Do you know what bouldering is, how it works and how it began?
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Bouldering
“Bouldering is the distilled essence of climbing.” – Adam Polinski
What is Bouldering?
“Bouldering is the distilled essence of climbing.” – Adam Polinski
John Gill is considered to have fathered bouldering on the boulders of Stone Mountain in Georgia. While bouldering had probably taken place in numerous areas before this, Gill was the one to really solidify it as a training technique. Gill used the boulders he found as a way to practice more challenging moves as a preparation for longer, roped climbs known as routes. That combined with his background in gymnastics may have been the single most influential force that has led to bouldering becoming its own climbing discipline.
Bouldering is climbing shorter rock features without the use of ropes. In recent years, bouldering has developed its own safety equipment. Crash pads, which most likely started as mattresses dragged into the forest, are thick pads that can be folded up and carried on a climber’s back. It is laid out at the base of a climb and with the use of spotters can keep an experienced boulderer relatively safe.
Many climbers are drawn to bouldering for a variety of reasons. With a limited amount of technical skills and equipment required, bouldering is often the first type of climbing an individual is able to consistently practice. Though not recommended, someone can boulder by themselves or in a group. Often people enjoy the more social environment created by bouldering. In some cases, bouldering is a great alternative for those who don’t particularly care for heights, but who do enjoy many of the other elements of climbing.
While it could be considered part of Upper Rock City, this boulder is sometimes considered in an area all its own. The Picnic Table Boulder is located in view of parking and next to a picnic pavilion. In case the obvious chalk isn’t a give away, look for the boulder with a picnic table on top of it. The mushroom shaped boulder was once referred to as the Mushroom Boulder and with 9 overhung boulder problems from V3 to V5 it has become a popular place for quick sessions and circuits.
