Climbing Club shows newcomers the ropes

The group rock climbs at Capen Park ever Monday.

By Robert Langellier

Published Oct. 26, 2010

Crimps. Slopers. Jugs. Belaying. Choss. Top ropes. What are these mysterious things?

They’re climbing terms, ones with which more experienced members of the Mizzou Climbing Club are familiar. Fortunately, no knowledge of these terms whatsoever is required to join.

The climbing club is an organization that supports both amateur and experienced climbers.

According to senior and club president Ryan Gajewski, Missourians are less interested in climbing than people out west, so the climbing club is a good way to get students involved in an exhilarating and addicting sport. Gajewski himself did not get into climbing until his freshman year.

“I started out just walking through the Rec Center with my buddy, and I saw the rock wall,” Gajewski said. “I said, ‘Hey, that looks kind of cool. We should check it out.’”

Gajewski did just that, and before long, found himself addicted to climbing and active in the Mizzou Climbing Club.

In addition to climbing at Capen Park and the Student Recreation Complex, the climbing club also takes frequent and spontaneous trips out of state to seek out more advanced and scenic sites. Once or twice a month, the group will head out for places like Horseshoe Canyon in Arkansas or southern Illinois, as well as occasional bigger trips to Red Rock Canyon in Nevada or the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.

Gajewski says that climbing in Columbia is decent, but not as good as other areas, because there are dangerous, breakable rocks and low cliffs.

“The scenery, alone, where we go is just breathtaking, very secluded, very natural,” Gajewski said. “You’re away from the main roads, and you just pitch a tent in the middle of a big canyon in this big field.”

There’s a great sense of community in the rock climbing world, Gajewski said. The common bond for purposeless adventure clears the way for friendships or temporary climbing partnerships.

“When we go to competitions, most of the time it’s just everyone helping each other out and pushing each other to get better,” said junior and two-year member Thomaz Desouza.

The climbing club offers two types of memberships: a $20 Capen Park pass and a $40 travelling pass that covers gas and camping fees for the year. It also holds fundraisers to boost club funds. Gajewski expressed a need for more allocation money from MU, because some of their equipment is old and unsafe.

“It’s coming down to me lending out my own personal gear on trips, just because of safety issues,” Gajewski said.

The club warmly welcomes newcomers, including those who have never climbed.

“We cater to everyone, beginners or experts, and if you just want to come once or twice to experience, it’s fun,” said senior and four-year member Andrew Ringwald. “Beginner or expert, you’ll have fun.”

The organization meets at 5 p.m. every Monday to climb at Capen Park. On rainy Mondays, the group meets at the Recreation Center to climb the rock wall.