Section B·Page 10
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 5, 1999
KU Rock Climbing Club reaches news heights
By Matt Tait
Kansan sportswriter
Rock climbing isn't exactly the first sport that comes to mind when people think of Kansas, but for the members of the University of Kansas' Rock Climbing Club. it is all they think about.
"On any nice weekend, somebody from the club is somewhere rock climbing," said Jason Marshall, Gardner junior.
The club, which consists of 84 members, is different than most clubs at KU. It has a president, officers and membership dues that structure its club. But unlike other clubs, the purpose of the Rock Climbing Club is in its social status.
"My boyfriend talked me in to trying it, and I got hooked because the social aspect is really cool," said Britta Ernst, Topeka junior. "It's a real community kind of thing."
Several members found the club the same way that Ernst did.
"I just walked by and saw people climbing, so I came in and tried it," said Bryan Caldwell, Gardner junior. "I'm all about not doing school work, so this kept me busy."
The club has two climbing walls in Robinson Center that can hold several members at once.
One wall stretches 22 feet off the ground and contains nearly 15 different routes that members have
Each route is marked off near the foot and hand holes by tape marks with labels. On the side of the wall each route, marked by color coated tape, is labeled and rated according to the rating system.
created.
Some of the names of the routes include: White Rabbit, Spank Your Dog, The Fool and Spank Your Spanker.
Chris Kemler, Basehor senior, said that the naming of the routes followed a trend that he started when he named the first route.
Suspended above the large wall are two bells, which are an essential part of each climb.
"I once saw a guy struggle all the way up, and then come down, but he hadn't rung the bell." Caldwell said. "I told him he had to go up and ring the bell for it to be an official climb. It took him 20 more minutes."
The other wall, much shorter but wider, serves as a warm-up wall. This is where most climbers go when they first get there. After they have put on their shoes and turned on the music, they head to the side wall and get comfortable with the grips and textures.
Despite the fact that it is only eight feet tall, people still fall off, but they fall onto mats and rarely are injured.
"It's 100 percent safe in here — we've never had an injury," Caldwell said. "We teach newcomers how to tie knots and basically how to climb, and then they
go at it."
The club has open recreation hours at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyone wishing to learn how to climb or just hang out and watch is welcome to show up and give it a shot.
For those who enjoy it, they can pay the $25 membership fee and become an official member.
Chris Haynie, Chicago sophomore, strategically makes his next move on the rock climbing wall. Haynie is a member of the KU Rock Climbing Club. Photo by Tara Bradley/KANSAN
Along with the fee comes a T-shirt, and it contributes to trips and the annual spring party.
Kemler said that climbing the same wall for so many years had gotten a bit mundane but that there were other people around town who have climbing walls. The club also travels to real mountains to make climbs.
During the years, the club has gone to Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and recently returned from a competition in Missouri.
Despite the relaxed nature of the club, there are national competitions at which it can compete.
The competitions consist of timed routes of varying difficulties, in which points are scored for successful completions.
Marshall explained the rating system, which is measured in terms of verticality and difficulty. For instance a 3.12, called a three twelve, is not very vertical, but rather difficult, and a 5.7 is pretty tall, but not too tough. The
tall, but not too tough. The toughest route in the
toughest route in the world is a 5.14D, and the
world is a 5.14D, and the
toughest at Robinson is a 5.12
Wh i e competition makes it fun and exciting. Caldwell said the main reason people enjoyed
it was because of the relaxation and the closeness to nature that members experienced.
Caldwell said that the club desperately needed a new facility but that going on trips and climbing at competitions satisfied him for now.
When someone rock climbs in Kansas, he is most likely on a climbing wall, and climbing a real rock can be different. Kemler said.
"There's not always red tape on real rocks," Kemler said.
Even so, the club provides an exciting and thrilling experience for those at the University who love the thrill of the outdoors accompanied by accomplishing a goal.
"It's all about nature and relaxation," Caldwell said. "It's like having a problem to solve, and it just relaxes you."
Come to Jayhawk Bookstore Friday, March 5,1999 Between the hours of 8:00 am-12:00 am
And place your class ring order With a Herff Jones Representative
Jayhawk Bookstore
only at the top of Naismith Hill!
1420 Cresent Road·Lawrence, KS 66044
843-3826