Sonoma State Star

Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: Sports

Looking down from a 38 foot wall will give most people the chills, but not rock climbers. Rock climbers have the ability to utilize their adrenaline as they make their ascent from the ground floor to the peak of the wall. Ryan Hammes, the Outdoor Recreation Coordinator at the Rec Center, explained that rock climbing allows individuals to test their limits.

"You're working on trust, fears, and going beyond those self constructed boundaries," said Hammes, who has been climbing for nine years.

Besides conquering the fear of climbing up the enormous wall, climbers must develop trust with their belayers as well. Belayers are responsible for making sure the climber doesn't fall or get hurt, leaving them in charge of the rope to which the climber is attached. In addition to developing trust, and getting over fears, rock climbing is a physical and social activity.

"It's a great workout," said Nathan Railla, an Outdoor Pursuits Trip Leader who has been climbing since he was 10 years old. "It requires mental ability, strength, and agility. It's a lot of fun and you meet a lot of people."

Hammes' love of the outdoors inspired him to start climbing.

"I started outside," said Hammes. "I wanted to go to higher places so I climbed the Rocky Mountains, Yosemite, and Red Rock. When I was in college I learned to climb indoors."

Though indoor climbing walls are intended to simulate an outdoor climbing experience, the two have many discrepancies. "There is a huge difference," said Railla. "The biggest difference is the predictors of climbing, it's a lot more safe and obviously it's indoors. Outdoors there's the weather, it's a lot more exciting and adventurous."

While outdoor climbing is spontaneous and unpredictable, the controlled atmosphere in which indoor climbing exists allows climbers to scale the wall at any time regardless of time of day or weather conditions.

The Rec Center is home to a state of the art rock wall that is environmentally conscious. "It's made out of cement," said Hammes. "It's 38 ft. tall at the highest point and features a 15 ft. boulder. The flooring is made of 1,300 recycled tires. It's good for increased climbing ability."

To get a hands-on experience of the rock climbing world, the Rec Center offers three different leveled rock climbing classes during the spring semester.

The beginner's class, an introduction to belaying, teaches students the fundamental skills on how to belay. The intermediate class, movement 101, focuses on the movement and technique aspect of climbing.

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