Bouldering

Bouldering is climbing without a rope on large boulders. Bouldering is a pursuit in its own right as well as being used for training by climbers.

To reduce the risk of injury after a fall, climbers rarely go higher than a few meters above the ground. They may also put a [bouldering mat]? on the ground to break their fall and/or assign a spotter, a person standing on the ground to to prevent the climber from hitting his head on the ground.

The region around Fontainebleau near Paris is famous for its beautiful and diverse bouldering sites.

See also: Grading a boulder.