Rock-Climbing at Sanctuary Rock Gym
Articles / Sports
Date: October 15, 2007

Melody Ainsworth, Staff Reporter

Hiding in the industrial section of Sand City, lies any extreme sport enthusiasts’ dream. Sanctuary Rock Gym resembling a cave is on any given night, packed with locals and CSU Monterey Bay students.
The main activity at a rock gym like Sanctuary, is wall climbing. Each wall ranges in difficulty and offers different climbing paths to follow, various types of handholds, and ominous incline possibilities.
So how does one climb a wall?  Sanctuary’s system is virtually foolproof.  In general, climbing is a two-person sport. As one person climbs, the other person belays (or holds the rope).
The climber is tied into a harness, tightened at the waist and thighs, and is locked into the rope with a heavy-duty carbeaner. The belayer is also tied into a harness, and is on duty to keep the rope taut and their partner from falling. Sanctuary uses devices called Grigri’s, which automatically lock the rope in the hands of the belayer until the climber is ready to descend.
Climbing for sport is a challenge of both the body and the mind. CSUMB senior and Business major, Todd Norris, has been climbing for years and still admits that it is not always as easy as it looks.
“Its not as simple as going straight up, you have to plan out your next move…then hope your body has enough strength left to make it,” said Norris.
A large contributor to climbing ability is trust in your equipment, your belayer, and most of all, yourself. 
Sanctuary offers various other challenges in climbing such as a tightrope, a dubious looking faux “crack”, and for climbers who battle a fear of heights, bouldering which is a lower wall that requires no harness and slightly more strategy. 
One aspect that draws CSUMB students in by the dozen is the closeness of the gym.  CSUMB professor, Greg Myers, instructs a class on climbing that meets at the gym each Wednesday. 
CSUMB Business senior and sanctuary employee, Jamie Younse, agrees, “Once students realize we’re here, they can’t wait to come back.” It’s a great alternative to going to the gym, it works out muscles you don’t even know you have...and yes, it even works your brain.” 
Although it is not cheap, Sanctuary also acknowledges their climbers, with student discounts available for day, month, and even year passes. The relieving factor is that you get what you pay for; rates are high to keep all their equipment, that many entrust their lives to, up to date, and fully functional.
So instead of going to the gym this week, drop by Sanctuary Rock Gym any weekday 2 p.m.-10 p.m., or weekends 10 p.m.-6 p.m. to give climbing a shot.  The gym is located in Sand City behind Costco.  For more information and directions, visit Sanctuary’s website at:  www.rockgym.com.