Laddow Rocks

21/07/19

The first recorded time the Club visited Laddow was 1906, and the last was 1988, when Peppit, Goodier, Barnes and Travis climbed. So, 31 years later, two of the four were in the party that toiled in the humid heat up the Pennine Way from Crowden.

The party split so much that Crowson was abandoned by the walkers, who was so far behind having elected to keep Peppit senior company. Arrival at the crag caused disguised consternation from the climbers when Crowson announced that he might well climb instead, even though he had nil climbing equipment. Fortunately and fortuitously he changed his mind when he watched Syd climb the first pitch of the Long Climb, and decided instead to drop down from the crag and introduce himself and ‘chat’ to the fell runners who were toiling up from Holme Moss. The marshal, who was obviously a local, said he was pleased to see climbers on the crag, as vegetation was now taking over. Mike observed that it was unusual to climb on such isolated but vegetated and polished rock. We were cursed with the occasional appearance of midges during a hot, humid and sometimes overcast day, but a tally of routes were completed: Tower Face, Priscilla Ridge, Long Climb, Pillar Ridge and Staircase.

Peppit senior left at 3 to organise dinner and the last sighting he had of Syd was him wedged across the footpath at the crag top, there being no belays.

Geoff P