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Why Do Some Climbers HATE Bouldering?

Jon Zucco · · Denver, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 245

Get a life, people.

Chris Rice · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 55

Bouldering - every fall is a ground fall :). I don't have much "bounce" left in these old bones :). That said I used to like it fairly well - but not as well as long multi pitch moderate trad routes (my favorites).

Tradster · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 0

I don't hate bouldering, but my ankles do hate it. Can't take the jarring landings especially after spraining each ankle at least six different times over my ancient life time.

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425
Jeremy Hand wrote: So in a limited time scenario... you'd rather get on 2-3 pitches than get on 10-20 problems? I'd rather get in a bunch of diverse climbing, multiple styles, assorted features than climb some of the same over and over.
Absolutely.

I'd much rather climb 2-3 pitches of multi-pitch high over Boulder than pebble wrestle 4 feet off the ground.

Not saying I haven't spent a lot of time bouldering but given a choice I'd always rope up.
Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

I like pretty much any type of climbing, anything that gets me out and away from other people into an area away from the rest of the world.

I probably climb the hardest on boulders and can do V6. Most bouldering has none of the mental aspect of leading sport / trad climbs so you can push yourself to make that hard move instead of being 30ft over your last placement trying to make a similar move. The hardest sport climb I have done is in the 5.11 range. Pushing for 5.12 but my endurance for overhangs sux and all the 12s where i live involve overhangs. I personally probably enjoy trad the best though only climb 5.10 as my hardest trad but I just love the sense of adventure you get on a trad climb and i don't care if I am on a 5.5 trad climb or a 5.10.

I just love the beauty and adventure you get from climbing, I love sitting on a ledge and looking down on birds flying below me.

PS: I am terrified of heights but generally am the strongest leader for those I normally climb with.

Nathan Burns · · Atlanta, GA · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 66

WHY WAS THIS THREAD BROUGHT BACK

Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

why not?

Ralph Swansen · · Boulder CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 761

I don't like bouldering because of the exploding belay.

FosterK · · Edmonton, AB · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 67
Kris Holub wrote: That's correct. I view climbing as a way to allow me to access "impossible" terrain and to get on top of things the average person would only dream of. Bouldering is a great tool to increase climbing skill, but it lacks any element of exposure and adventure. I also find it inherently contrived almost to the point of being a game. I don't have anything against bouldering, I just can't get psyched about it. On the other hand I can rant about bouldering culture just fine.
+1
doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 264
Kris Holub wrote: I also find it inherently contrived almost to the point of being a game.
All climbing is contrived. If it wasn't, we'd all be mountaineering.
David Gibbs · · Ottawa, ON · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2

At least bouldering isn't aid climbing.

bergbryce · · California · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 145

aid is what you do when all the other forms get boring, noob

Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10

Bouldering is boring.

ssp · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 171

We consider Bouldering to be a few things:

1 Training to stay in shape for climbing
2 To develop techniques to be used during climbing.
3 As a stand alone activity for hanging with friends along with some healthy competitiveness.
4 To be in solitude with the rock, nature and yourself. A good head clearing is always refreshing.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520
Ralph Swansen wrote:I don't like bouldering because of the exploding belay.
You are confused. Exploding belays and bolts only happen on trad climbs, like in the beginning of "Vertical Limit." If you slow the frame rate way down, you can see the bolts explode clearly. This is very accurate. The extreme vibrations of the fear of the falling climber made the atoms in the metal resonate and explode. It's therefore very important not to be scared if you fall.
Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520
David Gibbs wrote:At least bouldering isn't aid climbing.
I know. Consider this, a synonym for aid is help. Help climbing! Who wants to do something you need help to do? Pffffffffft.
Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

I know this thread is old but I'll bite.

I think bouldering is only interesting to someone who enjoys puzzles. My limited experience with roped climbing versus bouldering, both inside and outside a gym, suggest that bouldering has a lot more to do with problem solving (it's why they're called 'problems'). If you'd rather feel like you're making progress and moving somewhere (travelling) then bouldering is going to hold little interest. But if you like being challenged mentally and physically, with small but sometimes perplexing problems, then bouldering is a lot of fun.

Now if you like sport climbing but, because you're pushing your grade, are spending a lot if time projecting a crux on a particular route that you can't quite get yet...... well I don't think that's too very different from bouldering.

I went out on Friday this week and did some new "easy" bouldering problems. A couple of them took me more than a few tries to get. So I fell. I fell about 1 foot, to a soft cushioned pad. If those had been cruxes and I'd been leading, I'm confident my fall would have been less pleasant. So I had fun and added to my technique library at the same time.

Bonneville Williams · · Salt Lake City, Utah · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 145

THIS THREAD IS THE EPITOME OF WHY 98% OF ALL CLIMBERS ARE DEUSCHBAGS. Grow the fuck up guys (and girls). I love climbing and will always be a climber but yáll are a bunch or sorry ass burnt out tools. And to think when I picked this passion up I thought I'd run into a lot of rad people with similar interests. Instead I found out most of us are no different than the rest of the idiotic general populace you claim to be so much above with your goddamn deity (or inferiority) complexes and shitty attitudes towards everything in the sport that doesn't pertain directly to your trendy little asses. Fuck. I wish this rain would stop so I didn't have to come across another shining example of the worst part about climbing itself. THE CLIMBERS!!!

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520
Bonneville wrote:Fuck. I wish this rain would stop...


Well, I like the rain.
Bonneville Williams · · Salt Lake City, Utah · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 145

Good. I'm happy for you. Lol! ;)

Good. I'm happy for you. Lol! ;)

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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