Climbing the Walls

Indoor rock climbing facilities are springing up all around the country. Now, colleges and universities are following suit with climbing walls of their own.

“The wall is pretty cool,” remarks Pete Orlando, an Ithaca College sophomore, after doing a bit of climbing at the College’s fitness center. “There were a lot of climbs to choose from.”

These interesting new additions often become popular with students for not only the workout they provide, but also for their recreational value. Not all walls, however, are created equal. Some are more accessible, designed to entice beginners. Others cater more to people who are serious about climbing as a sport. Others still manage to offer something to the newcomer while challenging the seasoned climber. But what’s the difference between one wall and another?

Indoor walls are essentially always going to feature a wide variety of colored climbing holds, which are screwed into a wall. Most indoor climbing centers, collegiate or otherwise, have the holds arranged in a certain way and marked with colored tape. This creates a specific route for the climber to follow. Routes are then graded according to a scale starting with 5.4, perfect for beginners, and going as high as 5.15, a route than only an expert climber would have any hope of completing. The holds can be unscrewed, replaced, and rearranged occasionally so that the routes can be changed, creating new experiences for the climber.

One of the biggest challenges associated with designing a rock climbing wall comes from attempting to make it accessible to newcomers while still having something to offer those with more experience. One way to do this is to offer different types of climbing. Traditional, or “trad” climbing, for example, involves clipping the climber’s own rope to the wall as he or she ascends. This is a more advanced type of climbing than the standard “top-rope” style, in which the climber is attached to a rope that is looped around an anchor at the top of the route. Wall designs should reflect the intention of the designer, and every detail should be intentional. Why, then, do some walls feature more or less untextured surfaces while others are full of bumps, cracks, and features?

Cost is one consideration. A wall consisting of plain plywood paneling is less expensive than a wall sprayed with a concrete-like texture. A collegiate climbing facility, however, should be designed with the primary considerations being safety and accessibility. This makes liability waivers a must. Once signed, the climber waives his or her right to take legal action in the event of an accident and accepts the inherent risk associated with climbing. Some colleges, such as Cornell University, have an additional waiver that can be signed if the participant wishes not to wear a helmet.