Climbing rating systems

Climbing rating systems are standardized ways to indicate the difficulty of climbing routes or problems. They help climbers gauge the skills and strength needed to complete a route. Different systems exist worldwide; for example, the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the U.S. ranges from 5.0 (easy) to 5.15 (very hard). In sport climbing, ratings also include a letter (e.g., 5.10a, 5.10b) for incremental difficulty. These ratings consider various factors like technical moves, length, and danger. They serve as a guide for climbers to select routes appropriate to their skill level and to track their progress.