The ACT’s biggest bouldering and rock climbing group, the Canberra Climbers’ Association, boasts over 460 members, and that number is going up. Photo: CCA.
Rock climbing and bouldering isn’t a new sport by any means, but it is a fast-growing one in Canberra, with more people joining every day.
The ACT’s biggest group of climbers, the Canberra Climbers’ Association (CCA), boasts over 460 members and hosts regular climbing events at outdoor Indigenous sites, indoor venues and everywhere in between.
But what makes climbing such an attractive pastime to so many Canberrans? Here at Region, we asked CCA committee member Anthony Hunter that very question.
Mr Hunter has been involved with the CCA for several years and has seen the number of climbers steadily grow in his time.
He believes the reason for the growth is because of the escape climbing offers and the community it provides.
“When you’re climbing, when you’re on a climb and doing moves, it’s so all-consuming in the moment,” he said.
“The rest of the world sort of ceases to exist at that time that you’re doing it. You lose all that stress and all the problems in your life. There’s not much else I believe can offer the same kind of escape.
“A person once said to me, when you make that last move to the top of the climb, and you pull yourself onto the top of the crag, and you take a breath, you’re breathing in pure freedom.
“I believe that to be true.”
According to TheCrag.com, there are over 4000 climbing routes across the ACT and surrounding areas.
Mr Hunter said this number comes as no shock, given Canberra’s natural surroundings and its proximity to many National Parks and mountain ranges.
“National Parks and mountains are some of the great attractions for the Bush Capital,” he said.
“Canberra really lends itself to those sorts of outdoor-type lifestyles, and rock climbing is definitely part of that. I think people are really beginning to take note of some of the truly great outdoor resources we have here.
“The beauty of rock climbing versus, say, a gym, is the ability to be outside and enjoy the sun and the breeze. There’s also no real cap on how little or how big you want a group to be.
“You’re enjoying the sounds and sights and smell of the bush and the song of the birds, and you know it’s just a lovely, relaxing way to be outside and do a healthy, life-affirming exercise.”
While the CCA gather for regular meetings both indoors and outdoors, Mr Hunter said there are still several things he would like to see to continue expanding the climbing community.
“While climbing is thriving in Canberra, one area of concern is the lack of publicly available roped indoor climbing gyms,” he said.
“There were previously two roped climbing gyms, one in Mitchel and one in Hume. Unfortunately, a lease dispute led to the closure of the Mitchell roped-climbing gym after the Hume Climbing Gym closed for other reasons.
“There have been plans mooted for a climbing facility in Tuggeranong, but this is yet to materialise. A roped indoor climbing facility is an important missing part for the thriving Canberra climbing community.”
The CCA are continuously accepting new members. Both new and experienced climbers are welcome.
To learn more, visit the Canberra Climbers’Association.
