The Grade Calculator: How to Use Grades to Route Read

The On-Route Grade Calculation Breakdown 

On my trip, I was onsighting a route that was a grade and style I definitely had to focus on. I'd just fought through a sequence that felt right at the limit for the particular grade. However, looking up at the next section, it looked totally blind and even harder than what I’d just done.

Usually, that’s where the "caution" or the "panic" sets in. But I stopped and did a quick calculation:

1. I knew the grade of the route.
2. I knew the section I’d just climbed felt like the crux for that grade.
3. I knew the lower section was technical and also had mini-cruxes.

Therefore, if the next section was as hard as it looked from below, how could it theoretically still be the grade listed in the guidebook? It wouldn't add up.

Because I understood the level of climbing I’d just done in relation to the grade, I was able to push on positively and with confidence. I knew that even though I couldn't see the holds, they had to be there. Sure enough, once I committed, the hidden holds appeared; they were positive, and the climbing was actually easy.

This works in reverse, too. If you’re halfway up a route and everything has felt "easy" for the grade, you should proceed with caution—even if you are very close to the top and the final stretch looks deceptively simple. If you haven't come across something which represents the grade you are on, most likely it will be there somewhere…(or you can just hope you’re having a strong day on the rock)

Why this skill matters

Understanding the level of climbing you have just performed provides you with the correct level of caution (or confidence) for the next section ahead. The higher up the climb you get, the more data you can collect in relation to the grade, meaning you have a higher chance of judging the next section correctly. Going into a move with the correct expectation of what it’s going to feel like is a massive benefit.

So, don't just climb the rock—climb the grade. Use the guidebook and the data you collect while climbing to give yourself the best chance.

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