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WyoRockMan
climber
Grizzlyville, WY
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 22, 2017 - 10:51pm PT
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I want to like it. I want to do it more. I just can't seem to "get it".
It's probably because I suck at climbing in general, but bouldering has always bored me to tears. At a bouldering sesh, I always feel like I'm back at the junior high dance. You know, the nerd hiding in the corner. I'll come out try a couple problems, probably fail, then kind of give up.
I could just completely give up on it, but the reasons I want to enjoy it are somewhat compelling (for me).
Taking the kids bouldering would be far less involved than roped climbing.
Should make me stronger.
Good for technique.
I can do it inside at the gym.
Another excuse to go outside...
Anyone ever overcome this? I'm curious as to what made it finally fun.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 22, 2017 - 10:59pm PT
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Because the ground is hard. Duh!
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Feb 22, 2017 - 11:43pm PT
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Never had to overcome it- I've always loved bouldering.
Do you have someone to climb with? It helps to have a friend that is fired up and that you jive with.
Do you have a good bouldering area available? Somewhere with the grades you want to climb?
Easy circuits? Sometimes just moving over stone is the best- nor working stuff or struggling.
If you "learn to like it" can really help your roped climbing but
some people just don't like bouldering! That's ok!
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Curt
climber
Gold Canyon, AZ
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Feb 23, 2017 - 07:48am PT
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Bouldering, why is it so hard?
Really. It's almost like it's intentional.
Curt
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Nick Danger
Ice climber
Arvada, CO
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Feb 23, 2017 - 08:05am PT
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I have always loved bouldering, but it comes and goes in my life - like a lot of things. At the risk of sounding real nerdy, bouldering strikes me like working on forms in martial arts. Its the same moves for each form or problem, but working on perfection seems to be its own reward.
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BASE104
Social climber
An Oil Field
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Feb 23, 2017 - 08:15am PT
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Why is it so hard? Geez what a question.
First, boulders are usually short, so you can work on the problems over and over and over and over. It is hard to work a route that thoroughly.
Second, it isn't all hard. There are many easy boulder problems. You don't have to go out to do V-10's. Just climb what you can.
It will really improve your technique. That is why people have been bouldering for as long as climbing has existed pretty much. They are convenient much of the time.
The downside is that every fall is a grounder. The only time I've been hurt climbing was while bouldering without a pad.
I think bouldering is a little too popular these days. A lot of that strong talent should be put to work on routes. That said, there have always been bouldering specialists, and they are among the greatest climbers ever.
John Gill posts here nearly every day. What he was doing back in the 60's wasn't matched for a good 25 to 30 years. He was that far ahead of everyone, based on pure difficulty.
Just go do some easy problems. Get them wired and repeat them every day. Then try a little harder stuff. Before long, you will amaze yourself.
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Feb 23, 2017 - 08:39am PT
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take off your shirt and put on a knit cap. voila!
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Branscomb
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Feb 23, 2017 - 09:00am PT
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I like bouldering. I think it's the best practice for climbing. With my 65 years, I've become a wimp & don't appreciate smacking the hard ground when I (frequently) fail so I have an old Metolius pad.
I also boulder by myself or with my girl, because I really can't stomach the scene, at least around here. And I'm also not that good so my ego can't take it when some 15 year old blows me off the rock.
I've witnessed 'the scene' a couple of times, usually during that silly climbing festival they have here. There's this weird sort of seriousness that I think to myself (cynical me) why don't you go do something real? Get your f*#kin ass off the ground. Grow up.
Cranky old geezer....
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Feb 23, 2017 - 09:07am PT
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I came to climbing in 88 from an MTB/Trials background and always saw bouldering as complimentary to climbing, great way to spend some alone-time or party-time, a fun way to get strong/flexible and hella fun! To me it makes sense that it is hard akin to Trialsin as it compares to general MTBing; trials skills are de rigueur for anyone that wants to ride in the mountains as opposed to hike-a-bike! Man, maybe you need a trip to the Buttermilks!
DrlJefe's words/?'s are a good starting point and jesus, if his pics don't stoke you then...?..!
If it wasn't hard, it would be called scrambling.
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
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Feb 23, 2017 - 09:08am PT
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I like bouldering. I think it's the best practice for climbing. With my 65 years, I've become a wimp & don't appreciate smacking the hard ground when I (frequently) fail so I have an old Metolius pad.
I also boulder by myself or with my girl, because I really can't stomach the scene, at least around here. And I'm also not that good so my ego can't take it when some 15 year old blows me off the rock.
I've witnessed 'the scene' a couple of times, usually during that silly climbing festival they have here. There's this weird sort of seriousness that I think to myself (cynical me) why don't you go do something real? Get your f*#kin ass off the ground. Grow up.
Cranky old geezer....
Best post I have seen around here for a while.
I do a lot of easy bouldering and don't really like a scene either, but there are times when I want to try something taller it is nice to have some huge dude down there waiting to catch you or squish them. It really is a great way to spend time with the kids. I used to take a bb gun, football, I pad, lunch or what ever and let them have some fun while I got to have some fun. It really depends on the area though and what it has to offer. Somewhere with a lot of V0 and below(if that is possible) allows everyone to have some fun.
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WyoRockMan
climber
Grizzlyville, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2017 - 09:13am PT
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The ground is hard and the challenging problems are generally difficult, I get all that.
...bouldering strikes me like working on forms in martial arts. Its the same moves for each form or problem, but working on perfection seems to be its own reward.
I dig that. Perhaps that is a proper mindset to have when approaching the problems.
I’ll be sure to swing by the beanie store before heading to the gym today. That could also be the missing link.
Jefe,
No shortage of stoked partners who love bouldering, or boulder problems. There is something on the order of 700 named problems within 5 minutes of town. Plus the new bouldering "gym", for blustery whiteout days like today.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Feb 23, 2017 - 09:18am PT
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700 named problems within 5 minutes of town
dang dude, where the hell is Grizzlyville WY?
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WyoRockMan
climber
Grizzlyville, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2017 - 09:24am PT
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Cragar,
Cody. You'd dig the mountain biking here as well. Huge (relative to size) MTB community. Tons of developed trails right from town, including some burly downhills and flow trails.
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Feb 23, 2017 - 09:45am PT
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Coo, thanks for the info!
I traveled through your zone about 5 years ago and got coffee at a cool shop and they had a copy of a local(I think) bouldering guide and I remember my palms sweating as I perused it.
I imagine I'll make through there in the next couple or 3 years. I've been doing a couple 4-5 day micro vacations the last couple summers instead of the classic multi-week gigs...summer work busy-ness has me looking at more local shits and I have been impressed every frikkin time!! I dig NOT having to travel more than 6hrs for my various fixes.
Have fun and go easy on your tendons!!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Feb 23, 2017 - 10:12am PT
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Traverses, not falls from high up.
Try it.
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Contractor
Boulder climber
CA
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Feb 23, 2017 - 11:57am PT
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BVB-I say this because at woodson you can hit hard stuff over and over with no access or approach logistics, ease of access, a place to rapidly hone technique.
There it is...
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skitch
Gym climber
Bend Or
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Feb 23, 2017 - 12:49pm PT
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Maybe a physicist could chime in, but I believe it has something to do with the gravitational pull on your negative engrams, read all about it in Dianetics.
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flatlandermcjack
Trad climber
Speardawg, SD
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Feb 23, 2017 - 01:41pm PT
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for whatever reason, I love bouldering in the gym, hate it outside, and completely the opposite while on belay.
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Feb 23, 2017 - 05:02pm PT
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Because it's your nature to love "real" rock climbing. That's what I tell myself (and I suck at bouldering).
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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Feb 23, 2017 - 05:26pm PT
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Not "real climbing"
;>)
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