Rock Climbing!

Even though rock climbing at a rock wall isn’t as scary as scaling the side of a mountain many people over the course of history have done just that. 


Rock climbing became more popular when people started to climb and be successful at it which was very publicized around the end of the 1800’s. There were over 200 small climbing clubs by 1930. 


That is when rock climbing started to become a recreational sport and gear and equipment started to be made. Over time safer techniques were formed and mastered.


Nowadays “free climbing” is one of the most popular forms of rock climbing. It is when the climber will climb rocks but will only hold on to the rocks natural groves and formations only using gear for protection and not for helping the upward movement. 


Rock climbing takes a lot of concentration. A climber tests his or her physical strengths and balance while up many feet in the air. 


Here on the Lyndon State College campus there is a rock wall that is open every night from six to nine for people who want to know what the sport is all about.


Some basics that climbers learn first is all about the equipment that needs to be worn and how it needs to be secure. 


Once a person gets harnessed up they learn how belay another person. 


Belaying is when a person is at the base of the wall and/or mountain and is roped up to the person climbing so if they fall they wont fall very far which results in the climber not getting injured. 


At the rock wall once a person has learned how to belay and is comfortable with it the instructor will let them climb on their own. 


Rock climbing is a fun sport and a pretty good workout. The climber really works their leg muscles trying to push off to another grove or nub.


Jake Carlton currently works at the rock wall at Lyndon State College and is a sophomore in the mountain recreation major. He has been climbing for a couple of years now and has climbed some pretty steep mountain sides. 


The rock wall at Lyndon State College is a way for him to teach people something that he already loves to do and he hopes to continue rock climbing in the future whether he owns his own gym or if he just continues to outdoor rock climb. 





Enjoy!


Project Credits:
Jess- filming
Joe and Ed- Editing
Jenn- Essay