Students embrace cold weather
Brennan Ezell & Nick Doss
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Culture
Some students do not allow the winter chill to keep them from getting involved in outdoor activities.
Pedro Lopez, a junior from Miami, Fla., said he enjoys hiking on Raccoon Mountain with his dog because it is relaxing.
"A big reason I moved to Chattanooga was for the outdoor scene," Lopez said.
Joe Dorman, sophomore from Ooltewah, Tenn., also goes hiking, but on Signal Mountain.
Dorman said sunsets at Sunset Rock are great no matter what season it is.
"I like being outdoors especially in the winter season because things can get boring just sitting inside with the heat on," Dorman said. "It is nice to change things up and go out, get a little cold and maybe get a story worth telling in the process."
Chris Davis, senior from Arlington, Tenn., said he enjoys off roading.
Davis said he goes roading on Signal Mountain at Big Fork, which is a big drop-off overlooking the valley. Davis said he and his friends also go four-wheeling at Big Fork, make a bonfire on the cliff and
shoot clay pigeons over the valley.
"It is a great way to get up on the mountain and get away from everything," Davis said.
Students can also get involved with the UTC outdoors program. Sonya Anglin, student outdoor coordinator, said skiing and snowboarding trips are very popular in the winter.
Anglin said there will be four skiing and snowboarding trips this semester that students can participate in.
Outdoor equipment and gear can be rented from the outdoor center, located in the Aquatic and Recreation Center, with a $20 deposit.
Anglin said the bulk of the winter schedule involves backpacking, rock climbing, caving and snowboarding and skiing trips.
There are also indoor activities students can partake in during winter. Jared Powell, owner of Insane Paintball, located at 1200 Wisdom St., said, "For forty bucks, you can get all the gear you need to play. That comes with a face mask, gun, air tank, 500 paintballs and access to all four of our fields."
"We have lots of college aged people come out to play every weekend," Powell said. "We have even had a few fraternities come out and play."
Students who are looking for a change in pace from shooting at each other might consider indoor rock climbing.
According to urbanrocksgym.com, Urban Rocks Gym, located at 1007 Appling St., is a full service indoor rock climbing gym with 10,000 feet of climbing wall.
Jonathan Berry, manager at Urban Rocks, said the facility offers full renal gear.
"We change bouldering problems every three to four weeks and sport climbing route every six weeks," Berry said.
Berry said Urban Rocks offers sport climbing, which is climbing with ropes and bouldering, which is climbing without ropes up to 15 feet.
"People of all skill levels are welcome, you don't need anything, just show up," Berry said.
Pedro Lopez, a junior from Miami, Fla., said he enjoys hiking on Raccoon Mountain with his dog because it is relaxing.
"A big reason I moved to Chattanooga was for the outdoor scene," Lopez said.
Joe Dorman, sophomore from Ooltewah, Tenn., also goes hiking, but on Signal Mountain.
Dorman said sunsets at Sunset Rock are great no matter what season it is.
"I like being outdoors especially in the winter season because things can get boring just sitting inside with the heat on," Dorman said. "It is nice to change things up and go out, get a little cold and maybe get a story worth telling in the process."
Chris Davis, senior from Arlington, Tenn., said he enjoys off roading.
Davis said he goes roading on Signal Mountain at Big Fork, which is a big drop-off overlooking the valley. Davis said he and his friends also go four-wheeling at Big Fork, make a bonfire on the cliff and
shoot clay pigeons over the valley.
"It is a great way to get up on the mountain and get away from everything," Davis said.
Students can also get involved with the UTC outdoors program. Sonya Anglin, student outdoor coordinator, said skiing and snowboarding trips are very popular in the winter.
Anglin said there will be four skiing and snowboarding trips this semester that students can participate in.
Outdoor equipment and gear can be rented from the outdoor center, located in the Aquatic and Recreation Center, with a $20 deposit.
Anglin said the bulk of the winter schedule involves backpacking, rock climbing, caving and snowboarding and skiing trips.
There are also indoor activities students can partake in during winter. Jared Powell, owner of Insane Paintball, located at 1200 Wisdom St., said, "For forty bucks, you can get all the gear you need to play. That comes with a face mask, gun, air tank, 500 paintballs and access to all four of our fields."
"We have lots of college aged people come out to play every weekend," Powell said. "We have even had a few fraternities come out and play."
Students who are looking for a change in pace from shooting at each other might consider indoor rock climbing.
According to urbanrocksgym.com, Urban Rocks Gym, located at 1007 Appling St., is a full service indoor rock climbing gym with 10,000 feet of climbing wall.
Jonathan Berry, manager at Urban Rocks, said the facility offers full renal gear.
"We change bouldering problems every three to four weeks and sport climbing route every six weeks," Berry said.
Berry said Urban Rocks offers sport climbing, which is climbing with ropes and bouldering, which is climbing without ropes up to 15 feet.
"People of all skill levels are welcome, you don't need anything, just show up," Berry said.
