diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d5231b8..de7bfe6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@
   "engines": {
     "node": ">=14"
   },
-  "dependencies": {},
+  "dependencies": {
+    "i18n-iso-countries": "^7.6.0"
+  },
   "keywords": [
     "rock climbing",
     "climbing grades"
diff --git a/src/Disciplines.ts b/src/Disciplines.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a524ea0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Disciplines.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/**
+ * What sort of climb is this? Routes can combine these fields, which is why
+ * this is not an enumeration.
+ * For example, a route may be a sport route, but also a top rope route.
+ */
+export interface DisciplineType {
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_climbing */
+  trad?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_climbing */
+  sport?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouldering */
+  bouldering?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep-water_soloing */
+  deepwatersolo?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_climbing */
+  alpine?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_climbing */
+  snow?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_climbing */
+  ice?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_climbing */
+  mixed?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aid_climbing */
+  aid?: boolean
+  /** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_rope_climbing */
+  tr?: boolean
+}
+
+export const validDisciplines = [
+  'trad',
+  'sport',
+  'bouldering',
+  'deepwatersolo',
+  'alpine',
+  'snow',
+  'ice',
+  'mixed',
+  'aid',
+  'tr'
+]
+
+/**
+ * Perform runtime validation of climb discipline object
+ * @param disciplineObj IClimbType
+ */
+export const sanitizeDisciplines = (disciplineObj: Partial<DisciplineType> | undefined): DisciplineType | undefined => {
+  if (disciplineObj == null) return undefined
+
+  const output = validDisciplines.reduce((acc, current) => {
+    if (disciplineObj?.[current] != null) {
+      acc[current] = disciplineObj[current]
+    } else {
+      acc[current] = false
+    }
+    return acc
+  }, {})
+  // @ts-expect-error
+  if (disciplineObj?.boulder != null) {
+    // @ts-expect-error
+    output.bouldering = disciplineObj.boulder
+  }
+  return output as DisciplineType
+}
diff --git a/src/GradeContexts.ts b/src/GradeContexts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da5e46a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/GradeContexts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+import { getScale } from './GradeParser'
+import { GradeScales, GradeScalesTypes } from './GradeScale'
+import isoCountries from 'i18n-iso-countries'
+// import { DisciplineType, ClimbGradeContextType } from './db/ClimbTypes.js'
+import { DisciplineType } from './Disciplines'
+
+/**
+ * Grade systems have minor variations between countries. gradeContext is a
+ * short abbreviated string that identifies the context in which the grade was assigned
+ * and should signify a regional or national variation that may be considered within
+ * grade comparisons.
+ */
+export enum GradeContexts {
+  /** Alaska (United States) */
+  ALSK = 'ALSK',
+  /** Australia */
+  AU = 'AU',
+  BRZ = 'BRZ',
+  FIN = 'FIN',
+  FR = 'FR',
+  HK = 'HK',
+  NWG = 'NWG',
+  POL = 'POL',
+  SA = 'SA',
+  /** Sweden */
+  SWE = 'SWE',
+  SX = 'SX',
+  UIAA = 'UIAA',
+  /** United Kingdom */
+  UK = 'UK',
+  /** United States of Ameria */
+  US = 'US'
+}
+
+export type ClimbGradeContextType = Record<keyof DisciplineType, GradeScalesTypes>
+
+/**
+ * A conversion from grade context to corresponding grade type / scale
+ * Todo: move this to @openbeta/sandbag
+ */
+export const gradeContextToGradeScales: Partial<Record<GradeContexts, ClimbGradeContextType>> = {
+  [GradeContexts.AU]: {
+    trad: GradeScales.EWBANK,
+    sport: GradeScales.EWBANK,
+    bouldering: GradeScales.VSCALE,
+    tr: GradeScales.EWBANK,
+    deepwatersolo: GradeScales.EWBANK,
+    alpine: GradeScales.YDS,
+    mixed: GradeScales.YDS,
+    aid: GradeScales.AID,
+    snow: GradeScales.YDS, // is this the same as alpine?
+    ice: GradeScales.WI
+  },
+  [GradeContexts.US]: {
+    trad: GradeScales.YDS,
+    sport: GradeScales.YDS,
+    bouldering: GradeScales.VSCALE,
+    tr: GradeScales.YDS,
+    deepwatersolo: GradeScales.YDS,
+    alpine: GradeScales.YDS,
+    mixed: GradeScales.YDS,
+    aid: GradeScales.AID,
+    snow: GradeScales.YDS, // is this the same as alpine?
+    ice: GradeScales.WI
+  },
+  [GradeContexts.FR]: {
+    trad: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    sport: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    bouldering: GradeScales.FONT,
+    tr: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    deepwatersolo: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    alpine: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    mixed: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    aid: GradeScales.AID,
+    snow: GradeScales.FRENCH, // is this the same as alpine?
+    ice: GradeScales.WI
+  },
+  [GradeContexts.SA]: {
+    trad: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    sport: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    bouldering: GradeScales.FONT,
+    tr: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    deepwatersolo: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    alpine: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    mixed: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    aid: GradeScales.AID,
+    snow: GradeScales.FRENCH, // SA does not have a whole lot of snow
+    ice: GradeScales.WI
+  },
+  [GradeContexts.UIAA]: {
+    trad: GradeScales.UIAA,
+    sport: GradeScales.UIAA,
+    bouldering: GradeScales.FONT,
+    tr: GradeScales.UIAA,
+    deepwatersolo: GradeScales.FRENCH,
+    alpine: GradeScales.UIAA,
+    mixed: GradeScales.UIAA, // TODO: change to MI scale, once added
+    aid: GradeScales.UIAA,
+    snow: GradeScales.UIAA, // TODO: remove `snow` since it duplicates `ice`
+    ice: GradeScales.WI
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Convert a human-readable grade to the appropriate grade object.
+ * @param gradeStr human-readable, eg: '5.9' or '5c'.
+ * @param disciplines the climb disciplines
+ * @param context grade context
+ * @returns grade object
+ */
+export const createGradeObject = (gradeStr: string, disciplines: DisciplineType | undefined, context: ClimbGradeContextType): Partial<Record<GradeScalesTypes, string>> | undefined => {
+  if (disciplines == null) return undefined
+  return Object.keys(disciplines).reduce<Partial<Record<GradeScalesTypes, string>> | undefined>((acc, curr) => {
+    if (disciplines[curr] === true) {
+      const scaleTxt = context[curr]
+      const scaleApi = getScale(scaleTxt)
+      if (scaleApi != null && !(scaleApi.getScore(gradeStr) < 0)) {
+        // only assign valid grade
+        if (acc == null) {
+          acc = {
+            [scaleTxt]: gradeStr
+          }
+        } else {
+          acc[scaleTxt] = gradeStr
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    return acc
+  }, undefined)
+}
+
+/**
+ * A record of all countries with a default grade context that is not US
+ */
+const COUNTRIES_DEFAULT_NON_US_GRADE_CONTEXT: Record<string, GradeContexts> = {
+  AND: GradeContexts.FR,
+  ATF: GradeContexts.FR,
+  AUS: GradeContexts.AU,
+  AUT: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  AZE: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  BEL: GradeContexts.FR,
+  BGR: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  BIH: GradeContexts.FR,
+  BLR: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  BRA: GradeContexts.BRZ,
+  BWA: GradeContexts.SA,
+  CHE: GradeContexts.FR,
+  CUB: GradeContexts.FR,
+  CZE: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  DEU: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  DNK: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  EGY: GradeContexts.FR,
+  ESP: GradeContexts.FR,
+  EST: GradeContexts.FR,
+  FIN: GradeContexts.FIN,
+  FRA: GradeContexts.FR,
+  GBR: GradeContexts.UK,
+  GRC: GradeContexts.FR,
+  GUF: GradeContexts.FR,
+  HKG: GradeContexts.HK,
+  HRV: GradeContexts.FR,
+  HUN: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  IOT: GradeContexts.UK,
+  IRL: GradeContexts.UK,
+  ITA: GradeContexts.FR,
+  JEY: GradeContexts.UK,
+  JOR: GradeContexts.FR,
+  KEN: GradeContexts.UK,
+  KGZ: GradeContexts.FR,
+  LAO: GradeContexts.FR,
+  LIE: GradeContexts.FR,
+  LSO: GradeContexts.SA,
+  LTU: GradeContexts.FR,
+  LUX: GradeContexts.FR,
+  LVA: GradeContexts.FR,
+  MAR: GradeContexts.FR,
+  MCO: GradeContexts.FR,
+  MDA: GradeContexts.FR,
+  MDG: GradeContexts.FR,
+  MKD: GradeContexts.FR,
+  MLT: GradeContexts.FR,
+  MNE: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  MYS: GradeContexts.FR,
+  NAM: GradeContexts.SA,
+  NCL: GradeContexts.FR,
+  NLD: GradeContexts.FR,
+  NOR: GradeContexts.NWG,
+  NZL: GradeContexts.AU,
+  PER: GradeContexts.FR,
+  PNG: GradeContexts.AU,
+  POL: GradeContexts.POL,
+  PRT: GradeContexts.FR,
+  PYF: GradeContexts.FR,
+  ROU: GradeContexts.FR,
+  RUS: GradeContexts.FR,
+  SGP: GradeContexts.FR,
+  SRB: GradeContexts.FR,
+  SVK: GradeContexts.UIAA,
+  SVN: GradeContexts.FR,
+  SWE: GradeContexts.SWE,
+  THA: GradeContexts.FR,
+  TON: GradeContexts.AU,
+  TUN: GradeContexts.FR,
+  TUR: GradeContexts.FR,
+  UGA: GradeContexts.SA,
+  UKR: GradeContexts.FR,
+  VNM: GradeContexts.FR,
+  ZAF: GradeContexts.SA
+}
+
+/**
+ *
+ * @returns all countries with their default grade context
+ */
+export const getCountriesDefaultGradeContext = (): { [x: string]: GradeContexts } => {
+  const countries = { ...COUNTRIES_DEFAULT_NON_US_GRADE_CONTEXT }
+  for (const alpha3Code in isoCountries.getAlpha3Codes()) {
+    // Any country not found will have a US Grade Context
+    if (!(alpha3Code in countries)) {
+      countries[alpha3Code] = GradeContexts.US
+    }
+  }
+  return countries
+}
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 83b25c8..1a01cc8 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 import { GradeScales, GradeScalesTypes } from './GradeScale'
 import {
   getScale,
@@ -10,6 +9,8 @@ import {
 import { GradeBands, GradeBandTypes } from './GradeBands'
 import { AI, Aid, Ewbank, Font, French, Norwegian, Saxon, UIAA, VScale, WI, YosemiteDecimal } from './scales'
 
+import { GradeContexts, gradeContextToGradeScales, getCountriesDefaultGradeContext } from './GradeContexts'
+
 // Free Climbing Grades
 // YDS
 // French
@@ -313,3 +314,5 @@ export {
   WI,
   YosemiteDecimal
 }
+
+export { GradeContexts, gradeContextToGradeScales, getCountriesDefaultGradeContext }
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index a9b5773..1ca8ca4 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -3263,6 +3263,11 @@ detect-newline@^3.0.0:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/detect-newline/-/detect-newline-3.1.0.tgz#576f5dfc63ae1a192ff192d8ad3af6308991b651"
   integrity sha512-TLz+x/vEXm/Y7P7wn1EJFNLxYpUD4TgMosxY6fAVJUnJMbupHBOncxyWUG9OpTaH9EBD7uFI5LfEgmMOc54DsA==
 
+diacritics@1.3.0:
+  version "1.3.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/diacritics/-/diacritics-1.3.0.tgz#3efa87323ebb863e6696cebb0082d48ff3d6f7a1"
+  integrity sha512-wlwEkqcsaxvPJML+rDh/2iS824jbREk6DUMUKkEaSlxdYHeS43cClJtsWglvw2RfeXGm6ohKDqsXteJ5sP5enA==
+
 diff-sequences@^25.2.6:
   version "25.2.6"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/diff-sequences/-/diff-sequences-25.2.6.tgz#5f467c00edd35352b7bca46d7927d60e687a76dd"
@@ -4638,6 +4643,13 @@ husky@^7.0.4:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/husky/-/husky-7.0.4.tgz#242048245dc49c8fb1bf0cc7cfb98dd722531535"
   integrity sha512-vbaCKN2QLtP/vD4yvs6iz6hBEo6wkSzs8HpRah1Z6aGmF2KW5PdYuAd7uX5a+OyBZHBhd+TFLqgjUgytQr4RvQ==
 
+i18n-iso-countries@^7.6.0:
+  version "7.6.0"
+  resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/i18n-iso-countries/-/i18n-iso-countries-7.6.0.tgz#4e2eac7043210a5552e7fd116b74d4f36a90b960"
+  integrity sha512-HPKjOUKS0BkjiY4ayrsuFbu7Ock++pXLs+FAOYl4WfTL5L0ploEH68fiRAP6Zev5g/jvMFt54KcPGJcb942wbg==
+  dependencies:
+    diacritics "1.3.0"
+
 iconv-lite@0.4.24, iconv-lite@^0.4.24:
   version "0.4.24"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/iconv-lite/-/iconv-lite-0.4.24.tgz#2022b4b25fbddc21d2f524974a474aafe733908b"
@@ -8374,7 +8386,7 @@ typescript@^3.7.3:
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/typescript/-/typescript-3.9.10.tgz#70f3910ac7a51ed6bef79da7800690b19bf778b8"
   integrity sha512-w6fIxVE/H1PkLKcCPsFqKE7Kv7QUwhU8qQY2MueZXWx5cPZdwFupLgKK3vntcK98BtNHZtAF4LA/yl2a7k8R6Q==
 
-typescript@^4.5.5:
+typescript@^4.9.5:
   version "4.9.5"
   resolved "https://registry.yarnpkg.com/typescript/-/typescript-4.9.5.tgz#095979f9bcc0d09da324d58d03ce8f8374cbe65a"
   integrity sha512-1FXk9E2Hm+QzZQ7z+McJiHL4NW1F2EzMu9Nq9i3zAaGqibafqYwCVU6WyWAuyQRRzOlxou8xZSyXLEN8oKj24g==