UKC

I first went to the Pass early in 1959 when I was a V Diff climber and of course we headed to the Cromlech to do Spiral Stairs. We looked up at the Corner and it just looked impossible. Other climbers first impresssions may be different as they had maybe reached a good standard in other areas before looking at the Corner.
I subsequently led it five times, the first time being in June 1961 with Mo Anthoine. I have done harder climbs and ones that I enjoyed more, but I still think it to be the definitive Welsh extreme with such a great history. What climber can drive down the Pass without looking up and being impressed ?

Great Ian! I remember it made the same impression on me a decade later, when I first went up there. I wonder if you ever glanced across the walls either side and wondered...

Not likely Jon - I wouldn't even have known that Left Wall was a climb. Despite my initial impression of Cenotaph it was actualy the second extreme that I ever led, the first being Slape Direct.

Ian, I well remember driving you up to LLanberis Pass
in my old Austin 8HP Tourer about 1958. Even then you were determined to climb Cenotaph Corner and made a few vain attempts. You also coerced me to climb The Flying Buttress with a colleague leading me on a very exposed climb which was my very first!! I wore old plimsolls and seemed to be attached with a very flimsy rope. Peeling off was not considered when using such basic gear!!!!

Hello Dave - sorry to say that "Flying Buttress" is probably the easiest climb on that side of the pass !
The "colleague" was Harry Richards.