Outdoor Recreation opens new rock wall

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 60th Force Support Squadron is scheduled to cut the ribbon on a new rock wall 9 a.m. Monday at Outdoor Recreation at Travis.

The wall expanded an old wall from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet of climbing surface. The additions include a new climbing tower, an overhang arch, an additional four feet in height and more roped climbs. The cushioning on the deck was enhanced from a crushed-tire material to a safer double foam core material.

The self-help, in-house project took seven days a week for more than a year and thousands of volunteer hours to complete the wall. Local gyms donated the holds, which saved more than $10,000.

"This project was a joint effort between many Travis organizations," said Sean Podrecca, Outdoor Recreation assistant director. "It shows what can be done when a group of volunteers joins together with a common goal."

Although carpentry and construction skills were required to make the redesign a success, Sonja Hunt, Outdoor Recreation manager, also was required to call on her background in drafting.

"I was able to create the blueprints as well as a structural analysis and a load-bearing test for the new rock wall," Hunt said. "Each hold can withstand more than 250 pounds of pressure and the steel structure is reinforced with wood to make it really solid."

Since opening, Outdoor Recreation has seen a resurgence of climbers, sometimes with as many as 20 climbers at one time, Podrecca said.

"The hope is that the new wall will draw the climbing community back to a centralized location on base," he said. "We want to allow all of the military members to make new contacts, start a new sport and learn a new hobby in a safe and controlled environment."

For more information or for hours and prices, call Outdoor Recreation at 424-0499.