Although mountaineering may conjure up an image of a rugged character with a walking stick in hand, the ISU Mountaineering and Climbing Club is much more than that.

Ryan McNair, club president and senior in management information systems, said the club does everything from yoga sessions to trips such as skiing in Colorado and mountain biking in Utah.

Recently, the club did a demonstration on how to build a quinzee hut, or a hut made out of snow to provide shelter for climbers.

“This week, we’ll be having a homemade stove contest. Two club members have come up with cooking stove designs made from pop cans or cat food cans and fueled with alcohol; we’re going to see which design is better,” McNair said.

Although the mountaineering club may seem to some like an intense experience, they encourage anyone join the club.

“Experience doesn’t matter. There are all different experience levels here so if you don’t feel like climbing hard routes there is always going to be someone else in your shoes,” said Adam Schilling, club member and freshman in mechanical engineering.

The club has members that can teach beginners everything from belay techniques – securing the climber during the climb – and setting up top ropes for emergency rescue.

A common misconception of the club is the expense, McNair said. The only thing you really need are rock-climbing shoes. The club provides all other climbing gear.

Club member and senior in management Scott Jenkins recalled many of the trips the club has taken.

He said the best trip was at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. The club stayed at a climbers-only campground where their tents were set up next to a fence. In the morning, they woke to goats bleating and chewing grass on the other side of the fence.

“We hiked in long distances and short distances to climb some very pretty rock,” Jenkins said. “We saw a lot of waterfalls and went for midnight hikes with cave exploring.”

This semester, the club has members from Austria, Germany and Scotland, keeping their outdoor spirits alive while in Iowa, McNair said.

The club is headed to Las Vegas for spring break. Along the way they will be ice climbing, rock climbing, mountain biking and maybe even celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Las Vegas.

“There are a lot of people who climb at the recreation center, or go on an Outdoor Recreation Program trip, but if they really want to get into climbing and meet some cool people, the club is where it’s at,” McNair said.

Students are encouraged to attend the meetings on Monday nights at 8 p.m. in Gilman 1810.

The club also meets informally at Wall-Nut Creek Rock Climbing Gym in Ames on Wednesdays.