Bouldering

(the ancient art of climbing sideways)

Why boulder?

Who says you always have to climb upwards? Climbing sideways at low heights along the wall (bouldering) can be just as fun and challenging. No equipment is necessary to boulder because you are no more than a couple feet off the ground at all times. It is a great way to warm up, practice technique, and build strength and endurance.

Guidelines for bouldering:

We ask that all bouldering be done using only those holds lower than the row of locks used to fasten the security tarps. (If you aren't sure where this line is, please ask an IM.) Anyone bouldering particularly high (while under the locks of course) or riskily, should ask someone to spot them. Climbers have the right of way over boulderers and those bouldering should watch for climbers being lowered.

Bouldering Problems

Bouldering can be made more challenging in many ways, for example. . .

First panel -- using only holds mounted on the lowest panel.
Second panel -- using only holds mounted on the second panel up.
One hand -- use only one hand with both feet.
One foot -- use only one foot with both hands.
One hand one foot -- only one of each.
No feet -- smear your way along the wall. Quite an upper body workout.
Blind -- traverse with eyes closed "feeling" for holds.
Minimalist -- using as few holds as possible to get from one edge of the wall to the other. (Left to right record is 13 holds).
Rotation -- pick any 2, 3, or 4 holds. Start facing the wall. Rotate 360 degrees using only those holds then try it in the opposite direction.
Facing out -- traverse with your back to the wall.
One Foot Hold -- use only one foot hold on each differently colored section.

(remember that each of these problems are different depending on which direction you climb.)

Add One:

Add One is a fun bouldering game that can be played with 2 to infinity players but you want to make sure that all of the players are at about the same skill level. The first player starts by doing a move. The second climber does the first person's move and then add's one of his own. The third player does the first two moves and then adds another one. And so on. After you run out of players, it is the first person's turn again. You can literally keep this up for hours.

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Last edited on February 20th 1996 by Derek Sasaki-Scanlon and Tim Gustafson. Comments and/or questions mail to:

98ds@williams.edu
or
98tbg@williams.edu