By VALERIE METREJEAN

Staff Writer

For students who stay in town for the weekends, figuring out something to do may waste half the night. Ryan Daigle, a senior mechanical engineering major, and his friends have no trouble finding something to do -- his friends now have their very own climbing wall.

These rock climbing enthusiasts said they are in the process of getting a club approved so they can include more students.

"What else is there to do in Ruston?" asked Daigle. "We don't party on the weekends so rock climbing is something we like to do instead."

Daigle said the nearest place to rock climb is over 200 miles away. Tommy Beebe, a junior general studies major, said he agrees with his friend.

"There is no gym around here, and we cannot take trips every weekend to train, so we decided to have our own," Beebe said.

Daigle said the wall was built over several months in his back yard with the help of many of their climbing friends.

"It has taken a lot of weekends to get this up," Daigle said. "I built one with my dad when I was younger so I already knew how we should build it."

The three-sided wall is detailed with grips and difficult spots. A pit of shredded rubber covers the ground beneath to make the rock climbing wall safe.

"We plan to add more sides, especially if we can get a lot of interest in the club," Daigle said.

Daigle said he plans to call the club Louisiana Tech Outdoors. It will consist of monthly meetings, recreational climbs as well as a trip to a competition in Tennessee, which is coming up this month.

Lance Mercier, a senior mechanical engineering major, said Louisiana Tech Outdoors will also include hiking and camping. He also said the club will take several trips throughout the year to different rock climbing spots that can incorporate all aspects.

Mercier said anyone interested in joining does not need to be an expert.

"We do it to hang out and just have fun," Mercier said. "We'd love to get more people out there."

A fire pit is in the back yard, so they can enjoy it even in the colder months.

"We hope to attract people who have a good attitude and are willing to learn," Beebe said.

Beebe also said rock climbing is more of a skill-related sport rather than strength.

"I think that it is a great idea to add some diversity to Ruston," Stephen Townsend, a senior computer information systems major, said.

"Not a lot of people here are in to outdoorsy stuff. So I would love to join a club that rock climbs and hikes."

For more information about joining the club, contact Daigle at (504) 913-5457 or e-mail him at rnd002@latech.edu.