From Deseret News archives:
Bouldering helps sharpen skills
Falls are common in "bouldering," or climbing big rocks without equipment or ropes, thus the use of pads. And, generally, friends standing nearby help guide the climber to the cushion.
What bouldering is is a subsport that has turned into a sport.
It was developed by serious rock climbers looking for quick and easy, and safe, ways of practicing for more technical climbing. Climbers found it fun, challenging and not life-threatening. It also offered climbing opportunity for those who may be uncomfortable with heights.
All that's required for bouldering is a big rock, a pouch of chalk and climbing shoes, pointed out Rich Koski, director of sales, Ogden/Weber Convention and Visitors Bureau.
One of the more popular boulder fields is located at the top of 27th Street in Ogden, between Taylorsville and Waterfall canyons. There are a couple of dozen very large boulders strewn over a flat area. Over the centuries, these boulders broke away from the rock cliffs above and came to rest near the city boundaries just above St. Joseph High School.
"What makes these boulders good for climbing is the rock, quartzite, is very hard, so even the smallest holds are usable and won't break off.
Climbers can get hold of even the tiniest of edges and try to work with it. There are also some very nice overhanging problems with larger holds where climbers can go upside down," he said.
In the overall picture, bouldering is considered to be in the very center of progressive climbing. Novice climbers start with indoor climbing walls, move to bouldering and, if they choose, try more serious rock climbing on cliff walls.
Ogden has, in fact, become well recognized in recent years as a perfect three-stage school for climbing enthusiasts.
In the heart of the city is the new iRock climbing center located in the Salomon Center.
IRock offers a full range of indoor climbing opportunities, including 55-foot-high indoor climbing walls with rope climbing and a range of route selections ranging from very easy to extremely difficult. There is also a man-made "boulder" about 10 feet high that can be climbed from all four sides.
Recent comments
The cliffs above 27th St. are actually called The Schoolroom Wall.
Abe Shreve | April 17, 2008 at 9:07 a.m.
- Funeral today for Utah soldier 11:16 a.m.
- Vaccination clinic set in St. George 11:15 a.m.
- $47B paid in suspect Medicare claims 11:11 a.m.
- 3 dead in Reno helicopter crash 11:02 a.m.
- Galaxy headed to MLS Cup 10:45 a.m.
- Veteran climber dies in Himalayas 10:36 a.m.
- Slovakia beats U.S. 1-0 10:30 a.m.
- Suicide attack kills 11 in Pakistan 10:28 a.m.
- A president of Europe? 10:18 a.m.
- Riesch edges Vonn in WCup slalom 10:13 a.m.
- Williams leaves, won't play tonight
- Attack meant to kill apostle
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Man killed during 3rd I-15 crash
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Trial begins in toddler death
- D-Will home for daughter
- Unga family is making its mark
- ESPN suddenly loves MWC
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
348 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
162 - Will state consider gay rights law?
145 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
103 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
95
Bingham's got a lot of talent for having a bunch of Juniors and sophomores....
Ben Cahoon is a class act!!
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge,...
There is a VERY special place in hell for guys like this...Even ANIMALS know...
RE:Joe & Exactly. I tend to see the opposite way. I think that when Dwill...
Joe & Exactly are typical people who don't understand the game of basketball,...
I guess we only see what we want to see. But, the fact is that if BYU had...
It would be great if BYU could pull this off. Never count out a team that...
That's what i heard too!
Washington and Franklin believed in Providence, not Got. Franklin started to...

