Bouldering is the practice of climbing rock without going more than 10 feet or so from the ground, so that a climber may safely jump to the ground.
Bouldering is a great way to build strength and technique for rock climbing without needing a belay, harness, or ropes.
Many rock climbing gyms offer “Bouldering Caves” for their members to practice climbing without a partner.
Bouldering Ratings
In the United States, the “V” system is used to rate bouldering problems. It currently runs from V0 to V14. For comparison, a V0 is about 5.9, a V5 is about 5.12, and a VII is 5.14.