Students are reaching new heights on Pitt’s 49-foot-tall climbing wall, which offers both novices and experts the chance to improve their climbing skills.
The climbing wall opened on Sept. 14 as part of the new Recreation and Wellness Center. It’s the “tallest of its kind in the Pittsburgh area” and has top-rope, lead and bouldering routes that change every few weeks. Pitt’s old climbing wall was located in Trees Hall and was built in 1962.
Sarah Sleva, assistant director for Outdoor Adventures and Pursuits , said the wall caters to a wide range of students, from beginners to members of Pitt’s nationally ranked competitive climbing team. The University designed the wall with students of different skill levels in mind and accepted student feedback throughout the process, according to Sleva.
“We partnered with Walltopia to design our climbing wall, and it was always intended to be 49 feet tall,” Sleva said in an email. “There were minimal design changes throughout the way to fit the needs of our students’ interests.”
Sleva said the University wanted to provide students interested in outdoor recreation an opportunity to pursue that passion in the new rec center.
“Over the past few years, the outdoors has become more popular in Pittsburgh, with climbing being a focus,” Sleva said. “We wanted to provide our students with a space to connect mentally and physically, allowing growth in the sport.”
Both experienced climbers and students looking to try something new are welcome at the wall, according to Sam Gotthelf who is a climbing student supervisor, vice president of the Club Climbing Team at Pitt and junior mechanical engineering major. He took part in the wall’s design process and wanted to ensure that every climber was well represented on the wall.
“We want [beginners] to have an incredible time right out of the gate,” Gotthelf said. “Once they’re up there having fun, they naturally get enveloped in that welcoming, supportive community that climbers are known for, and that’s what keeps them coming back.”
Ella Kellner, social media and business chair for the Recreational Climbing Club and a junior ecology and evolution major, said the new wall is more accessible than the one at Trees Hall because of its location.
“The one thing that I think that I like is that it’s so much closer to campus than Trees is,” Kellner said. “You don’t have to hike all the way up the hill, up to Trees, to try and climb, so [it’s] definitely bringing in more new climbers, which is always a good thing.”
Gotthelf said the rec center wall is more accessible than other climbing gyms in Pittsburgh because it’s free with tuition for undergraduates and in a more convenient location.
“Pittsburgh has a strong climbing scene, but getting to those gyms requires a commute and an expensive membership,” Gotthelf said. “This project brought 50-foot rope walls and over 100 linear feet of bouldering directly to the students, which breaks down massive financial and transportation barriers.”
Pittsburgh has multiple climbing gyms, including Pitt climbing wall partner Iron City Boulders in Upper Lawrenceville. ASCEND climbing also has Pittsburgh locations in the Southside and Point Breeze, and First Ascent Climbing and Fitness has a location in Station Square. Student memberships at these locations range from $59 per month to $72 per month.
Raena Lawton, a junior biological sciences major and member of the Recreational Climbing Club, enjoys the classes that the new wall offers. By taking Top Roping 101, Lawton was able to get her top roping certification.
Though she enjoys the updated space and equipment at the new wall, Lawton said she is nostalgic for the Trees space.
“I think that Trees beat out [the new climbing wall] for me, at least for nostalgia. So when it’s like a beautiful spring day, kind of like today, I’m like, ‘Man, I wish I was walking up [Cardiac Hill] now to go and climb.’” Lawton said.
Leo Boccella, a board member for the Recreational Climbing Club and junior ecology and evolution student, said the new rec center wall has a stricter “vibe” in comparison to the old wall. He said the culture at the Trees wall was more “tight-knit,” though he does like the new space overall.
“It’s a little more corporate now I think, which — in my mind — is not good, but the trade-offs might be worth it in the end,” Boccella said. “I definitely think the climbing is better.”
While some students prefer the climbing wall at Trees, Gotthelf said the new wall can be used as a recruitment tool for students looking to climb competitively in college.
“Our competitive climbing structure looks more like a true varsity program than almost any other school,” Gotthelf said. “When collegiate competitive climbing inevitably takes the next step in its national development, Pitt already has the pieces in place to lead the way.”
Justin Horne, a first-year mechanical engineering major and member of the climbing team, came to Pitt, in part, due to the new climbing wall.
“It was actually one of the main selling points for me. One, because this is a great engineering school, and then I knew they had a great climbing team,” Horne said. “I knew, before coming to Pitt, a couple people on the climbing team.”
Logan Sotack, a first-year intended neuroscience major, has found a community through climbing at Pitt. He believes more students should try the wall.
“To go to your typical climbing gym, on the cheaper end, it could be 20 bucks with rentals and everything,” Sotack said. “So to be able to come here for free, I think it should be taken advantage of more by students.”