When senior Nick Wakeman moved off campus this semester, he had more in mind than late night parties and a bigger kitchen.
Moving to an off-campus apartment allowed him to expand his climbing wall. He has dreamed of building the wall since freshman year, but didn't have enough space until he was a senior living in Latin Way last semester to actually build one.
The $550 wall consists of dozens of moveable handholds, which he bolts to a grid pattern on the wall. He can adjust the incline of the wall and practice different types of climbing.
Last semester, his Latin Way room permitted space for a small climbing wall. But his 100 square-feet-plus apartment bedroom allows for an expanded wall measuring ten feet in width. The climbing wall acts as a unique form of exercise equipment for Wakeman.
"The things I do on the climbing wall here are analogous to what some people do in the Cousens Gym," he said. "What most people do lifting weights; I do on the climbing wall. I do repetitive exercises to build strength as opposed to just climbing it for fun."
Wakeman, a climbing enthusiast since high school, climbs as many as four hours a week on the wall that dominates his bedroom.
His high school had a strong outdoors program that attracted Wakeman to both rock and ice climbing. Since then, climbing has become more than a hobby for Wakeman; last year, it grew into a summer job. While other students were interning at investment banks and law firms, Wakeman worked as a professional climbing guide in the Adirondacks Mountains. There, his clients ranged from young families to advanced climbers who wanted to push themselves further.
Wakeman describes climbing as a balance between safety and skill. Unlike more traditional sports where an athlete pushes himself to run the fastest or jump the highest, a climber must balance his desire to achieve with an understanding of what he knows he can achieve.
Wakeman has never had a serious fall in off of his wall, but does climb with his roommate as a spotter.
"It's challenging in many different ways, psychologically and physically," he said of the sport. But more than for exercise, he climbs as a release. "You can use it to escape whatever else is going on in the world or in your life."
The wall also provides an excellent distraction from studying. "Once you start climbing for the day, that's all you can think about. There isn't much room to think about anything else," Wakeman said.
Wakeman began climbing at Tufts with the Mountain Club, leading ice climbing expeditions his freshman year, and later serving as a climbing authority for the club. As a freshman he led three weekend-long climbing trips to upstate New York, and enjoyed teaching other people about climbing and meeting new friends.
The climbing wall in his bedroom isn't meant to replace nature, but to supplement it.
"I use it throughout the winter when it is too cold to climb," Wakeman said.
Wakeman also teaches at the Boston Rock Gym, where he climbs with friends. Having a wall at home saves him the drive to he rock gym in Woburn.
Beyond his work there, Wakeman works as a guide in the winter as well, for as many as 15 days. The wall and his teaching and guiding together allow him to practice and keep in shape.
