The full story, which, happily, did not get into the papers, is as follows. When my companion and I were on Dow Crag we did not suspect the presence of other climbers on the cliff until we were actually fumbling with our ropes at the top of D Buttress. I had found considerable difficulty owing to cold, mist, driving rain, and squally wind and I only caught sight of the two climbers through misted glasses. They were on a small ledge high above us, and there was no reason to suspect that they were in any difficulty. In a few seconds the mist blotted them out, and we hurried down Easy Terrace and then made for the Walna Tear track speeded by the thought of dry clothes and tea.
