NLC to open rock climbing walls

Rock climbing can be fun and exciting unless you are IMF agent Ethan Hunt hanging from the side of a mountain.

While rock climbing Dead Horse Point in Utah, Tom Cruise put himself in a potentially fatal situation during filming of “Mission: Impossible 2.”

Hanging by his bare hands, gripping rock for dear life, a poorly calculated move could mean not only the end for Hunt but the franchise.

Ukclimbing.com states the proper way to free solo climb is with protective rope or gear, but that’s not for the Impossible Mission Force agent.

Cruise, on the other hand, was connected by two cables at all times, which were CGI removed in post-production to make it appear he was soloing.

For students and employees of the Alamo Colleges, training for Mission: Impossible climbs could soon become a reality on a three-story rock climbing wall and a 12-foot bouldering wall.

Kinesiology Professor Wes Adams, certified by the American Mountain Guide Association, is in the process of training Northeast Lakeview College staff to assist climbers.

In the middle of October, Northeast Lakeview will be unveiling the climbing walls and making them available to Alamo College students and employees with valid ID.

If the anticipation is too much, St. Mary’s University and UTSA each have rock-climbing walls. Climbers at those campuses must be a guest of a current student and pay a $5 entry fee.

Life Time Fitness Club also offers rock climbing for a $40 day pass and $80 monthly pass.

For those who can wait, the rock wall will be available to students in October — should they choose to accept the invitation.

For more information, call the student commons at 210-486-5404.