| Bouldering is a type of rock climbing that’s | | | | grading systems are the John Sherman V-grade |
| undertaken without a rope and is normally limited in | | | | system, beginning at V0 and increasing to V16, and |
| respect to the height the climber ascends the route | | | | the Fontainebleau system, which ranges from 1 to |
| so that any fall won’t risk significant injury. | | | | 8c+. Both scales are open-ended at the top, so the |
| This variation of climbing is practiced on large | | | | upper grade of these systems always increases as |
| boulders, at the base of larger rock faces/climbing | | | | boulderers ascend to more difficult problems. |
| routes, in indoor climbing centers found in Dallas, | | | | To reduce the risk of injury after a fall, climbers |
| Houston or throughout Texas. Typically, bouldering is | | | | rarely go higher than nine feet above the ground. |
| a more high-impact sport focusing on individual moves | | | | Anything over 21 feet is generally considered to be |
| rather than the endurance required in traditional | | | | “free soloing,” and such climbs are also |
| climbing or sport climbing. The sport was introduced | | | | referred to as highball bouldering problems. It’s |
| by climbers as a way to practice certain "moves" | | | | recommended that boulderers also put a crash pad |
| over and over. It has since evolved into a challenging | | | | bouldering mat on the ground to break their fall. |
| sub-sport of climbing, complete with its own | | | | It’s also recommended that participants assign |
| "superstars." | | | | a spotter — a person on the ground to prevent |
| Boulderers have their own little subculture, and their | | | | the climber from landing badly. The spotter generally |
| own lingo as well. Believe it or not, some bouldering | | | | directs the climber's body toward the crashpad during |
| enthusiasts are climbers that are afraid of heights. | | | | a fall, while protecting the climber's head from |
| Sometimes, the line between bouldering and climbing | | | | hazards. |
| blurs, but the general rule is that if the rock isn't an | | | | The region around Fontainebleau, near Paris, is |
| intrinsic part of the mountain, or if you can fall | | | | particularly famous for its beautiful and concentrated |
| without being killed, it counts as a boulder. | | | | bouldering sites. Other well-known areas include |
| Boulder routes are most commonly referred to as | | | | Stanage, in the United Kingdom, Hueco Tanks, in |
| “problems,” because the nature of the | | | | Texas, Castle Hill in New Zealand, Bishop, California, |
| climb is often short, curious, and much like problem | | | | and Horse Pens 40, Alabama. |
| solving. Sometimes, these problems are "eliminates", | | | | The sport of bouldering is growing in popularity, partly |
| meaning that certain artificial restrictions are imposed. | | | | because of the growth of bouldering areas in indoor |
| On smaller boulders without too many "problems," | | | | climbing gyms, with entire climbing gyms dedicated to |
| the sport can be reasonably safe for a | | | | bouldering. Children are joining the sport now as well |
| well-conditioned individual. Most boulderers climb with | | | | as adults. In fact, studies have found that young |
| a spotter, and place a mat where it will hopefully | | | | climbers develop better skills than adults, from their |
| cushion a fall. Not surprisingly, a few boulderers | | | | experience with youthful disadvantages such as |
| sometimes attempt "problems" well beyond the | | | | height and strength. |
| reach of their spotter, and rely on mats that do very | | | | Bouldering is just one of many new sports that |
| little to protect falling skeletal structures from sudden | | | | require participants to be in good physical shape |
| stops on level portions of the planet. | | | | before they make their first attempt. If done with |
| As in other types of climbing, bouldering has | | | | the proper safety precautions, boulderers can enjoy |
| developed its own grading systems for comparing | | | | the sport for as long as they are physically able. |
| the difficulty of problems. The most commonly used | | | | |