MSU students scramble to get out and climb

With the opening of the MSU Student Wellness Center fast approaching, students have begun preparing for all sorts of new, exciting features, including the installment of a three-story rock climbing wall, according to the MSU Student Wellness Center page.

However, students must find alternative ways to gain vertical terrain in the meantime. Currently, MSU’s North Dome houses a temporary climbing wall — considered a small-scale wall at 15 vertical feet.

The North Dome offers students free wall access to 12 to 25 climbing routes, which create various paths based on artificial rock placement for climbers. These routes range in difficulty from beginner to more advanced given the placement and distance between artificial rocks. They also offer rental gear such as shoes, chalk bags and helmets for $7.25 a day, according to the MSU Campus Recreation page.

However, some students aim to expand their horizons and climb larger-scale outdoor routes.

“Instead of paying $20 and being self-aware of my climbing abilities, I cross creeks and scramble up a hill to get to the crag,” junior Olivia Lynch said about her first time climbing outdoors.

“I enjoy being able to explore areas that can seem inaccessible yet with the right gear and knowledge can be fun, challenging and beautiful. When I’m climbing outside I’m less concerned with aiming to climb hard and push myself and more focused on enjoying where I’m at and being outside with friends.The beauty and uniqueness of real rock as well as the freedom of not relying on colored holds and tape is what I love” said junior Ethan Jeannette, a former high school climbing team captain.

Although Lynch prefers outdoor climbing, she said that she often scales the technical indoor routes at her local climbing gym, Spire, located off S. 19th Ave.

“I climb inside more than outside because I don’t have the gear to climb outside. I also like to climb inside because it’s a controlled environment, and I feel I can get more of a workout, which is important to me as a student,” Lynch said.

In climbing facilities such as North Dome, capacity controls exist to limit the number of people on the wall at any given time. Since the temporary wall is considered small-scale, only 3-to-5 students can climb on the wall simultaneously, according to MSU Rec Center Employee, Naomi DeRidder.

In getting outdoors, climbers can set their own rules and enjoy the risks and rewards of climbs such as Gallatin Tower — located in the Gallatin Canyon — which offers five different routes, varied rocks such as limestone, granite and gneiss and features a charcoal grill at the peak for post-climb cookouts.

However, outdoor climbers need to be extra cautious given that they aren’t afforded the same luxuries as indoor climbing facilities, which run routine safety checks, provide supervision and replace equipment as needed.

“I think that trust is very important in climbing. Every time I climb outdoors, I ensure that our equipment is safe, that our harnesses and ropes are not too worn and that our group’s mentality is all there. I feel that the stakes are higher outdoors. Therefore, I pay closer attention to my actions,” Lynch said.

“Mitigating risk is a huge part of climbing with all the possibilities of things going wrong.There’s a lot you can’t control, but being able to assess the conditions before you go is an essential tool in staying safe. Having a big tool bag of skills and backup methods to draw from is crucial in stacking the odds in your favor regardless of what happens during a climb,” Jeannette said.

When the new fitness center opens in the spring, students can look forward to 32 feet of climbing wall, multiple routes, flexible handhold positions, bouldering, training, instruction and free-climbing with opportunities for all skill levels.

The MSU Outdoor Recreation Program also plans to host multiple training and climbing initiatives that support a wide range of activities, according to the Student Wellness Center page.

“I’ve never climbed at [MSU] climbing gym because it collapsed the year before I arrived. I’ve also never climbed at North Dome — it doesn’t seem very appealing. I’m really excited about the new rec center,” Lynch said.