The hardest ones have not been done yet, and so they remain unnamed.

Do you mean the hardest established problem? It would be impossible to say, as they are all dependant on each person's individual strength, physical characteristics, phases of the moon, temperature, etc.

For me, the hardest problems in the World are anything over V6, but maybe thats just me...

Wheel of Life at V16 is the hardest that I have heard of in terms of ratings.

It's a very long endurance problem, just in case you are thinking of getting in shape for it......

That's not a boulder problem, or at least shouldn't be rated as such.

Bah not this again. 8^)

Of course it's a boulder problem. Endurance can often be part of the difficulty in a boulder problem; though it is usually power-endurance for a few hard moves, there are plenty of problems where it is power-endurance for many much easier moves.

There is no fundamental difference between the Hueco scale and the YDS. They are both subjective whole-picture difficulty-only rating systems. That is: they rate holistically (not by the hardest move), and don't take protection or fall consequences into account in the rating (highball V4 is still V4, 5.12 X is still 5.12).

The only difference is the specific numbers used. The systems are essentially interchangable.

There are one move wonder (or one boulder problem wonder) routes out there all over the place with YDS grades, and plenty of long, many-move endurance boulder problems with V-grades. There are examples of the latter at Hueco itself (including the 135-foot long V8 traverse at the gymnasium). The definition of the V-scale in Sherman's guidebook explicitly mentions endurance.

Whatever number you want to give it (give it a "B3" if it gives you a warm and fuzzy oldschool feeling), Wheel of Life is one of the hardest climbs in the world.

That's not a boulder problem, or at least shouldn't be rated as such.

Curt

As for difficulty, does it really matter, besides it is all relative.

Sorry but it does matter, that's the question that started this post. It might not matter to you but obviously someone is curious.

Bah not this again. 8^)

Of course it's a boulder problem. Endurance can often be part of the difficulty in a boulder problem; though it is usually power-endurance for a few hard moves, there are plenty of problems where it is power-endurance for many much easier moves.

There is no fundamental difference between the Hueco scale and the YDS. They are both subjective whole-picture difficulty-only rating systems. That is: they rate holistically (not by the hardest move), and don't take protection or fall consequences into account in the rating (highball V4 is still V4, 5.12 X is still 5.12).

The only difference is the specific numbers used. The systems are essentially interchangable.

There are one move wonder (or one boulder problem wonder) routes out there all over the place with YDS grades, and plenty of long, many-move endurance boulder problems with V-grades. There are examples of the latter at Hueco itself (including the 135-foot long V8 traverse at the gymnasium). The definition of the V-scale in Sherman's guidebook explicitly mentions endurance.

Whatever number you want to give it (give it a "B3" if it gives you a warm and fuzzy oldschool feeling), Wheel of Life is one of the hardest climbs in the world.

Whatever number you want to give it (give it a "B3" if it gives you a warm and fuzzy oldschool feeling), Wheel of Life is one of the hardest climbs in the world.

I'm going to step out on a limb here and venture a guess that no one writing on this thread has been to OZ and seen or tried the problem.

That said, who are you to decide whether or not it is a boulder problem or a route? The guy who did the FA rated it as a boulder problem - at least he has a clue whether it is or isn't.

So, for those who think it is a route - just how many moves can a boulder problem have before it becomes a route?

I'll throw in an example that I am very familiar with. Just West of Denver at the Morrison area, there is a V8 or 9 problem called "Otis". Otis is somewhere around 80 feet long and requires around 60 moves. It links several different problems ranging from V0-V6 with two hands off rests on knee bars. Never in the 80 feet is your butt more than 6 feet off the ground and for half of it, more like 1-2 feet. And, you could actually place pro on it. (as if it mattered) Is it a boulder problem or a route? Maybe I should try for the redpoint?

John Sherman..... regrets using the "V" scale to rate that particular problem in the gymnasium at Hueco, as well as other long endurance based problems there.

I thought he regrets inventing the V scale :wink:

That's not a boulder problem, or at least shouldn't be rated as such.

Curt