Challenge Gravity: Climb On Campus

Climbing, both indoor and out, is an activity that challenges you in a way most activities do not, working muscles you otherwise may not use.

The gravity well, Lyndon State's own indoor climbing facility is like a buried treasure on campus.

There is no fee for LSC students who want to climb in the Gravity Well; you can borrow climbing shoes and a harness when you sign in.

The Gravity Well is located near the Bole Gym. As you are walking to the gym you will see a set of stairs on your left. It's open Sunday-Friday 6-9pm.

 LSC freshman, Victoria Szamocki, a first time climber in the Gravity Well says, "The employees are knowledgeable and great teachers, I can't wait to come back and climb again!" After having a great experience the first time she made it clear that she would not hesitate to climb there again, and maybe venture out and try climbing elsewhere as well.

Indoor climbing such as in the Gravity Well is a great way to start training and practicing before venturing to outdoor destinations, such as Wheeler, to climb where there are few options for routes and difficulty levels.

Climbing, as rugged and tough as it may seem is almost pretty to watch; the mostly fluid movements are hard to match elsewhere.

Gravity Well employee Jason Gaudreau, a senior at LSC, says, "The Gravity Well is great for climbers at any level from beginners to advanced climbers. We have routes for all levels."

In the Gravity Well you can learn how to climb and belay, you can get your belaying certification for LSC if you take a lesson on how to belay with one of the employees, then prove you can belay well. Belaying is a climbing skill that is vital to indoor climbing; in order to climb you must master it to ensure the safety of yourself, as well as your climbing partner.

Belaying is a simple skill to master. Basically, you are holding the rope that is attached to your climbing partner to make sure that he or she does come crashing to the ground.

A rope is attached to the harnesses of the climber and the belayer, as well as being secured at the top of the wall. The climber is directly tied into the rope; it is looped to his or her harness with a figure-eight knot. While the belayer attaches the rope to a belaying device and then their harness, the belayer is responsible for keeping the rope snug as the climber ascends, holding them in case they begin to fall, and to lower them to the ground at the end of the climb.

Climbing is definitely an activity that everyone should try at least once. Not only is it a great work out but it's a lot of fun too.