Practice your climbing skills in a safe, HEATED, INDOOR, environment under the watchful eyes of trained, experienced, professional instructors.
This will be an “outdoor” adventure event cache. In addition to meeting and socializing with other cache hunters, you will get an opportunity to develop and practice skills that will enhance your geocache hunting experience. Specifically, you will develop the skills needed to hunt for caches with the “Difficult Climbing” attribute.
Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While it can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help secure footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry and provide a firmer grip, and bouldering mats to prevent injuries from falls. Unlike free solo climbing, which is also performed without ropes, bouldering problems (the sequence of moves that a climber performs to complete the climb) are usually less than 6 meters (20 ft.) tall.
The sport originally was a method of training for roped climbs and mountaineering, so climbers could practice specific moves at a safe distance from the ground. Additionally, the sport served to build stamina and increase finger strength. Throughout the 20th century, bouldering evolved into a separate discipline.
This event cache is open to all cache hunters who have at least a basic membership on Geocaching.com. Simply show up to log the event as “attended.” Actual bouldering is not required to attend. As you can see from the picture above, they have plenty of room for many so the is no limit on the number of cache hunters who attend (UNO OVC allows people to climb the wall behind the boulder provided you climb no higher than the boulder).
The event will take place at the indoor climbing wall at the Outdoor Venture Center in the H&K Building/Wellness Center on the University of Nebraska, Omaha campus. The specific address is 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68182.
There will be a small fee for climbing the boulder. It will be free for students at UNO and members of the Rec Center at UNO. Non-members must pay $7.00 at the front desk. Also, climbing shoes will be required. If this will be your first time climbing at the UNO rec center, shoe rental is free. If you’ve climbed there before, shoe rental is $5.00. You may also bring your own climbing shoes. There is free, off-campus parking within a short walking distance (see waypoints). I checked the guidelines for event caches at Geocaching.com. Event caches can require an entrance fees to cover legitimate costs of organizing the event. Also note, climbing the boulder is not necessary to log the event as attended.
While this won’t be a class event, the instructors will provide a brief orientation to us. They will stay with us throughout the event to ensure safety and to answer any questions you may have.
The UNO OVC will require all who climb the boulder to complete a waiver. While the purpose of this waiver is ensure all participants are fully aware of the risks of bouldering, it will provide them your contact information. I checked the guidelines for event caches at Geocaching.com. Event caches can require separate registration. Also note, climbing the boulder is not necessary to log the event as attended.
See you there! If this takes off, maybe we can arrange for a climbing class event :)
