The Mountaineering and Climbing Club made their most recent trip to Columbia, Mo. this past weekend, marking their fourth major expidition this fall. The trip included rock climbing throughout Capen Park along with outdoor camping.

The club has already traveled to Blue Mounds State Park in Luverne, Minn., Pictured Rock State Park in Monticello, Iowa, and Palisades State Park in Garretson, S.D., this semester. Their next trip is scheduled for Nov. 22-26 when they travel to Red River Gorge, Ky.

The club currently consists of 15 active members and serves as an affordable and more available alternative to the ISU Outdoor Recreation Program. The club is hoping to some day combine forces with the recreation program because both organizations share common interests. A combined organization of the two would allow students the opportunity to receive the best of both worlds.

The Outdoor Recreation Services provide opportunities for students ranging from rock climbing and zip lining in Arkansas to ice climbing and cross country skiing in Colorado, while the only downfall being the limited amount of time students have to sign up before the trips fill up.

“We’ve always been interested in working with the recreation services on climbing,” said club faculty adviser and Biochemistry/Biophysics professor Richard Honzatko. “They want to promote climbing … we want to promote climbing. They want to go on trips … we want to go on trips. They want to teach safe climbing … we want to teach safe climbing.

“There are a lot of people who can’t get on the recreation trips that should be in this club to take advantage of the trips we’re doing here, but I don’t know if they’re aware of that. We get along quite well with recreation services, but we still haven’t knitted together our interests.”

Members of the club enjoy meeting new people who are interested in the some thing and learning different strategies associated with climbing.

“It’s a great place to meet new people who like to do the same sort of activities outside and learn new skills,” freshman and club president Nick Hamel said.

Hamel joined the club as a way to make climbing a larger part of his life. Hamel said he started climbing four years prior to his freshman year, but just didn’t get to do it enough.

As president of the club, Hamel has been in charge of making sure the club meetings run smoothly, making sure the club accomplishes what needs to get done so they can continue climbing and continue using the university’s resources. Hamel said the club is always looking to add new members.

Just last month freshman Austin Renes joined the club and plans to take his first trip with them when they travel to Kentucky during Thanksgiving break.

“I just started climbing a lot this year. I wanted to learn more about climbing and find people who also enjoy climbing to climb with,” Renes said. “Also, going out on trips and just having fun together.”