The leaders of the NMSU climbing wall want to make it easier for people to join climbing and foster a community at the climbing wall where people can have fun and learn new things.
The climbing gym offers three types of climbing: Bouldering, top rope and lead climbing. Bouldering consists of climbing no higher than 10 feet. Top rope and lead climbing require two people, shoes, harnesses, a belay device, and quickdraws for lead.
“We wanted to make it a safe place for climbers to feel welcomed, so it’s open for all climbing levels beginner, intermediate and advanced for people to feel welcomed, make friends, help foster their climbing skills.” said Grace Jefferies, treasurer of the climbing club.
Jefferies said that she wants to make this space feel safe and welcome to everyone. She mentioned that it is open to all levels of climbers.
Jefferies mentioned she got into rock climbing when she and her brother decided to take the beginner rock climbing class together where she said it was immediately amazing. She also said the people she met at the rock climbing wall have become some of her closest friends.
Jacob Yoder, president of the rock-climbing club said he was part of a tight knit group of people and wanted to get more people involved.
“So our whole club is about like being a group together, experiencing outdoors together,” Yoder said. “You know, getting stronger together, and climbing club is just an easier way to do that than just people. Hey, can you climb this? But it’s also a way to get new people into climbing.”
The club meets up every Wednesday at 7 p.m., offering free gear rentals which include shoes, harness and belay devices, depending on the activity. They also help students become top rope and lead climbing certified at no cost.
Something to remember is that “climbing at every single level is dangerous,” Jefferies said. “Climbing is inherently dangerous.”
Yoder mentioned that they always start teaching bouldering because it is the easiest to learn. He also mentioned that bouldering does not require any extra or special gear other than shoes.
Top rope uses a climber and a belayer. The rope is supported at the top and as the climber goes up, the belayer will take slack from them.
Top rope certification is required before advancing to lead climbing. The difference with lead climbing is that you must periodically anchor yourself to the wall. If you end up falling, you will fall further down compared to top roping.
Most climbers started climbing by taking the beginner class at NMSU, or a friend/ family member got them into it.
Sean Palmer, a student at NMSU, said he met someone special while participating in rock climbing activities at the activity center.
“Yeah, I actually met my partner, the person I’m dating right now,” Palmer said. “And then we still both come together.”
As of now, the NMSU Climbing club wants to collaborate with UTEP`s climbing club to help grow the community. The club will sometimes go to a new climbing gym in El Paso called ‘Sessions’ on Fridays.
“We have been messaging back and forth with them, trying to get a social event where, like, both of us can go outside climbing,” Jefferies said.
