CSUSB Recreational Sports Banner Climbing Wall Image
July 31st 2010 - 10:50 pm

Coming Again Winter 2011
CSUSB Mile High Challenge

Goals

For our 2009 Challengers, keep on logging your climbs to reach further heights. Any time you reach a new goal, notify the Climbing Wall Staff to have your name added to the website!

In order to complete the challenge by December, you should aim for the following goals:

Weekly   Daily
14 climbs + 1 extra 2 climbs

Climber's Progress

The Challenge Number of Climbers
1 Mile (5,280 feet) 5
North Face of Eiger (5,905 feet) 1
Great Trango Tower (8,780 feet) 0
Mt. Everest (12,000 feet) 0

The Rules

  1. All participants must register at the Membership Services Desk in the Student Recreation and Fitness Center. Registration is $10 and includes a T-shirt. The challenge begins again at the start of Winter Quarter 2011.
  2. All climbs must be completed at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center Climbing Wall.
  3. Climbs can be done using any hold as long as the climber reaches the chain anchor at the top. A single route does not need to be followed. However, there is the option to keep track of difficulty for personal goals.
  4. If participants complete the challenge by the end of finals week, they will be entered into a drawing to win great prizes.
  5. A staff member must initial the log at the completion of each workout to verify that the climbs have been done.
  6. Being belay certified is not required but greatly encouraged

The Challenge

Name Height Fact
Tahquitz, Idyllwild, CA 1000ft = 30 Routes
(equivalent to 30 climbs)

This landmark rock is located right in our own back yard,
barely more than an hours drive from CSUSB.

It is the birth place of the American system of rating climbing
routes, ironically called the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS).

In 1952, during the founding of modern climbing, it boasted
one of the hardest climb in the US, Open Book, the first 5.9 ever climbed.

Half Dome, Yosemite, CA 2000ft = 59 Routes
(equivalent to 59 climbs)

This iconic rock is one of the most recognizable features
of the world famous Yosemite Valley.

This big wall is home to a route known as Regular Northwest
Face which is the first Grade VI climb in the US, meaning a climb
that lasts more than two days.

The first ascent, in 1957, took a
total of five days.

Today, it's possible to hike up cables on the back
side, but who would want to do that when you can climb it?

El Cap, Yosemite, CA 3000ft = 88 Routes
(equivalent to 88 climbs)
El Capitan, or El Cap for short, is one of the most famous climbing
locations in the world.

By far the most well known route on El Cap is the 3000' long climb, The Nose.

It was first climbed in 1958 using aid gear and taking a total of 47
days of ascending and descending.

It wasn't until 1993 that the Nose was finally free climbed (without aid gear)
by climbing legend Lynn Hill.

Climbing history was made again in 2005, when Tommy Caldwell free climbed
both the Nose and Freerider, another difficult El Cap route, in a single day.

1 Mile 5280ft = 155 Routes
(equivalent to 155 climbs)
Much easier to walk a mile than it is to climb one!

Participants will have Winter Quarter 2011 until the end of finals week to complete the challenge.

Beyond the Challenge

Name Height Fact
Eiger (North Face), Bernese Alps, Switzerland 5905ft = 174 Routes (equivalent to 174 climbs) a very famous and hard climb in the frozen heart of Switzerland.There was even a movie made about this climb that starred Clint Eastwood.
Great Trango Tower, Karakoram, Pakistan 8780ft = 258 Routes (equivalent to 258 climbs) the tallest climbing route in the world.
Mt. Everest (base camp to summit) 12000ft = 353 Routes (equivalent to 353 climbs) not really a rock climbing route, but a worthy (insane) goal none the less.The summit is the highest point in the world, standing at 29,029ft