After buying a vacation home in Golden, and skiing and snowboarding for a season, Ian Archbald and Rachel Wilde knew the town would become their future home.
The couple from England packed up their belongings, and made the move to Canada with their dog in tow. They came with their passion for adventure, and a business plan.
“I skied here a few times out of Banff, Sunshine, Lake Louise. I liked the skiing, and liked the area,” Archbald said.
The Dogtooth Climbing Gym plans were being made, and a company out of Vancouver worked on the design. Their first winter in Golden, they waited in anticipation of opening Golden’s notorious indoor climbing facility.
Archbald was only an amateur climber himself, but he saw the need for an indoor facility in Golden. The busiest season is in the winter, when rock climbing isn’t as accessible. The gym also hosts school programs, birthday parties, and training sessions.
Archbald and Wilde moved to Canada 13 years ago, and less than a year later the Dogtooth Climbing Gym was opened.
“I thought it would be a nice addition to the community,” Archbald said.
Within its first year of business, Dogtooth Climbing Gym was already winning awards for business excellence and adventure experience in the community.
The gym employs three people, and typically there is only one working at a time. In the winter, Archbald hires a student from the college to help out in the busy season.
With 3,600 square feet of total climbing area, ropes areas, and a bouldering area, there’s plenty to do at Dogtooth Climbing Gym for all ages.
To find out more about the Dogtooth Climbing Gym, go to www.dogtoothgym.com, or call 250-344-6444.
