Yds climbing grades Includes examples of the different grades, links, multimedia, pictures, photos, and video May 27, 2025 · Understanding the Yosemite Decimal System: A Guide to Rock Climbing Grades in North America. 4. Here is an overview of the YDS grades. – Long rock sections of Grades V. Here's the link if you're interested. Grade IV: A full-day climb. There are currently over 300 climbs rated somewhere in the 5. , 5. Climbing grades provide guidance, suggesting the length of time an experienced climber might take to complete the route: Grade I: A couple of hours; Grade II: Closer to four hours; Grade III: Four to six hours (most of the day) Grade IV: One very long day; Grade V: Two days (requires an overnight stay) Grade VI: Two-plus days Adam Ondra on the sport climbing route Silence, the hardest free climbing route in the world and the first-ever at 9c (French), 5. This lead climbing grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from YDS to French and back to French to Yosemite. Grade I: This grade involves a few hours of climbing. May 31, 2020 · To help orient and understand the systems, here’s what you need to know about climbing grades. 12a. Grade IV: A full day of technical climbing, generally at least with a difficulty of 5. Anyways, since I had a hard time I just made one. But the difficulty part in YDS starts at 0 as well. Confusingly though, European sport climbers use the French sport climbing system which, just like Font Bouldering Grades, ranges from 1 – 9 and uses a,b and c as well as ‘+’ to signify a slight increase Feb 19, 2021 · Bouldering and the V Scale What Is the V Scale? While the YDS is used to grade pretty much every roped rock climbing route in America and beyond, bouldering utilizes a completely different system. A bold route with easy climbing, may get the same grade as a much harder sport route, so the grade isn’t very versatile. 0 (class + difficulty) and currently goes up Oct 23, 2023 · In contrast, YDS grades for route climbing consider the hardest section of the climb but also the endurance needed for longer ascents, route-finding, and mental stamina. 9. 15. 9 classics feel several grades harder. 11a, etc. It was initially developed as the Sierra Club grading system in the 1930s to rate trails in the surrounding mountain ranges, and has been modified A free climbing grade (5. The YDS grades are divided into five distinct classes according to the technical difficulty and level of fitness required in each Apr 27, 2025 · The Yosemite Decimal System or YDS is a grading system commonly found in North America and was originally used to describe a full range of backcountry travel, which included both hiking and climbing. Lead climbing grades take into account the technical difficulty of the moves, the overall challenge of the route, and the risk level involved in climbing without a top-rope. The scale starts at 5. While it is primarily used in the U. Scroll down, or click here to view: the basic YDS: Class 1-5 for rock climbing (not ice) YDS fifth class subdivisions (5. 10, 5. Top 5 International Climbing Grade Rating Systems Mar 17, 2023 · For starters, North American sport climbing uses the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) which is entirely different from the V-scale system. Jan 31, 2025 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) and the French grading system are the two most widely used methods for rating the difficulty of rock climbs, helping climbers select appropriate routes. 15 (hardest). 12b. A YDS grade is split into two numbers separated by a period and looks like this: Class. 2018 at 00:42 The YDS also includes ratings for mountaineering and other types of climbing, but these are expressed in a different format than the rock climbing grades, using Roman numerals and other symbols. 1. are graded using the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). Jun 23, 2024 · Lead Climbing Grades. This video explains the Yosemite Decimal System for Grade III: Most of a day for the technical portion. In the United States, we use the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). YDS Yosemite Decimal System 1-4 …expanded with Sierra Club Mountain Scrambling subGrades. . This system starts at 5. The grades are: Grade I: One to two hours of climbing. -based Sierra Club in the 1950s, the YDS unified and refined previous systems from the early days of Yosemite Valley climbing. The technical difficulty is based on the hardest move of the climb, so even if a climb is mostly easy climbing but has one hard move, the technical rating will be that or the hardest mo By the end of this video, you will have a full understanding of the difficulty grading in rock climbing. 12a) and an aid grade For example 5. It differs from the USA system in that a route that is difficult to protect will get a higher grade. 15 range, all of which are impressively high climbing grades. The system originally only included classes 1-5, with 5 being the most difficult. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a scale used to rate the difficulty of hiking and climbing routes. , you can find YDS grades all around the world. Climbing grades can be confusing due to the various systems used around the world. Jun 10, 2024 · Bouldering and Lead Climbing Grade converters and other tools for rock climbers. 10c YDS but it is really hard to compare because being able to perform V4 complexity moves doesn't mean you have the endurance to master a full pitch of such problems. Sep 5, 2021 · Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) — 5. 13) editorial comments on the standard YDS classes See full list on guidedolomiti. Jul 26, 2020 · In this short tutorial for rock climbing beginners, I explain how to read, understand, and interpret rock climbing grades or ratings. About this Sports Climbing Grades table: This is a lead climbing grade conversion chart. x grades. Rock Climbing Grades: Rock climbing grades typically use one of several grading systems, with the most common being the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the United States and the French numerical system (French grades) in Europe. – Long rock sections of Grades IV and V and up to 20 meters (65 feet) of Grade VI. Climbing grades are a number or number-letter combination designed to correspond to the physical difficulty of a climb. There are 3 parts to a YDS grade. 0 (easiest) to 5. Sport climbing grades are typically denoted using the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the United States, ranging from 5. 7. 12a) to provide detailed grading, whereas The French grading system, common in Jun 23, 2024 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a grading system used to rate the difficulty of rock climbing routes. Rope Climbing grades use a simplified version of the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) Bouldering grades use the V-Scale. What Are Climbing Grades? Two climbing routes at an American climbing gym. Jun 5, 2023 · The American Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) and the French climbing grades are widely recognized and used, offering a benchmark for climbers across the world to measure their skills and climb difficulty. Grade II: Less than half a day. Grade II is the next step up, referring to a multi-pitch climb generally in the 2-4 pitch category with an easy approach/descent and straightforward climbing. [2] In YDS, the the first number before the dot is the class (e. At Class 5, the YDS grades become more precisely defined by adding additional numerals and letters. 12b, the other a grade of 5. The grade of a rock route is usually based on the crux, the most difficult move. Maybe I'm dumb and it's all over the Internet, not sure why I had a hard time with this. When the Yosemite Decimal System was first introduced, it was believed that 5. Nov 1, 2024 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a grading scale that evaluates the difficulty of hiking and climbing routes, especially for mountaineering and rock climbing. Don’t get caught up on grades. The YDS, primarily used in North America, employs a decimal system (e. Grade 6B – A climb with an elevation above 4,500 meters (15,000 feet). Grade VI: A multi-day climb. 10d, indicate difficulty levels. YDS mainly applies to roped climbing but gives context for overall climbing difficulty. Grade VII: Remote big walls climbed in alpine style. One has a grade of 5. g. Developed in the 1950s in Yosemite National Park, this system was created by rock climbers to standardize ratings for various routes. 15d (American YDS), and XII+ (UIAA). Attempts to directly compare these scales may be challenging due to the different nature of challenges in each discipline. Sport and trad climbing grades Even today, many grade systems are confined to certain geographical areas, sometimes climbing areas (e. 9+. That section is quite simple; the higher the number, the more complex the route. The Sierra Club in the United States of America established the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the 1950s after combining and refining other climbing grade systems from the early days of climbing in Yosemite Valley. All climbing grades begin with the number five. Climbing Grade Conversions. Let’s break it down the grade 5. Here is a guide with an approximation of how hard climbing grades are: (climbing experience varies, this is not specific to every climber) Climbing Grade Conversions. People are still pushing the boundaries of climbing grades. Grade V: A two-day climb. There are a ton of grading systems across the world of climbing, but the goal is to come to a shared understanding of what you can expect when venturing into the vertical unknown. Usually, a 2-4 hour commitment on the rock. 15d (9c). com In North America both sport and trad rock climbs are graded using the YDS (Yosemite Decimal System). 🧗♂️ Sports Climbing Grade Converter Convert from French to Yosemite Decimal System and more. Ranging from 4-6 Feb 4, 2015 · I always think it’s funny when brands name themselves after hard grades, but we keep pushing the grades and suddenly the brand isn’t named the hardest grade anymore… 06. 10 but have a V2 crux. Use the grading system as a guide to find routes that challenge you in a fun and rewarding way Mar 17, 2012 · Comparing climbing grades is a serious topic :-) A V4 boulder problem is typically 6b or harder which equals a 5. I cover the meaning be Feb 14, 2024 · Sport climbing grades, represented by the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), like 5. – Sections of snow and ice or mixed conditions. Grade VI: Two or more days of hard technical climbing. The YDS rates the difficulty to ascend various terrains designated by classes 1 through 5 (interpretations vary slightly on the divisions): (1) Flat ground; (2) Uneven or inclined ground; (3) Steep hills and hikes that may require occasional use of hands (easy Feb 9, 2023 · This type of climbing is very technical, and much slower than “free” climbing. Love them, hate them, argue about them in the parking lot—they're a root part of climbing culture. What Is a Climbing Difficulty Ranking? A climbing difficulty ranking is a standardized scale used to assess the technical challenge, physical demand, and risk associated with a climbing route. YDS assigns a numerical grade to each climb, ranging from 5. 11 if established more recently were given a grade of 5. Newly developed routes can have a YDS grade of 5. – 40 to 50 hours of climbing. the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) An additional system comes into play to more finely describe the difficulty of fifth class routes. Apr 13, 2025 · From the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) to the Fontainebleau grades, this article will serve as your go-to reference for decoding climbing difficulty. Grade II: Half a day of technical climbing; Grade III: Most of the day will be required for the technical portion of the route. Sports climbing grades are graded using different systems across different regions. YDS is the dominant classification system in the United States and parts of Canada. That’s how much modern climbers’ skill, strength, and technology have improved over the past 75 years. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. 10 or even 5. The simple class definitions 1-4 of the YDS Yosemite Decimal System are as follows. 10 grade in the Yosemite Decimal System, and routes that would have been given a grade of 5. It was developed in the 1950s by members of the Sierra Club in Yosemite National Park. 8 in the Yosemite Decimal System maps to both 15 and 16 in the Australian Ewbanks system or UIAA 11 I had a hard time finding a chart online that converts the Sherman V-grade system for bouldering into the Yosemite Decimal System for climbing. May 27, 2025 · Rock Climbing Grades See Our Complete Guide to USA Climbing Grades Rock climbing is graded on both the technical difficulty of the climb and the commitment of the climb. 0 and ends at 5. – More than The YDS grade system is optional (it does not have to be used). Here’s a rundown of the main climbing grade systems and how they compare: May 5, 2024 · Grade I is low commitment, typically just a few hours of climbing. As a beginner rock climber or foreign climber trying to climb in America, you'll want to become familiar with the Yosemite Decimal System, or YDS. In 2016, Alex sent me a link to his page on Bouldering Grades, which he compares with the Yosemite Decimal System and sport climbing. Lead climbing grades are also indicated by the YDS scale, ranging from 5. Therefore, any comparison between the two systems can only offer a rough equivalence, as a boulder problem's intense, short-lived challenge doesn't directly translate to the For a long time, there was no 5. Grade II: Grade II usually involves about half a day of climbing. 0 (like climbing a steep ladder) and progresses in difficulty up to 5. 7 (or the equivalent snow/alpine grade) Feb 28, 2023 · The YDS scale starts at 5. – A climb with an ascent of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). Most rock climbs over 20 feet tall in the U. The YDS classes are numbered from 1 to 5, with 5 further divided into decimal sub-grades. Grades can be subjective and may vary Mar 30, 2023 · Route grades: in North America are part of the Yosemite Decimal system (YDS). Jan 28, 2022 · Technical Rock Climbing Grades. S. The sub-grades, indicated by the “S-” prefix, are created by the Sierra Club to add useful risk assessment / planning information to each grade: YDS CLASS 1. International Climbing Grade Comparison Aug 18, 2017 · YDS stands for the Yosemite Decimal System and it is a grading system for hiking, scrambling, and climbing. The current range is 5. 8 or 5. Grade III: This grade denotes trails that involve half a day or more of roped climbing. ) or even continents (Ewbanks, YDS) and sometimes they got exported to and established themselves in different areas making some grade systems more ubiquitous Jul 8, 2024 · The Yosemite Decimal System. These systems, despite their differences, share the goal of providing a standardized understanding of climb difficulty, helping climbers make Mar 23, 2025 · A new era of grades combines the YDS with the V scale. 2. class 1 = hiking, class 3 = scrambling, class 5 = free climbing, class 6 = aid climbing), the number behind the dot is the difficulty. A few decades later the Rock Climbing Section of the Sierra club working out of Tahquitz expanded on that grading system to come up with the YDS. 3. Nov 13, 2023 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) classes are a set of ratings used to describe the difficulty of rock climbing and hiking routes in the United States. It’s no wonder then that some of those 5. Here’s a rundown of the main climbing grade systems and how they compare: Mar 4, 2025 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), and the V-Scale or “Hueco Scale”. 15 for now. Hiking Apr 29, 2024 · During the 1930s the Sierra Club adopted a variation of the Welzenbach scale to rate hikes and scrambles in the Sierra Nevadas. 15d, meaning the hardest rock climbing route at this time is rated 5. 11, etc. Jan 6, 2024 · Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) Widely used in North America, YDS ranges from class 1 (easy hiking) to class 5 (technical rock climbing). It's the system used to grade the technical difficulty of rock climbs. 6, 5. In bouldering, it generally addresses the ease or challenge of the ascent. For a basic overview of how the grades work, check out this article with Climbing Magazine . While these grading systems are widely used, they are subjective and have even evolved over time, so we often hear about the inconsistency climbers see between different climbing Oct 12, 2020 · What is the Highest Climbing Grade? The highest climbing grade, as of February 2020, is a 5. 9 at Tahquitz on a classic route called "Open Book. -based Sierra Club in the 1950s, the YDS unified and refined previous climbing grade systems from the early days of Yosemite Valley climbing. 15 (most difficult), with subgrades Aug 30, 2021 · Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) — 5. Grade III: A half-day climb. 15d. Mar 7, 2025 · If you're looking to understand how the 6b+ climbing grade converts to the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here's your quick answer: Adam Ondra on the sport climbing route Silence, the hardest free climbing route in the world and the first-ever at 9c (French), 5. It gives climbers information about how long a climb usually takes. 12. [4] There are no letters or secondary grades, just a single number that gets bigger as the routes get harder. Grade IV: A full day of technical climbing, generally at least 5. Grade V: Typically requires an overnight on the route. Understanding the different grading systems and how they convert can help you to gauge the difficulty of routes across different regions. The two main free climbing grading systems (which include the two main free climbing disciplines of sport climbing and traditional climbing) are the "French numerical system" and the "American YDS system". Climbing grades. Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) I had a hard time finding a chart online that converts the Sherman V-grade system for bouldering into the Yosemite Decimal System for climbing. Grade I: Less than half a day of climbing is required for the technical portion of the route. 9 was the hardest possible grade. Within class 5, you’ll find gradations with decimals and letters, like 5. 0 to 5. Nowadays, it is only used for free climbing, thats why you have only 5. " As climbing equipment got lighter and better, however, the grades increased and the Yosemite Decimal System expanded to include 5. It is a route called Silence and has only been climbed once, by Adam Ondra. This is the class. Combining bouldering grades with traditional climbing grades lets us know what to expect for both endurance and power. Rock climbing is a funny sport, the different disciplines all use the same grading scale! Mar 25, 2024 · Transitioning from sport climbing grades to bouldering grades can be a daunting task for climbers looking to expand their skill set. Developed by the U. Oct 15, 2021 · These Roman numeral grades range from one to seven. Grade III is similar to grade II but a little bit bigger. 15 (an overhanging cliff). [2] Information about the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in American rock climbing, examining its history, and the meaning of the various grades and modifiers. Saxon, Fontainebleau), mostly countries (South African, Brazilian, French, etc. Royal Robbins climbed the first 5. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a five-part grading system used for rating the difficulty of rock climbing routes in the United States and Canada. [1] It was first devised by members of the Sierra Club in Southern California in the 1950s as a refinement of earlier systems from the 1930s, [2] and quickly spread throughout North America.