Bouldering

Bouldering is a popular form of adventure sport in which the participant has to climb the rocks. It is a form of the popular sport rock climbing but differs with it on the use of gears. While ropes are used in rock-climbing, the gear is completely absent in Bouldering. The climbers ascend the rocks in a route and with equipments that gives him extra protection. They also use crash pads or soft padding gears to nullify the risk of facing serious injury during the climb. The climbers are made aware of the routes of bouldering which are known as problems and sometimes there are certain artificial constraints are imposed. These are called the eliminates . The different bouldering races are given specific grading systems comparing the difficulties involved in different races. The gears usually used in bouldering are chalks to keep the hands dry, pads for safety, climbing shoes, brushes and athletic tapes.

The history of bouldering dates back to the last quarter if the 19 th century. The documents proving the existence of the sport at that time have been found from France and the United Kingdom. The word Bouldering was coined for the first time during this period by the British. Pierre Allain and his friends went to Fontainebleau, the Mecca of Bouldering, in the late 1930s and the 1940s. John Gill , in the mid 1950s made it accepted as a sport throughout the world.

Places like Fontainebleau, Stanage, Castle Hill and Horse Pens 40 are among the popular bouldering sites . The thrill associated with the sport has made it popular among the adventurous people around the world and Bouldering is fast occupying a loved place among the adventure-lovers across the globe.