Rocks without ropes: bouldering is gaining a foot-hold in the rock-climbing world.

Across the country, people are grabbing rock climbing shoes and chalk bags to go bouldering, leaving their ropes and harnesses at home. Bouldering, which is climbing at a height where ropes are not necessary for safety, is becoming a new favorite activity among climbers.

"Bouldering has definitely gained a lot of popularity in the past few years," says Brian Ricketts, a climbing instructor and assistant coordinator of Adventure Programs at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. "You can see it in the sense that more companies are getting involved, making bouldering equipment like crash pads, and it is getting more coverage in climbing magazines." Magazines that used to be filled with pictures of people hanging off cliffs now have as many pictures of climbers on rocks only as high as a basketball hoop.

But the low height doesn't take away the challenge of the sport. A bouldering "problem"--a series of hand holds and foot placements used to climb the rock--can be extremely difficult. Although a bouldering problem does not take as many "moves" as a long climbing route would take to complete, each move is often a gymnastic feat of strength, skill and balance. Climbers with abilities ranging from beginner to professional can find bouldering problems that appropriately challenge their skills.

No Ropes Required

One of the reasons bouldering is becoming so popular is that little equipment is required. Since bouldering routes keep the climber close to the ground, often no safety equipment is needed beyond a friend to "spot" the climber in case of a fall. Some boulderers prefer extra support when they fall and use a thick mattress-like cushion called a "crash pad." A spotter and a crash pad provide protection to allow the boulderer to try routes and moves that grow ability.

"It's an acceptable amount of equipment. Pretty much all you need is shoes and a chalk bag," says Anthony Veltri, founder of BoulderingGear.com, an online store that sells bouldering equipment. Add in the optional crash pad, which is often shared among a group of friends, and the cost still doesn't break the bank.

Compared to the cost of traditional climbing equipment, including various ropes, webbing, harnesses, carabiners (metal ring with a spring clip) and anchoring devices, the equipment needed for bouldering is a small investment. The relatively low cost allows people to learn the sport who may not be able to afford the safety equipment required for traditional climbing or just are not ready to commit to buying that extensive amount of gear.

The reduced amount of equipment required for bouldering has further benefits. Learning to tie the proper knots and effectively use the protective equipment for climbing takes a lot of time. On the other hand, someone looking to begin bouldering can skip knot tying and put their hands right on the rock. "Bouldering is easy to get into. You don't need much experience. You just have to go out," says Ryan Fawley, an avid boulderer and employee of Wilderness Voyagers, an outdoor sport equipment shop in Harrisonburg.

All of those ropes and harnesses can be a drag for climbers who are impatient to get off the ground. Traditional climbers have to lug their ropes, harnesses and other protective equipment to the rock. Since many of the best rock climbing areas are far from where climbers' gear-toting vehicles are parked, this can be a lot of trouble. More importantly, setting up all of the traditional climbing gear at the site takes time away from climbing. With no ropes and harnesses to worry about, bouldering gives instant gratification. Bouldering is easy to begin and naturally segues into learning everything necessary to practice traditional climbing safely for those who are looking for an additional challenge.

Bouldering as Training for Climbers

In addition to its appeal to new climbers, bouldering has become a common training tool for traditional climbers looking to improve their strength and balance for the challenging moves they may encounter on a climb. It can take quite a bit of climbing just to reach the hardest part of a traditional route, known as the "crux." By bouldering, a climber can skip right to the hard moves. Climbers can then focus on the abilities needed for the crux of a challenging traditional climbing route just a few feet off the ground while bouldering. As Fawley puts it, "You do the same moves, but you're close to ground." This allows the climbers to practice challenging moves without a long climb each time, building their strength and skills.

Besides putting the challenging moves conveniently close to the ground, bouldering provides a welcome change of pace for many traditional climbers. They can practice on different terrain than their normal climbing areas or they can boulder at the base of their favorite climbs. The short length of bouldering problems also allows climbers to practice a variety of different problems in one day, giving a fresh change from all-day climbing.

Building Friendships While Bouldering

One of the biggest advantages of bouldering over traditional climbing is that it allows more social interaction during an outing. Since a bouldering problem may only take seconds to complete and there are no ropes and protective equipment to be concerned with, boulderers can hang out in one area and take turns on the same problem. Boulderers can also move easily from one bouldering problem to another, allowing people of different skill levels to experience it together. This helps bring new people into the sport, since experienced boulderers can bring their beginner friends along with them while still challenging themselves.

Bouldering also allows more communication during an outing than traditional climbing. The person on the rock is never so high that friends on the ground cannot see the next move and talk to the boulderer about it. This lets friends on the ground give advice and encouragement. Once the person is back on the ground, they can all discuss the bouldering problem and encourage each other. This not only helps them improve their skills, but also builds camaraderie between the boulderers. The friendships that people build with their bouldering buddies keep people involved in the sport.

Managing Bouldering in Parks

Since bouldering does not require as much specialized equipment as many other outdoor sports and activities, it can be hard to define who is a boulderer and how much bouldering is going on in a park. "Bouldering is one of these nebulous activities," says Anthony Veltri, who studied environmental management before going into the bouldering business full-time. "Climbing is easier to understand," explains Veltri, since traditional rock climbers have ropes, harnesses and anchors that define their activity. Since bouldering cannot be easily defined by the equipment involved, it can be hard to draw the line between a boulderer and a hiker who happens to climb over a rock.

On the other hand, the lack of equipment makes bouldering easy to manage and encourage. Most boulderers want nothing more than access to bouldering sites. The sport generally has a low impact on the bouldering sites and unlike traditional rock climbing, it is never necessary to drill safety equipment into the rock. Although minor injuries can occur while bouldering, the relatively low height that boulderers reach makes serious injury rare. Since there are no ropes, harnesses and other protective equipment to be concerned with, there is no need for lengthy training to ensure a safe bouldering environment.

Some park and recreation departments are creating programs that showcase bouldering sites by leading hikes through the park that show potential boulderers where they can climb the rocks. Some even include lessons on how to boulder. In North Carolina, park and recreation departments are offering camps or "schools of rock" that teach children the basics of bouldering and safety precautions.

In Yosemite National Park, Calif., where some of the most difficult rock climbing faces like El Capitan reign supreme, bouldering is also catching on fast. A problem named Midnight Lightning on a boulder in Camp 4 at the park draws bouldering enthusiasts from across the country.

The Future of Bouldering

Bouldering has become more than a passing fad within the rock-climbing world. Magazines, Web sites and climbing gyms devoted entirely to bouldering are popping up to fill the growing niche. The appeal of bouldering will likely continue to attract new converts looking to challenge themselves on the rocks. Bouldering is easier to maintain as a hobby than traditional climbing, since it does not take as much time and money as traditional climbing. "A lot of people get out of climbing because of the commitment," says Matt Smith, manager of Wilderness Voyagers. "Bouldering takes less commitment to stick with than climbing."

"It's definitely going to get bigger," says Ricketts. Putting bouldering into perspective, he explains, "It has become part of its own out of the whole climbing aspect. Climbing came out of people training for mountaineering and now bouldering has come out of people training for climbing." Now that bouldering has arrived, people will continue to explore new ways to challenge themselves on the rock without worrying about ropes and harnesses.

Tools of the Trade

Shoes: The number one thing you need to start bouldering is a good pair of climbing shoes. Although some shoes are made specifically with bouldering in mind, normal rock climbing shoes will do. The shoes are shaped to fit into the features of the rock, and the rubber is specially designed to give maximum friction on the rock.

Chalk: Chalk absorbs the sweat and oil from your hands so you can get a good grip on the holds of your favorite bouldering problem. Most chalk used by climbers is magnesium carbonate, but alternatives are available that do not leave white marks on the rock. Most rock climbers have a small chalk bag that they can hang on their waist while they are climbing. Since boulderers are not off the ground for long periods of time, they often keep chalk in a big bag on the ground called a chalk pot, allowing everyone in the group to share.

Pads: A pad specially designed to absorb the impact of a bouldering fall is the final piece of equipment needed for bouldering. Since bouldering tends to be a social activity, a group can pitch in to buy a pad or two to take along on their trips. They fold up to make these easier to carry, and often have built-in backpack straps for hiking out to the bouldering site.