TdG

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4 Weeks

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All Time

21410

Current Streak

13

Longest Streak

26

Contributions Map

Contributions by Country

Country Contributions Between Climbers Crags Summits Climbs Ascents
1 United Kingdom 10115 22nd May 2025 – 26th June 2026 106 13 0 547 986
2 France 3310 22nd May 2025 – 25th June 2026 30 13 0 166 318
3 USA 1660 30th July 2025 – 26th June 2026 24 56 0 156 82
4 Japan 1433 19th July 2025 – 23rd June 2026 14 25 0 98 70
5 Spain 314 31st July 2025 – 25th June 2026 3 9 0 33 13
6 New Zealand 210 19th August 2025 – 28th April 2026 1 1 0 15 13
7 Switzerland 194 31st July 2025 – 26th June 2026 2 5 0 20 12
8 Canada 146 10th September 2025 – 10th June 2026 1 8 0 23 2
9 Italy 146 12th August 2025 – 17th May 2026 1 7 0 16 6
10 Norway 126 6th September 2025 – 16th June 2026 1 4 0 9 6

Recent Contributions

Date Time User Type Name Attribute
21 26th June 2026 14:17:27 UTC TdG media https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gYVn7h43J/ missing_right_to_reproduce
Before
None
After
false
22 26th June 2026 14:17:27 UTC TdG ascent Alex Honnold's ascent of Passage to Freedom notes_pretty
Before
None
After
<h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gYVn7h43J/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gYVn7h43J/</a></p>
23 26th June 2026 14:17:27 UTC TdG ascent Alex Honnold's ascent of Passage to Freedom notes
Before
None
After
### References [1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gYVn7h43J/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gYVn7h43J/)
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -1 +1,3 @@

-
+### References
+
+[1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gYVn7h43J/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B4gYVn7h43J/)
24 26th June 2026 14:15:50 UTC TdG media https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/ missing_right_to_reproduce
Before
None
After
false
25 26th June 2026 14:15:50 UTC TdG media https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/ url
Before
None
After
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/
26 26th June 2026 14:15:50 UTC TdG ascent Tommy Caldwell's ascent of Passage to Freedom notes_pretty
Before
None
After
<h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/</a></p>
27 26th June 2026 14:15:50 UTC TdG ascent Tommy Caldwell's ascent of Passage to Freedom notes
Before
None
After
### References [1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/)
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -1 +1,3 @@

-
+### References
+
+[1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/](https://www.instagram.com/p/B4adtRCH33q/)
28 26th June 2026 14:15:06 UTC TdG climb Passage to Freedom notes_pretty
Before
<p>The first 11 pitches were established ground up by <a href="/climber/574/leo-houlding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leo Houlding</a>, but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later <a href="/climber/551/tommy-caldwell" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tommy Caldwell</a> and <a href="/climber/622/alex-honnold" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alex Honnold</a> worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. Alex and Tommy apparently some carrot bolts to protect some of the run-out pitches Leo had climbed. [2]</p> <p>In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible, in an aid bolt hole he bolted on an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by <a href="/climber/175/tim-emmett" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tim Emmett</a> when he worked as a sales rep. for <a href="https://dmmwales.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">DMM</a>) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line.</p> <p>Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/</a></p> <p>[2] <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4</a></p>
After
<p>The first 11 pitches were established ground up by <a href="/climber/574/leo-houlding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leo Houlding</a>, but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later <a href="/climber/551/tommy-caldwell" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tommy Caldwell</a> and <a href="/climber/622/alex-honnold" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alex Honnold</a> worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. Alex and Tommy apparently some carrot bolts to protect some of the run-out pitches Leo had climbed. [2]</p> <p>In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible, in an aid bolt hole he bolted on an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by <a href="/climber/175/tim-emmett" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tim Emmett</a> when he worked as a sales rep. for <a href="https://dmmwales.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">DMM</a>) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line.</p> <p>Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/</a></p> <p>[2] <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4</a></p> <p>[3] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2019/11/new_free_line_on_el_capitan_for_caldwell_and_honnold-72123" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2019/11/new_free_line_on_el_capitan_for_caldwell_and_honnold-72123</a></p>
29 26th June 2026 14:15:06 UTC TdG climb Passage to Freedom notes
Before
The first 11 pitches were established ground up by [Leo Houlding](/climber/574/leo-houlding), but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later [Tommy Caldwell](/climber/551/tommy-caldwell) and [Alex Honnold](/climber/622/alex-honnold) worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. Alex and Tommy apparently some carrot bolts to protect some of the run-out pitches Leo had climbed. [2] In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible, in an aid bolt hole he bolted on an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by [Tim Emmett](/climber/175/tim-emmett) when he worked as a sales rep. for [DMM](https://dmmwales.com/)) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line. Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn. ### References [1] [https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/](https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/) [2] [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4](https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4)
After
The first 11 pitches were established ground up by [Leo Houlding](/climber/574/leo-houlding), but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later [Tommy Caldwell](/climber/551/tommy-caldwell) and [Alex Honnold](/climber/622/alex-honnold) worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. Alex and Tommy apparently some carrot bolts to protect some of the run-out pitches Leo had climbed. [2] In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible, in an aid bolt hole he bolted on an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by [Tim Emmett](/climber/175/tim-emmett) when he worked as a sales rep. for [DMM](https://dmmwales.com/)) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line. Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn. ### References [1] [https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/](https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/) [2] [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4](https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4) [3] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2019/11/new_free_line_on_el_capitan_for_caldwell_and_honnold-72123](https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2019/11/new_free_line_on_el_capitan_for_caldwell_and_honnold-72123)
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -8,4 +8,6 @@


[1] [https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/](https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/)

-[2] [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4](https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4)
+[2] [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4](https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4)
+
+[3] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2019/11/new_free_line_on_el_capitan_for_caldwell_and_honnold-72123](https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2019/11/new_free_line_on_el_capitan_for_caldwell_and_honnold-72123)
30 26th June 2026 14:14:49 UTC TdG climb Passage to Freedom notes
Before
The first 11 pitches were established ground up by [Leo Houlding](/climber/574/leo-houlding), but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later [Tommy Caldwell](/climber/551/tommy-caldwell) and [Alex Honnold](/climber/622/alex-honnold) worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible he bolted an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by [Tim Emmett](/climber/175/tim-emmett) when he worked as a sales rep. for [DMM](https://dmmwales.com/)) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line. Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn. ### References [1] [https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/](https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/)
After
The first 11 pitches were established ground up by [Leo Houlding](/climber/574/leo-houlding), but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later [Tommy Caldwell](/climber/551/tommy-caldwell) and [Alex Honnold](/climber/622/alex-honnold) worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. Alex and Tommy apparently some carrot bolts to protect some of the run-out pitches Leo had climbed. [2] In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible, in an aid bolt hole he bolted on an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by [Tim Emmett](/climber/175/tim-emmett) when he worked as a sales rep. for [DMM](https://dmmwales.com/)) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line. Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn. ### References [1] [https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/](https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/) [2] [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4](https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4)
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@

-The first 11 pitches were established ground up by [Leo Houlding](/climber/574/leo-houlding), but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later [Tommy Caldwell](/climber/551/tommy-caldwell) and [Alex Honnold](/climber/622/alex-honnold) worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name.
+The first 11 pitches were established ground up by [Leo Houlding](/climber/574/leo-houlding), but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later [Tommy Caldwell](/climber/551/tommy-caldwell) and [Alex Honnold](/climber/622/alex-honnold) worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. Alex and Tommy apparently some carrot bolts to protect some of the run-out pitches Leo had climbed. [2]

-In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible he bolted an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by [Tim Emmett](/climber/175/tim-emmett) when he worked as a sales rep. for [DMM](https://dmmwales.com/)) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line.
+In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible, in an aid bolt hole he bolted on an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by [Tim Emmett](/climber/175/tim-emmett) when he worked as a sales rep. for [DMM](https://dmmwales.com/)) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line.

Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn.

### References

-[1] [https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/](https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/)
+[1] [https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/](https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/)
+
+[2] [https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4](https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4)
31 26th June 2026 14:14:49 UTC TdG climb Passage to Freedom notes_pretty
Before
<p>The first 11 pitches were established ground up by <a href="/climber/574/leo-houlding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leo Houlding</a>, but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later <a href="/climber/551/tommy-caldwell" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tommy Caldwell</a> and <a href="/climber/622/alex-honnold" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alex Honnold</a> worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. </p> <p>In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible he bolted an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by <a href="/climber/175/tim-emmett" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tim Emmett</a> when he worked as a sales rep. for <a href="https://dmmwales.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">DMM</a>) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line.</p> <p>Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/</a></p>
After
<p>The first 11 pitches were established ground up by <a href="/climber/574/leo-houlding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leo Houlding</a>, but when he reached El Cap Tower he couldn't find a way to continue. Almost 20 years later <a href="/climber/551/tommy-caldwell" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tommy Caldwell</a> and <a href="/climber/622/alex-honnold" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alex Honnold</a> worked out a line and took the route to the top of the crag, keeping Leo's original name. Alex and Tommy apparently some carrot bolts to protect some of the run-out pitches Leo had climbed. [2]</p> <p>In an unusual quirk, on pitch 4 Leo was unable to find a way past a short blank section of wall. To make the route possible, in an aid bolt hole he bolted on an Alfa Romeo badge (which used to belong to a car owned by <a href="/climber/175/tim-emmett" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tim Emmett</a> when he worked as a sales rep. for <a href="https://dmmwales.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">DMM</a>) to the wall which could be used as a hold to pass the section. Caldwell and Honnold were able to climb this free by a slightly different line.</p> <p>Many pitches free the aid route New Dawn.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/people/first-ascent-passage-freedom-el-cap/</a></p> <p>[2] <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNcdC2Pe8IyNfKHFLe1U4</a></p>
32 26th June 2026 13:20:27 UTC TdG climb Cenotaph Corner featurable
Before
false
After
true
33 26th June 2026 13:15:52 UTC TdG climb Cenotaph Corner notes
Before
Perhaps the most famous and celebrated trad route in Britain, taking on the obvious challenge of the open-book corner of [Dinas Cromlech](/crag/4/dinas-cromlech). The route was named by [John Menlove Edwards](/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards), prior to the first ascent. Around 1948 [Peter Harding](/climber/1356/peter-harding), one of the most talented and bold climbers of the day, was repelled by its initial hard section at 20ft. Next up was [Joe Brown](/climber/612/joe-brown). Joe was operating at a different level, and he made it most of the way up, before retreating from the niche before the crux, having dropped his peg hammer on his unfortunate belayer [Wilf White](/climber/3588/wilf-white). He was back in 1952 to complete the route with two points of aid, and it is his name that remains most associated with the route today. He recounts the first ascent struggle in *The Hard Years*: >In August 1952, Doug Belshaw and I left the hut and went to Cenotaph Corner for another attempt. Compared with the first attempt I now had superlative equipment and a keener eye for running belays on which to protect myself. I avoided using pegs up to the point I had reached before, but pulled on a sling to overcome the first hard move at 20 feet. I found the climbing just as difficult as ever and tore my trousers from knee to ankle in the crack at 70 feet. Getting into the niche at 100 feet was absolutely gripping - very much harder than I remembered it from the previous occasion. The exit crack jutted out above. I tried an assortment of pegs; none seemed the right size for the crack. I buckled half of them and thought, Oh, damn it, you’ll have to bridge up across the bulge to gain a little height and bang one in higher up, where the crack appeared to be more regular. To make this move I stuck a peg loosely into the crack and pulled sideways on it. This movement was as hard as any I had done in my life. The last thing I expected was to be able to stay suspended in so fantastic a position and hammer in a big wrought-iron peg above the impending rock. The peg remained there for eight years. I leaned away on the crack and pressed my feet against the left wall to raise myself. I pivoted up almost horizontally. In this shattering position I knew that I would be down in seconds. I was climbing in socks and vainly tried to hook my feet on to rugosities below a large patch of moss, oozing with water. Until then I had forgotten that the conditions on the cliff were bad and the corner was very damp. There was a large jug-handle hold above. If I used it, releasing a hand from the crack would swing me off. But I had to use it or fall off in any event. Grabbing the jug-handle I swung back into a vertical position. the wrench drained the strength from my overworked arm. I got another hand on the jug and pulled with all the strength I could muster. I shot up like a missile from a catapult and thrust a foot firmly on the big hold. The exclamation “Phew” was never more appropriate at that moment. It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By the 1960s, the character of the route had changed significantly, with good cracks appearing which had once been blocked by debris: >For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7] It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route. A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024. ### References [1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M) [2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club [3] [https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass](https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass) [4] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598](https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598) [5] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195](https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195) [6] [https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/](https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/) [7] [https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent](https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent) [8] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579](https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579)
After
Perhaps the most famous and celebrated trad route in Britain, taking on the obvious challenge of the open-book corner of [Dinas Cromlech](/crag/4/dinas-cromlech). The route was named by [John Menlove Edwards](/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards), prior to the first ascent. Around 1948 [Peter Harding](/climber/1356/peter-harding), one of the most talented and bold climbers of the day, was repelled by its initial hard section at 20ft. Next up was [Joe Brown](/climber/612/joe-brown). Joe was operating at a different level, and he made it most of the way up, before retreating from the niche before the crux, having dropped his peg hammer on his unfortunate belayer [Wilf White](/climber/3588/wilf-white). He was back in 1952 to complete the route with two points of aid, and it is his name that remains most associated with the route today. He recounts the first ascent struggle in *The Hard Years*: >In August 1952, Doug Belshaw and I left the hut and went to Cenotaph Corner for another attempt. Compared with the first attempt I now had superlative equipment and a keener eye for running belays on which to protect myself. I avoided using pegs up to the point I had reached before, but pulled on a sling to overcome the first hard move at 20 feet. I found the climbing just as difficult as ever and tore my trousers from knee to ankle in the crack at 70 feet. Getting into the niche at 100 feet was absolutely gripping - very much harder than I remembered it from the previous occasion. The exit crack jutted out above. I tried an assortment of pegs; none seemed the right size for the crack. I buckled half of them and thought, Oh, damn it, you’ll have to bridge up across the bulge to gain a little height and bang one in higher up, where the crack appeared to be more regular. To make this move I stuck a peg loosely into the crack and pulled sideways on it. This movement was as hard as any I had done in my life. The last thing I expected was to be able to stay suspended in so fantastic a position and hammer in a big wrought-iron peg above the impending rock. The peg remained there for eight years. I leaned away on the crack and pressed my feet against the left wall to raise myself. I pivoted up almost horizontally. In this shattering position I knew that I would be down in seconds. I was climbing in socks and vainly tried to hook my feet on to rugosities below a large patch of moss, oozing with water. Until then I had forgotten that the conditions on the cliff were bad and the corner was very damp. There was a large jug-handle hold above. If I used it, releasing a hand from the crack would swing me off. But I had to use it or fall off in any event. Grabbing the jug-handle I swung back into a vertical position. the wrench drained the strength from my overworked arm. I got another hand on the jug and pulled with all the strength I could muster. I shot up like a missile from a catapult and thrust a foot firmly on the big hold. The exclamation “Phew” was never more appropriate at that moment. It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By the 1960s, the character of the route had changed significantly, with good cracks appearing which had once been blocked by debris: >For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7] A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024. ### References [1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M) [2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club [3] [https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass](https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass) [4] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598](https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598) [5] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195](https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195) [6] [https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/](https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/) [7] [https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent](https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent) [8] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579](https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579)
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@


>For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7]

-It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route.

A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.
+
### References

[1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M)
34 26th June 2026 13:15:52 UTC TdG climb Cenotaph Corner notes_pretty
Before
<p>Perhaps the most famous and celebrated trad route in Britain, taking on the obvious challenge of the open-book corner of <a href="/crag/4/dinas-cromlech" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dinas Cromlech</a>.</p> <p>The route was named by <a href="/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Menlove Edwards</a>, prior to the first ascent. Around 1948 <a href="/climber/1356/peter-harding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peter Harding</a>, one of the most talented and bold climbers of the day, was repelled by its initial hard section at 20ft. </p> <p>Next up was <a href="/climber/612/joe-brown" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Brown</a>. Joe was operating at a different level, and he made it most of the way up, before retreating from the niche before the crux, having dropped his peg hammer on his unfortunate belayer <a href="/climber/3588/wilf-white" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wilf White</a>. He was back in 1952 to complete the route with two points of aid, and it is his name that remains most associated with the route today.</p> <p>He recounts the first ascent struggle in <em>The Hard Years</em>:</p> <blockquote> <p>In August 1952, Doug Belshaw and I left the hut and went to Cenotaph Corner for another attempt. Compared with the first attempt I now had superlative equipment and a keener eye for running belays on which to protect myself. I avoided using pegs up to the point I had reached before, but pulled on a sling to overcome the first hard move at 20 feet. I found the climbing just as difficult as ever and tore my trousers from knee to ankle in the crack at 70 feet. Getting into the niche at 100 feet was absolutely gripping - very much harder than I remembered it from the previous occasion. The exit crack jutted out above. I tried an assortment of pegs; none seemed the right size for the crack. I buckled half of them and thought, Oh, damn it, you’ll have to bridge up across the bulge to gain a little height and bang one in higher up, where the crack appeared to be more regular. To make this move I stuck a peg loosely into the crack and pulled sideways on it. This movement was as hard as any I had done in my life. The last thing I expected was to be able to stay suspended in so fantastic a position and hammer in a big wrought-iron peg above the impending rock. The peg remained there for eight years. I leaned away on the crack and pressed my feet against the left wall to raise myself. I pivoted up almost horizontally. In this shattering position I knew that I would be down in seconds. I was climbing in socks and vainly tried to hook my feet on to rugosities below a large patch of moss, oozing with water. Until then I had forgotten that the conditions on the cliff were bad and the corner was very damp. There was a large jug-handle hold above. If I used it, releasing a hand from the crack would swing me off. But I had to use it or fall off in any event. Grabbing the jug-handle I swung back into a vertical position. the wrench drained the strength from my overworked arm. I got another hand on the jug and pulled with all the strength I could muster. I shot up like a missile from a catapult and thrust a foot firmly on the big hold. The exclamation “Phew” was never more appropriate at that moment.</p> </blockquote> <p>It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. </p> <p>By the 1960s, the character of the route had changed significantly, with good cracks appearing which had once been blocked by debris:</p> <blockquote> <p>For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7]</p> </blockquote> <p>It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route.</p> <p>A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M</a></p> <p>[2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club</p> <p>[3] <a href="https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass</a></p> <p>[4] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598</a></p> <p>[5] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195</a></p> <p>[6] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/</a></p> <p>[7] <a href="https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent</a></p> <p>[8] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579</a></p>
After
<p>Perhaps the most famous and celebrated trad route in Britain, taking on the obvious challenge of the open-book corner of <a href="/crag/4/dinas-cromlech" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dinas Cromlech</a>.</p> <p>The route was named by <a href="/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Menlove Edwards</a>, prior to the first ascent. Around 1948 <a href="/climber/1356/peter-harding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peter Harding</a>, one of the most talented and bold climbers of the day, was repelled by its initial hard section at 20ft. </p> <p>Next up was <a href="/climber/612/joe-brown" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Brown</a>. Joe was operating at a different level, and he made it most of the way up, before retreating from the niche before the crux, having dropped his peg hammer on his unfortunate belayer <a href="/climber/3588/wilf-white" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wilf White</a>. He was back in 1952 to complete the route with two points of aid, and it is his name that remains most associated with the route today.</p> <p>He recounts the first ascent struggle in <em>The Hard Years</em>:</p> <blockquote> <p>In August 1952, Doug Belshaw and I left the hut and went to Cenotaph Corner for another attempt. Compared with the first attempt I now had superlative equipment and a keener eye for running belays on which to protect myself. I avoided using pegs up to the point I had reached before, but pulled on a sling to overcome the first hard move at 20 feet. I found the climbing just as difficult as ever and tore my trousers from knee to ankle in the crack at 70 feet. Getting into the niche at 100 feet was absolutely gripping - very much harder than I remembered it from the previous occasion. The exit crack jutted out above. I tried an assortment of pegs; none seemed the right size for the crack. I buckled half of them and thought, Oh, damn it, you’ll have to bridge up across the bulge to gain a little height and bang one in higher up, where the crack appeared to be more regular. To make this move I stuck a peg loosely into the crack and pulled sideways on it. This movement was as hard as any I had done in my life. The last thing I expected was to be able to stay suspended in so fantastic a position and hammer in a big wrought-iron peg above the impending rock. The peg remained there for eight years. I leaned away on the crack and pressed my feet against the left wall to raise myself. I pivoted up almost horizontally. In this shattering position I knew that I would be down in seconds. I was climbing in socks and vainly tried to hook my feet on to rugosities below a large patch of moss, oozing with water. Until then I had forgotten that the conditions on the cliff were bad and the corner was very damp. There was a large jug-handle hold above. If I used it, releasing a hand from the crack would swing me off. But I had to use it or fall off in any event. Grabbing the jug-handle I swung back into a vertical position. the wrench drained the strength from my overworked arm. I got another hand on the jug and pulled with all the strength I could muster. I shot up like a missile from a catapult and thrust a foot firmly on the big hold. The exclamation “Phew” was never more appropriate at that moment.</p> </blockquote> <p>It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. </p> <p>By the 1960s, the character of the route had changed significantly, with good cracks appearing which had once been blocked by debris:</p> <blockquote> <p>For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7]</p> </blockquote> <p>A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M</a></p> <p>[2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club</p> <p>[3] <a href="https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass</a></p> <p>[4] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598</a></p> <p>[5] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195</a></p> <p>[6] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/</a></p> <p>[7] <a href="https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent</a></p> <p>[8] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579</a></p>
35 26th June 2026 13:15:33 UTC TdG climb Cenotaph Corner notes
Before
> The Cenotaph Corner is still an unclimbed gap, throwing out its challenge. (Peter Harding, 1950) The obvious 'last great problem' of North Wales at the time of the first ascent, it had already been named by [John Menlove Edwards](/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards). By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route. Climbed free before 1968, FFA by persons unknown. A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024. ### References [1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M) [2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club [3] [https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass](https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass) [4] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598](https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598) [5] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195](https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195) [6] [https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/](https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/)
After
Perhaps the most famous and celebrated trad route in Britain, taking on the obvious challenge of the open-book corner of [Dinas Cromlech](/crag/4/dinas-cromlech). The route was named by [John Menlove Edwards](/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards), prior to the first ascent. Around 1948 [Peter Harding](/climber/1356/peter-harding), one of the most talented and bold climbers of the day, was repelled by its initial hard section at 20ft. Next up was [Joe Brown](/climber/612/joe-brown). Joe was operating at a different level, and he made it most of the way up, before retreating from the niche before the crux, having dropped his peg hammer on his unfortunate belayer [Wilf White](/climber/3588/wilf-white). He was back in 1952 to complete the route with two points of aid, and it is his name that remains most associated with the route today. He recounts the first ascent struggle in *The Hard Years*: >In August 1952, Doug Belshaw and I left the hut and went to Cenotaph Corner for another attempt. Compared with the first attempt I now had superlative equipment and a keener eye for running belays on which to protect myself. I avoided using pegs up to the point I had reached before, but pulled on a sling to overcome the first hard move at 20 feet. I found the climbing just as difficult as ever and tore my trousers from knee to ankle in the crack at 70 feet. Getting into the niche at 100 feet was absolutely gripping - very much harder than I remembered it from the previous occasion. The exit crack jutted out above. I tried an assortment of pegs; none seemed the right size for the crack. I buckled half of them and thought, Oh, damn it, you’ll have to bridge up across the bulge to gain a little height and bang one in higher up, where the crack appeared to be more regular. To make this move I stuck a peg loosely into the crack and pulled sideways on it. This movement was as hard as any I had done in my life. The last thing I expected was to be able to stay suspended in so fantastic a position and hammer in a big wrought-iron peg above the impending rock. The peg remained there for eight years. I leaned away on the crack and pressed my feet against the left wall to raise myself. I pivoted up almost horizontally. In this shattering position I knew that I would be down in seconds. I was climbing in socks and vainly tried to hook my feet on to rugosities below a large patch of moss, oozing with water. Until then I had forgotten that the conditions on the cliff were bad and the corner was very damp. There was a large jug-handle hold above. If I used it, releasing a hand from the crack would swing me off. But I had to use it or fall off in any event. Grabbing the jug-handle I swung back into a vertical position. the wrench drained the strength from my overworked arm. I got another hand on the jug and pulled with all the strength I could muster. I shot up like a missile from a catapult and thrust a foot firmly on the big hold. The exclamation “Phew” was never more appropriate at that moment. It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By the 1960s, the character of the route had changed significantly, with good cracks appearing which had once been blocked by debris: >For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7] It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route. A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024. ### References [1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M) [2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club [3] [https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass](https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass) [4] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598](https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598) [5] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195](https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195) [6] [https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/](https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/) [7] [https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent](https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent) [8] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579](https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579)
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -1,8 +1,22 @@

-> The Cenotaph Corner is still an unclimbed gap, throwing out its challenge.
+Perhaps the most famous and celebrated trad route in Britain, taking on the obvious challenge of the open-book corner of [Dinas Cromlech](/crag/4/dinas-cromlech).

-(Peter Harding, 1950)
+The route was named by [John Menlove Edwards](/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards), prior to the first ascent. Around 1948 [Peter Harding](/climber/1356/peter-harding), one of the most talented and bold climbers of the day, was repelled by its initial hard section at 20ft.

-The obvious 'last great problem' of North Wales at the time of the first ascent, it had already been named by [John Menlove Edwards](/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards). By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route. Climbed free before 1968, FFA by persons unknown. A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.
+Next up was [Joe Brown](/climber/612/joe-brown). Joe was operating at a different level, and he made it most of the way up, before retreating from the niche before the crux, having dropped his peg hammer on his unfortunate belayer [Wilf White](/climber/3588/wilf-white). He was back in 1952 to complete the route with two points of aid, and it is his name that remains most associated with the route today.
+
+He recounts the first ascent struggle in *The Hard Years*:
+
+>In August 1952, Doug Belshaw and I left the hut and went to Cenotaph Corner for another attempt. Compared with the first attempt I now had superlative equipment and a keener eye for running belays on which to protect myself. I avoided using pegs up to the point I had reached before, but pulled on a sling to overcome the first hard move at 20 feet. I found the climbing just as difficult as ever and tore my trousers from knee to ankle in the crack at 70 feet. Getting into the niche at 100 feet was absolutely gripping - very much harder than I remembered it from the previous occasion. The exit crack jutted out above. I tried an assortment of pegs; none seemed the right size for the crack. I buckled half of them and thought, Oh, damn it, you’ll have to bridge up across the bulge to gain a little height and bang one in higher up, where the crack appeared to be more regular. To make this move I stuck a peg loosely into the crack and pulled sideways on it. This movement was as hard as any I had done in my life. The last thing I expected was to be able to stay suspended in so fantastic a position and hammer in a big wrought-iron peg above the impending rock. The peg remained there for eight years. I leaned away on the crack and pressed my feet against the left wall to raise myself. I pivoted up almost horizontally. In this shattering position I knew that I would be down in seconds. I was climbing in socks and vainly tried to hook my feet on to rugosities below a large patch of moss, oozing with water. Until then I had forgotten that the conditions on the cliff were bad and the corner was very damp. There was a large jug-handle hold above. If I used it, releasing a hand from the crack would swing me off. But I had to use it or fall off in any event. Grabbing the jug-handle I swung back into a vertical position. the wrench drained the strength from my overworked arm. I got another hand on the jug and pulled with all the strength I could muster. I shot up like a missile from a catapult and thrust a foot firmly on the big hold. The exclamation “Phew” was never more appropriate at that moment.
+
+It is not recorded who made the first free ascent.
+
+By the 1960s, the character of the route had changed significantly, with good cracks appearing which had once been blocked by debris:
+
+>For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7]
+
+It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route.
+
+A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.
### References

[1] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M)
@@ -17,6 +31,6 @@


[6] [https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/](https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/)

+[7] [https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent](https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent)

-
-
+[8] [https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579](https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579)
36 26th June 2026 13:15:33 UTC TdG climb Cenotaph Corner notes_pretty
Before
<blockquote> <p>The Cenotaph Corner is still an unclimbed gap, throwing out its challenge. </p> </blockquote> <p>(Peter Harding, 1950)</p> <p>The obvious 'last great problem' of North Wales at the time of the first ascent, it had already been named by <a href="/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Menlove Edwards</a>. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route. Climbed free before 1968, FFA by persons unknown. A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M</a></p> <p>[2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club</p> <p>[3] <a href="https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass</a></p> <p>[4] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598</a></p> <p>[5] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195</a></p> <p>[6] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/</a></p>
After
<p>Perhaps the most famous and celebrated trad route in Britain, taking on the obvious challenge of the open-book corner of <a href="/crag/4/dinas-cromlech" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dinas Cromlech</a>.</p> <p>The route was named by <a href="/climber/1072/john-menlove-edwards" rel="noopener noreferrer">John Menlove Edwards</a>, prior to the first ascent. Around 1948 <a href="/climber/1356/peter-harding" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peter Harding</a>, one of the most talented and bold climbers of the day, was repelled by its initial hard section at 20ft. </p> <p>Next up was <a href="/climber/612/joe-brown" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Brown</a>. Joe was operating at a different level, and he made it most of the way up, before retreating from the niche before the crux, having dropped his peg hammer on his unfortunate belayer <a href="/climber/3588/wilf-white" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wilf White</a>. He was back in 1952 to complete the route with two points of aid, and it is his name that remains most associated with the route today.</p> <p>He recounts the first ascent struggle in <em>The Hard Years</em>:</p> <blockquote> <p>In August 1952, Doug Belshaw and I left the hut and went to Cenotaph Corner for another attempt. Compared with the first attempt I now had superlative equipment and a keener eye for running belays on which to protect myself. I avoided using pegs up to the point I had reached before, but pulled on a sling to overcome the first hard move at 20 feet. I found the climbing just as difficult as ever and tore my trousers from knee to ankle in the crack at 70 feet. Getting into the niche at 100 feet was absolutely gripping - very much harder than I remembered it from the previous occasion. The exit crack jutted out above. I tried an assortment of pegs; none seemed the right size for the crack. I buckled half of them and thought, Oh, damn it, you’ll have to bridge up across the bulge to gain a little height and bang one in higher up, where the crack appeared to be more regular. To make this move I stuck a peg loosely into the crack and pulled sideways on it. This movement was as hard as any I had done in my life. The last thing I expected was to be able to stay suspended in so fantastic a position and hammer in a big wrought-iron peg above the impending rock. The peg remained there for eight years. I leaned away on the crack and pressed my feet against the left wall to raise myself. I pivoted up almost horizontally. In this shattering position I knew that I would be down in seconds. I was climbing in socks and vainly tried to hook my feet on to rugosities below a large patch of moss, oozing with water. Until then I had forgotten that the conditions on the cliff were bad and the corner was very damp. There was a large jug-handle hold above. If I used it, releasing a hand from the crack would swing me off. But I had to use it or fall off in any event. Grabbing the jug-handle I swung back into a vertical position. the wrench drained the strength from my overworked arm. I got another hand on the jug and pulled with all the strength I could muster. I shot up like a missile from a catapult and thrust a foot firmly on the big hold. The exclamation “Phew” was never more appropriate at that moment.</p> </blockquote> <p>It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. </p> <p>By the 1960s, the character of the route had changed significantly, with good cracks appearing which had once been blocked by debris:</p> <blockquote> <p>For those who did the route in the following years what they experienced was nothing like climb that it had been in its first 10 plus years. The route is the natural drainage line from the grassy bay above and soil and mud had been washed down into the crack. This over the ages had become solid like mortar. The crack that Joe climbed was shallow, only allowing the first inch of the finger’s entry, and the easy protection was not available in the same way - and was not the manufactured nuts until well into the 60's and certainly not the camming devices that followed in the 70's. I think it was after this ascent that Chris talked with Joe Brown who had just made his second ascent of the Corner. Joe said even at this time (1963) the route had changed drastically from when he first did it. [7]</p> </blockquote> <p>It is not recorded who made the first free ascent. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route.</p> <p>A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M</a></p> <p>[2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club</p> <p>[3] <a href="https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass</a></p> <p>[4] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598</a></p> <p>[5] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195</a></p> <p>[6] <a href="https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/</a></p> <p>[7] <a href="https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/cenotaph-corner-70th-anniversary-of-the-first-ascent</a></p> <p>[8] <a href="https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/the_wishlist_cenotaph_corner_e1_5c_dinas_cromlech-16579</a></p>
37 26th June 2026 12:09:48 UTC TdG ascent Simon Boes's ascent of Deep Fake exclude_reason_pretty
Before
<p>After releasing a video of the ascent [3] the YouTube channel <em>Some Climbing News</em> analysed the footage. [2] The channel alleged that the video had been edited to create the impression of a complete ascent, rather than presenting an uncut recording of the climb. When asked to provide the unedited footage Boes declined to do so, explaining that it had been filmed by a cameraman who was no longer contactable, a claim the channel regarded as unconvincing. In support of it's allegation that Boes had not completed the problem, the channel cited scepticism from other members of the Dutch climbing community. At the time of writing, the only uncut footage available online of Boes climbing hard is <a href="/climb/162/riders-on-the-storm" rel="noopener noreferrer">Riders on the Storm</a> (8B).</p> <p>Boes disputes the allegations and has said he intends to repeat the problem. [4]</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/</a></p> <p>[2] <em>Climbing News'</em> analysis of the ascent footage (June 2026) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y</a></p> <p>[3] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw</a></p> <p>[4] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/</a></p>
After
<p>After releasing a video of the ascent [3] the YouTube channel <em>Some Climbing News</em> analysed the footage. [2] The channel alleged that the video had been edited to create the impression of a complete ascent, rather than presenting an uncut recording of the climb. When asked to provide the unedited footage Boes declined to do so, explaining that it had been filmed by a cameraman who was no longer contactable, a claim the channel regarded as unconvincing. In support of it's allegation that Boes had not completed the problem, the channel cited scepticism from other members of the Dutch climbing community. At the time of writing, the only uncut footage available online of Boes climbing hard is <a href="/climb/162/riders-on-the-storm" rel="noopener noreferrer">Riders on the Storm</a> (8B).</p> <p>Boes disputes the allegations and has said he intends to repeat the problem. [4]</p> <h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/</a></p> <p>[2] <em>Climbing News'</em> analysis of the ascent footage (June 2026) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y</a></p> <p>[3] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw</a></p> <p>[4] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/</a></p> <p>[5] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/</a></p>
38 26th June 2026 12:09:48 UTC TdG ascent Simon Boes's ascent of Deep Fake notes
Before
### References [1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/)
After
None
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -1,3 +1 @@

-### References
-
-[1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/)
+
39 26th June 2026 12:09:48 UTC TdG ascent Simon Boes's ascent of Deep Fake exclude_reason
Before
After releasing a video of the ascent [3] the YouTube channel *Some Climbing News* analysed the footage. [2] The channel alleged that the video had been edited to create the impression of a complete ascent, rather than presenting an uncut recording of the climb. When asked to provide the unedited footage Boes declined to do so, explaining that it had been filmed by a cameraman who was no longer contactable, a claim the channel regarded as unconvincing. In support of it's allegation that Boes had not completed the problem, the channel cited scepticism from other members of the Dutch climbing community. At the time of writing, the only uncut footage available online of Boes climbing hard is [Riders on the Storm](/climb/162/riders-on-the-storm) (8B). Boes disputes the allegations and has said he intends to repeat the problem. [4] ### References [1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/) [2] *Climbing News'* analysis of the ascent footage (June 2026) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y) [3] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw) [4] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/)
After
After releasing a video of the ascent [3] the YouTube channel *Some Climbing News* analysed the footage. [2] The channel alleged that the video had been edited to create the impression of a complete ascent, rather than presenting an uncut recording of the climb. When asked to provide the unedited footage Boes declined to do so, explaining that it had been filmed by a cameraman who was no longer contactable, a claim the channel regarded as unconvincing. In support of it's allegation that Boes had not completed the problem, the channel cited scepticism from other members of the Dutch climbing community. At the time of writing, the only uncut footage available online of Boes climbing hard is [Riders on the Storm](/climb/162/riders-on-the-storm) (8B). Boes disputes the allegations and has said he intends to repeat the problem. [4] ### References [1] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbqvT-jN7h/) [2] *Climbing News'* analysis of the ascent footage (June 2026) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENT1FkcA_Y) [3] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw) [4] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/) [5] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/)
Diff
--- before

+++ after

@@ -10,4 +10,6 @@


[3] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_b6yGJsTWw)

-[4] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/)
+[4] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/)
+
+[5] [https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/](https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/)
40 26th June 2026 12:09:48 UTC TdG ascent Simon Boes's ascent of Deep Fake notes_pretty
Before
<h3>References</h3> <p>[1] <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCru9QNAdP/</a></p>
After
None

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