University students ascended Skinner Butte climbing columns@@http://www.eugeneoutdoors.com/skinner-butte/@@ Sunday morning as part of the Outdoor Program and the Outdoor Pursuits Program’s event, “Rock 101.”@@http://outdoorprogram.uoregon.edu/events/4f88b5d249ec846f7300161b@@
The program gave climbers of various experiences the opportunity to climb real rock with lessons and essential equipment provided. Rock climbing was a first for many of the 15 students in attendance.
The 45-foot columns provided various difficulties for climbers with more jagged and rough rock on the left side of the columns and smoother rock with fewer inlets to the right. The columns, which are made of basalt, have been a popular climbing location since the 1940s.
Outdoor Program Office Coordinator Rithy Khut@@checked@@ organized and oversaw the event.
“College is all about new opportunities, and this is a great way to push your boundaries and try something new,” Khut said.
Throughout the session, professional and student staff members of the Outdoor Program instructed climbers on key information like belaying and tying harnesses.
Khut’s advice to rock climbers — both new and experienced — stressed the importance of safety in conjunction with fun.
“The two things about rock climbing in general are to have fun and be safe. As long as you are doing everything safely, then it will be more likely that you have a good time,” Khut said.
Outdoor Program staff member Rafael Arroyo@@checked@@ gave climbing advice to students as well.
“Being patient is the most important part. Rock climbing is a very adrenaline-driven sport, but realistically, you have to be thoughtful of the moves that you make,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo explained the Outdoor Program’s mission of giving outdoor opportunities to students in relation to this event.
“We wanted to allow students to have the opportunity to come out here and try it out. Our main goal is to give students the opportunity to go explore the sport for themselves,” Arroyo said.
International student Yeji Jeong @@https://www.facebook.com/ilovetruth89@@ explored rock climbing for the first time. Despite a lack of popularity for the sport in Korea, Jeong decided to try it out.
“I heard that Eugene is very famous for sports like this, and I had never done rock climbing before, so I thought it would be fun,” she said. “Rock climbing is scary, but it is very exciting. I tried it in the Rec Center, but it is different on real rock.”
Like Jeong, many students had never experienced climbing on real rock before.
“This is a great opportunity to transition from indoor climbing to outdoor climbing,” said volunteer Matt Keeler.@@checked@@
The Outdoor Program provides additional opportunities for students to rock climb with trips to places like Smith Rock.@@http://www.smithrock.com/@@ Staff members advise students to contact the Outdoor Program with ideas for other trips.