Now the task is far less terrifying, and rock climbing is her favorite of the club’s numerous outdoor activities.
Besides climbing, members go kayaking, camping and have taken whitewater rafting trips to West Virginia.
The club also has an active Facebook page where members can post upcoming trips they have in mind and find others to join them on their adventure.
New members typically start climbing at the club’s Learn to Climb Day, an event they hold during the school year. They learn how to tie a figure eight knot to the harness, and how to belay a climber and keep them secure while climbing.
Smith said the worst injury she has received occurred when her rope was too far to the side. Smith fell and ended up scraping along the rock wall, but said her injuries have never been worse than scrapes or bruises.
“When you get to the top, the hardest part is trusting the belayer to get you down safely,” Smith said. “I think it’s relatively safe. ... As long as the belayer knows what they’re doing and everything is set up properly, you should be safe.”
Zoology junior Mackenzie Feringa joined during her freshman year when she stumbled upon a tent filled with lawn chairs and a canoe at Sparticipation.
She attended Learn to Climb Day and the club’s 8 p.m. Monday meetings at IM West.
Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings and join the club, and their gear room gives prospective members a chance to test the adventures out before deciding to join.
To officially join, members pay a fee of $20 for gear rentals and membership fees. If they decide they don’t want to join, they can return the rental gear free of charge.
“People who are interested should just go out and try it,” Feringa said. “Grab people who are excited and can teach you, especially in the beginning if you don’t know what’s going on. With someone experienced, you can get tips if you need them.”
Feringa said club activity slows down during the summer, but members still post in the Facebook group for various outings.
Japanese senior Allison Tobin has been a part of the club for two years. Since then, she has joined the e-board and became the gear manager or “gear queen.”
She said anyone, including local community members, are welcome to join and hang out with the club, and that the community is the greatest part of it.
“It’s just a really good community,” she said. “You don’t try to be anyone else but yourself, and the people love you for it.”
