| From: | United Kingdom π¬π§ |
| Resident: | USA πΊπΈ |
| Date of birth: | 29th September 1998 |
| Age: | 27 years old |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 175 cm |
| Hardest Boulder (Worked): | 9A |
| Hardest Boulder (Flash): | 8B+ |
| Hardest Sport (Worked): | 8c |
| Notable Partnerships | |
| Sam Lawson | |
| Jim Pope | |
| Sam Prior | |
| Will Bosi | |
| Dan Varian | |
| Katie Lamb | |
Aidan Roberts is a climber from the UK. He grew up in the Lake District and was mentored by the prolific developer Dan Varian.
He started out doing competitions but has more recently moved on to establishing and repeating some of the hardest boulder problems both in the UK and overseas. His problem Superpowers in the Lake District is widely considered the UK's first 8C+. As well as being the first Brit to climb 8C+, he was also the first to climb 9A with his repeat of Shawn Raboutou's Alphane in Chironico.
2024 was a particularly good year for Aidan, with him establishing first ascents of his two hardest projects to date - Spots of Time and Arrival of the Birds, both at 9A/V17. Aidan described Arrival as extremely close to his limit while still being in his style. This has led many to speculate that it could sit at the very top end of the grade.
In September 2024, Aidan made the spontaneous decision to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. He spent multiple months travelling by sea to South America before continuing north by public transport all the way to California. As the winter of 2024/25 arrived, Aidan made his way to Yosemite, and barely left the valley for the entire winter.
In Yosemite, he sent a handful of hard problems such as The Dark Side and Rhythm and Reason. However, Aidan was most motivated by some potentially next-level projects, notably the Six Degrees Project.
Although he had only planned to visit the US for a year, he has since decided to settle in California and pursue his Yosemite projects. Outside of climbing, Aidan co-hosts the Careless Talk Climbing Podcast with Sam Prior.
[1] Interview with BMC, 2015 (archive) https://web.archive.org/web/20240915201832/https://services.thebmc.co.uk/aidan-roberts-interview
[2] Interview with Simon Lee for UKBouldering.com, October 2016 https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,27531.msg535750.html#msg535750
[3] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/06/aidan_roberts_on_a_winter_in_yosemite-73991
126 recorded ascents.
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freakshow Third ascent. | 8c | Lead | worked | Between 16th Aug 2015 and 1st Jan 2016 | |
References |
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| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Degrees Project | 9A+ (approx) | Boulder | did not finish | After 1st Jan 2024 | |
| Alphane Second ascent. | 9A | Boulder | worked | 19th Oct 2022 | |
|
With this ascent Aidan became the first British climber to boulder 9A. References[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IjWe3MH6z0HgMcC0Bj8rv? [2] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj7QrO8DFbv/ [3] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VYpy4XrjJHAjzjKR8i88I?R5yG3Q&utm_source=copy-link |
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| Spots of Time First ascent. Around 35 sessions. | 9A | Boulder | worked | Feb 2024 | 9A |
|
10 sessions just to do the individual moves.
References[1] Helvellyn Project - Close Attempt [2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-lakes-for-100865896 [3] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cHKL3jWvp8A4QcZ1LS0YM? [5] https://www.instagram.com/p/C7T3Lh5Ng2x/ |
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| Arrival of the Birds First ascent. | 9A | Boulder | worked | Mar 2024 | 9A |
|
Aidan got tantalisingly close in 2023, dropping one of the last droppable moves. Coming back in 2024 he was able to open the problem from a more obvious starting position a few moves lower than where he was trying it in 2023 which adds a few hard moves.
Aidan said it felt harder than Alphane for him. References[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cHKL3jWvp8A4QcZ1LS0YM [2] Footage from the close attempt in 2023, from the higher start https://youtu.be/fdChDa78tU4?t=621 [3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-close-go-83500270 [4] https://open.spotify.com/episode/5W9M6ROWRu6DX2Sq8egI07? |
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| Mount Doom | 9A | Boulder | did not finish | 2025 | |
References |
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| Superpowers First ascent. | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | 11th Sep 2020 | 8C/8C+ |
|
On the grade:
References[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=1585 [2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,30855.msg667821.html#msg667821 |
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| Isles of Wonder SDS First ascent. | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | Jul 2022 | 8C+ |
| Vecchio Leone SDS First ascent. | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | Nov 2022 | |
| The Dark Side Second ascent. | 8C+ | Boulder | worked | 5th Jan 2025 | |
References[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/6pqXiXE8vgdQ04bSgI7EBO [2] Footage from a previous close attempt https://www.patreon.com/posts/good-old-punt-on-119442914 |
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| Monkey Wedding | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2018 | |
References |
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| Railway First ascent. 2 sessions. | 8C | Boulder | worked | Jun 2019 | 8C |
| Tranquilitas First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 12th Sep 2020 | |
References |
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| Leopold Von Pooch First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | Nov 2021 | |
| Silent Singer First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 23rd Feb 2022 | |
References |
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| Everything the Light Touches First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 17th Mar 2022 | 8C/8C+ |
References |
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| Forgotten Gem Second ascent. 1 session. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 19th Mar 2022 | |
| Foundation's Edge | 8C | Boulder | did not finish | May 2022 | |
|
Aidan was very close on the flash. He cut loose mid way and had a minor dab, then dry fired off one of the last hard moves. He then basically did it second go but slipped off the easy, wet top out. |
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| Child of Hell | 8C | Boulder | worked | 23rd Oct 2022 | |
| Swiss Air | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
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| Peace Corps | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
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| Shadow Women First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
References |
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| Shallow Waters First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 30th Jan 2023 | |
References |
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| Unison First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | Feb 2023 | |
References |
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| The Lion's Share First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | Between 18th Feb 2023 and 9th Mar 2023 | 8C/8C+ |
| Right Hand Man First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | Aug 2023 | 8C (hard) |
References[1] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53189109753/in/photostream/ [2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188741196/in/photostream/ [3] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188940715/in/photostream/ [4] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53189110008/in/photostream/ [5] https://www.instagram.com/p/C2kc6ytt2FN/ |
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| A Long Way for a Little Guy First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2024 | 8C |
| The Origin SDS Second ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2024 | 8C (hard) |
| Poseidon's Wrath Second ascent. 2 sessions. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2024 | |
|
Aidan was close to the flash of this boulder, however his foot slipped on the 7C+ high start moves on the boulder due to a wet foot. References |
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| Trance Second ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 5th Jul 2024 | |
| Scaredy Cat First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 2025 | |
References |
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| Rhythm and Reason First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | Between 1st Jan 2025 and 5th Jun 2025 | 8C/8C+ |
|
Aidan describes the holds as some of the worst he has ever climbed on. |
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| Rythm and Reason First ascent. | 8C | Boulder | worked | 8C/8C+ | |
References |
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| Traci Lords SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2016 | |
| Amandla Third go. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2018 | |
References |
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| Bloody Mary Second ascent? | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Jul 2018 | |
References |
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| Oliphant's Dawn Third go. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 15th Jul 2018 | |
References |
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| Skadoosh First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2018 | 8B/8B+ |
References |
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| Jade Third go. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Jun 2019 | |
References |
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| Ode to the Modern Man | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 19th Jun 2019 | |
References |
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| Copperline First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
References |
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| Bewilderness | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
|
Also ticked Dandelion Mind and Badger Badger Badger in the same session. References |
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| Superman SDS | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 31st Aug 2020 | |
| Little Women | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2021 | 8B+ |
|
While working the problem a hold came off making the problem harder. References |
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| The Origin Third ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | 8B+ |
References |
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| Home SDS First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2021 | |
References |
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| Truffles On Bicycles First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Dec 2021 | |
| Hazel Grace | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2022 | |
References |
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| Crescendo | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2022 | |
References |
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| Sit Propera First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 11th Jan 2022 | |
| Squalo Bianco | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Mar 2022 | |
References |
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| Compass North | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Apr 2022 | |
|
Aidan was close on the flash go, falling on the final move to the lip. References |
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| Raggamuffin First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 14th Jun 2022 | 8C |
| Gaston LeGume First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | 8B+ |
References |
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| The Innocent Man Second ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2023 | |
| Ninjutsu | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Between 8th Feb 2023 and 1st Jan 2024 | |
References |
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| Momentum | 8B+ | Boulder | flash | Apr 2023 | |
References |
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| Off the Wagon | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Apr 2023 | |
|
The same day as flashing Momentum 8B+! |
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| Last Wave Goodbye Second ascent? | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Between 1st Aug 2023 and 12th Sep 2023 | |
References |
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| Bilateral First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 15th Aug 2023 | |
| The Rookery | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2024 | |
| Tempest in a Teapot Third ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2024 | |
References |
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| Afterlife First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
References |
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| Bob Ross First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
References |
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| Valhalla First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
References |
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| Tunnel Full of Goats First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
References |
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| Tartarus First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | Before 3rd Oct 2024 | |
References |
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| Break of Room First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2025 | |
References |
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| Slime and Reason First ascent. | 8B+ | Boulder | worked | 2025 | 8B+/8C |
References |
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| BΓΌgeleisen | 8B+ | Boulder | flash | Between 13th Oct 2025 and 23rd Oct 2025 | |
| Retaliation First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2016 | |
| Master Key | 8B | Boulder | flash | 1st Aug 2018 | |
References |
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| Shallow Groove Third ascent. 1 session. | 8B | Boulder | worked | May 2020 | 8B+ |
| Ebbing the Flow First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2020 | |
References |
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| Seat at the Table First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | |
References |
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| Outliers First ascent. | 8B (approx) | Boulder | worked | Aug 2020 | 8C |
|
Rounded off the session by repeating Isla de Encanta and Shallow Groove! References[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2020/08/aidan_roberts_climbs_new_font_8c_at_trowbarrow-72461 |
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| The Ace | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2021 | |
References |
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| Isles of Wonder | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2021 | |
| Hustled SDS First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Paper Birds Low | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Wedgie Wall | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Dead and Bloated | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2021 | |
| Out of Shadows First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
References |
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| Back for Seconds First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
References |
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| Slim Pickings First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
References |
||||
| Rocking Spectre | 8B | Boulder | worked | Aug 2021 | |
References |
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| Flipnic in to the Crack First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 5th Jan 2022 | 8B |
| XXXS First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 8th Feb 2022 | |
| Vecchio Leone | 8B | Boulder | flash | 3rd Mar 2022 | |
References |
||||
| Ragga First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 21st May 2022 | |
References |
||||
| Muffin Top First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 24th May 2022 | |
References |
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| Madame Allure Second ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jul 2022 | |
| Stairway to Heaven | 8B | Boulder | worked | 23rd Oct 2022 | |
|
Pinky Perky Indoor |
8B | Boulder | worked | 11th Dec 2022 | |
|
Perky Pinky Indoor |
8B | Boulder | worked | 11th Dec 2022 | |
| High Fidelity 1 session. | 8B | Boulder | ground up | Feb 2023 | |
|
Aidan's first problem on Yorkshire gritstone. References |
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| Travellin' Man First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Before 24th Mar 2023 | |
| Low Standards First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 18th Aug 2023 | |
| The Diamond Inspector Second ascent? | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2024 | |
References |
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| Ramped Up Second ascent? | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2024 | |
References |
||||
| Pill Box Wall | 8B (approx) | Boulder | did not finish | 2024 | |
References[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/trying-worlds-8a-107179471 |
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| Ted's Roof First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2024 | |
References |
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| Hell is Empty and All the Devils Are Here First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2024 | 8B/8B+ |
| A Reason to Live Second ascent? | 8B | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
References |
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| Crepuscular Days First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
| House of Rats First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
References |
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| Climpit First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Jan 2025 | |
References |
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| Pride of Place First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | 2025 | |
References |
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| The Abattoir | 8B | Boulder | flash | 2025 | |
| Unraveled First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | Before 29th Oct 2025 | |
References |
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| Panic on Funkotron Second ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | ||
| Cold Snap | 8B | Boulder | worked | ||
| Ill Behaviour | 8B | Boulder | did not finish | ||
References |
||||
| Momentary Bliss First ascent. | 8B | Boulder | worked | ||
References |
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| Aneurin's Arete | 8B | Boulder | worked | 8B | |
References |
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| Villain Arc | 8B | Boulder | worked | ||
References |
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| Big Chief Second ascent? | 8B | Boulder | worked | ||
| Louis Armstrong | 8A+ | Boulder | worked | 31st Jul 2021 | |
References |
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| Crepuscular Days RH First ascent. | 8A+ | Boulder | worked | Sep 2024 | |
References |
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| Dominator | 8A+ | Boulder | worked | Mar 2025 | |
| Tsunami | 8A | Boulder | flash | 24th Oct 2016 | |
References |
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| Index Insurgency First ascent. | 8A | Boulder | worked | Before 1st Apr 2021 | |
References |
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| Sundial First ascent. | 8A | Boulder | worked | 2022 | |
| XXXR First ascent. | 8A | Boulder | worked | Before 1st Sep 2023 | |
| Zoo York | 8A | Boulder | flash | ||
| The Screaming Dream | 8A | Boulder | ground up | ||
References |
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| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|
| Climb | Grade | Style | Ascent Date | Suggested Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinky Perky | 8B | Boulder | worked | 11th Dec 2022 | |
| Perky Pinky | 8B | Boulder | worked | 11th Dec 2022 |