The Princeton University Climbing Team was founded in the spring of 2010. We like to think that it’s one of the most welcoming groups on campus. In fact, most of our members never climbed before coming to college. Anyone with a PUID (includes students, grad students, faculty/staff and their significant others) can join the team. We also don’t charge dues, and you don’t even need your own climbing gear to come to practice! Outdoor Action (OA) generously provides the team with shoes, harnesses, and belay devices.
The team runs four practices a week, which involve following a specific climbing workout. The only pre-requisite for attending practice is that you know how to belay. To learn how to belay, you can attend a class run by OA followed by taking the belay test at any of the seven OA Wall Open Hours sessions each week. Open Hours differ from practice in that anyone can climb, even those who don’t know how to belay, and are staffed by OA Wall Staff.
Although we have four practices a week, the team is very non-committal. Some people come to practice once a semester while some try to make it to every practice. Come to as many or as few as you like to get the most out of your climbing experience!
In addition to weekly indoor practices, we take weekend trips to some local bouldering areas to get a taste of outdoor climbing. We also run two trips a year (fall and spring breaks) to the Red River Gorge, a sport climbing area in Kentucky.
We participate in competitions as part of the Mid-Atlantic Division of USA Climbing’s Collegiate branch. These start in November and end in March and are hosted by local climbing gyms. Team members are by no means required to attend and can choose to attend as many or as few as they like. Competitions are a great way to go climbing at professional gyms and meet climbers from other schools. Climbing competitions are known for their chill and supportive vibes, so members of all abilities are encouraged to attend.
There are also more social activities that the team does outside of practice. We have “nutrition practice” (team dinner) after Tuesday and Thursday practices in the Wu Private Dining Room. We also have weekly hangouts, which include climbing movies, potlucks, and even water balloon fights!
If you are interested in joining the team/trying out a team practice, subscribe to our email list-serv!
