We retreated off the route eventually, moved over to 'Haste Not' (VS), retreated off that onto 'Slabs Route 1' (Severe), finally sacking it and abbing off, and down, squelchingly, to the ODG! 10/10 for effort! Happy days....

Given you 6 stars for being nuts trying!

I cannot quite believe that you tried this in those conditions, Laugh Not is known for the smooth low friction rock in the corner. MadProfessor is right!

Chapeau, sir. Chapeau!

I don't fancy that move at the top, where you traverse right, well not in those conditions!

I think anyone who has climbed this route can appreciate how comically inadequate a pair of socks over your boots are to facilitating an attempt at bridging, jamming and eventually laybacking that smooth corner in these conditions... Even the other two routes would be terrifying in the pi**ing wet.

I've climbed in conditions like this. It's kind of fun in a grim way. The worst though is not your feet slipping off, but the water running down your sleeves and then down your back

That's nuts, from my memory probably the route I've done in the lakes that is most dependant on friction

Interesting comments - thanks for the 6 stars and the chapeau! All I can say in response to the other comments is 'We wuz young' (and confident) half a century ago. And don't knock socks over boots!

He’s still as enthusiastic- an inspiration!!