Hadley Bodell
Editor in Chief
Climber Liz Brown reaches for the next hold, over 40 feet in the air, her sweaty palms dried by the specialized chalk.
It’s around the level of a 10d and an 11a route.
Without ever top-roping the route before, she bravely lead climbs as her friend belays her from the soft, padded ground below.
With every movement to the next hold, she climbs higher.
And finally, the top hold is reached and she feels the familiar feeling of pride, accomplishment, reward, and relief that she bested the wall.
This experience and feeling aren’t an unshared experience. Climbers across the world chase the dopamine hit of reaching the top of a challenging route, and right here in Eastern Idaho, the climbing community is as lively as ever.
Rock climbing’s existence began with exploration and mountaineering outdoors, specifically the need to reach high places for hunting and resource gathering. In essence, it was a necessity, not a sport. Now, climbing has evolved to become a recreational activity both indoors and outdoors with facets like bouldering and top roping, which require specific techniques and equipment.
Debuted in the 2020 Tokyo Games, “Sport Climbing” is now an official Olympic sport split into three categories: speed, bouldering, and lead. Each competition requires climbers to solve tough set courses within a given time frame.
The sport has seen growth in indoor climbing, with an increasing number of local climbing gyms built each year. The Association of British Climbing Walls reported that the average number of customer visits per wall has grown by 58% since 2019.
Right here on the ISU campus is the Reed’s Gym Climbing Wall, which features 5500 square feet of climbable area, making it one of the largest walls at any university as well as the most expansive in our region.
“Climbing is an approachable sport for anyone,” said Bryce Walker, Outdoor Adventure Center and Reed Gym Climbing Wall Coordinator. “It’s a unique way to move your body, and you can either push yourself as far as you can go or relax and enjoy some easier climbing.”
The jargon of climbing, as well as the tight-knit community, can be overwhelming at first. It may feel like you’re stepping into an exclusive family, but Walker assures us the community is welcoming and positive.
“When I started looking at college campuses, they needed to have a climbing gym,” said Liz Brown, senior climber at ISU. “Most had one as part of their gym, but when I saw the ISU climbing gym, I was amazed. The wall and the routes are incredible; it’s obvious the route setters care so much about providing good quality routes for all levels.”
Bouldering, specifically, is a rewarding hobby, as climbers have to both mentally and physically push through challenging moves up 15-foot-high routes. The physicality of the sport means you’re bound to fall, but Brown said finally reaching the top makes it all worth it.
“Climbing is another activity that’s completely free for ISU students, including your rental gear,” Walker said. “Our staff’s main objective is to teach and welcome new climbers into the community, so come in with as little or as much knowledge as you’ve got, and we’re here to help.”
The climbing community is unlike any other–while many sports have a winner and a loser, climbing blends individuality with collaboration. The crowd in the climbing gym always seems more than happy to help a fellow athlete tackle a tough climb.
“At the wall, everyone is there to help,” said Brown. “If I see someone struggling, I’ll try to coach and guide them. When I first started, more experienced climbers made my life easier and more fun, which made me want to help people have fun climbing and build those relationships.”
The climbing wall on campus is now almost 28 years old, making it one of the more historic indoor climbing gyms. Now, with the growing popularity of recreational rock climbing, major cities are likely to have at least one climbing gym.
“We have the Tetons nearby, the City of Rocks, so much basalt,” said Walker. “Our environment necessitates an indoor facility for training and climbing, especially when the weather can be too hot or cold.”
The ISU Climbing Wall offers many events for climbers of all levels throughout the school year. The first day of operating hours is Monday, August 25th. They offer Intro to Climb Nights during both the first week of school and in September.
Other events to be on the lookout for are Black Light Bouldering on November 19th from 4-8 p.m. For those looking for some competition, join ISU climbers for the 45th annual Pocatello Pump on September 13th at Ross Park.
Whether you’re brand new to climbing or have been doing it for many years, like Brown, the ISU climbing wall is a place to visit. The sport itself is accessible, and combined with a welcoming community and supportive atmosphere, it’s truly the new pickleball.
“Body control is far more universal than the ability to bench press 120 kilograms,” said George Roberts, journalist for The Oxford Blue. “The desire for an activity that is new, urban, communal, and fun is perhaps where climbing has been able to fill a gap that your average gym cannot.”
