Social climber

On rediscovering my love for bouldering

I have a confession: I am a climbing convert. Specifically bouldering. 

Those close to me will not be surprised by this statement. They have heard me ramble on about the benefits of bouldering since I was first introduced to it a couple of years ago. Friends have compared me to “those people” in their early 30s who suddenly decide they want to run half marathons or triathlons, and make it their entire personality. 

That, I tell them, is a wild exaggeration. I’m very much still a beginner. I also frequent the climbing gym far less than I’d like to. But I also can’t recommend it enough, though I try (which is probably what my friends are getting at - and they may well stop reading now if they don’t want a complete retelling here). 

I think I’m such a fan because I’m so surprised I actually enjoy it. For those who don’t know, bouldering is climbing without ropes or harnesses. You never go very high up (maybe 12-14 feet) and there’s a crash mat below. 

My local

But I’ve always considered myself a bit of a scaredy cat. I’m mostly risk averse in all areas of my life and the idea of climbing up a wall with no harness doesn’t naturally appeal.