Rock-solid Friendships

As I descended the stairs of the Miami University Rec Center, my ears were filled with what can only be described as lively chatter. I reached the bottom and turned the corner as the smell of sweat and chalk hit my nose. I had arrived at the rock wall.

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It’s 8:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. The MU Rock Climbing Club has its weekly two-hour wall rental and the atmosphere feels like a party.

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Dozens of climbers crowded the area between the gym, basketball courts and Outdoor Pursuit Center (OPC). Some stood against the concrete walls, catching their breath and conversing with other climbers. Some laid sprawled on the thick mats, staring up at the route that had deceived them. Some looked at the rock wall and made seemingly random hand movements, covered in chalk and talking to themselves.

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A few were off the ground, scrambling and contorting their bodies across the angles and colored holds making up the wall. Some were 5 feet high, others 30 feet. Above all, I heard a constant stream of conversation, encouragement and sometimes shouts to those climbing.

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“There’s a foothold above your right knee!”

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“Nice. Nice. Keep going.”

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“You just gotta jam your finger in there.”

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“Yeah, my upper body is completely cooked.”

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Everywhere I looked there was excitement, there was movement. It’s hard not to be drawn into the buzz, the feeling that seemed to flow from this space.

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I spotted a friend from my beginner’s rock climbing class trying a route he hadn’t finished yet. He encouraged me to give it a go. I shook off my bookbag, put down my pen and notepad and set myself up on the starting holds. As I made my first move, I immediately slipped and fell. Looks like Vans don’t make great climbing shoes.

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We laughed as I quickly got off the mat to let someone else attempt the route. We laughed again when they got it on the first try.

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The air of excitement and fun was palpable as I gazed around the room of climbers, each coming to tackle their own goals on the wall, but each bonded by the shared experience and belonging that emanated from this community.

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***

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Miami’s rock wall has been around since the new rec building was built in 1994 for $25 million. Since then, the wall has been transformed. It's been repainted, resurfaced for better grip and expanded to accommodate more climbers. The wall is used by the OPC for college classes and youth clinics, as well as countless students.

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“We have a great facility compared to other colleges,” Jacob Meyer, a senior architecture major and president of the climbing club, said. “I think it’s one of the best in the area.”

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Climbing exploded in popularity after indoor climbing gyms started popping up in the ‘90s, drawing in climbers of all ages and skill levels. Miami’s wall is no different, with beginners and seasoned climbers alike taking advantage of it.

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“One of the cool things about Miami's wall is that we do have so many people who are brand new to the sport,” Bridget Woods, an outdoor instructor at the OPC who teaches climbing classes, said. “You know, it's one of those things you get to try with college.”

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For those who want to get into climbing but don’t know where to start, Miami offers a Beginning Rock Climbing Class through the OPC, SLM 150C, which is open to those of all skill levels. The class covers basic information such as different climbing movements, climbing vocabulary, how to improve climbing technique and offers plenty of opportunities for students to climb on the wall during class.

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Woods said she enjoys having the opportunity to introduce students to a new sport and help them improve their confidence and ability on the wall. She likes to convey to her students that climbing is unique in the way that it combines flexibility, strength and problem-solving to create an entirely different kind of challenge than most are used to.

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Beyond the beginners class, there is an intermediate-level class that allows students with some climbing experience to enhance their skills and learn new methods of climbing.

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There are very few rules to climbing, especially at Miami, where only close-toed shoes are required to climb. The smaller bouldering wall is available at all times the rec is open, and when the main wall is open students can rent harnesses and climbing shoes for only a few dollars. Those passionate about climbing at Miami push to promote the accessibility of the wall.

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Liza Ida, a junior emerging technology in business and design major, works at the climbing desk and sets routes on the wall. Setting routes involves changing the colored holds on portions of the wall, creating new paths for climbers to reach the top. Recently the staff at the wall have been encouraged to set more routes that appeal to beginners, hoping to bring in new climbers and encourage them to continue coming back to try new climbs.

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“I really loved the goal of climbing and how encouraging everyone is,” Ida said. “That’s what drew me in.”

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Ida quickly built relationships with other climbers at the wall. She believes that the shared goals of completing a climb and trying new routes bring people together and sees that friendliness reflected in her conversations with other climbers.

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“I love coming to the wall,” Ida said. “[It’s nice] to have someone to be genuine with and just have a conversation.”

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Despite the influx of new people that come and go from the wall, dedicated climbers at Miami have created a tight-knit community. The climbing club welcomes those of all skill levels to join, and if you’ve been to the wall you know how much encouragement new climbers receive.

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Meyer, who started climbing as a first-year at Miami, has seen how important that support and sense of belonging is from the start. Now a senior graduating in May, he makes a point to build relationships with the younger climbers, hoping to continue the sense of community he found so welcoming four years ago.

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“As president, I feel like I’m leading a new legacy,” Meyer said. “I want to pass on what I’ve learned and gained from climbing.”

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The climbing club also holds a climbing competition once a semester. This event is open to anyone, even students from other universities. Before the competition, the entire wall is changed and new routes are set, which are numbered based on their difficulty. Climbers who finish the hardest routes are given prizes, from stickers and rope belts to brand-new chalk bags and backpacks.

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Outside of competitive events, the climbing club also takes trips to outdoor climbing destinations. The club will often go multiple times a semester to Red River Gorge in Kentucky, which is revered in the national and international climbing community as one of the best climbing destinations in the world.

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Located about three hours away from campus within the Daniel Boone National Forest, hundreds of sandstone cliffs with thousands of completed routes offer ample opportunities for climbing. There is a wide range of difficulties across the routes, from beginner-friendly to the more experienced. It is extremely popular in the fall and spring seasons and is known for its sense of community centered around the famous pizza spot, Miguel’s Pizza.

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Meyer’s first experience with climbing at Miami was on a trip to New River Gorge, located in West Virginia, with the climbing club in the fall of 2020. He enjoys getting outside of the gym and spending time climbing in nature with friends on these trips.

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Spending an entire weekend outside comes with its challenges, but most climbers on the trip choose to embrace a lifestyle quite different than student life for a few days, from cooking food over a campfire to sleeping in a hammock under the stars.

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“It's kind of ‘dirt baggy.’ Some people are like, ‘oh, it's raining,’ and I'm like: ‘alright, wear a rain jacket, get muddy,’” Meyer said laughing.

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Between trips, competitions and a familiar culture of belonging, the climbing club has given Miami students of all ages and climbing experience a community to count on, something that Meyer sees as the most important aspect of the club.

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“I've had people telling me, like a bunch of like sophomores and freshmen that are starting to come on, and they're like, ‘yeah, climbing club is … the best thing on campus,’” Meyer said. “Just those comments really keep me going.”

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No matter where they are, rock climbers at Miami have found a community like no other. They have found a place to push themselves mentally and physically, but also one that embraces their mistakes. Between the encouragement from fellow climbers to try that tough move or the affability of conversations at the wall, they have found something captivating about the sport.

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“People love climbing so much that they want to show it to other people,” Ida said. “I love seeing people try new things.”

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Climbers at Miami embrace the idea of simply “giving it a go.” Whether that’s pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, encouraging a beginner or overcoming fear dozens of feet off the ground, they find ways to make the most of their experience. Woods has seen that within the Miami climbing community, no matter the outcome of a climb, they always manage to see the good.

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“Give it a try, and whatever comes of it is an accomplishment,” Woods said.

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