Climb to the Top: LSC Students Peak In West Virginia

"That was a really muddy and smelly river, and they (students) used five men to push me into it," says Jamie Struck, LSC Adventure Program Coordinator, when reviewing the six-day long trip to West Virginia.

At 4 a.m., March 31, the beginning of spring break, 12 students climbed aboard two mini vans; it was their first climb of many during their adventures in West Virginia. After 13 hours, they reached their destination. "We went to Seneca Rocks," says Struck, "and luckily, the weather was nice and warm. And it only rained once at night."

Located at the northern end of the River Knobs, Seneca Rocks is a large crag which has become a local landmark because of its popular challenge of sheer rock faces. With almost 400 major routes to climb to the top, Seneca Rocks is also uniquely attractive by its various climbing degrees for those climbers who want to challenge themselves and get great experience on the east coast.

There are two campgrounds near Seneca Rocks called Seneca Shadows and Yokum`s Princess Snowbird which allows people to camp and make friends. And the South Branch of the Potomac River, where Struck was thrown in, is also a good place to meet interesting people.

During the day, students went on rock climbing trips. "I yelled really loud when I got to the top [of a peak]," says Brady Callahan, a student in Mountain Recreation Management who went on the trip. "That was exciting." Besides climbing, students also volunteered to work on a community service project for half a day.

And at night, students returned to their camp community and slept in tents. "We had camp fires at night," says Milan Krainchich, another student who went on the trip. "And I went fishing in the river every night. That was so much fun."

However, as with any adventures, unexpected things did happen. "We met a couple of rock slides," Struck says with a laugh, like it was no big deal. "And one of them was right behind our car."

"That was really close," adds Brittney Robinson, one of the five women in the trip. "But we were fine."

For all of the good times, great experience and new friends, each student paid $240 which covered transportation, food, camping and climbing fees for the entire trip. No previous climbing experience was required.

"We have been doing [the trip] for three years," says Struck with a big smile on his face. "And you know what? You should come next year."