Students are reaching new heights on Pitt\u2019s 49-foot-tall climbing wall, which offers both novices and experts the chance to improve their climbing skills.<\/p>\n
The climbing wall opened on Sept. 14 as part of the new Recreation and Wellness Center<\/a>. It\u2019s the \u201ctallest of its kind in the Pittsburgh area<\/a>\u201d and has top-rope, lead and bouldering routes<\/a> that change every few weeks. Pitt\u2019s old climbing wall was located in Trees Hall<\/a> and was built in 1962.<\/p>\n Sarah Sleva, assistant director for Outdoor Adventures and Pursuits <\/a>, said the wall caters to a wide range of students, from beginners to members of Pitt\u2019s nationally ranked competitive climbing team<\/a>. The University designed the wall with students of different skill levels in mind and accepted student feedback throughout the process, according to Sleva.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe partnered with Walltopia<\/a> to design our climbing wall, and it was always intended to be 49 feet tall,\u201d Sleva said in an email. \u201cThere were minimal design changes throughout the way to fit the needs of our students\u2019 interests.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sleva said the University wanted to provide students interested in outdoor recreation an opportunity to pursue that passion in the new rec center.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOver the past few years, the outdoors has become more popular in Pittsburgh, with climbing being a focus,\u201d Sleva said. \u201cWe wanted to provide our students with a space to connect mentally and physically, allowing growth in the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a> at Pitt and junior mechanical engineering major. He took part in the wall\u2019s design process and wanted to ensure that every climber was well represented on the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want [beginners] to have an incredible time right out of the gate,\u201d Gotthelf said. \u201cOnce they\u2019re up there having fun, they naturally get enveloped in that welcoming, supportive community that climbers are known for, and that\u2019s what keeps them coming back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe one thing that I think that I like is that it\u2019s so much closer to campus than Trees is,\u201d Kellner said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to hike all the way up the hill, up to Trees, to try and climb, so [it\u2019s] definitely bringing in more new climbers, which is always a good thing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Gotthelf said the rec center wall is more accessible than other climbing gyms in Pittsburgh because it\u2019s free with tuition for undergraduates and in a more convenient location.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPittsburgh has a strong climbing scene, but getting to those gyms requires a commute and an expensive membership,\u201d Gotthelf said. \u201cThis 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Pittsburgh has multiple climbing gyms, including Pitt climbing wall partner Iron City Boulders<\/a> in Upper Lawrenceville. ASCEND climbing<\/a> also has Pittsburgh locations in the Southside and Point Breeze, and First Ascent Climbing and Fitness<\/a> has a location in Station Square. Student memberships at these locations range from $59 per month to $72 per month.<\/p>\n