For students looking to stay active during their mid-semester break, rock climbing is an option that combines both teamwork and physical activity.
Rock climbing was originally created as a means of transportation and exploration, but over time has turned into not only a sport but a recreational hobby practiced by many.
Hueco Tanks, a state park nationally recognized for its rock-climbing landscape, has been home to many climbers and thrill seekers. However, if one isn’t interested in being outdoors, an indoor climbing gym is the perfect solution for both beginners and veteran climbers.
There are two climbing gyms in El Paso currently available to the community. Located at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)’s student recreation center, the university has its very own indoor climbing gym.
Students can enter by showing their student ID at the UTEP Student Recreation Center’s front desk and simply head downstairs for open climb from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For those who are interested in climbing to greater heights, Belay School is also held in UTEP’s recreation center’s climbing gym from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
The second climbing gym is located on the west side of El Paso, called Sessions Climbing + Fitness and is home to El Paso’s largest bouldering and top rope climbing walls, and more.
Sessions’ climbing gym offers guests both monthly memberships and individual day pass for unlimited climbing. Climbing shoes can be rented as well as harnesses for top rope climbing which is a straight shot to the top.
The two climbing types offered at the gym are “bouldering” which involves climbing routes with safety crash pads underneath and “walls” that are meant to be used with a harness and reaches heights of three stories high.
Dominic Troiani, a master’s student at UTEP, thinks that rock climbing is unlike any other sport and feels that it is a great physical activity and a perfect way to stay active during spring break.
“It’s like a different way of exercising. It’s not like your traditional running or weightlifting, it helps with mobility, so it’s just a fun way to incorporate that,” Troiani said.
Other students like Manuel Gutierez, the president of the rock-climbing club at UTEP, find rock climbing to be an activity open for everyone to try, especially with the rock-climbing community being extremely inviting.
“It’s very easy to come in, get some shoes, get a harness and start climbing. The climbing community is one of the greatest communities, because they’re all super friendly,” Gutierez said. “I think climbing is one of those sports where you learn a lot more about yourself because there is no sport where you fail the most besides climbing. Doing it again and doing it better every single time.”
Climbing is an open-arms community, looking for others who are willing to reach greater heights. Although there are only two climbing gyms in El Paso, local climbers come together to share their love for the sport.
Joseph Montero is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected].
