Women on The Wall is a female-led organization of rock climbers, geared towards other women-identifying people. Six years in, the rock climbing group is a safe space for women to climb, since they are typically the minority group within climbing culture. Managed by Andy Maier, climbers can choose between the top row or the bouldering cave, where the rope is either connected to the top of the wall, or climbers are untethered and left to free-climb; which is most girls’ preference. A climber at one of the main climbing walls within the Recreation Center mentioned that the Inland Wall is built with actual rock and was one of the first collegiate rock walls in the country. 

Erin Schommer has been part of the management team at WOTW for about a year. Her favorite thing about the climbing group is “Ending up with the girls on the floor,” she said, “Just talking to each other,” after a session is completed. Schommer also manages the WOTW social media accounts, @rsopclimbing on Instagram. 

Climbing sessions are every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, on the Inland Climbing Wall behind the Ice Rink. New rock climbers have free registration for the first 3 sessions. According to Schommer, sessions range from 5 to 8 climbers earlier in the year, and end a season with around 25 to 30 climbers.