Monoblock | 8A Boulder problem at Pex Hill Quarry

UKClimbing.com

The peak of old school, vert micro crimping? One of the hardest problems in the UK when it was established and rarely repeated to this day.

Contributors: remus

Pics + Vids

James Pearson
Added at 21:01 on 24 January 2022

Ascents

6 recorded ascents.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Joe Healey Boulder | worked 1985
First ascent.

A very impressive ascent for it's time, one of the hardest pieces of climbing in the country.

Date is a guess based on Andy Popp suggesting it was done in the "mid to late eighties" [1] and another suggestion it was 1985 [2].

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,8692.msg135431.html#msg135431

[2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,8692.msg204230.html#msg204230

Phil Davidson Boulder | worked 1985
Second ascent.

A week or so after the first ascent.

I did repeat Monoblock numerous times over the years but now look at it in complete disbelief; the route is rarely climbed and has had just three ascenionists [as of ~2007]. [3]

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rocktalk/pex_hill_question-205344?v=1#x3001358

[2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,8692.msg653394.html#msg653394

[3] Cheshire and Merseyside Sandstone 2012, The BMC

Andy Popp Boulder | worked 2001
Mike Adams Boulder | worked 17th Feb 2008
Pete Chadwick Top Rope | worked
James Pearson Boulder | worked