Recently, Hackley has added a new Physical Education curriculum: rock climbing. Despite being introduced two years ago to the students as a club and also as a P.E option, rock climbing has gained steam of late. Students meet at the gym after school and take a bus to the Cliffs at Valhalla, a popular site for rock climbing. The P.E class meets every Tuesday with proctor Dr. Ying. The club team meets every Wednesday.
Senior Morgen Seim, the rock climbing team’s captain, is happy that Hackley introduced it as an option for students. “It’s a great test of your mental and physical strength, and it allows me to free myself from stress for the little time we climb,” Morgen said. Other members of the team include seniors Rebkha Michael, Melanie Variano, Alex Cherry, and co-captain Lauren Santo.
There are two types of rock climbing offered at the Cliffs: rope climbing and bouldering. While rope climbing uses harnesses and ropes, bouldering, the common favorite among Hackley student, does not. Instead of the wall being constructed vertically as it usually is for rope climbing, bouldering involves various angles. According to Rebkha, bouldering is “a better test of your abilities.”
Rock climbing has an effect on Hackley students not on the team, as well. Junior Derek Rosenzweig, although not a part of the team, is a frequent indoor rock climber and enjoys the time he spends doing it. “Rock climbing is a big part of my life. Not only does it test your physical strength, but more importantly, it tests your mental strength to overcome obstacles and to reach my goal in the end which is always to get to the top,” Derek said.
