Husky Rock is an artificial outdoor rock wall constructed in the 1970s to give adventurous UW students an alternative to scaling the walls of university buildings. It is constructed of concrete slabs with embedded natural rocks and tilted at various angles to provide multiple climbing problems. The highest point of the structure wall stands at 32 feet.
History
During the early 1970s, many people climbed UW buildings due to the city’s lack of outdoor climbing options. After a few years, UW deemed this intolerable, which started the conversation about an on-campus alternative. In 1974, an alpine climbing accident claimed the lives of two UW students and two UW faculty members. This incident expedited the conversation, leading to UW picking a site and allocating an initial $40,000 to the project. Husky Rock construction was completed and opened to the public in 1976. The project finished slightly over budget at $60,000 and officially became one of the first outdoor artificial bouldering areas in the U.S.
How to use it
Husky Rock has five individual walls with a total of ten climbable sides. Around 85% of the walls are designed for bouldering problems, with a few anchors for setting up top rope climbs. The ground is covered with light gravel to protect falls, and it is recommended that you bring a spotter and a bouldering crash pad to practice safe climbing.
Why folks might use it
It’s free! Husky Rock is open year-round and is a “climb-at-your-own-risk” outdoor climbing wall.
Location
Husky Rock is located at 3675 Walla Walla Rd NE, Seattle, WA 98195.
