Stay out of the road! (at Rumney)

mountainproject.com/v/dylan…

"The Rumney Police Department will continue to conduct extra patrols throughout the 2010 climbing season on the Buffalo Road. The goal of the patrols remains increasing the awareness of motorists and pedestrians of the hazards associated with the volume of traffic on the Buffalo Road.

Enforcement measures may include: warnings, citations and towing. All are encouraged to follow state and local regulations regarding speed, parking and pedestrian traffic.

William H. Main
Chief of Police
Rumney, NH
603-786-2149"

Well now you know how useful those big pads can be.

Those college kids are probably wondering who the creeper is taking pictures of them. Surely there is some local environmental cause where you could direct your anger.

God forbid we walk on the roads instead of driving on them. I say run them over.

It is important in Rumney to stay on the left side of the road. The locals hate when people walk in the middle of the road and is the only thing that could potentially get the climbing community at Rumney in trouble.

Please for all of our sake walk on the left side of the road and when a car comes step off the road onto the dirt and give a friendly wave.

Dudemanguybro wrote:Time and time again boulders prove to be the most obnoxious part of the climbing community.

Why must people look down on a part of the sport we all love...

I think it is more a result of a generation where many have not been inculcated with some basic common sense and manners, not necessarily being boulderers. It is funny, but some of the worst offenders I have seen at Rumney have been groups of kids from Dartmouth. You would think they would be well brought up, but it seems some have just become spoiled brats who expect every body else will get out of their way and clean up after them. I have seen whole troops of them scrambling up and eroding embankments off the road or making shortcuts on trail switchbacks just to get somewhere a little faster. These people wondering around in the road are so into themselves that they have no clue that there is a whole community of non climbers who live and use the area and just want to get to the dump without worrying about running into a line of kids across the road as they come around a bend.
By the way, I am not slamming all Dartmouth students. Many are very likable. I'm just using them as an example.

M Sprague wrote:I think it is more a result of a generation where many have not been inculcated with some basic common sense and manners, not necessarily being boulderers. It is funny, but some of the worst offenders I have seen at Rumney have been groups of kids from Dartmouth. You would think they would be well brought up, but it seems some have just become spoiled brats who expect every body else will get out of their way and clean up after them. I have seen whole troops of them scrambling up and eroding embankments off the road or making shortcuts on trail switchbacks just to get somewhere a little faster. These people wondering around in the road are so into themselves that they have no clue that there is a whole community of non climbers who live and use the area and just want to get to the dump without worrying about running into a line of kids across the road as they come around a bend. By the way, I am not slamming all Dartmouth students. Many are very likable. I'm just using them as an example.

+1

I also see it when it is somebody who is new to the sport, I try to educate people I see making bad choices like this and let them know why they should not be doing what ever it is they are doing whether it be walking in the road, parking illegally, or top roping off the anchors. Everybody needs to be educated so they will not ruin it for the rest of us.

For the record i did not take that picture. The picture was taken by someone in that group of climbers and posted here on MP.

the quote was taken from an NEClimbs post by the chief of police in rumney who is a climber friendly person and nice guy who has given people a break for YEARS about parking on the road and being douches by walking in the middle. He has now started towing and ticketing people because warnings and seconds chances were thrown back in his face and not respected. so now you get what you get and if you get off the crag to a missing car then it sucks to be you.

and it is roped climbers and boulderers both who walk in the road and on the wrong side all the fucking time and it is right in the guidebook to stay on the left and not be a dick.

more idiots today... it boggles my mind why people would want to walk so that they couldn't see cars coming. it's like oo i want to be run over from behind!!

Mark is spot on, I see this behavior all the time at rumney. I can see it as a generational thing for shure but its also that there are more and more people climbing in the present day so you are bound to have some folks who cant grasp the common sense mindset. I witnessed this first hand also at cathedral ledge when a large rockfall happend when a incompetent party was climbing retaliation. Its a serious dance we boogie to.

I haven't been to Rumney in a long time but isn't there a tril now from the parking lot to the Darth Vader junction.And if there is why don't people use it.

joshua corbett wrote:I haven't been to Rumney in a long time but isn't there a tril now from the parking lot to the Darth Vader junction.And if there is why don't people use it.

The reason people dont use it is because it isn't broadcasted well and for boulderers (this isnt a slam on boulders, i love bouldering) especially it doesn't lead directly to blackjack, there is another trail that parallels the road mapped out but it isnt read for travel yet...

Yep, It is a forest service plan to make the trail that goes there but they have not started it yet. As of now it is very loose dirt and leaves on a pretty good side slope so it's not even walkable.

That part of the trail idea is really unworkable. But really, it is not that far out of your way to take the blue flagged Short Cut trail (starts up the stairs going toward Armed and Dangerous, but breaks left over the 5.8 crag). If instead of heading up over Monsters, continue straight on the fainter trail (flagged also) that runs below Monsters and straight into the Blackjacks. It goes by other nice bouldering areas on the way too. There is bouldering above monsters also.

If the FS finished the trail from the small parking lot to the beginning of the "Short Cut Trail" and had a really good sign, people would be immediately off the trail. It looks like it could be done in a day or two by a crew

M Sprague wrote:That part of the trail idea is really unworkable. But really, it is not that far out of your way to take the blue flagged Short Cut trail (starts up the stairs going toward Armed and Dangerous, but breaks left over the 5.8 crag). If instead of heading up over Monsters, continue straight on the fainter trail (flagged also) that runs below and Monsters and straight into the Blackjacks. It goes by other nice bouldering areas on the way too. There is bouldering above monsters also. If the FS finished the trail from the small parking lot to the beginning of the "Short Cut Trail" and had a really good sign, people would be immediately off the trail. It looks like it could be done in a day or two by a crew

Does anybody know if the forest service plans to come and do the trail that runs parallel with the road or does it now fall on the shoulders of the climbers to do it?

In defense of Jake's second pic, if they didn't read the guide they are walking with traffic which is actually the correct thing to do, on the other hand if they have the book they're idiots. As for the first pic just idiots. I hope this type of thing doesn't ruin it for the rest of us.

The original group pictured was from a picture they posted on mountain project. I was not there. the second picture we were quite far away and not going in that direction so we were not able to talk to them. I have talked to many.. many many many many groups doing the wrong thing. Some move over. some tell us to fuck off. For one it is at least a state law to be on that side so they could technically be ticketed if a cop was to drive by.

It is clearly stated in the guidebook and kiosks to be on the right side facing traffic. It shouldn't have to be told as much as it is. That and parking on the road are the only 2 things that the local folks get pissed about and are both so simple to avoid.

pooler wrote:In defense of Jake's second pic, if they didn't read the guide they are walking with traffic which is actually the correct thing to do, on the other hand if they have the book they're idiots. As for the first pic just idiots. I hope this type of thing doesn't ruin it for the rest of us.

WRONG This is NOT the correct thing to do. walking AGAINST Traffic is the Law in MA, NH, RI, and who knows how many other states. you ride your BIKE with traffic because you are considered a vehicle. you walk AGAINST it so you can see cars coming.

"I would like to remind all pedestrians that for safety reasons you should always walk facing traffic. This allows the pedestrian the ability to watch the on coming traffic and take any needed action to avoid problems and remain safe. This is also a requirement under the NH Law."
plainfieldnh.org/police.html

by the way it is also NY state law also so you should revise your actions accordingly.
nysgtsc.state.ny.us/peds-vt… section 1156

I am working at Dartmouth and I also lead a sport climbing class at the college. I stress the importance of walking against traffic in a single file line; amongst other things.

To call out climbers from Dartmouth for an issue that may not be entirely, or easily attributed to one group, is not fair. To say that they are the worst offenders is misguided irritation.

It is very important to continue to let people know the proper way to access cliffs as this is really the only time that climbers are visible to residents of the town, and to do this in a cordial manner.

I agree that it can be frustrating to see people not following the information in the guidebook, and also not reading the postings at the kiosks. I too have let people know that they should be not walk in the center of the road and people can be jerks.

But that doesn’t give anyone the right to be a twitch in a forum, or to lump all people in the same category. Say it to their face as it is happening.

I think many of the offenders are infrequent day users or weekend folks that have no clue. Let’s get some signs back on some of the telephone poles. Or leave it to the Chief.

Also the 2nd photo shows that at least 2 out of the three are on the side of the road albeit facing the wrong way but it's not like the first photo.

Rose, it is good that you inform your classes on how things should be done. I posted to bring up the issue once again since summer is starting and more people are going out there. I see all different groups doing it wrong and don't remember where any of them were from.

walking with traffic is just plain dangerous especially on buffalo road. people drive way too fast and take corners way wider or tighter due to that speed and if you don't see folks coming then you could be in for a world of hurt.

I plan to print out the section of the NH law i posted earlier to hand to people who argue about changing sides. Maybe if it's in black and white people will get it. Some laminated signs would also be a good addition

hell last summer i had one group argue that they didn't want to end up like the kids in the memorial on the left side.. they were clearly too stupid to know that that was a car crash not a pedestrian accident