Marquette is renowned for its beauty. Ecosystems rich in vegetation and unique topography make the area unique to Michigan. Driving down a backroad turns into a scenic drive, with canopies of trees filling the sky. There are plenty of different ways to experience all of what the UP has to offer, whether it be by hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and more. The landscape can be viewed from many different perspectives.
Mary Jane Bauer, for instance, sees Marquette from above.
“Outdoorsy” takes on a new meaning when speaking to Bauer. Nature takes over many aspects of her life, both morally and physically. As President of NMU’s South Superior Climbing Club, she spends lots of her days climbing and teaching others her skills. She is familiar with a wide range of outdoor recreational sports, but climbing has become a constant for her. She has traveled all over the country on trips solely for climbing.
Bauer found her love for the sport as she grew older, and found her community in a unique way.
“When I was in high school, I liked climbing in the gym. When I was little, I used to go climbing inside. But then, once I came here, I met people that climbed outside, and then I got to be friends with them,” Bauer said. “I realized that, in general, if someone was a climber, they had all these other qualities that I liked. Then, it was easy to find friends through climbing, because I knew that I would get along with them.”
Her talents soon made her known, and Bauer became a role model in the South Superior Climbing Club. She and a few others plan and host social climbs and other events that anyone can attend.
According to Bauer, there are many different disciplines of climbing. Top roping, leading and ice climbing are some of the many styles chosen in the sport. Typically, the social climbs that she hosts at NMU use top roping, where hardware is fixed at the top of an area where rope is run through. Students of any skill levels are encouraged to try it out.
“It’s a great way to find community. There’s an idea that in order to enjoy climbing, you have to be super fit, or super outdoorsy. There’s a lot of expectations,” Bauer said. “But really, at least in our community, there’s a place for everyone, and you don’t have to be super good at climbing. It’s all about getting outside and enjoying yourself.”
Aside from social climbs, Bauer and the South Superior Climbing Club host screenings of the annual Reel Rock Film Tour, where short films are shown and all students are invited for free. The event will be hosted in March.
When attending these events and learning about the culture of climbing, there is a clear common denominator. Climbers like Bauer have an undying love for nature, and will do what they can to preserve and protect natural land.
“Like with any outdoor hobby, the more you go outside and see these areas that most people don’t see, you see how special it is and why you want to advocate for it,” she said.
Bauer mentioned that the Upper Peninsula Climbing Coalition is an immense help in buying and conserving land, protecting it from development. They also help in allowing the club to take a part in these efforts. A climbing area called Triple A, for example, is owned by a mining company. The coalition organized an agreement to allow club members to recreate on the land. The club allows for connections that Bauer can utilize for her conservation efforts.
As an environmental science major, Bauer continues to learn more about the issues and strategies used to protect natural land. Her passion for climbing gives her a head start, and reveals a whole new side of the world that others are unfamiliar with. In the future, she hopes to continue climbing after college and find a job in conservation or ecology.
For now, though, she continues to climb on.
