A New Challenge

A New Challenge

    Have you ever wanted to try rock climbing? If so, you're in luck because Bloomsburg University has their very own rock wall! In the corner past the front entrance of the student rec center, there lies the 20 year old student rock walls. Multicolored crash mats 3 by 4 feet in size are scattered and stacked across a rubber matted floor. A few giant crash mats are stacked on top of them for higher falls. Tall glass windows cover the walls of the corner of the room from floor to ceiling, letting sunlight illuminate the room. Rows of lights on the ceiling provide extra light when it gets darker after sunset. On the other side, the glass windows provide a view of the indoor basketball court. 

    

    Thomas D'Aloisio is an avid rock climber who has been rock climbing since he was in high school. He frequently visits the rock wall on his spare time. "Not every college has the opportunity and the resources to have something like this, which is amazing," he says. The unique challenge of climbing makes the rock wall a popular spot at the rec center. "It's challenging in all the right ways where it doesn't make me feel like I'm really bad at anything, but it also allows me to build muscle and improve constantly."

    There are two climbing structures in the area, across the side wall is the flat side, with hundreds of multicolored handholds and footholds covered in white chalk powder all over. A single screw holds each of them in on the declined surface. Halfway up this wall a special line of pink tape divides the top of from the bottom. This boundary marks the farthest you can climb without needing to strap on a harness. 

    

    The second wall is a cylinder shaped cliff, with different rock shaped protrusions on all sides, giving unique climbing challenges. Colored tape marks specific handholds, making a guideline for a route. You are only allowed to use the handholds that are marked, and the goal is to reach the top. Difficulties are also marked at the start of each route, so you can find one that matches your skill level. "There's a very diverse set of rocks and climbs on the wall, and everyone has different skill sets in play," Thomas says. The easiest ones have the lowest numbers, and they can go all the way up to 1000, also known as a V10, which is the hardest climbing route that only one staff member has been able to do.

    A posterboard hangs on a wall covered in a collage of pictures of the staff's outdoor climbing adventures of the past. The staff are four college students from sophomore to senior dressed in polos and khakis to sweaters and sweatpants. "The people working there are actually really nice," Thomas says. When no one is climbing, sometimes they will be hanging out by the sign in table working on homework, or looking for people walking by to invite. There are always two men and two women on staff, so anyone from any gender can feel included. They are all passionate rock climbers. Some have been climbing since they were kids, and some have only started a year ago and are already climbing the hardest routes, but they are still very welcoming to new climbers. "Don't be a bad person when you rock climbing. Everyone there is friendly. Everyone there's like a friend. You're all doing something similar. It's not worth trying to one up anybody. Remember to just have fun." 

The rock wall is open from Monday through Thursday from 3-9, and Friday from 3-6. You can climb at any skill level. Come try it some time!