Rock Climbing is gaining popularity around the world and that trend is most definitely present at Arcata High School. AHS is three minutes away from the local rock climbing gym, Far North Climbing Gym, so it’s no surprise that students and even teachers are involved in the hobby.
The increasing expansion of commercial rock climbing gyms is making the sport available to a wider range of people. The first rock climbing gym in the world started in 1987 in Seattle, Washington where they glued rocks to the walls. Today there are over 635 climbing gyms in the US alone.
What’s getting people at AHS into climbing?
“A couple of friends said hey let’s go to the climbing gym and they[the friends] stopped climbing and I just kept climbing… I like the grading and progression system just because it’s so easy to know when you’re improving and it sets a really simple goal to work towards. I like that the best way to get better at climbing is just to climb.” Senior Ben Letts, president of the Climbing Club, said.
There are 5 main types of climbing, bouldering, top rope, lead, trad, and free soloing. Bouldering is when a person climbs with no gear besides chalk, shoes, and crash pads in case they fall. Bouldering routes are typically less than twenty feet tall. Top rope is typically done on smaller routes that still require a harness, rope, and a belay device for your partner. In top rope, your rope is connected to the top of the route. Lead and trad climbing can both be for climbing shorter routes or massive routes that are often thousands of feet tall but they differ in the way you are roped in. In lead climbing you must clip your rope into quickdraws that are attached to the rock by permanent anchors, and in Trad climbing you must put your protection into the wall by placing gear into cracks and crevices while climbing up and then attaching your rope. The fifth type of climbing is free soloing; this involves climbing large routes with only shoes and chalk where any mistake could mean certain death.
Bouldering is the most popular type of climbing because of its easy accessibility from the lack of required gear.
“My personal favorite type of climbing is bouldering.” Junior Cove Rasmussen said.
People rock climb for all sorts of reasons, some just like the indoor casual hobby that can be facilitated through climbing gyms, some like the adventure of taking their skills outside, and some like to perform in competitions.
Lots of people take the sport very seriously, climbing very often for long periods of time.
“I climb around four days a week for about two hours, I start with a warmup, and then I walk around the gym trying the routes I’ve been working on, and I also like to talk to friends while I’m resting between attempts. Climbing is a great way to hang out with friends while also doing something physical.” senior Charlotte Brands said.
What are some tips for new climbers?
“My advice for beginners is just to climb as much as you can and don’t be afraid or embarrassed to try hard things, I think the gym is a great way to get into climbing and training for the outdoors but it’s important to do both because they are so different.” Cove Rasmussen Said.
Climbing is a great hobby for any person to get into. The community is extremely inviting and welcoming to everyone. Anyone who is looking for a physical hobby that can be done both indoors and outdoors should at least try rock climbing. Not to mention, you’ll definitely impress future new climbers, family, and friends with your new skills. If you have any interest in getting into climbing, come to a climbing club meeting and talk to people. Climbing club is every other Wednesday in room 303. We talk about all things relating to climbing and organize climbing events outside of school.
