Bouldering is just climbing on much shorter walls with denser crash pads below, and it takes only shoes and no harness; you can do it fully solo, so you might want to check it out when you first arrive. The best places to bouldersolo are in large cities where there are many crags to choose from. In smaller towns and rural areas there may be only one or two boulders that everyone knows about, which makes them difficult to find unless you ask around. You can also indoor rock climb. This is similar to bouldering except the walls are higher and the holds are different. You can find an indoor rock-climbing gym near you by checking with your local rock-climbing club or organization. Indoor climbing is becoming more popular because it is safer than outdoor climbing. There are protective devices such as auto-belays for added safety. Indoor climbing is great for people who live in regions that are not cold enough for mountaineering or have other reasons for avoiding the outdoors. People often wonder if they can indoor rock climb alone. Yes, absolutely! Most indoor climbing gyms have a list of rules that cover everything from how long you can stay inside (usually between 30 and 60 minutes) to what degree's you can go outside (usually between 0 and 90 degrees).