Baton Rouge is known for its flat terrain, but the University community will soon have a way of getting high – at least when it comes to climbing.
If members of the Outdoor Adventure Club get what they have asked for, “climbing” at LSU will be more than just tromping up the stairs to the top of Tiger Stadium.
Aaron Daly, president of OAC and a computer science senior, said he would like for the University to have a rock wall because that’s how he got into climbing while in high school.
“I did the Climax [rock wall] in New Orleans and thought I’d like to do it,” he said.
During the spring semester, the club requested a campus climbing wall from Rec administration and received a favorable response.
The Reveille reported in a June 12 story that the Rec Center renovations committee had placed an indoor rock wall in its blueprints and was accepting bids from architects.
The climbing wall will be located in the racquetball court currently filled with stationary bicycles for spinning classes.
Ben McGuire, director of Outdoor Rec, said construction on a wall – which he referred to as a “climbing gym”- will start next spring.
“[The climbing gym] is going to be a reality,” he said. “At some point next semester, construction will begin.”
McGuire was enthusiastic about accommodating OAC members. He said members are “committed” to furthering adventurous recreation.
“OAC is a high-focused group of students who have had experiences in the outdoors and wish to continue those,” he said.
Elaine Purdy, Rec Sports director, made the distinction between a rock climbing wall and a climbing gym.
She said a climbing wall normally is outdoors and is taller than a gym. Outdoor walls can be up to 60 feet tall, whereas the indoor gym at the Rec will be about 30 feet tall.
Purdy said she is glad to help meet student requests.
“We’ve had a lot of student interest,” she said. “The [Outdoor] Adventure Club pulled together a committee and did a lot of research.”
Purdy said her department also is following recreational trends from other universities.
“A number of universities have converted racquetball courts into [climbing] gyms,” she said.
The Rec Center will hire a full-time staff member whose job will be to oversee climbing gym activities, Purdy said. This staff member also will train students to use and supervise climbing activities.
Purdy said her department also is looking into getting a portable outdoor climbing wall to compliment the indoor gym.
“We’ve priced a 46-foot high climbing wall that rests on a trailer,” she said.
The outdoor wall could be used at events on the Parade Ground to appeal to students who do not use the Rec Center, Purdy said.
Ashley Stokes, a research fellow in the Vet School and OAC faculty adviser, said she has been involved with bringing a climbing wall to campus since the idea’s conception. She said she wanted to “sing the praises” of the Rec Center.
“From the very beginning, they have included students with climbing experience as well as experts in wall construction to ensure that a top-quality and technically challenging wall is constructed,” she said. “For years, we have been driving to Lafayette or New Orleans to climb, so the availability of this wall and the fact that it will feel like real rock will be great.”
But Outdoor Rec and OAC are not the only two interested parties. Chancellor Mark Emmett also has climbed on the climbing gym idea.
Emmert said the Rec Center staff does a “terrific” job with the facilities and equipment they have, but could use more.
“I would love to see a rock climbing wall, more boating and sailing on the lakes, more biking, and more off-campus outdoor activities,” he said. “We have a climate and culture at LSU that supports outdoor activities.”
But climbing is not the only activity Outdoor Rec is promoting.
This week, Outdoor Rec has transported canoes to Baton Rouge Beach for free use by students. The beach is located off Stanford Drive near campus.
“We’ve had more rental for our kayaks and canoes this year than ever before,” Purdy said.
McGuire said he wants students to be able to enjoy the University lakes, which he described as the community’s “biggest natural resources.”
“People close by can easily walk over from Miller Hall, ECA [East Campus Apartments] or Sorority and Fraternity rows,” he said.
Free canoe rental will continue today and Thursday from 1 p.m to 5 p.m. and Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.