructor, Jen is excited to educate clients about this self care health system of body, mind and spirit. Let's get your breath flowing properly and health will follow. Joseph Pilates said "Above all, learn how to breathe correctly."

Kendall Welch

Kendall teaches yin yoga, with an emphasis on pranayama, to help promote stillness and calming of the mind. Over the last five years, yoga has embodied her personal self-care practice which has allowed her to live more peacefully and with a greater awareness and connection to her body. She hopes to share with others what her practice has generously gifted her. Kendall is wholeheartedly committed to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for people of all ages, backgrounds, and limitations to explore the practice of yoga. She uses compassionate cues and meaningful poses to encourage people to learn to listen and trust their body’s guidance. Her passion to understand the human body inspired her to complete a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Physiology from San Francisco State University. She then moved to Portland and is attending Naturopathic Medical School at the National University of Natural Medicine where she strives to educate and empower people to find effective and meaningful solutions for the benefit of their health. She completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification through Alchemy of Yoga led by Silvia Mordini and Angela Howell, in Costa Rica. Kendall has an adventurous spirit who enjoys traveling, being in nature, and finds joy from sharing her tools for self-healing so that others can experience peace and happiness from within.

Lexi Hardin

With a background of 16 years of professional and pre-professional ballet training, Lexi has studied movement intensively. After finding a consistent yoga practice at the age of 16, she discovered the movements of asana to heal the body, as well as the ability to calm the mind through meditation and pranayama. Lexi became certified in 2013 with a goal to share the life changing lessons which yoga had taught her. Studying with her fellow yogis has been incredibly rewarding and continues to show the value of practicing gratitude every day. Through guiding flows, she hopes to open the mind through encouraging playfulness, curiosity, and self acceptance.

Morgan Draps

Morgan has always been athletic soul. From playing tag outside with friends in elementary school, to playing basketball in middle and high school on a varsity team. Always on the search for a great total body workout she has taught and been a part of multiple types of workout classes, including Aqua Aerobics, boot camps, and adapted physical activity programs. Morgan grew up in Southern California where the sun was always shining, and outdoor activities were abundant. From hiking the Hills of LA, to bike riding along the Pacific Coast Highway, she is always for yearning to find where adventure and physical activity meet. In her free time she plays Dodgeball in an adult recreation league, enjoys hiking the various trails of the PNW, and has recently discovered a love for bouldering! Morgan graduated with her Bachelors in Kinesiology, and plans to go to Graduate School to obtain a degree in Physical Therapy to continue her goal, and passion of helping people get healthy, fit, and happy!

Nicki Llorens

Nicole has been practicing yoga since 2007. She came to yoga after years of competitive sports play, digestive disorders, and bouts of depression left her worn out and longing deeper connection within herself and the outside world. The practice changed her life in meaningful ways, bringing more joy and improved health. In 2016/2017 she completed teacher training at Bloom Yoga Studio in Chicago and spent time in her native Puerto Rico engaging with the yoga community there while teaching Adaptive/Chair Yoga at the VA Hospital in San Juan. Her love for yoga stems from a passion for intuitive movement and creative self-expression, as well as the desire to always continue learning and growing as a human being. She appreciates how yoga, through mind-body awareness, allows us to connect with and express our truest-self, enhancing quality of life and positioning us to be better, more loving and compassionate individuals. Her classes are influenced by classical Hatha and Vinyasa Flow Yoga. She likes helping students find their own flow and pose expression, focusing on what proper alignment feels like, while building strength and cultivating balance from the ground up in each pose. She brings a sense of lightheartedness to every class while challenging her students to explore the unknown.

Nicole holds a Master of Science in Public Service Management and Metropolitan Planning. Prior to her move to the Pacific Northwest she worked in Chicago’s southwest side on community health and food systems initiatives. Outside of the studio you will most likely find her listening to music while dancing or hooping, exploring the outdoors camera in hand, watching movies, reading about metaphysics, or playing hide and seek with her cat Nanichi.

Tasha Wightman

While searching for something to help calm the mind and relieve stress Natasha walked into her first Yoga class in 2013, little did she know that her life had changed from that day forward. She completed her 200YTT through Yoga Maze’ with Rocky Heron where she studied the workings of the body, proper alignment, philosophy and one of her favorites; meditation. Natasha’s teaching stems from her heart, providing a safe, fun and comfortable space to move and strengthen the body while shaping the mind. She hopes to inspire her students to be the best they can be and be happy with showing up as they are the way that her teachers have done for her. Natasha loves to surround herself with kind-hearted people, explore the beauty of nature whether it be with her dog Timber at the park, in the mountains ploughing through snow or getting caught in the rain. Never leaving her house without a book or her journal she believes that writing down dreams and desires turns them into a reality.

Routesetting Position

At the Portland Rock Gym we pride ourselves on creative teamwork.  We believe it is essential to provide the best customer service through cohesion among our teams and the cleanliness of our facility.  We are looking for someone who can join into our crew while providing diligent, effective and efficient work ethic to any task that is needed.  Most importantly, you’ve got to be able to have a good attitude every day, and bring your unique personality into our team.

Roles and Responsibilities

You will be working under the General Manager and Head Routesetter to maintain the facility to its highest standard.  

This job requires climbing specific and facility maintenance, including but not limited to:

• Routesetting, 2 days a week of ropes, 1 day a week of bouldering
• Stripping the wall
• Cleaning interior/exterior/behind walls
• Cleaning/washing holds
• Maintain organization of routesetting tools, hardware
• Work diligently and ardently with Head Routesetter

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years climbing experience
•  Ability to climb V6-V7/5.12/5.13
• Comfortable lifting 50+ lbs
• Comfortable with the use of power tools: inc’l but not limited to: Impact Drivers, Miter Saw, Circular Saw, Angle Grinder

If interested, please email resumes to erik@portlandrockgym.com