Students can have their climbing “on the rocks” Sept. 16 and 30 with the John Bryan Rock Out, a rock-climbing outing from the Outdoor Resource Center.
The event will last from 4-8 p.m. Students interested in attending can register for $12 at the Outdoor Resource Center in the Student Union.
The John Bryan Rock Out was created to give students the opportunity to take their climbing out of the gym and into nature at John Bryan State Park.
“Most people’s experience with climbing is strictly indoors, so they’ve never climbed outside,” Graduate Assistant for Outdoor Recreation Jeremy Wooddell said.
Wooddell believes climbing outside offers challenges that indoor climbing doesn’t.
“There’s a little bit more of a problem solving aspect to it,” said Wooddell. “[You are] trying to find a route rather than just following what someone else has already set up in front of you.”
Senior Anthropology major Jenna Kolb, who works for the Outdoor Resource Center, agreed.
“Outside, sometimes you have to feel around a bit or guess,” said Kolb. “Just try it, make an error and fall.”
Wooddell said that outdoor climbing offers aesthetics than indoor climbing walls can’t provide.
“You get a gorgeous atmosphere,” said Wooddell, “The weather is cool out, you have a nice breeze going and flocks of birds will be coming through.”
Climbing in a natural setting also appealed to Kolb.
“Outside climbing is a lot more fun,” said Kolb. “You get to be out in nature, you get to hang out with people and the experience is a lot more rewarding.”
Wooddell recommended that students interested in attending the John Bryan Rock Out take a Belay Clinic to get their belay certification. The belay is the rope supporting the climber.
“With just two instructors, we’d only be able to have two people climbing at a time,” said Wooddell. “But if people … got certified in belaying, then they [would be] allowed to belay on our trips as well.”
