How old are our boulderers?

Largely,.... it is probably mostly a case of interest and involvement. As one ages,... obviously certain adjustments are made,... though, given there are numerous styles of bouldering that one can engage in,.... my sense is, that it can be done for quite some time.....   : )

eric zschiesche wrote:

Largely,.... it is probably mostly a case of interest and involvement. As one ages,... obviously certain adjustments are made,... though, given there are numerous styles of bouldering that one can engage in,.... my sense is, that it can be done for quite some time.....   : )

It can without grade chasing.

Concerning the video that the OP posted- 

Did "Old Man Lightning" (John Sherman) get up Midnight Lightning yet? Or is he still working on it?  

I am 38 years old and I want to be able to climb tell my mid sixties. When I climb outside it is mostly on gear and bolts. I bolder twice a week indoors on big thick pads that are wall to wall. My question is, will the indoor bouldering injure me long term? 

I am in my 50's.  Landing is the hardest part of bouldering on the body, IMHO.  In the winter, I do a moderate amount of bouldering indoors to build up power and contact strength.  During outdoor climbing season, I work on endurance and power-endurance by climbing routes.  Very little bouldering for me Spring through Fall.  Glad I got in a bunch of high-ballish boulder problems in my 30's.  I would not dream of attempting a repeat of any of them now!

Ken Graf wrote:

^^^THIS!!^^^ Is one fun trailer! 

For those of you in gyms? I realize many, if not most problems you can't do it, but perhaps down climb some? There's also no reason some training specific routes can't be set. I haven't set any this cycle, but I usually set a beginner/injured/old/run laps on it route that is a loop, up and back. I can't fall on my crap knees from two feet up most days, and working an overhang up and back is much more workout than just up a roped wall, for myself, anyway. 

Also, I aim for a traverse to be in there, as well as the roped bit. Not just old people have beat up parts, and not just young people want to get stronger.

And. I am increasing in strength. 60+

Best, OLH

I'm 36, and just now climbing V6-V7 , hoping to be climbing v10 by 40!  

I'm 40 and still bouldering, is a grate excercise for real climbing.

kalen glenn wrote:

I'm 36, and just now climbing V6-V7 , hoping to be climbing v10 by 40!  

Dude, 36 is not old, even for a boulderer.  

Nivel Egres wrote:

Marc Le Menestrel today or Patrick Edlinger before he passed?  Marc LM did F8B+ 20 years ago.

I would imagine many. I climbed V11 after 50 or so

Peter isn't older yet :-)

I just listened to Bill Ramsey's Training beta podcast again- he's definitely the man.

Started climbing as a boulderer, and 61 this September, still love to boulder, typically yoyo style although a pad is sure nice when I drag it along.

--Ross

Well boys and girls, 67 bouldering still not much gym and outside LCC its my strength i feel ive lost really dont have joint pain until morning shows up. But maintain i will do what i can as long as possible , climb on

the schmuck wrote:

There is also Tim Fairfield. He's 48 or 49 and recently sent an unrepeated v15 at priest draw.   Ben Moon is in his 50s, has a colostomy bag, and climbs v14.

Ben Moon of Hubble / Moonboard fame does not have a colostomy. Ben Moon the photographer does. Maybe he also climbs V14?

V14 seems impossible 

Ryan, you are right, and I was mistaken. Ben moon (the climber) is still a v14 climbing old fart though :-). 

I'll turn 53 next week. I used to climb a quite a bit when I was younger but got out of it when we had kids. They're old enough now (8 & 10) that they can come to the gym with me, so we signed up as a family a couple of months ago. We've been going two to three times a week and loving it. Just a few days ago I sent my first V4.

Scott Schiller wrote:

I'll turn 53 next week. I used to climb a quite a bit when I was younger but got out of it when we had kids. They're old enough now (8 & 10) that they can come to the gym with me, so we signed up as a family a couple of months ago. We've been going two to three times a week and loving it. Just a few days ago I sent my first V4.

Nice job on the v4

I still boulder quite a bit at 34, that is mostly due to lack of reliable partners for rope climbing and just having some good circuits here in CT.  

If I stretch enough bouldering doesn't bother my tendons too much, it actually used to more.