Wild women rock climbing group reach new heights at City of Rocks

Adventure-seekers and nature-lovers traveled to the City of Rocks for a weekend of rock-climbing, camping and traversing the areas towering granite spires on Oct. 6.  

The Wild Women City of Rocks Climbing and Camping trip is geared specifically towards creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for anybody interested in rock-climbing or just looking to explore nature and make new friends. 

Lucy Hankins is the student trips manager for the Outdoor Programs and was a trip leader. Hankins has been with Outdoor Programs since 2022, traveling to City of Rocks and other destinations for two years.  

“We’re spending two nights at City of Rocks,” Hankins said. “We’ll go climb and teach participants climbing techniques. It’s an awesome opportunity for students to get out in these areas and get introduced to new sports and to do that in a safer and inclusive environment.”  

City of Rocks National Preserve is located 100 miles north of Logan in Almo, Idaho. City of Rocks is true to its namesake. The region is well-known for its granite monoliths interspersed with sparse vegetation.   

The area is popular among climbers because of these granite formations, which offer over 700 climbing routes, views and naturally textured rock suited to climbing.  

“The City of Rocks has these odd formations of rocks just coming straight out of the ground in different sizes and shapes,” Hankins said. “It was discovered as a climbing area.”  

The wide variety of routes allows for climbers of all abilities to find an experience best suited to them. According to the National Park Service, routes within City of Rocks can range anywhere from relatively easy to extremely difficult.  

The group welcomes anybody who is interested, regardless of climbing experience.  

“Anybody can come,” Hankins said. “Generally, we get beginners who haven’t done a whole lot of climbing or who have only bouldered inside. But if folks have experience, that is totally cool too — we can teach them a little bit more. It’s just more of a fun time climbing with friends.”  

The trip is specifically tailored to those identifying as a woman. 

“I like that we have the opportunity to offer trips tailored and specific to those who identify as women and cultivate that kind of community at Utah State,” Hankins said.  

Outdoor Programs offers a similar experience every Tuesday night at the ARC for those in Logan. Women or non-binary individuals can learn climbing skills and meet new people at the Wild Womxn Climb Night.  

The City of Rocks trip is $95 for students and $135 for faculty. These expenses cover transportation, food and equipment for the whole trip.  

“I’m just really excited,” Hankins said. “We’ve had really successful registration for our September and early October trips. Our trip is full with a waitlist. I’m excited that we’re able to take 12 total folks who identify as women who want to go outside and climb together.”  

Ellie Angus is a third-year student studying data analytics. Angus was a participant during the September rock climbing trip to Moab.  

“I’ve been rock climbing since I was a kid,” Angus said. “My parents like to climb, so we’ve always done it, and it’s been super fun.”  

Angus views the trip as a chance for more rock climbing in a new area, as well as an opportunity to meet more people.  

“I’m just excited to climb and to meet everyone,” Angus said. “I’m glad it’s an all-girls trip. I think that’ll be fun — to meet other girls who like climbing.”  

Carlie Prinster is a third-year student studying mathematics and public health. Prinster was introduced to rock climbing by Angus.  

Prinster recently got into rock climbing and also attended the Moab trip.  

“Meeting people was another part of our trip that we really liked — that we got to meet some really cool people,” Prinster said. “I’m just excited to climb outdoors, and they’ve got all the hardware so it makes it really easy.”  

This trip in particular is focused on creating a safe environment for those looking to get into rock climbing but who may be nervous about doing so.  

“I think we’ll be able to foster and create a really sweet environment,” Hankins said. “Climbing can be a little bit of an intimidating sport to start doing, so my goal and hope is that this trip will make climbing a little less intimidating for the eight participants coming along.”