Peak Adventures is helping students reach new heights with inexpensive workshops Sacramento State students can take advantage of starting next week.

Peak Adventures provides outdoor recreational and educational opportunities, including rock climbing, to students. Rock climbing is a growing leisure sport and a challenging activity, but there is help and instruction available.

“It’s challenging both physically and intellectually,” said John Pistotti, senior recreation, parks and tourism administration major. “There are always new things to learn and new ways to get better.”

Meredith Budlong, Peak Adventures operations specialist, said rock climbing is also a social sport.

“You’ll always find folks who are willing to work on problems and cheer you on (at a rock climbing gym),” Budlong said. “You can’t climb safely by yourself.”

Peak Adventures offers a few classes to help prepare its climbers.

Belay 101 is an indoor class focusing on skill building. Students learn to use ropes and safety equipment to safely lower their climbing partners to the ground – no experience required.

Also, Basic Rock Climbing is an all-day course offered to introduce outdoor climbing to students – knot tying, belaying, equipment use and climbing techniques.

More advanced climbers can enroll in Learn-to-Lead, which focuses on indoor lead

climbing. Climbers will learn to clip quickdraws to the wall and provide help in case of a fall.

Budlong said she fine-tunes her rock climbing skills when she teaches climbing techniques to others.

“Climbing in a sense is like a dance and leading the technique class is like being a dance choreographer,” Budlong said. “It’s like helping someone move their body in a beautiful way while still being productive.”

Budlong said the experience of climbing indoor and outdoors differ.

“You get to a plateau and only can get so far so fast,” Budlong said. “You might be good climbing bright-colored plastic (indoors) and have difficulty climbing a same-looking wall (outdoors).”

Budlong said she prefers climbing outdoors.

“I lately prefer real rock,” Budlong said. “I’m excited for the nice weather and the beautiful things in nature.”

Anything goes in rock climbing – even a person’s attire.

“Bright-colored spandex is coming back,” Budlong said. “It’s hilarious the ridiculous outfits you can wear when you climb. There’s no holding back. You’re just enjoying being outside and climbing the wall.”

Pistotti encourages students to take advantage of the climbing walls at The Well and trips with Peak Adventures.

“It’s really great to try new things,” Pistotti said. “Peak Adventures provides professional expertise to make it a comfortable environment for all levels.”

Jordan Riturban can be reached at [email protected]