All Locations > Kentucky > Red River Gorge > (BRRP) Bald Roc… > Motherlode > (1) Buckeye Buttress

Ball Scratcher

Name: Ball Scratcher
Rating: 3.3

5.12a YDS 7a+ French 25 Ewbanks VIII+ UIAA 25 ZA E5 6a British

Routes in (1) Buckeye Buttress

L › R R › L A › Z

	Ball Scratcher S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Buff the Wood S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Chronic, The S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Cream Machine, The S 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
	Golden Touch S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Heart Shaped Box S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Leftomaniac S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	One-Eyed Willy Up the Back S 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Overdrive T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Reacharound, The S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Rug Muncher! S 5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
	Stain S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Trad Sucker S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Twisted S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c

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Type:	Sport, 50 ft (15 m)
GPS:	37.64595, -83.71153
FA:	Jeff Moll, 1994
Page Views:	4,070 total · 20/month
Shared By:	Monomaniac on Nov 11, 2009
Admins:	Shirtless Mike, DrRockso RRG, Luke Cornejo, Billy Simek Page Updates (admin only)

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Explore this route in 3D

Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Access Issue: Private Property Details

In 2011, the Ventura Family (owner of Miguel’s Pizza) purchased the land above the cliff line, and the RRGCC’s 2017 purchase of the land beneath the cliff line and the surrounding areas ensures that the Motherlode, Chocolate Factory, and southeastern end of Sore Heel are climber-owned.

Description

Looking for something a little different? This route will test your balance & footwork more than your fitness. The technical prow requires patience and focus, not the typical bulging forearms found elsewhere along these cliffs. For this reason, this route is a poor warmup (except maybe for other weirdness like Swahili Slang) but it can offer some entertainment after The Undertow Wall has worked you over.

Begin with easy stemming up the dirty, mossy gulley. Move left onto the prow, and work between the horizontal breaks with long reaches and highsteps. Look left for the occasional sharp, incut edge. The right side of the arete will provide sloping sidepulls at a few key moments. The sustained nature of the climbing will keep you on your toes, and the stingy bolting will keep you focused.

Location

The next route right of "Heart-Shaped Box", on the far left end of The Motherlode. The route climbs a low-angle, blunt prow at the point where the left-side approach trail first meets the cliff.