The Center for Physical Activity, which opened in 2002, initially designed the indoor climbing wall as a focal centerpiece for the building, and 20 years later, it is still one of the most thrilling features in the entire building.
At the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Outdoor Adventure Center removed half of the ropes from their seven lanes and required reservations to be made online prior to entry. But starting last fall, they removed these restrictions and reopened all seven lanes for students to use.
For check-in to the wall, “students swipe in [their I.D.] like they normally do at the CPA, then wrap around to the right over to the Outdoor Adventure Center where there is an additional climbing wall swipe,” said Eric Payne, assistant director of Outdoor Adventure for Campus Recreation.
First-time climbers or climbers with expired forms must sign a waiver for entry, which is functional for one year.
If the student needs a helmet, harness or shoes, CPA staff provides them upon request. Students are also permitted to use their own harness.
Outdoor Adventure kicked off its first Shadow of the Mountain Climbing Competition this past November, which consisted of advanced, intermediate and beginner categories.
“This spring, we do have a couple of different climbing clinics,” said Payne. “On the third [of February] we have an introduction to climbing clinic, which is the basics of form, technique and pulleying.”
There will also be an Introduction to Sport Lead Climbing Clinic on Feb. 10, which will cover the details of sport leading and sport climbing. An up-to-date top rope pulley certification is required for this clinic.
The indoor climbing wall is available to use Monday to Friday. It is open 4:30-9:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday. For more information, contact Eric Payne at payneeb@etsu.edu.
