A pointless list (other than to fluff my ego) of dates, names and numbers.

 

Born in Cheadle, Staffordshire a long time ago!

Cheadle High School. Leaving April 1982.

Gamekeeper. April 1982 – September 1983.

Self Employed Farm Labourer and Bricklayers Labourer.

Warehouse Manager at Alton Towers.

Prison Officer and Physical Education Instructor HM Prison Service. Nov 1987- Oct 2003

Echoes. Publication of first book. September 2012.

Climbing Experience.

Rock Climbing:

Including: Melody, E8 6b/c, 2nd ascent, Pushing for Rail E8 6b, 1st ascent, The Mudshark E8 6b, 2nd asent, Now We’re Sucking Diesel E7 6b,6a, 1st ascent, The Zither Player E7 6a, 1st ascent, Comin’ Apart at Every Nail E7 6a, 1st ascent, Requiem for a Vampire E8 6b, 2nd ascent, Box of Blood E7 6b/c, Bam Bam E7 6b, Destiny E7 6b 2nd ascent, Harmony E7 6b/c, Harmless E7 6b 1st ascent, Dissonance with Harmless direct start E7 6c, Ride My Llama E7 6a, 1st ascent, Dream Canyon Handshake E7 6b, Harmless/Pysgoden Aur E5 6b 1st ascent of direct start, Safe as Milk E7 6c, 2nd ascent, (although its 6b, TPM was obviously on a powerdown day when he graded this one), War and Peace E5 6a, (The 2nd ascent, after 24 years, of Craig Doris’s 16 pitch girdle traverse) – All on Craig Doris. Katie’s Delight E7 6c, Space Face E7 6b, Manhattan Highrise E7 6c (Basically 4 moves I’d not done on previous climbs, hence my, ‘I’m not doing it Mick because its a tall persons 4 move elliminate’, holds, even though I did it and its a great locals link-up! ) Imminent Departees E7 6c, Space Case E6 6b Craig y Forwyn. Strawberries, E7 6b, Tremadog (a long drawn out affair that I loved for almost every minute). Zero E7 6b, Suicide Wall, Cwm Idwal. The Apprentice E6 6b, Porth Ceiriad. Stroke of the Fiend, E7 6b (on sight), Flower of Evil, Wreath of Deadly Nightshade, Demons of Bosch, The Bells the bells!, The Hollow Man, and The Clown, all on North Stack Wall, Gogarth and all E7 6b. Other E7 leads include the first ascent of The Frumious Bandersnatch E7 6c, Pathological E7 6c, Rhoscolyn. The second and third ascent of, It Will be Alright in the Night and Authentic Desire, both E7 6b (Cloggy). Conan the Librarian (on-sight). Enchanted Broccoli Garden (on-sight). Heart of Gold direct/Ramaliner combo E7 6b. Free Stonehenge. My Halo E7 6b, Tears of a Clown, (ground-up, although I think I climbed it using all of the holds, which reduces the grade!) Super Duper Calabrese, (on-sight, although I climbed it using the obvious sequence with better holds which is easier) Burning Bush E7 6b, 39 Slaps E7 6b, Yellow Shark E7 6b, 2nd ascent (although I fell off from the crux pitch and handed it over, (thank God) to someone who’s a lot better at climbing than me), Rubble E7 6a, Surgical Lust E7 6b (ground up), Into the Never Never E7 6b, The Trumpet Slappers E7 6b 2nd ascent. Gimble in the Wabe, E7 6b. The Complete Scream, E7 6b Fair Head. Ring My Bell E7 6b, Gravestones. The Trumpet Blowers, E7 6c, Scimitar Ridge (At last, what a route, never thought I would manage this climb, Adam Wainright rocks!). Stairing at the Sun, E7 6c, Surreal Appeal E7 6b/c, Sunning the 4th Eye E7 6c (although it’s 6b, obviously another power down day From TPM), Easel-E E7 6c, Painted Groove, 8a; all on Painted Wall, Rhoscolyn. The Earth Died Screaming E6 6b, 1st ascent, Gideon Quarries.

Other rock climbs of interest: Cities of the Plain E6 6b All the Pretty Horses E6 6b and No Country for Old Men E5 6a/b all new routes on Equestrian Wall. Blood Meridian, E6 6a new route on Stigmata Buttress Craig Dorys. Warpath Direct E6 6a, Birth Trauma E6 6a, Boboc E5 6a, Rust Never Sleeps E6 6a, The Gross Clinic E6 6a, Tonight at Noon E6 6b, Terrahawk E6 6b, Crow E5 6a, Ludwig E6 6b, ME E6 6a, Eraserhead E6 6a, Skinhead Moonstomp E6  6b, Long Run Direct E6 6b, The Jubjub Bird E6 6b, Lord of the Fly’s E6 6a, The Cad E6 6a, Barbarossa E6/7 on-sight (before the peg bolt was placed and the crowds turned up… OOOOF!!). Stiff Sids Cap/Cystitis by Proxy E6 6b, Shittlegruber E6 6b, Piece of Mind E6 6a, Bananas E5 6b. Helmet Boiler E5 6a (terrifying). Yukan II E6 6b Nescliffe, Bass Drum Heart E6 6b Nescliffe, second ascent. The Pit and the Pendulum, E5 6a Nescliffe. Psychic threshold E5 6b, Mr Softy E6 6b. Hells Kitchen Arête E6 6a, Above and Beyond E6 6b, Un Jour, Peut-Etre E6 6b second ascent, The Mask E5 6a, Maiden Voyage E5 6b. Coronary Country E7 6b Sharpnose. Darkinbad the Brightdayler E5 6a Pentire Head. Imminent Crisis E6 6b, Tears of a Clown, E6 6b, The People Mover E6 6b, Strange Religion E5 6a 1st ascent, all at Craig y Forwyn. Fear No Evil, E6 6b Pembroke.

A solo of Right Wall E5 6a (dont ask, I’m not sure!) and Left Wall E2 on Dynas Cromlech in the Llanberis Pass and Pleasure Dome E3 at Pembroke highlight many other solo’s.

World party, 7c+, Snake Flake, 7b+, Mr Joshua 7b, all on Typan Wall, Grampians Australia.

London Calling 7c+ Arapalies Australia.

Les Ailes du Désir Extension 8a, Féerie pour une autre fois Extension 8a, Pyromania 7c+ Gorges du Tarn, France.

Bon Viatge 8a, El Latido del Miedo 8a, Energia Positiva 7c+, Orient 7c+, Occident 7c.  Terradets, Spain.

Alcatraz 7c+ La Croix, France.

Tequila Sunrise 8a, Moon Safari 7c+, Ramallar 7c+, La boca del a voz 8a, Entre dos caminos 8a. El Agent Naranja 8a, Altos Guapos y Fuertes 8a Chulilla, Spain.

Alone 8a+, Attaque de Gordi (Attack the Fat One) 8a, Number 7, 8a, Regina, Spain.

The Shining 8a, Shine On, 8a, Empire State 8a, The Diamond, Llandudno, Wales.

The Terrible Thing 8a (unless you are very tall, around 6’7″, then the grade reduces to 7b+/c )

Minimal Techno 7c+/8a Siurana.

El Tracorista 7c+ Garx.

Sobakamesuda Extension 7c+, Filemon 7c+. Mortadelo 7c+ Sant Llorec.

Viva Festina 8a, King of Bongo 8a/+ Pratdip, Spain.

Solucan 8a, Black Hole extension 8a, Meditaranian Dream 8a. Can Baba, Datca Tom Tom Finger 7c on-sight, Shaman. Turkey.

Alpine Climbing:ED 3, France, Switzerland, Italy, Canada.

Including: new Routes on the Grande Pillar de Angle, Lost in the Dark enchainment with The Right Hand Pillar of Frené. ED 2.

Border Line on The Sans Nom. A new 5 pitch start to the Brown/Patey ED3, VII/8

The first British ascent of Omega on The Petites Jorasses, ED 3, VIII/8.

Tentation on Point Lachenal. 1^st ascent with JonBracey. 111/6. 19^th December 2006.

Night Fever, 1st ascent, Tour Ronde, West Wall with Matt Helliker. 250m, M8

Other alpine routes of note are,

The House/Anderson, second ascent, North Face of Mount Alberta, Canada.

Humble Horse, Diadem, Canada

1938 route Eiger North face. Winter.

The Croz Spur ED1, The Colton/MacIntyre ED2 and a solo of the Shroud TD, on the Grande Jorasses North Face.

Pressknödel. Cima Ovest North Face. Dolomites. 6a+, 7b+, 7b, 7b, 7a+, 7c, 6c, 7a, 6a+, 6a+, 6a+, 6b.

Brandler/Hasse, Cima Grande North Face, Dolomites.

Constantini-Apollonio, E4. Tofana. Dolomites.

Richard Cranium Memorial Route, Droits North Face.

Bouchard into the Boivin-Vallençant, Grand Pilier d’ Angle

Beyond good and Evil ED3 and the Rouse Carrington ED2 on the North Face of the Pelerin.

Super Couloir direct VI/6 on the Mont Blanc de Tacul.

Dru Couloir VI/5, and the Dru Couloir Direct, M8, The American Direct and a winter ascent of the classic North Face Route, all on the Petit Dru.

Madness Tres Mince, III/5, solo on the de PrèBarre.

Scotch on the Rocks 1V/7, Pinocchio IV/6+, Vol de Nuit IV/8- and Slave to the Rhythm IV/6+, all on the East Face of the Tacul.

L’Oeil au beurre noir IV/5+ on the Petites Jorasses.

There goes the neighbourhood/Cohen/Collister. Russian Roulette/Gabarrou/Silvy on the NantBlanc face of the Verte. V/5.

Overcouloir/Country Couloir Mont Maudet with new variation, V/5.

Fantasia per a Ghiacciatore Cirque Maudet V/5+ 6a.

Ceccinal/Jager, (winter) with new start. Point Lachenal. Mont Blanc du Tacul.

Colton/Brooks and Ginat, 1000m IV/5, North Face of the Droits.

Six new routes in the Rive Gauche above Argentière, Homeward Bound VIII/8, Happy House VII/7, Bringing Home the Bacon VII/8, Captain Caveman VIII/9, Encoure Une Fois VIII/8, Homage to the Homeland VII/8

Grande West Couloir on the west face of the Plan. M6 WI5+ Free ascent.

Peoples Direct ED 2 and The Cassin TD, both on the north face of the Piz Badile.

Expedition Climbing:  Peru, India, Tibet, Pakistan, Alaska, China and Nepal.

Including:

Slovak Direct, Denali South Face, Alaska. AK Grade VI WI6 M6+ A2 2700m. 1st British Ascent.

Nyainqentangla South East, Tibet. The North Buttress (ED+ 1600m).  1st ascent with Paul Ramsden which was awarded the Piolets d Ore in 2017.

Peru: New Routes:

Fear and Loathing on Jirishanca, Huayhuash range 6100m ED3 VII/6+ A2,

Central Buttress Direct on Quitaraju 6100m ED2 VII/7,

Death or Glory on Hauntsan Sur Cordillera Blanca. TD/ED. 1000m.

N.W. Face Direct solo on Ulta 5800m ED1 VI

Running on Empty, new direct finish to the Jaeger on Chacraraju. ED1

Plus ten other peaks climbed up to 6300m.

India: New Route/Alpine attempt on Meru Central (Sharks Fin) 6500m in the Garhwal, reaching 6100m on the second attempt. Retreated due to bad weather.

Changabang: An attempt to climb the second ascent of the Bordman/Tasker on the West Face. Stopped at 6200m due to lack of food, a tooth abscess, deep snow and minus twenty degree temperatures.

Kalanka north face new route attempt with Kenton Cool in 2007 reaching a height of 6300m.

Pakistan: Savoia Kangri 7263m. New route alpine attempt in the Concordia reaching a hight of 7000m and waiting for 4 days before having to retreat due to bad weather.

Nepal: Tengkang Poche 6500m. Northwest face, new route attempt. Two attempts. Failed due to illness and bad weather.

Nepal: Tengkang Poche 6500m. Northeast Face new route. Love & Hate TD, V, Solo.

Nepal: Tengkang Poche 6500m. Northwest Face, new route, Edge of Darkness. TD+/ED1 IV. 1600m.

Nepal: Phari Lapcha 6000m. North West Face, new route, Snotty’s Gully. ED+ WI 5 M5+. 1000m

Peak 41 new route attempt which turned into a solo attempt. Stopped approximately 300m beneath the summit.

Chang Himal North Face. Central Pillar. ED. M6. 1800m.

(link to film about the above and the Piolets d Or nomination for this ascent.)

Nepal, Annapurna III Southeast Ridge attempt, spring and autumn, 2010. http://annapurna3expedition.blogspot.com/

Nepal, Kyashar (Peak 43) new route attempt. Spring 2011.

Icefall & Mixed: France, Italy, Canada, Switzerland.

Including: Climbing to a grade of WI 7 and M10. Routes of note,

The Real Big Drip, M9, WI5+. Dawn of the Dead, M8+ WI 6. Rocket Man, 350m, M7+ WI5+. Man Yoga M8. Victoria’s Secret M7++. The Maul, Wedge Peak M7. Exterminator M7 WI6 2nd ascent, Replicant WI6, Fiasco M8- WI 6, Extreme Comfort M7+ WI6, Cascade de la Lyre WI 7, Folly a Droite WI 6, Sea of Vapours M7 WI 6+, T3-Terminator M7, WI 6+, Riptide WI 6/7, Chez Tone, M7+ WI 6, Les Larmes de Merlin, M8+ WI6, French Reality V 5.8 WI 6+, Drama Queen V M7 WI6, Nightmare on Wolfstreet V M7 WI 6+, Teardrop 6, Curtain Call W6, Weeping Pillar 6, Nemesis 6, Whiteman Falls 6, Dame de Lac 6, Cascade du Dard 6, Namenlos IV 6, Rübezahl IV 6, Crack Baby WI6, Alpha Säule WI6, Repentance Super WI6, Patric Directissima 5+, Blue Magic IV 5+, Weeping Wall centre 5+, Hydrophobia 5+ The sorcerer 5, Polar Circus 5. Kitty Hawk 5. Nuit Blanche 6. Tequila Stuntman M6 WI 6. Llinx WI6.

Scottish and Welsh winter Climbing:

Including: Climbing to a grade of X/10 and routes of note,

Nevermore, Lochnagar. X/10 1st winter ascent.

Winter Black Spout. IX/9. Lochnagar. 1st ascent.

Ride of the Wild Bullhorn IX/10 1st ascent on-sight, Ben Nevis.

Cracking Up IX/9. 1^st ascent, Clogwyn Ddu. Snowdonia, North Wales.

Guerdon Grooves IX/8. 2nd winter ascent after 28 years. Buachaille Etive Mor.

Pic N Mix with the Mindless Finish IX/10 1st ascent, on-sight. Corrie an Lochain.

Satyr IX/10 2nd ascent, on-sight. Stob Corrie Nan Lochain.

Godzilla. IX/8 1st ascent Beinn Bhan. Applecross. Scotland.

Cold Revenge. IX/8 1st ascent. Slime Wall, Buachaille Etive Mor.

The Wrecking Light. 1st ascent. VIII/7, Cùl Mòr.

Ice Bomb/Mind Bomb. VIII/8 1st ascent. Coire Ghranda on Beinn Dearg.

Capricorn. VIII/7. 1st ascent. Carn Dearg, Ben Nevis.

The Great Corner. VIII/8. Llech Ddu, Wales. 1st winter ascent.

Travesty, VIII/8. 1^st ascent Clogwyn Ddu. Snowdonia, North Wales.

Spaced Out. VII/7 Orion Face, Ben Nevis. 1st ascent.

Dark angel. VII/8 Church Door Buttress. 1st ascent.

Central Wall VII/7 Llech Ddu. Snowdonia. 1st ascent.

Falling Angel VII/7 Cwm Idwal, Snowdonia. 1st Ascent.

Terminator. VIII/8 Craig Ddu Snowdonia. 2nd ascent.

Avenging Angel VII/8 1^st ascent Ben Nevis.

The Pretender VII/9 1st ascent Ben Nevis.

Ruttless VII/8 1st ascent Ben Nevis.

The great Flake into The Great Corner VIII/8 1st ascent Ben Nevis.

Celtic Connection V/5 1^st ascent Stob Corrie nan Lochan.

Moonloop IV/5 1^st ascent BeindamphTorridon.

Nemesis VI/5 1^st ascent Ben Nevis Solo.

Direct finish to Interstellar Overdrive VI/5 1^st ascent Ben Nevis Solo.

Creme de Violette IX/9 1st ascent, Beinn Eighe.

Der Riesenwand Direct finish VII/7 1st ascent.Beinn Bhan.

The Shield Direct, Direct. VII/7 1st ascent, Ben Nevis.

Slenderhead VIII/8 1st ascent, Stob Coire nan Lochan.

The Cure VIII/8 1st ascent, Creag an Dubh Loch.

Making the Cut VIII/8 1st ascent, Beinn Eighe.

Minus 1 Direct VIII/8 1st ascent, Ben Nevis.

Bullhorn/Benson West Central Gully Variation route VII/7, 1st ascent, Beinn Eighe.

Nutless VI/7 1st ascent, Ben Nevis.

Feckless VI/7 1st ascent, Ben Nevis.

Snickersnap, Great Gable VIII/9 2^nd ascent, on-sight. Defenders of the Faith IX/9, Creag an Socach. Duel/En Guarde IX/9 2nd ascent, Stob Coire nan Lochan. Mort IX/9 2nd ascent, Lochnagar. Ravens Edge VII/7, 3^rd ascent. Buchelle Etive Mor, Punsters Crack VII/8, 4^th ascent, cobbler, Bulgy VII/7 Northern Corries, Central Grooves VII/7 Stob Coire nan Lochan, Han Solo, VIII/8 2nd ascent, Neanderthal VII/7 Lost Valley Buttress. Inclination VII/8, Stob Coire nan Lochan. Babylon 2^nd ascent VII/8. Darth Vader VII/8, both Coire na Ciste, Ben Nevis. The Needle VIII/8 and Citadel VII/8 Shelter Stone. Blood Sweat and Frozen Tears, Beinn Eighe. VIII/8. Nocando Crack VII/8 Northern Corries. Unicorn VIII/8, Stob Coire nan Lochan. Arthur VIII/8 Ben Nevis. Daddy Longlegs VIII/9 Northern Corries. Snoopy VII/7 Fuar Tholl. Le Panthere Rose (VI,6) 2nd ascent, Ben Nevis.