Clinging to Rocks

Bouldering is Fun

What is Bouldering?

Bouldering is a form of climbing without ropes or harnesses usually no higher than 20 ft (6m).

History

Date to the mid 1800s
Began as a way to practice difficult climbing moves
Popularized in the US by mathematician John Gill
Gill introduced gymnastic chalk
Bouldering mats were introduced in the 1980s
Bouldering was shortlisted for the 2020 Olympics

Climbing Shoes

Climbing shoes were introduced in the 1920s by French Alpinist Pierre Allain. The key innovation was a hard rubberized sole and toe box allowing the climber to "smear" the rock face.

Grading Systems

The Gill "B" System
Fontainebleau grades
The Hueco Scale
UK technical grades
Japanese Dankyu

The Hueco Scale

First published in 1991
Dominant in the US
Devised by John 'Vermin' Sherman at Hueco Tanks State Historic Site
Runs from VB - V19

Hueco Tanks

Types of Rock

The US has incredibly varied geology and different rock types can be found throughout the the lower 48 states.

Granite Boulders in Central Park

Glacial erratics

A glacial erratic is a rock that differs in type and size compared to native rock. These large rocks can be deposited by glaciers, ice rafting, and even ice bergs.

Sandstone!

Sandstone is formed from cemented grains of minerals or pre-existing rock fragments. These sediments are laid down by water or air over long periods of time. Sandstone makes up ~75% of the Earth's surface. It has friction qualities suitable for climbing and forms vertical joints/fractures.