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Show r i i I ATHLETICS a b 11 i - r More than just a wall I i RACHEL ROBERTSON Hum -- - STAFF REPORTER . , s Lexie Webber, junior nursing student, takes a break from school to enjoy some climbing. Bishop and new make friends, to compete on campus rock the for climbing community Wall is a haven workout. It sits proudly over three stories high in the heart of Dolores Dore Eccles Health, Wellness and Athletic Center. Students flock to it with small Velcro cloth shoes in hand and chalk-beate- n pants. Westminster Colleges rock wall, known as Bishops Wall, is a haven for many students to burn & ri off energy, workout, challenge themselves and kick back with friends. introduction to climbing hour. I want to encourage more diverse people to go to the wall, Zulauf said. I want them to feel comfortable climbing there and being weird and trying new things. Zulauf smiled and expressed how she wanted everyone to share the love of the wall and feel included. Bouldering Competition: On Wednesday, March Its kind of cult like, said Sarah Auchincloss, junior. Auchincloss climbs every once in a while at the wall. Its really like their own world down there. The wall is over 46 feet of vertical and allows students to train in multiple disciplines of climbing for all climbing levels. The wall offers top rope, lead climbing, bouldering and crack problems. Bishops Wall is not just there for climbing. The wall also provides a community where students can build friendships. Zoe Zulauf, senior neuroscience major and climbing enthusiast, reflected back to her first year at Westminster and her wall memories. When I first came to Westminster, I had limited climbing experience, Zulauf said. Making friends wasnt immediate. But at the climbing wall, I made my best friends at school for the past four years. Zulauf said she was grateful for the impact the wall has had on her friendships over her college career. On the other hand, she also wanted to encourage others outside of the niche climbing community to get Mountaineering on the Grand Teton BRETT CARROLL CONTRIBUTING WRITER head lightly bounced off My whole body twitched a little bit as my vision the snow, startling me awake. Blinking in the bright sunshine, my other the on slowly came to focus on the Middle Teton, standing proudly Couloir plunging side of the canyon. I looked below me to see the Chevy sat a first our Greg rappel. was setting up steeply out of sight, where Ben him stretching 1300 feet few feet above me, with the Ford Couloir behind This may seem like m odd upwards to the summit of the Grand Teton. and skiing, and 30 hours of place to take a nap, but after 14 hours climbing in the warm since my last wink of sleep, I might as well have been lying sand on a sunny beach. I couldnt keep my eyes open. celebrated our Five hours later we stumbled back to the car, where we adventure This push to climb and ski the Grand Teton. successful, and mental was special, as it pushed us towards the limits of our physical 19-ho- ur capabilities. . There are countless reasons why I love spending time m the factors being the wilderness, with some of the more significant with friends, the simplicity appreciation of natural beauty, the time spent on life. Many of these of living in nature, and a greater sense of perspective realized through fairly casual aspects of wilderness experience can be snowshoe or an overnight camping trip. But one outings, like an afternoon is the ability to other component of spending time in nature that I enjoy and mentally, and this type of adventure can challenge yourself physically be a little harder to come by, , are solely The wilderness provides an environment m which you to is It actions. up you and responsible for your own decisions and reflects your experience, vour partners to select an activity or goal that has been selected, it is or knowledge, and ability. Once that activity goal conditions (weather, snow, etc.) in order up to you to assess the current is mcredfy to maintain your safety. I find that level of independence level of challenge, the perfect rewarding. For me this adventure provided without crossing that line. as it neared the edge of our groups abilities adventure like this; the There is nothing objectively cool about an like this have to value is all in the experience. Nor does an experience Wilderness experiences have come from some sort of outdoor pursuit. medium for this type of experience been incredibly valuable to me, but the I think ic different for everyone. Whatever that medium might be, that they are can understand the value of enjoying something involved. Lexie Webber, junior nursing major, said the wall is . where she too made her friends Her first year of college. She said that the wall offered her clarity and she climbs every week now. I ? ft stop thinking about other outside things," Webber said. I have to be thinking right there in the moment or else Ill fall. Webber also noted the other benefit of the wall. Its better workout than in the weight room, Webber said and grinned looking over toward the crowded weight room in the comer. The wall also has programs rs and make to help others feel more comfortable like ladies only climbing hour and the new-come- everyone i passionate about. i students can enter in Westminsters Outdoor Recreation Program bouldering 25, competition. The competition is open all to levels of climbers and will have three categories: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Megan Gallagher, senior nursing major, has worked at Bishops Wall for over three years. She has entered into past competitions and has advice for potential competitors. Theyre really fun, Gallagher said. Everyone is just supportive and it doesnt really matter how you do. Just have fun and dont take it too seriously. Stick around to watch the finals, because thats really the best part. For interested climbers, registration is online and free to all students. Registration can be found on Facebook by searching for the Westminster College Bouldering Competition or on Westminsters website under forms. Not a climber, but still interested in the competition? The competition encourages spectators to come watch and cheer. For Bishop Wall climbers, the wall is more than just a structure with plastic holds. Its a community and provides a place for socialization, exercise and competition. Bishops Wall is where I made my best friends, Zulauf said. Its a really fun social thing, stress relief from homework and a way to get active. Students can catch some climbing time Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. or Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information about the wall or wall related questions, contact Jason Blauch, outdoor recreation program coordinator. |