POCATELLO  — The west face of the ridge that runs through Ross Park — known as the Sunny Side — was inundated with rock climbers Saturday, hoping to scale the basalt crags and earn as many points as possible.

    A total of 117 participants registered for the 29th Annual Pocatello Pump, hosted by the Outdoor Adventure Center at Idaho State University, with greater numbers expected for today.

    Dana Olson, the OAC director, said the center hosted one nationally recognized climb several years back, but the competitive nature of the event was not what the local climbers were striving for.

    “It took away what we wanted,” she said. “We like it being more low-key and just the way it is right now.”

    She said people enjoy the supportive and laid-back atmosphere where climbers can learn from each other.

    OAC Event Coordinator Peter Joyce said this is the longest-running climb in America.

    “Everyone comes out a winner,” Joyce said. “I think that is one of the reasons people keep coming back, year after year. They have a lot of fun and it’s really not cutthroat trying to get some big money prize.”

    Joyce said he started The Pump as a college student at ISU in 1981. He was hired at the OAC about 15 years ago and was surprised to see the event was still active.

    The money that is raised goes to help beautification projects, climber scholarships and to support the Access Fund, a national non-profit dedicated to educating climbers on access issues and environmental issues and keeping access open to climbing areas.

    He said many former ISU students return to Pocatello just for The Pump.

    One Pocatello native, Chris Olsen, is going to school at Montana State University and brought a few of his friends to climb the black rock.

    In his third year participating, 19-year-old Olsen, said he has been climbing for five years.

    “It’s the combination of really good climbers, beginning climbers and everyone out here having fun, that’s how you get better,” Olsen said.

    One of Olsen’s friends, 19-year-old Chris Rendeiro, heard about the event from the Montana State University Rock Climbing coach and wanted to get in some practice here, although he admitted to having a less than satisfactory climbing day.

    The Pocatello Pump will continue today on the Sunny Side from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. At noon the event will move to the Shady Side located on the East side of Upper Ross Park just North of the South Fifth Interstate 15, Exit 67. The first heat will begin around 1 p.m., with two more heats to follow. The awards ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.