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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Aid grades 17-Mar-2005 At 2:15:21 PM LittleMac

Message

It seems in a strange way that we are arguing for the same thing really, A clearer more easily understood grading system.

The A system whilst dealing with potential fall lengths also deals with securness of placemnets and gymnastic difficulty in placing said protection.

Having done some of the current M6's etc and spoken to some people who have done the M8's and A4+'s currently on offer, M9 and M10 seem illogical due to the sheer insanity involved in getting up these routes.These routes ceratinly fall in the current top A grade bracket.

Sure our system can work but as we both agree it needs some development, both in more clearly defining grades and in devloping supporting literature. Finding people willing to push the grades beyound M8 is a problem which I feel is unlikely to be addressed any time soon.

The problem of to many grades being bunched up into the A4's is simply by virtue of the fact that they is where they belong, the free grading system has a similar problem with the middle grades (18-26) with more climbs in this area than others.

Again just my opinion, A great topic to talk about though because we already have the best system for free grades, why not work hard to have the best aid grading system as well.