Peter Harding

en.wikipedia.org | ukclimbing.com

Quick Info

From: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Gender: Male
Hardest Trad (Worked): E3
Notable Partnerships
Tony Moulam
Veronica Lee
Ernest Phillips

Harding had a brief but influential spell at the cutting edge of UK climbing in the years immediately post world war two. Armed with improved ex-military gear, including the first nylon dynamic ropes, he was responsible for a small number of hard-for-the time classic routes on peak gritstone and in North Wales. He was an engineer by trade and this, along with climbing in the eastern Alps and availability of army surplus hardware, made him more receptive to the use of pitons than his pre-war counterparts. Harding was noted for his proficiency at hand jamming although it seems unlikely that he originated this technique as some of his contemporaries suggested.

### References

[1] https://rucksackclub.org/2023/04/14/a-dip-into-the-club-journals-from-1993-just-a-bit-difficult-by-peter-harding/?doing_wp_cron=1768307556.0177059173583984375000

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/dec/19/mainsection.obituaries

Contributors
48 contributions since 13th January 2026.
26 contributions since 30th August 2022.
TdG
14 contributions since 13th January 2026.

Quick Info

From: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Gender: Male
Hardest Trad (Worked): E3
Notable Partnerships
Tony Moulam
Veronica Lee
Ernest Phillips

Harding had a brief but influential spell at the cutting edge of UK climbing in the years immediately post world war two. Armed with improved ex-military gear, including the first nylon dynamic ropes, he was responsible for a small number of hard-for-the time classic routes on peak gritstone and in North Wales. He was an engineer by trade and this, along with climbing in the eastern Alps and availability of army surplus hardware, made him more receptive to the use of pitons than his pre-war counterparts. Harding was noted for his proficiency at hand jamming although it seems unlikely that he originated this technique as some of his contemporaries suggested.

### References

[1] https://rucksackclub.org/2023/04/14/a-dip-into-the-club-journals-from-1993-just-a-bit-difficult-by-peter-harding/?doing_wp_cron=1768307556.0177059173583984375000

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/dec/19/mainsection.obituaries

Contributors
48 contributions since 13th January 2026.
26 contributions since 30th August 2022.
TdG
14 contributions since 13th January 2026.

Library

Pics + Vids

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Ascents

8 recorded ascents.

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Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Demon Rib E3 Lead | worked 1949
First ascent.
Promontory Traverse E1 Lead 16th Jul 1945
First ascent. With Tony Moulam.

Turned back by the first hard section at 20'.

References

[1] https://climbing-history.org/list/36/hard-rock
First ascent. With Ernest Phillips. 2 points of aid.

The second of the three big corners of Dinas Cromlech to be climbed. Prone to dampness and vegetation, it was cleaned from abseil prior to the first ascent, an unusual practice for the time.

Operation Garden was commenced on Ivy Sepulchre, PJRH abseiling down complete with trowel etc. The top 60' were found to be climbable, involving an all-in wrestling match with a rotten holly tree which, despite its age, still knows how to deal with would-be climbers.

References

[1] https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass
Suicide Wall HVS Alternate Leads 1946
First ascent. With Veronica Lee.

References

[1] Graham Hoey, Geoff Millburn Stanage 1989
First ascent.

References

[1] https://rucksackclub.org/2023/04/14/a-dip-into-the-club-journals-from-1993-just-a-bit-difficult-by-peter-harding/
Valkyerie VS Lead 1946
First ascent.
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade