European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wail climbing latest in indoor sport by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau soldiers in Baum older Germany Are climbing the Walls a and benefiting from it. The Baum older outdoor recreation division recently installed an indoor climbing Center in its Mountaineer gym. The Center consists of a Wall with an assortment of footholds handholds Hooks and rope harnesses. Climbers use the holds to scale the Wall. The Wall offers seven different climbing routes and three Levels of difficulty for Rock climbers who want to keep their so ills Sharp during the Winter months and for beginners in Are just learning the ropes. Each climber wears a harness that is attached to a rope looped through Hooks at the top of the Wall. A spotter on the floor grasps the other end of the rope. If a climber slips the spotter anchors the rope securely so that the person on the Wall merely swings in the air. Dennis Nichols recreation Center director said the Wall makes it possible for even Young children to safely learn the fundamentals of climbing. At an opening ceremony last month it. Col. David White base support battalion commander for Baum older Cut the ribbon before donning a climbing harness and scaling the beginner s course. Quot i be done some military climbing but no civilian Rock climbing Quot said White after his Quick ascent and descent. The Wall was Quot not As bad As i thought it would be. I had a problem because of my boots Quot he said pointing to his military combat boots. Quot it s a great conditioning sport Quot he added. Another climber pfc. Scott Fowler said he had been climbing about six weeks and is already addicted to the sport. Quot it s enjoyable Quot said the Soldier from the 4th in 12th inf regt in Baum older. Quot it s a physical and mental Challenge. You have a sense of accomplishment when you reach the  Nichols who has been teaching Rock climbing in Baum older for five years said the idea for the Wall was his. He said that climbers need Quot to have a place to practice during the Winter. The Wall is not the same As Rock climbing but it s a great place to  the climbing Wall which unobtrusively covers a Bare Wall at one end of the gym is open to to All . Identification cardholders and their local National guests. It is available for climbing 4-8 . Tuesdays and thursdays and 9 . To 5 . Saturdays and sundays. For those climbing for the first time mandatory orientation classes Are held 4-4 30 . Thursdays and 9-9 30 . Sundays. Id cardholders pay $4 per Day or $25 per month to use the Wall guests pay $5 per Day or $30 per month. The outdoor recreation Center rents and Sells a variety of climbing supplies Nichols said including rope harnesses shoes and powdered Chalk that can be used on Wall or on outdoor rocks. Two climbers aided by a variety of holds and a spotter on the floor scale the beginners portion of the Wall. Sis Paggy Davidson it. Col. David White plans the next move of his ascent. January 3, /992 stripes Magazine 3