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In Harms Way (19), My first retreat. 12-Aug-2010 At 4:54:36 PM TonyH

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My first post here folks, so Hi to all.

Quite a few retreats over the years, but one that sticks in my memory was on my first visit to the legendary Mt Piddington, still a schoolboy at this stage (so late 1970s I guess) guidebook in hand and ready to begin my lead climbing career. LOL. Stopped to chat to some nice folks getting ready to do something near Eternity, and when asked what I was going to do I explained that I'd picked out Angular Crack as a suitable first climb. They said it was a good choice and I'd find it a little furtheralong, an obvious corner marked AC. Off we went, examining the cliff as we went. Eventually we came to a really stonking corner marked AC, so I roped up and headed off up the crack. Which seemed abnormally hard for a 10, but it was my first lead after all, probably just nervous. I ended up stalled in this sort of bottomless chimney thing about half height, when the nice folks from earlier in the day wandered past. "We thought you were going to do Angular Crack!" they called up. "Aren't I?" I called back. People who know Piddo will know where I was, halfway up Amen Corner.

Obviously in way over my head, I retreated forthwith. It was a great satisfaction to eventually lead it some years later, with Glenn Robbins as my faithful belayer.