Scaling New Heights: Friendships Forged Through Climbing 

What started as curiosity about a rock wall during a campus tour has grown into an all-consuming interest for PennWest California students Gage Sorchilla and Aaron Lasinsky. Both fisheries and wildlife biology majors, the duo found their calling – and a lasting friendship – through one of PennWest's most distinctive campus recreation offerings, the rock wall.

"I met Aaron one of the first weeks of school actually, and I got him to come along with me to check out the rock wall," Gage recalls. "Since then, I've been there several times a week, every single week since I've been at Cal. I now work there, actually."

For Aaron, climbing at PennWest has become more than just a hobby – it's a gateway to deeper connections with both nature and community. "It's enabled me to connect to nature in a different way that I've never connected to before," he explains. "I love root setting. I love belaying people. It's just become a big part of my life."

Their enthusiasm has created a vibrant social hub that welcomes students of all skill levels. "Anyone at Cal, if you stop by the rock wall during the week 5 to 9, there will be a good group of people in there," Aaron says. "The rock wall's kind of become like a hangout spot for all of us, which is super cool."

Their next adventure? An 8-10 day spring break road trip south, with plans to visit parks, hot springs, and possibly climb at the renowned Red River Gorge. Gage is also looking forward to a special opportunity in March to learn how to land and take off in a plane. These experiences exemplify how PennWest's recreation programs and the friendships formed through them inspire students to seek out new challenges and adventures both on and off campus.

 

Listen to Gage and Aaron's story on the Power of PennWest Podcast