going abroad and don't know the system?...

[meetVA]

No, no mountaineering, but the bouldering and trad look awesome.

[maine]

I have found that even if you translate the grade to the US scale each place varies greatly.

That is true even in the US. for example climbing a 5.11 at the Red is VERY different than climbing a 5.11 at Rifle.

I guess what I am saying is that even if you know what the corresponding grade is you will have to get a feel for the area and type of climbing.

Have FUN!!!!

[meetVA]

hesh-yeah that is true maine.
even now even in the red, i consider a lot of route grades as recommendations.



knowledgible yes, infallible, no.

[tomdarch]

is it true the french don't bother until 5.9 and that the brits stop at 5.13c?

About grades in France, it's the opposite - they have lots of nice bolted routes from really easy on up (heck - even Fontainebleau has circuits of 'kiddie' problems established!)

And for the British grades, if you can trad lead a route there harder than US 13c, I'm sure they'd be glad to add on another E grade!

Hey, just to confuse things even more, are routes in NZ graded with the Australian system, or something else?

[meetVA]

"The system used in New Zealand is adopted from the Australian "Ewbank" numerical grading system."

[pawilkes]

VA when are you going to be in NZ? i've got my plane tickets leaving LA christmas day and coming back in late march. the sport in NZ is great too, there is a place kinda like Miguels called the Hang Dog Camp near Payne's Ford and a school where you can camp for NZ$2 a night in Wharapapa with tons of climbing real close. my parents are going to be with me for the first month but i'll be solo all of Feb and March. maybe we could meet up over there. i have some inside connections cause i lived down there for a year when i was in high school
phil

[kneebar]

Wow, a full year in NZ! That is going to be a trip of a life time. Are you just dreaming or is this going to really happen? I am so jealous. We will have to talk, I'd like to hear the details.

[meetVA]

no, not a full year! woah! woah! woah!

the road trip will hopefully be as close to a good long time as possible. NZ would probably be about a month or two...depends. ya know?

i mean there is france, spain, australia...argh!! so many great options!

thanks for the info phil. i'll haragnue (sp?) you for more details.

[kneebar]

Ruth and I have been talking about going for quite a few years. We have some info from a guiding service but it was way $. It was one of those kayak, hike, see the sites kind of thing. Unfortunately she can't get a month off. She could probably swing a couple of weeks, maybe 3 but that would be about the most. I'm not sure that would be worth the trip.

I didn't know there was climbing there, any online info out there? If Ruth and I did go I could probably spent a couple of extra weeks to climb before or after. Course I'd have to find a partner......

[meetVA]

kneebar...oh the possiblities!

check out the website i posted minus the link to the grading system.

also, if you are into bouldering there is a video with a segment on an area called Castle Hill....the video is frequent flyers, a nice video too.

ryan gives good belay. and i can spot anyone like a cheerleader!

i'd say that even if we can hook up over there, three weeks would be worth it. i mean, com'on, it is NEW ZEALAND!!!