CWU’s lead climbing clinics are meant to teach students climbing safety. Rock climbers are responsible for their safety in a rock gym or out on a mountain. Without proper training, there could be detrimental casualties for the climber. Luckily for students interested in climbing, CWU provides clinics based around different types of climbing such as the lead climbing and top rope belay clinics.
“Our gym is set up for rope climbing primarily, and then secondarily it’s a bouldering gym, so we teach the skills needed to go out climbing,” Scully said. “Our local form of climbing is lead sport climbing because our closest crags are the Columbia River Basin Vantage, and out there it’s not bouldering… So what you’ll find out there is just big cliff bands or big bolts in the rock. So you need to know the skills of how to lead climb.” Scully teaches lead climbing in this clinic to give CWU students a chance to learn the skills to climb outside of the CWU gym.
Scully mentions it’s important for those who climb to do so safely. “You need to know the skills on how to lead climb,” Scully said. “It is a little bit more dynamic of a procedure than top rope climbing, and it’s important that people do it safely, which is why we try to teach those skills here so we know that people are going to climb, whether they learn how or not.”
CWU doesn’t have just lead climbing clinics but so much more. They’re all to help educate the students here. “We have bouldering technique clinics, top rope clinics, which would be belaying with the rope already above you,” Scully said. “And then we have lead, which is climbing clipping in as you go. And then we also do Trad placement clinics, which is how to use traditional climbing gear when there are no bolts to set in there.” Scully mentioned. Students have different choices for climbing if lead climbing doesn’t fit them.
“Coming up in January, we have our big NC3 bouldering competition,” Scully said. CWU also had this competition last year and it was widely popular. This event is hosted by the University Recreation & Adventures Program. It will be held on Jan. 27, 2025, and it’s $35 to compete in the competition. This event is for people with all different skill levels, ranging from beginner to advanced, and it is for anyone in the community. More information is on the CWU Climbing Wall page.
“I’d like to say that even if you’re not sure if you want to try climbing, come hang out at the climbing wall,” Scully said. “It’s a great informal space just to sit on the pads and talk to other students, and it’s got really casual lounge vibes. So if you want to come and hang out with other students, and traditional exercise isn’t your thing, just come hang out at the wall and you’re going to meet friends that are going to go outside on hikes… just come hang out.” The rock gym in CWU is open to everyone whether you’re a beginner or advanced rock climber. The gym encourages those interested in climbing to try the clinics and learn the techniques to keep everyone safe, and also have fun while climbing the rock wall or a mountain.
