30th March 2025 @ Stony Edge, 7A+ (7A-7A+)

No beta. I’d climbed it several times on a couple of sessions before this, so you’re seeing something that’s quite well practiced, maybe the 8th or so time I’d done it?

I climbed this in 2024 and went back to get another clip of it for the video. It’s included mainly because I like the moves, I figured it out for myself, and maybe a bit because of the “headline” grade. I did think it was a bit soft, and checked with the first ascensionist, Robin Müller, in case I’d done anything wrong and cheated it. He mentioned that he’d been told the grade might be a bit soft, and perhaps he had climbed it badly at the time. He didn’t point out anything I did which wasn’t allowed.

How soft is it? Well I repeated several times in 2025 in a couple of sessions and didn’t ever fail to get to the top. Maybe that’s because it suits me extremely well. It’s all open handed holds, a couple of fairly powerful upward moves, and then some funny pressing. All are right up my street. It’s probably the easiest 7A+ I’ve ever climbed inside or out. I find Molly The Moocher, to the right, harder at 7A. So is Baby Bouncer at 6C+, and Do Like Zoidberg at 6C+. But again, those suit me a little less, so it’s difficult for me to say anything solid.

Anyway, I like this one! The opening moves are fun and a little powerful, and the press to finish I found was very satisfying to figure out and execute, dropping the right hand all the way back to the start hold. I imagine it’s the kind of move that’s easily missed. Here it makes a huge difference. The climb definitely suits its name!