Older and Boulder

Grades don’t matter, and they’re subjective, and style is important too. Something that’s easy for one person, might be hard for someone else if it suits their style of climbing or not. I know, I know, I know all of these things. Still, in just over two years since I started properly on the bouldering journey, I’ve never climbed anything harder than 6c+, and that took me about a year. The first 6c+ was an awkward balancy slab, and most of my hardest boulders have been a similar style.

I’m delighted to say though that the first 7a was quite a powerful slopery filled overhang on the new arena boulders at Ratho. In some ways the new highest grade doesn’t matter and other ways it matters a lot. Let’s see how long it takes for the next one or for the first 7a+!