Nicolas Hernandez ’25: Breaking Barriers
Head Route Setter strives to leave an impact on indoor climbing community with Outdoor Adventures
He built his place here, hold by hold–much like the routes he and his team design.
At first glance, route setting might seem like an invisible art. If it’s done well, climbers won’t think about it at all. They’ll move instinctively, trusting that each hold is where it should be, that the problem they’re solving is one worth their effort. But behind every route is a dedicated architect who agonizes over the perfect placement and the balance between difficulty and flow. That’s where head route setter Nicolas Hernandez ’25 thrives–in the unseen decisions that determine whether a climb, or his team, is successful.
“Every rock climb, every color, is a specific route, so our job is to put that up, make it enjoyable, make it fun, and also make it challenging for different levels of climbers,” Hernandez said.
“More specifically, I’m in charge of the team that puts that together, so I organize and schedule the team and kind of list our goals for what we want to hit.”
Hernandez’s meticulous attention to detail has made him a leader. With route setting, a misplaced hold can make a climb feel awkward or impossible. A well-set route, however, can teach. It can nudge a climber into trying a new technique, force them out of their comfort zone, and reshape their understanding of what they’re capable of.
“There’s a huge barrier of entry sometimes in rock climbing,” Hernandez said. “But being in Outdoor Adventures and being a part of a community that tries to foster that opportunity is something that I think is really cool and it’s something I’m really proud of.”
That’s exactly what Hernandez hopes to leave behind—not just a wall filled with routes, but a culture of climbers who think critically, move with purpose, and, above all, keep coming back.
The senior industrial systems engineering major from El Paso found his love for rock climbing during his senior year of high school. When he moved to College Station, one of his first stops was the Student Rec Center–and when Hernandez saw that 45-foot indoor climbing tower, he knew that his passion lived on.
“It made me want to be a part of it and make an impact on the community that uses the wall,” he said.
He started as a student route setter, working diligently to craft enjoyable experiences for climbers. Then, he joined the Outdoor Adventures student staff, helping to run the rental center, trips, and climbing facilities before eventually applying for the supervisory position he currently holds. This brought new responsibilities and bigger stakes.
“It’s been a lot to take on, but it’s been really cool to have that positive impact to make sure that people stay safe,” Hernandez said. “Also getting the opportunity to really empower people to take leadership roles has been a big responsibility, but it’s something that I really appreciate doing.”
Hernandez describes himself as a “middle man” between professional staff, such as climbing program coordinator Michael Gonzalez and Outdoor Adventures program director Todd Grier, and the student route setters.
“Pro staff and I create the vision of what we want route setting to be at Texas A&M,” Hernandez said. “From there, I relay that message and guide the setters on how we can achieve that and give small, more minute details, and basically express our goal to them.”
Grier has witnessed Hernandez’s skills and dedication firsthand.
“He is a remarkable student leader,” Grier said. “He does great work across the program. When our new climbing coordinator started, the route setting staff area and operations were the most dialed. That is due to Nic’s efficient approach to work, independent problem solving and constant improvement in line with the vision we are crafting.”
For Hernandez, climbing is about more than just reaching the top–literally or in terms of his career. It’s about building a welcoming, passionate community that supports each other every step of the way.
“My biggest goal has just been to have an impact and to give back to the community,” Hernandez said. “So it’s really nice to hear that I am having an impact and that we’re going in a positive trajectory. It means everything to me.”
That sense of community drives him, from the early mornings spent fine-tuning routes to the late nights planning new ways to get students involved. While not always easy to hear, community feedback is essential to Hernandez’s work.
“The fun part about route setting is its constant criticism,” Hernandez said. “Not just from outside people but from your team within. One of the things I try and teach the route setters is that, as soon as the route is on the wall, it’s no longer their route, it’s the community’s route. Once you figure that out, you take constructive criticism a lot more, but it’s also important to be proud of the product.”
Being proud of the routes they create is just what Hernandez enables the route setters to do–whether that means promoting their individual creativity or lending a hand every step of the way.
“I’m just kind of a guiding source to give ideas [and] help refine the product,” Hernandez said. “But really my goal as a head route setter is to empower the route setting team and give them creative freedom.”
This all comes with lots of effective training, though, which Hernandez has taken the lead on and perfected.
“We’ve done an awesome job training our employees and we keep working on it to the point where anyone can come in and have a good time and climb, no matter what,” Hernandez said. “That’s the goal with Outdoor Adventures and I think we’re doing an awesome job really pushing that and getting better at that every single day.”
Outdoor Adventures has made great strides recently in achieving this goal. Programs like Adaptive Climbing and beginner-friendly sessions or clinics help break down barriers and make the sport more approachable–something in which Hernandez takes great pride.
“When you first look at climbing, it looks extremely intimidating,” Hernandez said. “And it does have a slight barrier of entry, but what’s really cool about Outdoor Adventures, specifically with Adaptive Climbing and any beginner that wants to try rock climbing, is we make it so that it’s possible for anyone to hop on the wall and have a good time.”
And yet another exciting project for Outdoor Adventures is coming soon. One of Hernandez’s most rewarding responsibilities yet, in fact, has been to help draw up plans for a very exciting update to the Student Rec Center.
“We’re looking [forward] to get a new rock climbing wall,” he said. “Getting to help with the new design has been really awesome. There’s going to be more opportunities for different climbs, a lot more different styles and this can be very modern and futuristic when it comes to the rock climbing world. That makes me extremely excited–I know the whole community has been waiting for that.”
At the end of the day, it’s more than just a job for Hernandez. Not many people get to work within their favorite hobby, after all–far fewer find friends and opportunities.
“It’s given me an awesome outdoor community,” he said. “I’ve gotten really close to a lot of the people in rock climbing. I’ve also been introduced to backpacking, canoeing–stuff I wouldn’t have done without Outdoor Adventures and now I really love as hobbies. I’ve gained so much and every day I learn something new. It’s been an awesome opportunity.”
Beyond a supportive community and learning opportunities, as head route setter, Hernandez has built skills that will set him up for a successful future. Over the years, Hernandez has gained hands-on experience in team management, hiring, and training—all of which will carry over into a career in business and industrial engineering.
“Without the students, the Rec wouldn’t run,” Hernandez said. “It really shows how people step into their roles, take charge, and it really prepares them for professional careers. I’ve had the opportunity for a couple of years to train a lot of different people and I’ve even been on hiring committees. That [has] really prepared me for any future things that get thrown at me during my career.”
