Climbing Information

Our experienced rock climbing leaders provide trips to nearby popular climbing locations. The club also organizes trips to a nearby indoor rock climbing gym, which gives us a great club discount rate!

Links

Rock Climbing Moves & Tips
A rock climber's homepage with lots of cool climbing tips.

REI - Climbing Gear
REI is one of the best outdoor gear providers that ever existed. This is their climbing gear page.

The Philadelphia Rock Gym
Even though this rock gym is a ways away from Messiah, you should check it out if you've ever in the area!

GORP Climbing Page
GORP (Great Outdoors Recreational Pages) is one of the best outdoors recreation resource sites we have ever seen. Check it out!

Destinations

Climbnasium
The Climbnasium offers SUPERB indoor rock climbing for climbers of all levels. It's only about ten minutes from campus located in Mechanicsburg. On Friday nights, it's only $6 (not including rentals if you need them) to climb for the whole night! They also offer great beginner classes on Friday evenings at 6:30.

White Rocks
White Rocks is close to campus (5 minutes) and offers some good rock climbing, and good bouldering. It's a good half-hour hike to get to the rocks.

Pole Steeple
This area has incredible views of surrounding hills, valleys, and Laurel Lake. It's located in Pine Grove Furnace. There are maps available at the park office, or you can photocopy one from a club officer. It offers intermediate to expert rock climbing.

White Rocks at Pond Banks

Almost all routes can be top roped if carrying a long enough rope (60M). There are 20 climbs mapped out on this rock face. Two routes are bolted. There are also some cool boulders in the area before you get to the face for a little warm up before you rope up. Also look for small bore holes in the rocks, these are pre-Cambrian fossils of worm-like creatures that lived at the bottom of the ocean millions of years ago. 

Shaffer Rock

Located in Michaux State Forest. There are 20+ top rope problems and dozens of boulders for pad squashers. Car access is only a 1 minute walk from the climb site. It is about a 50 minute ride from Messiah. This climb site is in close proximity to White Rocks at Pond Banks.