Polite request....can people please park more considerately, quite a few angry locals tonight, including 2 local farmers who couldn't work to schedule as it wasn't possible to get tractors through.
Thanks
Saw a picture of it on Facebook. Insane.
Roaches skyline was empty today had it all to ourselves. Even quite sparse on the main crag as far as we could see. Plenty walking along the top though
When we got there about 1 pm we thought - parking full. Drove on and parked further away and walked back. Later on there was approx 15 - 20 more cars than when we arrived. Somethings gotta give☹️
Arrived at Stanage High Neb parking at 10 to find it spookily quiet. Filled up during the day, and the High Neb area itself was busy the buttresses even 5 minutes walk north were near deserted, bar the odd team. Mountain Rescue and an ambulance turned up for a Walker who’d taken a funny turn just as we were leaving so it was quite chocka then, and the Bamford lay-by and down the hill were all rammed too. Noted that they’ve installed an alternate stile down the hill though, presumably to relieve some of the pressure.
> Polite request....can people please park more considerately, quite a few angry locals tonight, including 2 local farmers who couldn't work to schedule as it wasn't possible to get tractors through.
> Thanks
Might be worth reminding people that farmers can be driving some wide stuff down the road, like twice as wide as a car.
Roaches main CP had obviously been rammed during the day as there were still lots of cars parked illegally on verges when I got there at about 4pm.
Roach end was deserted yesterday in the wind!
Yes we saw them parked on verges when we left (having arrived nice and early in the morning) about 4.00 pm
Just to update - There was an incident involving my friend needing Buxton Mountain Rescue to be called. They were very quickly on the scene but there was a large turnout so a lot of those cars possibly belonged to MR members.
This was in the afternoon around 3pm onwards.
Agreed that Windgather can be a problem.It was busy. Some owners seem to leave 10 ft between the next car resulting in less space for others. I did see one car parking in the little pull over on the bend just by the quarry. I always thought that is better used as a passing place. I had already seen a lorry having to reverse a long way.
There is more parking up the hill and it is not that far to walk. There were a number of very large households climbing today!!!!!
As of Monday you have been able to meet with people outside of your household up to a group of 6. If you’re going to nitpick rules, at least get things right...
Thanks for pointing out the twospacers. As much a part of crappy parking as the other downers. Meanwhile I just wish I had shares in the yellow road paint manufacturers.
> Just to update - There was an incident involving my friend needing Buxton Mountain Rescue to be called. They were very quickly on the scene but there was a large turnout so a lot of those cars possibly belonged to MR members.
> This was in the afternoon around 3pm onwards.
Hope your friend is OK....parking was more of a problem later on, I drove past at about 7 and it was really tight getting my car through, people had parked directly on the road on the village side of windgather. I was out with a friend trying to catch some escaped sheep, another farmer had got a few of them but the farmer couldn't get a trailer down because of the parking, hence they are now all loose again!
. I did see one car parking in the little pull over on the bend just by the quarry. I always thought that is better used as a passing place. I had already seen a lorry having to reverse a long way.
That is always a big issue....a ridiculous place to park and always causes big problems, I've literally seen people come to blows at that spot!
Sorry if I didn't make it clear but I was talking about more than 6.
I left at 4pm to take my friend to hospital after Mountain Rescue carried him to my car. It was still busy when I left.
Sorry to hear that the problem persisted after I left. My friend was kept in overnight. I am waiting for an update this morning.
Thanks to "Dave" who offered assistance and loaned his duvet jacket to keep my friend warm while we were waiting for Mountain Rescue. Sorry about your lost cam!
Generally Windgather, although small, has always been a really friendly place to climb. Always found that people very encouraging, helpful and just a great place to climb with a beautiful view.
The parking situation yesterday was the worst I've seen there. I suspect that it was at least partly due to less car sharing happening at the moment. But that doesn't excuse the selfish way that some people had parked.
I left my car at Pym Chair and had a pleasant fifteen minute ish walk down to the crag. Walking back at dusk there was a nice sunset - as there often is at Windgather, I find.
roads that are the same width now as when the average agricultural vehicle was only the width of a car.
But the farmer with his fully loaded hay wagon didn't have to contend with idiot rock climbers.
It was the perfect storm:
Not to excuse the poor parking, but the desire to go climbing (and see mates for the first time this year) is pretty strong. Hopefully as the days lengthen we can spread further away from the same crags
FWIW we parked near Pym Chair too, it's a flat 15min walk - good warm up
Both Andy's
Good shout thanks for pointing out Pym Chair...was going to cycle up tonight....I'll be lazy now!
cheers
> FWIW we parked near Pym Chair too, it's a flat 15min walk - good warm up
Or indeed if you absolutely *must* go to Windgather you could just walk up from the reservoir and various points on The Street. Good mountain crag approach training.
Don't be so reckless. Today you're encouraging outdoor hobbyists to walk, and tomorrow all of our brilliant remote and mountain crags are going to be overwhelmed with the influx of people who had never before considered using their legs.
(Seriously, why are so many people so disinclined to use their legs to get to climbing — whether that be long approaches or just walking from sensible parking?)
That's the big problem with windgather....no walk in and a great view! I must admit to driving there myself so many times....and I live in Kettleshulme!!!
Hi, hope your friend's OK
Was up there v early this morning and found a few bits of kit lying around, inluding a cam ? left note on gate but if any of it's yours or Daves give us a shout and we'll sort something out re' getting it to you.
Really appreciate your honesty and your consideration, especially as we tend to throw gear into rucksacks in those circumstances.
We did pack up quickly but I have all of my cams. I know one of Dave's cams was stuck low down on Middle Buttress. As we left there were 2 other pieces of Dave's gear in the same buttress. (Dave was showing people how to place gear)
My friend is still in hospital and is expecting an operation tomorrow. Ironically he'd stopped climbing. I'd led a route and he belayed me up the same route so I could retrieve my gear. It was just a simple slip off the sloping ledge at the top of Middle Buttress. Thanks again for your concern.
cam still there this evening I think
Update re incident.
I mentioned a friend incident involving mountain rescue. Lost Scarpa rock shoes, small hexes, and sling. In the haste to get my friend to hospital we left the above items at the crag.
I posted this up on lost and found but conscious not everyone reads them and was believe a number of clubs used the crag after we had gone.
Thanks
Hi,
Got the Scarpa rock shoes, small hexes, and the sling, as well as the cam ... give us a shout and I'll get them to you.
Scott
scott
sorry about my rather short reply earlier. I was messaging from A&E after going over the bars on my MTB. Looks like 3+ months out of action for me.
Thanks for letting me know about the gear. You can e mail me at my ukc user name @gmail.com
I have let me friend know the good news. We can communicate as to return of the gear.
Thanks