Yds scale. While it is primarily used in the U.

Yds scale Then it is counted up from 5. [2] Yosemite Decimal System(YDS) is a grading system commonly found in the United States, starting with a 5. In a nut­shell, the YDS “ cat­e­go­rizes ter­rain accord­ing to the tech­niques and phys­i­cal dif­fi­cul­ties encoun­tered when rock climb­ing. Wikipedia, my first resource, failed me here. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. The YDS scale has five classes – classes 1 and 2 are reserved for walking and hiking, respectively. 13) editorial comments on the standard YDS classes Learn how to compare climbing and bouldering grades in different systems, including the YDS (Yosemite Decimal System) used in North America. ): Jan 28, 2022 · At the YDS scale’s origin, the range was intended to be 5. The basic YDS system scales 1-5, where a 1-rated path is equivalent to walking up a hill on an established path and increasing to the 5 class where you must climb. After it was confirmed that the scale which had 4 factors and 13 items was a valid and reliable tool, the data including the views of Turkish academicians were gathered focusing on the washback effect of the YDS via this scale in the final phase. When it comes to indoor climbing grades, two popular grading systems are the V-Scale and the YDS (Yosemite Decimal System). Royal Robbins climbed the first 5. 15c, though only a handful of such routes exist in the world. 10, 5. Most rock climbs over 20 feet tall in the U. Exactly what I wanted. 4 are generally scrambling. YDS mainly applies to roped climbing but gives context for overall climbing difficulty. The decimal notations range from 5. 0," it's actually considerably closer to a "5. Developed in the 1950s in Yosemite National Park, this system was created by rock climbers to standardize ratings for various routes. 10 grade in the Yosemite Decimal System, and routes that would have been given a grade of 5. 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 Especially in the USA, but also in large parts of the world, the YDS scale (YDS = Yosemite Decimal System) is used. However, climbers realized that much harder climbs were possible with the advent of modern climbing shoes, better training, and more skilled techniques. Comparing these scales is somewhat akin to comparing sprinting to a marathon; while both are running, the skills and attributes required are quite different. The fifth class breaks climbs down into sub-classes ranging from 5. Technical Rock Climbing Grades Apr 29, 2024 · The most common free-climbing grading scales are the French, US or Yosemite Decimal System, and the UK scale. The difficulty grades 1-4 refer to increasingly difficult walking terrain. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, with vertical pitches ranking at a 5-level difficulty with a decimal addition. From grade 5. Also, explore tools to convert yard or meter to other length units or learn more about length conversions. In the 1970's as shoe design and rubber improved and technique changed, climbers were able to send above 5. Let’s break it down the grade 5. 12a) to provide further details of the ranking. In the 4th class, hiking begins to turn into climbing. Oct 23, 2023 · The V-scale, used for bouldering, and the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), used for route climbing, represent two distinct grading systems tailored to their specific forms of climbing. In contrast, bouldering grades use the V-scale or Fontainebleau scale, as mentioned earlier. The difficulty of a rock climbing grade is typically classified using one of three different systems: the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), the French Adjectival System, or the British Technical Grade (TG) system. May 16, 2022 · 1. , you can find YDS grades all around the world. 0 (class + difficulty) and currently goes up to 5. For example you place V5 at 5. 12 b/c while Wiki compares V5 to ~ 5. Aug 30, 2021 · Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) — 5. The YDS originally consisted only of the class rating and this is the most widely used rating. 1 (easiest) to 5. Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re wondering how the Fontainebleau (or “Font”) system—like 9A—converts to the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s a quick answer: 9A in the Font scale equals about V17; That’s also roughly 5. YDS CLASS General terrain difficulty grading system (U. There are 3 parts to a YDS grade. In the United States, we use the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). [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. YDS is the dominant classification system in the United States and parts of Canada. Understanding the Yosemite Decimal System: The Yosemite Decimal System is based on a scale of 1 to 5, with each number and decimal point representing a higher level of difficulty. A YDS grade is split into two numbers separated by a period and looks like this: Class. Convert from Font to Hueco and more. However, like the YDS Scale, it is still increasing as climbers send more challenging problems. Class 1: Easy, well-maintained trails Mar 30, 2023 · Route grades: in North America are part of the Yosemite Decimal system (YDS). 10 and a sub scale of A-D. 0 and topped out at 5. Find out the grade of a route based on the crux, the most difficult move, and see examples of routes from 5. Instant free online tool for yard to meter conversion or vice versa. Feb 12, 2019 · The YDS Class system is somewhat relative to your experience and skill level, especially when you get in the Class 3 / 4 range. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a system that is used to rate the difficulty of walks, Today aid climbing uses a separate scale from A0 through A5. They do not indicate time commitment or duration. Currently, the scale starts at V0 and goes up to V17. are graded using the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). Hiking The "old-school" scale started at 5. May 27, 2025 · The Yosemite Decimal System is a five-class scale that categorizes the technical difficulty of various terrain, from simple walking paths to highly technical rock climbs. On the other hand, the YDS is used for roped climbing, with ratings like 5. 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 2, 2025 · The "YDS" scale is used to measure the difficulty of top-rope climbs, which range from 5. Though bouldering and climbing require similar physical skills, they are distinct enough to warrant caution when comparing the V Scale to the YDS. Feb 28, 2023 · This scale is known as the Yosemite Decimal Scale (YDS). As of recent I have noticed writers including +s and -s when describing route difficulty. 11, etc. Class 3 involves some scrambling. 15 (hardest). In order to understand the issue of grade inflation, it seemed vital to understand its history. 10 or even 5. The simple class definitions 1-4 of the YDS Yosemite Decimal System are as follows. ) or even continents (Ewbanks, YDS) and sometimes they got exported to and established themselves in different areas making some grade systems more ubiquitous Mar 23, 2025 · A new era of grades combines the YDS with the V scale. ” The The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a scale used to rate the difficulty of hiking and climbing routes. As climbers and their gear got better, even harder climbs were being sent, and the need arose to open the scale. May 18, 2025 · Name every climber that has done the first ascent of a new difficulty on the YDS scale. 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. The V-Scale is used for bouldering, ranging from V0 (easiest) to V16 (most difficult). Class 4 is not as tricky of terrain as Class 5 but has the potential for dangerous falls. Combining bouldering grades with traditional climbing grades lets us know what to expect for both endurance and power. YDS. Quiz by Connorgun. When the Yosemite Decimal System was first introduced, it was believed that 5. Developed by the U. Overall, the YDS and the French Scale are fairly easy to convert between, but since they are used in different regions, you are likely to see large regional differences Jul 8, 2024 · The Yosemite Decimal System. 9 at Tahquitz on a classic route called "Open Book. 6 (easiest) to 5. S. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) In the U. If you have a ton of experience, Class 3 might feel like Class 2 but if you lack experience Class 4 might feel like Class 5. 15c on the YDS scale This is an online scale length converter that calculates the actual length and the scale length according to the scale ratio, scale ratio could be set by yourself, supports different length units, including imperial units and metric units. The YDS scale has now been pushed to 5. It’s no wonder then that some of those 5. Maybe I'm dumb and it's all over the Internet, not sure why I had a hard time with this. In bouldering, it generally addresses the ease or challenge of the ascent. All climbing grades begin with the number five. 5 I G, it is an easy-to-moderate climb that is nearly vertical with many footholds and handholds. -based Sierra Club in the 1950s, the YDS unified and refined previous climbing grade systems from the early days of Yosemite Valley climbing. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a rating system used by rock climbers to choose appropriate climbs that are challenging, within their abilities, and to bring proper gear. The most rel­e­vant sys­tems for climbs in North Amer­i­ca are the Yosemite Dec­i­mal Sys­tem (YDS) and the Nation­al Climb­ing Clas­si­fi­ca­tion Sys­tem (NCCS). This is the class. The scale starts at 5. Aug 18, 2017 · YDS stands for the Yosemite Decimal System and it is a grading system for hiking, scrambling, and climbing. 0 to 5. 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. The Scale Calculator is a practical tool that helps you quickly and accurately convert lengths based on a selected scale or calculate the scale based on provided dimensions. This guide breaks down why that is, how the grading systems compare, and what it means for your climbing. Free climbing grades are generally understood to reflect the hardest move or section on a particular route. 10 but have a V2 crux. Mar 8, 2018 · Actually, it's exactly what the YDS is used for. With visual graphic and formula, it let us more easily understand the calculation process and the result. 9" in reality! Check out the table below[1] for a general comparison of the V and YDS scales. Dec 30, 2024 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a standardized scale that categorizes the difficulty of trails and climbing routes, helping adventurers evaluate the physical and technical challenges of a route. 9 was the hardest possible grade. 9 and the YDS scale introduced 5. In 2016, Alex sent me a link to his page on Bouldering Grades, which he compares with the Yosemite Decimal System and sport climbing. The grade and protection ratings were added on later to improve the rating system. 0 (easiest) to 5. Anyways, since I had a hard time I just made one. As noted in our history article, the YDS scale was invented at Tahquitz Rock as an extension of the Sierra Club's terrain rating scale that was used to grade alpine routes of all levels (class 1 being trail walking and class 5 being technical climbing). [4] The class 5 portion of the class scale is a rock climbing classification system, while classes 1–4 are used for hiking and scrambling. So, the YDS scale became open-ended and allowed the top end of the scale to continue expanding. Sub-Grade (Yosemite Decimal System). 15. Mar 17, 2012 · Thomas Graf, notice that the page you listed has no V to YDS conversion, only bouldering scales to bouldering scales, and rope scales to rope scales. YDS classes . The V-Scale will sometimes show a plus or minus after the grade indicating whether it is harder or easier. May 31, 2020 · Grading happens both indoors and outdoors. V-Scale to YDS Conversion and Difficulty Scale I hesitated in including this conversion because the skill-set, strength and endurance needed to rock climb is so different from bouldering and isn’t easily comparable. Many systems exist worldwide, though the most common are the Yosemite system and the French system — we’ll talk more about the various systems in a moment. Oct 15, 2021 · The YDS grading of a given trail or climb will typically contain three elements: the class, the grade, and the protection level. 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. 🗿 Bouldering Grade Converter. Oct 12, 2020 · The French Scale is much more convertible between its top-rope and bouldering equivalents, while the YDS and American bouldering scale, the V scale, are not as convertible. While a V0 is commonly identified as a "5. 11a, etc. For example, if you are on a trail that is 5. Rock climbing is a funny sport, the different disciplines all use the same grading scale! Jun 10, 2024 · Convert from French to Yosemite Decimal System and more. Newly developed routes can have a YDS grade of 5. Recently, the rankings of 5. Your chart seems to be more aggressively rating the V-grade scale to YDS. However, 5. It's not uncommon for experienced climbers and boulderers to start much lower than this chart might suggest. Class 5 is used for rock climbing and bouldering. Key Takeaways The Yosemite Decimal System is a scale for rating the difficulty of trails and climbing routes. Routes rated 1–2 are hikes that won’t involve the use of your hands. Yosemite Decimal System. In the USA, both indoor and outdoor routes are graded on the Yosemite Decimal System. Mar 4, 2025 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), and the V-Scale or “Hueco Scale”. 9. 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. Jan 27, 2023 · Originally, the YDS scale started at 5. 14 (most difficult). 15 (most difficult). The Wikipedia description may be found here. Apr 27, 2025 · Understanding these systems helps climbers gauge routes in new places. Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - No votes and 31 comments Mar 25, 2024 · Sport climbing grades are typically denoted using the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the United States, ranging from 5. For example, the YDS and French systems dominate globally, and beyond the beginner level, their grades align closely. The latter is much more reasonable in my experience. 10 through 5. The American YDS (or 'Yosemite Decimal System') was developed independently by climbers at Tahquitz Peak who adapted the class 5 rating of Sierra Club Class 1–5 system in the 1950s. There are many factors which influence the ratings, such as the difficulty, time commitment, length of climb, and risk. something Grades 1 to 4 refer to walks of increasing difficulty, by the time you reach 5 you are assumed to be scrambling over rocks which equates to about 5. 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. The five levels used by the YDS system are: Class 1-Walking-Little risk The YDS has a class rating and an optional grade and protection ratings. " As climbing equipment got lighter and better, however, the grades increased and the Yosemite Decimal System expanded to include 5. Even today, many grade systems are confined to certain geographical areas, sometimes climbing areas (e. 12a. Dec 9, 2024 · The climbing community uses the fifth-class YDS system. This time metric is graded by the NCCS (National Climbing Classification Scale). 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. 14 were expanded to include an "a", "b", "c" or "d" after the decimal (Example: 5. Here's the link if you're interested. g. 11 if established more recently were given a grade of 5. 9 classics feel several grades harder. Developed in the 1930s by the Sierra Club, the YDS has become the standard grading system for rock climbing in the United States. , we use the Yosemite Decimal System ( known as the YDS scale) to grade climbing routes. Profile Quizzes Subscribed Subscribe? Rate: Nominate. YDS Yosemite Decimal System 1-4 …expanded with Sierra Club Mountain Scrambling subGrades. In the United States, the most commonly used grading system is the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). While it is primarily used in the U. The YDS system was first developed by the Sierra Club in the 1930s when it was used to grade the difficulty of hikes in the Sierra Nevadas. :P Thanks for posting this, was looking for some such scale, yours was one of the first hits. The “5” is known as the difficulty of class and indicates that the climbing is technical and rope belaying with protection is required. 0 was capped at 5. The exact definitions of each of the classes are not fully agreed upon, but the general canyoneering interpretation is included below. Feb 19, 2021 · Like the YDS, the V scale is completely open-ended, and the highest grade on the scale will continue to increase as the sport progresses. Mar 17, 2023 · For starters, North American sport climbing uses the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) which is entirely different from the V-scale system. If Everest were in North America, then this is the system that would be used to rate it's difficulty, if it were mostly rock anyways. Jun 23, 2024 · V-Scale vs. This is where the real climbing scale begins. Saxon, Fontainebleau), mostly countries (South African, Brazilian, French, etc. Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re trying to figure out how 6c+ in the Fontainebleau system converts to the V Scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), the answer is pretty simple: 6c+ roughly equals V5/V6 in the Hueco V Scale and 5. Originally designed for rock climbing, the YDS has become an essential tool for hikers and scramblers, providing a framework to ensure that trails The YDS has two scales. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) The Yosemite Decimal System , also known as YDS, is used to determine hiking difficulty and sport climbing routes based in North America. The yard [yd] to meter [m] conversion table and conversion steps are also listed. Traveling. The use of “a” is at the top of the scale with other letters (b-d) used for less challenging routes. Scroll down, or click here to view: the basic YDS: Class 1-5 for rock climbing (not ice) YDS fifth class subdivisions (5. 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 . 11 a/b. 12b/c in the YDS. This scale is more straightforward than the YDS Scale and ranges in difficulty from V0-V17. For a basic overview of how the grades work, check out this article with Climbing Magazine . This is called the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). . For a long time, there was no 5. 9+. 0 the scrambling terrain starts. 15d in difficulty. Nov 13, 2023 · The Yosemite Decimal System has played a significant role in the development of climbing as a sport and has helped to establish a common language for climbers worldwide. 6, 5. [4] Feb 9, 2023 · the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) An additional system comes into play to more finely describe the difficulty of fifth class routes. Thirdly, the newly developed scale's psychometric qualities (validity and reliability) were measured. Whether you’re working on a map project, technical drawing, or architectural model, our Scale Calculator will make your work easier, save time, and eliminate errors. 0. The first YDS scale is primarily used for hiking, and rates routes from 1–5. argnd emgx rmwvr dcibw ajb jgpvolpv zicia zbrj gpx lnst