In this time of distancing here we are..
I have two pads and no spotters, any advice for where I can go where landings aren't too bad?
Great Wolfrey should give you some privacy.
Great Wolfrey is not a good place for solo visits... its a long walk and has lots of hidden holes as you near the crag.. some might break your ankle and others have been known to swallow sheep (I know as I rescued one).
Lots and lots of short problems and routes at Twisleton, towards the right end. Some of the tiers at Attermire too. The incredibly unfashionable limestone will ensure you'll be completely on your own (apart from the b*stard retro bolters).
West Vale (Greetland Quarry) AKA West Vale. The landings are A1, the long traverse is a proper stamina fest but the location (and occasional seeping pigshit) could be better.
Rylstone has some good problems and landings. 30mins walk. Maybe worth a look?
Gate house crag, awesome little place 20 mins from the parking, safe landings, great range of grades.
As an outsider I found the location fine? Nice little sun trap whilst there’s still a bit of a chill in the air!
Shhhhh!
None. Stay at home. Don’t be selfish.
Dry at the moment. Was there after work last night. Be aware it may have more of our bored kids than normal with the school closed.
Not exactly secluded either! A lot of dog walkers.
Avoid Bridestones, the rock is trashed as it is.
Have a wander up to Hawkstones.
Great call for solo bouldering. Really don't know whether the op should climb right know or not though. For myself I wouldn't.
None, stay at home.
I can walk to Slipstones but very few can do that at the moment.
The point is that any accident puts even more stress on the health service and emergency services. Just because there are other selfish people helping to spread this awful virus by going to edges etc., it doesn't mean one has to join in! We will get through this time quicker if everyone follows what they have been told, hard though it is.
Don't forget a lot of people have had their livelihoods curtailed, so missing climbing for a while doesn't seem quite as bad.
This time is not some sort of 'free' holiday
'Grit' your teeth and stay in!
Some of us are retired Nigel. I've just been for a short bike ride from my house near Masham not far, but I guess I could have had an accident. I'm now going out in the garden to do some jobs. Then i shall make lunch. There are potential accidents all around.
But we are staying well clear of contact with other people.
Just attaching the BMC advice on this subject (made just before the office closed) as its still not so well known.
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/climbing-and-hill-walking-its-time-to-put-it-on-ho...
> As an outsider I found the location fine? Nice little sun trap whilst there’s still a bit of a chill in the air!
It's not exactly "far from the madding crowd" though, is it?
All a bit academic right now of course...
I've only encounter one or two dog walkers on my handful of visits.. day time midweek though which probably helped it feel somewhat more remote
Please don't.
The advice is clear. Do not climb and that includes bouldering. Exercise local and low risk (go low level walking or cycling from your front door) is what the guidance states. This is really not about you and anyone else trying to turn the guidance into something that justifies you going climbing or bouldering.
Spreading the virus is a real risk. You have no way whatsoever of knowing if you have it but might be asymptomatic and spreading it...no matter how careful you think are being.
Even a minor climbing/bouldering incident requires a disproportionate amount of resources compared to that incident being roadside. Mtn Rescue Teams are at reduced or seriously depleted capacity due to this already and DO NOT HAVE ANY FORM OF SPECIFIC PPE to protect themselves with in the event of an incident, so you really are putting them at risk.
Also the public backlash against climbing would be immense and at some point we will be trying to get these restrictions eased as soon as it's safe to do so.
Elfyn Jones
BMC Access & Conservation officer
Don't use any sharp knives and don't go up any ladders!!!
...and if you go out on your bike put the stabilisers back on!!
Now lets not be flippant Nigel! But I did use a sharp knife when cut I some hard cheese preparing cheese on toast for tea.
Please take note I no longer climb or boulder. Last climb I did was in 1980's but still enjoy visiting local crags i.e. Slipstones.
But we all have to follow the latest guidance. Point taken.
> Avoid Bridestones, the rock is trashed as it is.
What an odd request, don't go to bridestones because the rock is trashed, go elsewhere and trash that.
I have often wondered that if we had tolerated that cheating French stuff at venues like bridestones it might have helped to stabilise the rock. Probably too late now.
Terrace wall at Malham, place your 2 mats appropriately and you should be fine.
😁
Not as barmy as you may think! I soloed a new route up there many moons ago. Just got a little scary when you got high and dont land running backwards!
By car???
This was posted before the government asked people not to go out!
Elfyn I totally agree with what you have said but please, the post was put up before the government announced the restrictions as such I fel your reply should have an apology with it. This was a perfectly acceptable question on the date recorded.
> the post was put up before the government announced the restrictions as such I fel your reply should have an apology with it
Elfyn's post wasn't premature, the government's recommendations were late. If anyone should be apologising it's them.
So what you're really saying is that it's big boys rules. Get hurt and it's for you to deal with, don't expect rescue. Really just like mountaineering in remote locations or 1970s mentality. Don't fall.
> Get hurt and it's for you to deal with, don't expect rescue.
Except that you almost certainly will be rescued, because that's just what MRT's do regardless of whatever operational challenges they are facing - you may wait longer for rescue, and then you'll be putting your rescuers at some risk of infection. "Big boys rules" (girls also) involve accepting risks for yourself, not imposing them on others.
But with all the wrangling on several different threads about what is more risky that what, how dangerous it is to drive, cycle whatever, blah blah blah, perhaps it's important not to gloss over this part of Elfyn's post:
"Also the public backlash against climbing would be immense and at some point we will be trying to get these restrictions eased as soon as it's safe to do so."
It would be *so* easy for just a couple of people to go out and make us all look like selfish dickheads in the eyes of the public, legislators and landowners, which could have a detrimental effect on how the 'lockdown' progresses for us and how it's lifted, and potentially on access negotiations everywhere for years to come.
It's not just climbers making these sacrifices for a little while, gliders aren't gliding, cavers aren't caving, kayakers aren't kayaking. People have even stopped playing golf ffs.