At the end of my rope

June 16, 2006 7:10 PM

I'm looking for a gym, health club, or obstacle course in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that has a rope climb.

I'm a reservist in the Army, and I'm going to Air Assault school. One of the obstacles on the zero day confidence course is a rope climb. (You know, a rope that you climb up, like in middle school in gym class.) I'm looking for a rope to practice on.

Schools don't seem to have them anymore. I can't find a gym with one. There are no Army bases nearby. You'd be surprised how difficult it is to find a rope to climb.

Help me, Ask MeFi. You're my only hope.

posted by rentalkarma to sports, hobbies, & recreation (4 comments total)

Try calling LSU or Southern ROTC, the State Police, BRPD or EBRSO. At least one of them will have a rope climb.
posted by turbodog at 7:40 PM on June 16, 2006

I'm not intending to snark, but you could just go to Lowes and buy a rope and toss one end up over a tree limb in a park or the woods. Instant hanging rope. This might be better than nothing.

* caution: you probably have pine forest in Baton Rouge, and pine limbs can be really brittle.
posted by rolypolyman at 8:22 PM on June 16, 2006

I believe (sorry, haven't lived in BR for five years now) that LSU had an outdoors calisthenics course somewhere on campus, but I don't know where and I don't know if it had a rope.

You might also try calling Our Lady of the Lake and seeing if they can refer you to an outdoor course.

Try BREC too.

I know for a fact that five years ago BRMHS had a rope in the gym. I don't know if it's still up, or if you could use it, but it could be worth a shot. Talk to Coach Nee. (Bulldogs represent!)

(I still have some contacts in the area, including a family with a son in the Marines. If none of these places pan out I might be able to help more. Email's in the profile.)
posted by fuzzbean at 11:02 PM on June 16, 2006

I would not be surprised if all the climbing ropes in the USA have been deleted for reasons of liability, like all the diving boards. Therefore I second rolypolyman's suggestion (but inch-thick hemp's gonna cost you).
posted by Rash at 8:38 AM on June 17, 2006