Oldering Volume 2 (Patreon)

It’s been just over a year since I started bouldering so I thought I’d share another little highlight reel. Yes it is self indulgent but if we can’t indulge ourselves on the Patreon where can we indulge! ‘They’ won’t let us talk about bouldering anywhere else…

For those who don’t know the rules you have a starting hold marked by tape and an end point also marked by tape. You have set holds that you can use to climb a route and in the gyms I use this is mostly marked by the colours of the holds (all black, all red, etc.). You finish the route by touching both hands to the final hold (in a controlled fashion). In some rare cases there are routes where you are only allowed to use your arms (no feet).

Each route is given a difficulty grade, and in most of the world this follows a V1-10+ grading but in Japan they go from 10Q-1Q with lower being harder and then confusingly switch into 1D-3D which are essentially ‘black belt’ levels. The difficulty is marked by the tape colour/route grade not the colour of the holds.

After a year I’m at 2Q now and have no idea how that translates into V grades but probably V4-5? I think bouldering and climbing in general is a great sport because you can take things at your own pace, go with your family, and there is a clear sense of challenge and progression.

It certainly gives me a welcome break from rumination. And for what it’s worth I see lots of people young and old in the gyms doing amazing things and/or just getting started. It really is a fun workout/activity so I think it can receive a coveted DTG endorsement, so maybe add it to your stack alongside whisky drinking and cooking.

Will update on progress in another year! 🫡