With the sun beaming down on his face, Jeremy Yeates carefully climbed his way up an intricate vertical sandstone cliff, breathing in fresh air with every move.
"This time of year is my favorite," MSU's Outdoors Club co-president and supply chain management senior said.
Yeates has been out climbing at The Ledges in Grand Ledge's Oak Park almost every day this week. He says he loves to climb outdoors because it's a mysterious adventure as to where his next move will be since grips blend in with the rock.
"Climbing is kind of like a puzzle," he said. "What I like is trying to solve it."
While the 35- to 40-foot cliffs along the Grand River offer free prime climbing opportunities, Yeates realizes Michigan weather often likes to strike back against the spring tease of sun and warm temperatures.
But he's prepared for the cold temperatures and snow that's sure to come before the real warm weather of summer takes hold.
"You get into climbing and that's when it happens," he said. "And that's when I usually start climbing indoors."
Yeates chooses to climb inside at Planet Rock in Ann Arbor, but a closer location is Galyan's at Meridian Mall in Okemos.
Beginning April 7, the wall will be open for public climbing seven days a week. Climbing is free.
Is rock climbing not your cup of tea? There are many more activities to choose from during the early days of spring, whether it be a roll-your-car-window-down day or a keep-it-up day.
Forest Akers opened its nine-hole East Golf Course earlier this week and sold about a 100 rounds of golf Tuesday. There's no set time for the West Course to open.
"It's on a day-by-day basis," Forest Akers manager Ray Dolish said Wednesday, adding the course is still very wet. "It could be next week, it could be tomorrow."
Golfers can expect a couple new amenities: Complimentary bottled water and an option to schedule tee times online starting April 15 at
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Its 80-yard dome offers golfing for $7.50 per hour on weekdays and $8.50 per hour on weekends.
Usually the dome becomes like a greenhouse and is closed at the end of April, said Matt McCormick, Funtyme assistant manager. That's when outdoor activities will be in full swing, but until then, McCormick doesn't know when the go-carts, miniature golf, batting cages and Funtyme's outdoor driving range in Mason will open.
"It's hard to say with Michigan weather," he said. "We were going to open this week, but it's supposed to snow."
When it does get warmer out, customers will be able to use 10 new go-carts.
McCormick said most college students come out at night to race the 20 mph go-carts. It's $4.50 per person for a four-minute ride.
There is a set opening date for at least one event for early spring: the Lansing Lugnuts' opening day at 7:05 p.m. April 3 at Oldsmobile Park. Ticket prices range from $6.50 to $8.50.
"We've opened to snow and rain and everything," said Darla Bowen, marketing director for the Lugnuts. "We just hope it's going to be nice."
But even the Lugnuts have indoor events planned. Fresh in from training in Arizona, Lugnut players will be making a pit stop from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday at Holiday Inn South in Lansing for a meet-the-team event before hitting the baseball diamond.
Those who want to stick closer to campus can look forward to intramural sports.
A softball meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. April 8 in 208 IM Sports-West. The entry deadline for the All-University Track Meet is noon April 16. Entries can be made for $2 per person in 205 IM Sports-West.
Joel Eddy, assistant director of intramural sports, says there are no new sports being offered this spring, but he is open for suggestions.
"We are always searching," Eddy said. "If anyone has any ideas, let us know."
The 180-member Outdoors Club is always on the go and looking for new members, said Marty Guinta, club co-president and resource development senior.
The club meets at 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at 208 IM Sports-West. The club decided it will raft the Red Cedar River next week - rain or shine.
That's just one of the many activities group members get involved in. Guinta has been ice climbing, backpacking and white-water rafting.
"I do everything under the sun," Guinta said. "No one's super-competitive - it's a social group, too. Anything to get people out to have a good time."
At times, the Outdoors Club does revert to indoor activities. Although those activities sometimes involve rough-and-tumble events such as broomball at Munn Ice Arena, the club likes to find relaxing events, too.
The Outdoors Club is hosting the Banff Film Festival from 8-10 p.m. April 10 in N130 Business College Complex. The festival will feature short film documentaries about pro athletes and extreme sports.
"It's filmed in some of the most beautiful and remote places in the world," Guinta said. "It kind of gives us inspiration."
Tickets are $3 at Moosejaw Mountaineering, 555 E. Grand River Ave. and $5 at the door.
And in case people have never done any extreme outdoor activities, Guinta said that's no problem for the club. He said veteran members of the club always enjoy teaching newbies.
"Knowledge trickles down through the club," he said.
Yeates learned how to rock climb his first year at college and it turned out to be his favorite activity - inside and outside.
"There's some things I never thought I could do, and it's just a matter of putting in the effort. It's a good escape from school."
