Latest attraction at CEU is climbing wall
Interested in rock climbing and wondering where to start? The new climbing wall in the old SAC building may be just what you have been looking for.
The rock wall was bought by the CEU administration from Decker’s Bicycle. “Danny Decker had it in his bicycle shop, but there were some restriction on the way students or anyone could access it, so the college just basically bought it from him,” says Jim Huffaker.
Interested in rock climbing and wondering where to start? The new climbing wall in the old SAC building may be just what you have been looking for.
The rock wall was bought by the CEU administration from Decker’s Bicycle. “Danny Decker had it in his bicycle shop, but there were some restriction on the way students or anyone could access it, so the college just basically bought it from him,” says Jim Huffaker.
The rock wall has been completely rebuilt to suit campus needs. “The original was 13-feet tall, it was just a bouldering wall. Now it is a full 19-to 20-foot wall and has the full capabilities of bouldering and rock climbing. It basically will teach you all of the basics that you need to know,” says Nathan Thomas who helped build the wall.
The main purpose of the rock wall is for it to be part of the outdoor program. The outdoor program is rock climbing, bouldering, mountaineering, canyoneering and a host of other activities. The rock wall helps students become acclimated in the outdoor program. Not only is it a new addition to the campus, it is a place to go to protect the students when there is bad weather and they want to rock climb. However there are some rules and regulations on the wall. For example, when another class is in session, no one is allowed to be on the climbing wall without supervision. “Someone must always have a safety connection to you, so that when you do fall, someone’s got you,” says Huffaker.
CEU put the rock wall in the old SAC building because they needed a place that was big enough to house it, but not so big that it could take up major space.
Mike King and Huffaker initially thought the BDAC or the SAC ballroom would be the most appropriate place for it. “We needed a place that we could lock up and not open to public travel. For example, we can not afford to have people climb on it, fall and hurt themselves,” comments Huffaker, “We will have it open if any of the students will support it.”
Anyone outside of the college is allowed to use the wall, but there might be a minimal charge for the user.
An open house was held last week. It is hoped that students bring suggestions to the college on what ways they would like to improve the wall and their access to it. ASCEU asks that the students come to support this new addition to the college. The costs on the wall are yet to be determined for students and non-students.
