Climbing Wall

Climbing Wall Hours:
Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 4:30-7:30PM

Fall Semester:
Begins 9/3 and ends 11/ 29
Closed 10/4, 10/8, 10/9, and 11/20-11/22

Spring Semester
Begins 2/4 and ends 5/3
Closed 3/14—3/24

Experimental Climbing

We offer experimental climbing during regular climbing wall hours. Our staff will do the belaying and you can concentrate on the climb. No registration and fees are required. Climbing shoes are provided at no charge.

 

Rock Climbing School

Current brochure and registration form

BELAY TRAINING
Free for students and employees
$10 fee for Employees and Facility Access Pass holders (one time fee)

• Dates and Times To Be Announced

Belay Training gives climbers a lot more freedom at our wall. When belay trained climbers come to the wall, they are able to take turns continuously belaying and climbing instead of having to wait for a staff member to belay them. We highly encourage climbers to become belay trained to allow them this freedom.

You Climb, we belay

For Employees and Facility Access Pass Holders
If you want to explore climbing, purchase a punch pass to have our staff belay while you climb.

Children at the wall

Child Release Waiver – Climbing Wall

No one under the age of 7 years old may use the wall and belayers must be at least 16 years of age.  Children age 15 and under must have a parent or guardian be present with them each time the child climbs and wear a helmet while climbing. Parent or guardian MUST take the belay class after first visit to belay each additional time child visits until they reach age 16.  

Special Event Nights

Several times a semester the rock wall staff hosts a themed event for everyone to enjoy. The annual Halloween climb is one of the most popular.

Bouldering Competition

Each spring the staff invites students and the climbing community to compete on our wall. Anyone can register! 

• TBD
  
• Bouldering competition offering two divisions:
  • Beginner and Intermediate for both men and women.
• Enjoy music, snacks and great company!  Prizes will be awarded to the top climbers of each division.
• Pre-Registration: $10 or At-The-Door: $15.

Not Sure What Bouldering Is? Bouldering is rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials. Leaving behind ropes and harnesses and just using climbing shoes and a bag of chalk, your challenge is to climb short but tricky bouldering “problems” (a route, or sequence of moves) using balance, technique, strength, and your brain. You don’t need experience or lots an expensive gear to have a go. Every “problem” has its own solution, and to successfully climb it you need to work it out. Depending on your body shape and personal strengths, your solution could be different to the next person’s. If you’re tall, you might be able to reach the next hold more easily on spaced-out problems – but find yourself cramped when the route takes you into the nooks and crannies of the wall. It all evens out in the end. The key to the problem could be about how you position your body when you climb, or what order you put your feet and hands on the wall – or there might be a sneaky “toe hook” or one of countless other climbing techniques that suddenly takes the problem from impossible, to crushed. The climbs are high enough to be exciting, but not so high that they’re hugely intimidating.

Fall 2018: Halloween Climb

• Date TBA
• Games, Costume Contest, Halloween Treats!

Student Organization Programs

By appointment, organizations and their member can have a fun filled hour of climbing at the rock wall. Our helpful staff will provide all the necessary equipment, including harnesses, shoes, and instruction on how to safely climb your way to the top. Contact recreation@lafayette.edu to reserve a program time.