Ben Moon, born on June 13, 1966, is a renowned English rock climber who, alongside his partner Jerry Moffatt, pushed the boundaries of difficulty in the late 1980s and early 1990s, both in England and globally.
Ben's introduction to rock climbing occurred during a family trip to Derbyshire, where he instantly recognized his affinity for the sport. He frequently climbed the cliffs in the area with his brother, utilizing an old rope, homemade jammers, and a single carabiner.
At the age of seventeen, Ben left for Wales, hitchhiking and stumbling upon the cliffs of Pen Trwyn, where he met his idols, Andy Pollit, Jerry Moffatt, and Martin Atkinson. He was captivated by the atmosphere, observing friends engaging in a permanent competition to climb the most extreme routes in a new style, characterized by the use of expansion pitons.
During weekends, Ben would stay with his newfound friends at the Parcelese cave, a dingy, goat-smelling lair, where they would feast on sandwiches, grilled potatoes, and beans. His performance significantly improved, and he progressed from E3 to E5 7. Ben's passion for climbing traditional routes, such as the Right Wall, grew, but he became increasingly drawn to extreme difficulties.
Ben Moon made history by becoming the first person to climb an 8c+, Hubble route, at Raven Tor. At the time, Hubble was the hardest route in the world, featuring a crux equivalent to an 8B block. Ben is particularly known for his openings of short, power-intensive routes.
In France, Ben opened the first 8c, succeeding routes that local climbers had failed to solve. He named these routes after French military defeats, such as Maginot Line and Azincourt.
Forty-nine years young in 2015, Ben Moon made the fourth ascent of Rainshadow (9a) at Malham Cove.
