Students at Western Washington University are finding benefits in rock climbing beyond just improvement to their physical health.
“Being able to climb at climbing club, and climb at the Rec Center and learn from knowledgeable people that are willing to share that knowledge has been so valuable for my mental health, and has become such a big part of my life,” said Abby Blethen, a third-year Western student and an officer of Western’s climbing club.
Western’s climbing club was founded during winter 2022 by Josh Gross and Keavy Lynch, students who saw the need for a space to be able to connect with their peers.
Gross, a fifth-year student at Western and co-president of the club, wanted to create a space for people of all experience levels to take on what he describes as an intimidating sport.
“[I] was in a class, and we were writing down things that scared us, and the first thing I wrote was climbing, because I don’t know if it will ever not be scary for me,” Gross said. “But that’s what the ropes are for, that’s what the helmets are for.”
One consistency between newcomers and experienced climbers is that, while it can be scary, the feeling when you push through and accomplish a route is like nothing else, according to Blethen and Gross, especially when your peers cheer you on.
“[Gross thought] that I did a good job [on my first climb], and accomplished something really hard, and it validated my fears, but also made me really proud of myself, which was cool,” Blethen said.
Michael Warren, a psychology professor at Western, said that while overcoming fears can make us feel better about ourselves, it also requires practicing a growth mindset, a skill that carries over to many aspects of life.
“Research shows that people with growth mindsets have better social relationships, achieve higher levels of education, and make more money in their professions, and rock climbing gives us a natural onramp for practicing this mindset,” Warren said.
Dane Siegfried, Western’s rec center operations and climbing wall coordinator, said there are many skills you build while rock climbing that extend to all areas of life.
“Being a good climber takes strength, skill and mental fortitude, and I think can take people away from the everyday stress they have while in college,” Siegfried said.
The community aspect of rock climbing means that participants form meaningful friendships, according to Siegfried, which can make a world of difference while away from home for the first time.
“I do not think I would have had the same positive experience my freshman year of college, and just in general, if not for climbing, just because I found so much community with it,” Blethen said.
For students who think they might be interested, the club and rec center encourage students to stop by and try it out.
“I’ve always said if you want to find the coolest people at Western, they’re here at the climbing wall,” said Siegfried.
Madelyn Jones (she/her) is a city life reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a fourth-year News/Editorial pre-major and Anthropology minor. When she’s not working on a story, she likes reading and listening to music. You can reach her at madelynjones.thefront@gmail.com.
