Climbs

A hard slab at Coopers Rock, West Virginia. Gritstone!

The jewel in the crown, and for some time the hardest boulder problem on the Culm coast, went to Simon Young when he climbed the obvious line on the low cave just north of the hotel, which was initially spotted by Quinn. A few sessions of work and the brutally powerful and technical steep arête of Ache Ball was born. This saw early repeats from Stu Littlefair and Rob Sutton who confirmed the 8A grade and quality, leading to it becoming the problem of the crag, and one that visiting climbers sought out.

When James Pearson and Keith Bradbury made a visit in 2005 Pearson took advantage of a very low beach and added a low start, naming it “Aching Balls”. Controversially, the pair suggested that this rated 7C+, and the original around 7C. Since then, more repeats have meant that the grade of Ache Ball has settled around 7C+. [1]

Over the years, hold breakages have left the boulder no longer climbable.

References

[1] https://javu.co.uk/Climbing/Guides/HartlandBouldering/Hartland_Miniguide_v3web.pdf

Hazel Findlay:

[I] thought the Adder Crack was [a good name], because it's like a less cool, less bad-ass, thinner, slightly venomous, more British version of the Cobra Crack. [1]

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2012/09/adder_crack_513_r_fa_by_hazel_findlay-67473