This week I have "8 Questions climb the Kroc" for Karl Haakenson. Karl is an accomplished runner, triathlete and avid rock climber. Karl currently works at the Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene working with local kids and is a rock wall assistant. Karl began climbing at the Kroc Center in 2012 as a part of the Coeur d'Alene High School climbing club, then took his passion of climbing outdoors to Q'emilin in Post Falls doing top-rope and sport climbing.

Q. Karl, how well does the indoor climbing wall at the Kroc Center measure up to other walls you have climbed in the area?

A. The Kroc Center offers the only indoor climbing wall for locals without having to go to Spokane or Moscow. The Kroc Wall is in the shape of an "H" with a 25-foot and a 30-foot high face and a bridge connecting them. The wall is free-standing so it can be climbed from every side and has bouldering and top-rope climbing. The wall includes features like overhangs, cracks, and more that are accessible for beginners and experts alike.

Q. Members can use the climbing wall at the Kroc Center. Can the public take advantage of the wall also?

A. The public can access the wall as well as members, but it is cheaper to climb as a member in the long run. Non-members are required to buy a day pass to the facility in addition to a climbing pass good for the day, where members only need to buy a climbing pass for the day. The Kroc Wall is open from 3-9 p.m. on most week days and noon-6 p.m. on most weekends.

Q. What type of gear should someone have if they want to take up rock climbing?

A. The Kroc Wall has harnesses, chalk bags and belay devices available for use, but for those interested in investing in the sport, shoes and one's own harness can be nice commodities. For the even more ambitious destined for outdoors, additional gear will be needed including: a rope, webbing and locking carabiners for setting a top rope anchor, a belay device, chalk to keep hands dry, and a helmet is always a good idea. For sport (lead) climbing and traditional (trad) climbing, other fun toys are needed like quick draws, cams and nuts.

Q. What does the term belay mean and at what age can you become belay certified for those who want to belay friends and family?

A. Belaying is what the person on the other side of the rope from the climber does. The belayer uses a belay device like an ATC to take in the slack of the rope as the climber ascends the wall and then slowly returns the climber to the ground after they have gone as high as they like. At the Kroc Center, it is required that belayers be 15 years or older. The Kroc Krew can teach and certify avid new climbers to belay at the Kroc or certify experienced climbers with a belay check. For those just trying out the sport, there are auto-belays to protect the climber, and the Kroc Krew offers belaying at certain times throughout the week.

Q. Most indoor climbing walls have colored tape on various parts of the wall. Climbers will notice that the wall has different color tapes on it. What does the tape represent and what meaning does the color of the tape represent?

A. The color of the tape has no significance other than to distinguish one route from another. The tapes will border a sign at the start of each route that has information like who made the route, the name of the route and how difficult it is. By using only the holds and features that are marked with the correlating tape color a climber can accomplish the desired route.

Q. Top rope climbing, which is where the rope is secured at the top of the wall, is a style of climbing that uses a rating approach called the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). Can you break down how the rating system works and what it means to a beginning climber?

A. The way the YDS came about it was created to signify the difficulty of a path for mountaineers on a 5-point scale where 1 is safest and 5 will lead to certain death in the event of a fall. Consequently, ropes are used for safety. Since the rating of 5 can encompass such a broad variety of terrain, numbers follow the 5 to be more specific. The easiest routes are rated 5.5, but routes at the Kroc Wall are as difficult as 5.12. Beginners will likely be able to conquer 5.5 routes, but beginners can also enlist one of my favorite climbing strategies called rainbow climbing where one uses any and all holds necessary to make it to the top.

Q. What is the difference between sport (lead) climbing, and traditional (trad) climbing and how do they differ from climbing the Kroc?

A. For sport and trad climbing, instead of being secured to the top of the wall and climbing up to that point, the climber sets protection as they ascend the wall. The way in which sport and trad climbing differ is that sport climbing uses bolts that have been professionally placed into the wall that are then connected to the rope using quick draws, where trad climbing uses cams and nuts that are placed on the wall and then quick draws are used to connect the cam/nut to the rope.

Q. From a full body workout perspective what areas get the most benefit from climbing?

A. One of the most beautiful things about climbing is it is a full body workout and that is a ton of fun. The first thing beginners will notice is that their forearms and hands will be sore because rock climbing uses grip strength that is scarcely used in a day to day lifestyle. The arms and back are activated because of the pull up motion that is constantly used in rock climbing. The core is constantly activated as a climber balances and makes controlled movements. The lower body is also activated and should be used as much as possible to alleviate upper body strain. Climbers stand on the tips of their toes activating the calves and should use their legs to push themselves up the rock.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.