Paul Pritchard

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First ascent.

Paul is credited with the second ascent in Dawes's autobiography.

References

[1] https://dmmwales.com/blogs/ambassadors/paul-pritchard

First ascent. With Johnny Dawes.

References

[1] Mountain Issue 112, page 18 /library/11111/mountain-112

First ascent.

First ascent.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=117802753009944&set=a.117799293010290

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=117802933009926&set=a.117799293010290

First ascent.

References

[1] Mountain Issue 112, page 18 /library/11111/mountain-112

First ascent. With Trevor Hodgson.

First ascent.

First ascent.

I was drinking whisky in the Padarn Lake Hotel with Gwion Hughes, who I was living with at the time, when suddenly I had a smart idea. ‘I have an excellent new climb to do. Why don’t we go climbing?’ The pair of us swayed and staggered up to the vast Rainbow Slab. The climb I had seen was a long hairline fracture splitting the left side of the slab. And I had the misguided notion to climb it on sight, without pre-inspection from a rope – and a little bit intoxicated. I threw a string of micro-wires, tiny brass-headed nuts, in the seam, without the least regard for my safety. The climbing was really quite difficult and became increasingly so. Nevertheless, I carried on with scant regard for my personal safety. I still remember attempting to pull on a depression into which you could place flat a fifty-pence piece: a strange, white pocket in a sea of blue-grey slate. I studied it for what seemed like an eternity and searched for my next hold. My shoe edges were set on mere ripples in the featureless slab. I began to slip and then accelerated down the slab, taking a twenty-five-metre fall. The rope burned through the lycra behind my knee. I came to a halt inches from the ground. [1]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CjvzOT-Shsf/

First ascent.

Only one runner, a sling once past the the rather tricky crux (above the frame of the photo). I used a rope so that if I did fall off and went unconcious (I had heard that hitting still water could be like hitting concrete), Nick would have been able to pull me out on the rope and save me.

Even so I recall giving Nick a rock which, in the event I should fall, he was to throw it in the pool to break the surface tension! [1]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DKgY5ntT6-r/

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/esgair_maen_gwyn_scimitar_ridge-706/king_wad-3775

First ascent. With Nick Dixon.

First ascent. With Johnny Dawes.

First ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

Second ascent.

First ascent.

First ascent.

Paul's first new route in 26 years!

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_n7B8E6kM