Climbing Wall
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About the Wall
Our Indoor Climbing Wall is located at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) on the left side of the entrance. It stands 50 feet tall and includes bouldering and 10 top rope routes. Routes are set for all climbing abilities, from beginner to advanced. Climbing shoes, harnesses, and belay devices are provided free of charge. If you're new to climbing, ask a Climbing Wall Operator for an orientation! We're always excited to help and we can't wait to meet you.
Outdoor Programs Staff is available to give belays for those looking to climb on our Ropes. Belaying is the act of securing the rope for the climber as they navigate vertical space.
Rocktober Ropes Climbing Competition - Saturday, October 25th
Register Here
Join us for a friendly Top Rope competition at the Climbing Wall in the Student Recreation Center. Rock your way to the top on Saturday, October 25th by coming out to try some fresh climbs!
You will have 2 hours to climb once your heat starts. We will have 15 problems set, and will score the top 3 best climbs. Your score will be determined by zones, each zone being worth a certain amount of points. You will have 5 minutes to attempt each climb, and your attempt will end when you fully weight the rope.
We will have recreational, intermediate, and advanced categories. All participants will recieve a shirt with their registration fee!
Instructional Clinics
Register for our Climbing Clinics Here
Outdoor Programs offers clinics at the climbing wall to teach fundamental skills for new climbers to learn more about understanding the systems related to rope climbing. We currently offer three clinics at our climbing wall.
Top Rope Essentials
Join us for an "Intro to Climbing" style clinic. This clinic will focus on learning the basic safety systems related to Top Rope Climbing, including proper harness fiting and anatomy, tying the fig. 8 Follow Through Knot, and Top Rope Belaying with a Petzl GriGri Belay Device.
No experience is required for this clinic and all equipment is provided.
Intro to Lead Climb & Belay
This advanced clinic is designed to equip climbers with the skills necessary to lead climb and belay at the Student Recreation Center. We will discuss the differences between climbing in a Top Rope and Lead Climbing setting, including proper rope management, lead belaying techniques, and lead falling practice.
All climbers will begin with a Mock Lead Climbing setup to facilitate a controlled learning environment. As participants show that they are ready, we will transition to an actual Lead Climbing setup and practice catching and taking lead falls.
All participants must hold a current Top Rope Belay Pass.
Rock Rescue 101
Join Outdoor Programs as we explore basic technical rescue systems found in Rock Climbing. While this clinic is designed for anyone who has an understanding of belay systems, those curious about exploring Outdoor Climbing will find this clinic especially helpful.
All participants must hold a current Top Rope Belay Pass
NOTE: These are instructional clinics and do not come with any certification or verification. Climber's must still pass a Top Rope or Lead Climb/Belay Verification Test to top rope belay and/or lead climb/belay at our climbing wall. All tests must be administered at least 24 hours after any instruction has been given by Outdoor Programs Staff. Clinics are not required for testing.
Adaptive Climbing
The Outdoor Program climbing wall at the Student Recreation Center now offers adaptive climbing! This means that anyone can experience the joys and benefits of climbing with our range of accommodations, regardless of ability level. Our staff are trained to facilitate adaptive climbing at any time the wall is open. Drop by during our hours and ask a staff member about adaptive climbing opportunities.
Reservations
Interested in bringing your group to the Climbing Wall? We are happy to host! We can provide staffing, equipment, and instruction to make your group's experience memorable. We offer two types of reservations: Open Climb and Instructional.
In an Open Climb reservation, we will open the wall specifically for your group and provide all the necessary equipment for your team, including Climbing Harnesses and Shoes. (2 Hour Timeframe)
In an Instructional reservation, we will staff our wall with our high quality instructors and take your group through a clinic designed to prepare them to Top Rope climb and belay on their own, under supervision. This is designed as a learning experience in a dynamic environment, with many possible takeaways beyond simply Climbing (Group Cohesion & Dynamics, Trust, Communication, Collaboration, etc.). We are also able to instruct on higher technical skills beyond Top Rope, if the group as a whole is prepared for the higher instruction and meets the prerequisites required to succeed in that environment (lead climbing, rappelling, anchor cleaning, etc.). (3 Hour Timeframe).
*All Climbing Wall Reservations are limited to a max group size of 14 participants.
If interested, please contact Jacob Norris, Coordinator for Outdoor Programs at [email protected] | 828-262-8411.