Badge Wall

Badge Wall topo

The crag now reappears again after a large grassy ramp and some poor rock. This area through the Nemesis Wall is probably the most impressive bit of rock on the crag.

1. Digitron (E2 5c) ★★★
Superb climbing with the crux towards the top. Start 5m left of a steep and rounded gray arête. Straightforward climbing on the lower wall, PR, gains a small tree slightly to the right. Continue straight up past a second PR to a short slab and faint crack in a bulge, PR. Pull over this and pass to the right of the next overlap to reach a break on the rib. Magnificent climbing slightly leftwards gains a flake, PR, and a tricky move to gain easier ground leading to the top.

2. Heaven or Hell (E5 6b) ★★★
Another classic pitch well worth seeking out. If combined with Digitron gives a brilliant E5 6a. Start just right of the impressive rounded gray rib. Climb the vague pocketed ramp and make a series of blind moves leftwards, BR, to reach a good hold at the base of a tiny groove. Stand up and pull out onto the arête, which is climbed on its right-hand side to a break (junction with Digitron). Step right and surmount the bulge rightwards, BR, move back left onto the slab and a junction with Digitron at its crux.

3. Beta Beware (6c+) ★
A short intense affair through a difficult series of overlaps to an easier wall and tree belay.

4. Omegod (6c+)
gain the prominent flake from below and exit it rightwards and over a small overlap onto the wall above. The superb blunt rib above leads to the belay.

5. Alpha Track Etch (7b) ★★
A very touch pitch with some good climbing throughout. It climbs the front face of the broad rounded buttress with a smattering of bolt runners and plenty of technical climbing. Some Friends/wires may be required before the first BR.

6. Delta Force (6c+) ★★
The right arête of the face gives an excellent face climb with sustained but reasonable climbing to an intricate and fingery finale on the superb final bulge.

7. Badge (E1 5c, 4c)
A poor route. Start 4m right of Alpha Track Etc.

  1. 20m Pass an overhang, PR, to reach a groove and follow this, PR, to reach a scoop and belay.
  2. 12m Finish via the scoop, exiting left below a bulge via a wall.

8. Keeping Secrets (E5 6c) ★
Begin at a slightly higher level. Good climbing but tough at the crux. From a small tree, stand up and enter a shallow scoop, PR, to reach better holds. Climb the flake on the left pas a thin break, PR, to reach a V-shaped groove. Swing out left to exit via a lichen-flecked wall.

9. Walls Have Ears (7b+) ★
Start 5m right again. Climb a faint flake and bulge to a good ledge. The finish through the hanging scoop gives a hard sequence with a very reachy clip.

10. Scary Fairy (E3 5c, 5b)
Start below an obvious flake further right.

  1. 12m
    Gain the flake by strenuous moves and follow it steeply to a cave belay.
    1. 17m
      Move left to a junction with Keeping Secrets at the V-shaped groove and finish up it.

11. Ten (7c) ★★
A brilliant pitch up the fine wall and impressive large bulge right of Scary Fairy. Straightforward, relatively, to the bulge where the interest begins in a sequence of powerful and demanding moves.

12. When I was a Viking (6b)
An easy but pleasant lower wall leads to fine climbing above the ledge.

13. Ravenous (6b)
An easy lower wall to fine upper section via flakes and cracks.