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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.

Just slightly up-stream of the overlook and Upper Rock City, Roadside Rocks is one of the more popular areas for bouldering because of its density, grade diversity and short approach (there is basically none).  It’s development followed the development of Upper Rock City and the closing of the overlook to climbing. The area has many easy and moderate boulder problems as well as a couple hard test pieces. It is also home to the popular top roping areas: Sunset Walls and the Big Blocks.

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Posted: March 15, 2012

Author: Jonathan Vickers

Category: The Boulders

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