Dangling 20 feet above the ground by a half-inch rope isn’t everyone’s idea of a relaxing afternoon. For participants at Saturday’s rock climbing clinic at the UND Wellness Center, that’s exactly what they got.

Nine people attended the clinic to learn about climbing from the Adventure Program manager, Nick Boonstra, along with staff members Jordan Huus and Shane Malloy.

They first went over how to safely use equipment and how to tie a few common knots. Then each attendee had the chance to use an ascender, a device used for pulling oneself up the rope.

After the basics were covered it was time to set routes.

At first sight, a rock wall might look like a random conglomeration of colorful chunks of plastic, but there is a lot of thought that goes into deciding where each piece — called a hold — ends up on the wall. A series of holds leading to the top is called a route, and each route takes an average of one to two hours to install, according to Boonstra.

The clinic had participants split into groups to design their own routes. When they were finished, they named their creations and the staff assessed the difficulty levels.

Routes at the Wellness Center are separated into three difficulties: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Each grade can be further broken down with a plus or a minus, so there is something for climbers of all skill levels.

The rock wall’s staff recommends new climbers approach climbing as a social sport.

“It’s a lot easier to come in if you have a group of friends,” Malloy said. “Especially if none of you have climbed before, you’ll probably be close to the same skill level.”

Boonstra said the staff also can be a great resource for novice climbers.

“If you’re a little uncomfortable or you don’t know what you’re doing, ask the workers for help,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Many people who start rock climbing are drawn to the challenge of completing progressively harder routes, according to Huus. He said many visitors to the Wellness Center choose a style of climbing called bouldering, in which the person climbs without a rope to a limited height, with a thick pad on the floor in case of falls. Bouldering is a solutions-based approach that presents climbers with problems to solve.

“There are certain ways that routes force climbers to climb in a very technical way, and that’s one aspect of climbing that’s fun,” Huus said. “I know a lot of climbers who are regulars now. They have a route they haven’t finished, and they keep coming back.”

Climbers will get a chance to show off their skills on April 2 at the Dirty 30 Climbing Competition at the Wellness Center. There will be categories for everyone from beginners to advanced climbers, and there will be food and prizes. Participants can sign up between now and March 18 for an early-bird price of $20. From March 19 to April 2 registration will be $25, and signing up at the competition will be $30. There will also be a women’s climbing clinic in April.

The Wellness Center’s rock wall is the only climbing wall left in Grand Forks since the Northern Heights Rock Gym closed its Grand Cities Mall location last summer. Boonstra said he has noticed an increase of interest from the community, with groups reserving the wall for special events.

For UND students, access to the rock wall is included in their Wellness Center memberships, which are paid for through their student fees. It is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Lucas Amundson is the features editor for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected]