I wasn't tempted! The crux was hard and we moved cautiously across this pitch, much easier but somewhat runout.

This daft pic taken in 1995 36 years after our on sight ground up FA in 1959 ..A lot of moss was on second pitch. Much cleaner in the 1990's

Lets say the Borrowdale ethic imposed on me be Pete Greenwood was the description of the "First Ascent" had to mention every piece of aid etc that was used on that day. You could not go back later and improve the route with less pegs etc that would be a second ascent.These climbs such as Rigor were done on sight ground up ..the second pitch that I had to use some aid had some loose rock and the final groove section was moss covered .However in this era of the 50's/60's this ethic was I believe not always used by other climbers ..more so in the Langdale area.

I did Rigor Mortis in the mid-70s. All three of us found it hard. Having done many first ascents since, I've now got a much greater appreciation of how harrowing first ascents can be - moss, vegetation, loose rock, "Where the hell do I go?" A 'ground-up' (as we now call it) ethic meant that, back then, it was almost certain that first ascentionists would be forced into using aid. I'm surprised that (far) more aid wasn't used in the creation of great routes such as this - which triumphantly stand the passage of time.

Thanks Mick.. Its been a long journey