UKC

Lower Cove Comes of Age With New E7 & E8

© Craig Hiller
The superb and steep granite outcrop of Lower Cove in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland now has four 3* routes of E7 and above.

Active local climber Ricky Bell has recently added The Dark Crystal (E7 6c) and Sleezy Lover (E8 6c) to an already action packed crag.

Back in 2008 Ricky Bell teamed up with Sean Villanueva and Andy Marshall to climb a 3* E7 called Rokkenjager. Marshall returned later that year to add Easy Lover (E7) and then this spring Bell plugged the remaining gaps with his new E7 and E8.

Sleazy Lover (E8 6c) is described on the mournesclimbers.com website as "A perfect example of what the East Face of Lower Cove has best to offer. Steep bouldery climbing with a safe feel."

Lower Cove, Mountains of Mourne  © www.hillerscapes.co.uk
Lower Cove, Mountains of Mourne
Craig Hiller/Hillerscapes
© www.hillerscapes.co.uk
Ricky Bell  © Jack Geldard 2009
Ricky Bell
Jack Geldard, Jul 2009
© Jack Geldard 2009

Ricky Bell is sponsored by Marmot , Scarpa and Zero-G Climbing


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27 May, 2010
27 May, 2010
I just thought the rope looked a bit slack but perhaps it's steep enough, high enough and the gear good enough, not to matter.
27 May, 2010
The gear is about half way between the ground and him. If you read the route description he is on easier climbing here. I don't think the rope would be so slack if the belayer didn't know he'd done the crux. Good effort like!
27 May, 2010
27 May, 2010
http://www.mournesclimbers.com/modules.php?name=News Yeah, better photo but I'd still say a fall from his current position would put him pretty near the deck.
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