Myth: Rock climbing is extremely dangerous
The idea of leaving the safety of solid ground to cling to a wall 50 feet in the air, supported only by a rope, can be unsettling for some people.
Fact: Rock climbing risks can be minimized
Andrew Harmon, vice president of the University of Idaho Climbing Club, said climbing is only dangerous when people are unprepared. Rock climbing requires at least cursory knowledge of basic skills and techniques, familiarity with climbing equipment and observance of safety protocols.
“It can be very dangerous, if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Harmon said. “You need to know the risks. If you know what you’re doing, it’s not dangerous at all. I think more people get hurt in football than climbing.”
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Myth: Rock climbing only requires intensive upper body strength
Liz Warner, financial coordinator for the Climbing Club, said many people think it’s necessary to have really strong arms and well-developed biceps in order to climb well.
Fact: Rock climbers have to use other body parts too
Warner, who has been climbing for four years, said climbers use their arms a lot, but other muscle groups are not to be forgotten.
“One of the most valuable pieces (of advice) I got when I was climbing, as far as how to become a better climber, was ‘use your legs more,'” she said. “If you can get a high foot and stand up on that leg, it’s not so much pulling up with your arms. It really is kind of a full-body workout in the sense that you have to engage your core and bring your legs up.”
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Myth: Rock climbing is only appealing to a specific group of people
Some may think rock climbing is only for thrill-seekers majoring in recreation. Rock climbing can seem like an intense activity, and may appear unapproachable to people not already interested in other outdoor sports.
Fact: Rock climbers are a varied group of people
Members of UI’s Climbing Club come from a variety of backgrounds, and participate in a variety of study programs that vary from biology to law school. An even more diverse group of people use the facilities at the UI Climbing Center, including non-student community members.
Spencer Payne, a Climbing Center employee, said some people think rock climbing involves a drug culture, but he thinks this is an inaccurate depiction of rock climbers as a whole.
“Normal people go rock climbing,” he said. “It’s not all hippies and hipsters. Anyone and everyone does it.”
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Myth: Rock climbing requires a high level of expertise
Some people are deterred by the perceived difficulty of climbing.
Fact: There are many opportunities for beginners
Kevin Townsley, Climbing Club president, said he started climbing with his dad when he was 7 years old, continued through middle school and high school, and learned a lot in the process. He said climbers improve with time, and develop an understanding of climbing routes in much the same way piano players develop an understanding of sheet music.
“If you’re not developing physical strength, you’re at least developing technique, which can carry you farther in a lot of cases,” Townsley said.
He said even if a person is already strong, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be able to successfully traverse a wall, adding that many muscular people initially struggle as climbers.
The UI Climbing Center also offers top rope climbing, a type of sport climbing where the climber’s rope runs through an anchor at the top, and back down to a belayer, who keeps the right tension on the rope to prevent the climber from falling too far. Payne works as a route-setter at the climbing gym, and aims to provide appropriate climbing routes and bouldering problems for people at all skill levels.
“Don’t be afraid to stop by the rock wall and give it a try,” Payne said. “Even if you don’t know anything, the staff there knows how to teach you what you need to know, and there’s equipment there so you can do anything in the facility.”
Written by Daphne Jackson