Summer is still going strong, and as we all flock outside to stock up our melanin supplies before winter once again embraces this campus, we are all suddenly reminded of how out of shape we all are. Sure, everyone made plans to get/stay in shape over the summer, but that nine-to-five job with accompanying after-work drinks really got in the way. Now you’re stuck running up East Buffalo Street or pretending like you know what you’re doing in the gym, all in the name of reclaiming the figure and endurance you had in high school.

Rock out: The author (left) demonstrates bouldering, getting some help up a rock in the Gunks.

Why though? In every sport but cross-country and track and field, running is punishment. Hitting the gym can do great things for your physique, but improper technique can sideline you with a variety of injuries.

Why not try something new to get in shape? Rock climbing! You’ve probably heard that Cornell boasts the largest, all natural rock climbing wall in North America. Furthermore, scaling it is on the list of the 161 things every Cornellian should do. What’s stopping you?

Okay, you’ve heard rock climbing is dangerous. You’re scared of heights. Your parents would kill you. I understand. Sounds like bouldering is for you.

Bouldering is the art of climbing boulders — rocks that are usually too small to merit using a rope for protection, yet still promise to whip you in shape faster than that silly elliptical machine. Bouldering focuses on the movement of climbing and shuns the bulky, complicated gear that discourages many from picking up the sport. All you need to try it is a pair of rock climbing shoes. No harness or specialized training necessary.

Rock climbing is hard. But more importantly, it’s fun. Climbing uses everything you have — from your arms to your legs, and especially your core! A few months of “pebble pinching” will leave you with toned arms, a killer back and some serious abs. Finally, climbing also engages your mind: when’s the last time you had to think about running, or how you were going to lift that dumbbell?

Climbing a rock is like trying to solve a puzzle. It doesn’t matter how many reps you can do, or what your best time is. You need to figure out how to move from point A to point B, and sometimes that’s more than half the battle. But once you unlock the sequence of movement and realize that you are actually moving off those tiny holds, it’s poetry in motion.

Frustrated? That’s where your friends come in. Bouldering benefits from being an incredibly social sport. There’s always someone there to help you figure out the moves, give you encouragement and feedback, and catch you if you fall. Oftentimes you’ll find a crowd of people around a “problem” or climb, talking about the different moves and taking turns trying them out until the sequence is “unlocked.”

Interested? The best place to try out bouldering is at the Lindseth Climbing Wall in Bartels Hall, open this Fall Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on weekends from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For $10, you can buy a day pass and rent a pair of shoes. There is a wall monitor on duty during open hours who can help you get started and show you the ropes. Ready for some harder stuff? Check out the climbing wall at Noyes on West Campus. Overhung with hand-friendly holds, Noyes promises to kill your abs faster than your arms.

This fall, I’m making it my mission to get you all outside — whether through discussing local adventure areas, relating personal epics or just plain crazy talk. Your homework for this week — do something different: Go climb a rock!