Legality of climbing roadside flows

We all see those beautiful lines forming on 93 and 89, and probably elsewhere. They are Mentone in the swain ice book. I remember a thread about them once a long time ago.  Does anyone know of they are legal.  Provided you park legally and not on the shoulder it should technically be allowed I would think.  Hoping someone smarter than me can speak to it.

Climbing roadside ice along an interstate is basically an invitation for a visit by a state trooper, and depending on the trooper, might not be a particularly positive experience. At best you will be ordered down. At worst, well trespassing, disorderly person, obstructing traffic are some of the possible charges. I have heard stories of a trooper approaching climbers on a flow next to Route 2 ( mentioned in Swain's book) and asking how the conditions were, but that story ( even if not apocryphal) is far from the norm. I know how tempting some of those flows look, but I think it is best to check out some of the many 'safer' options that Todd describes.

Back in high school (1970s) we used to climb at the best ice area in Rhode Island, K-295. Basically we soloed until the cops showed up, then ran away.  I would expect the same or worse.

...I doubt you’d get away with climbing any of those flows. Back in the early 90s I went out with some friends at like 4AM on some of the flows on 93 north in Manchester and had the SP give us 15 minutes to be on our way or else! 

Winding Stair gap is a big road cut in western NC where US 64 cuts through the main divide. 150’ tall in three 80 degree tiers. In ‘90, back before many people knew about it (and the south wasn’t covered up with frickin’ ice climbers), I was about 25’ up leading one of the lines when a state trooper pulls over, gets out, walks over, and looks up at me. ‘What you boys doing.’

Duh. ‘We’re climbing this ice.’

’I seen that. You need a rope. Not safe to climb here without a rope.’ I figure out that he’s probably seen someone top roping before and expects to see the rope coming down from above. I lift up a bight. ‘I’ve got a rope.’ I don’t have any pro in, but I’ve got a rope. He gets a confused look and says, ‘Well okay, as long as you’ve got a rope,’ gets back in his car and drives away. Still cracks me up.

The climbs start 50’ from the edge of the wide shoulder and the ground’s all flat, so there’s ample parking and you can belay from your heated seat. It’s at over 4000’ and the wall that ices up faces due north, so it’s one of the most reliable crags in the SE. Not an interstate, though a US highway and the main E/W route through the mountains, but as far as I know climbing access has never formally been addressed by anyone. The troopers just seem to have accepted it. The upshot is that it is a f—-ing zoo. TRs everywhere, large numbers of climbers milling about, (why on earth does anyone want to ‘grow’ climbing), locals pulling over and gawking at it all. It is amazing no one has been killed. Access is just too easy, and that’s why you should be careful what you wish for.

I have looked at those lines many times.  Get a white one piece suit, get a light rope, wrap everything in white tape, move slowly and methodically, and climb all you want.  

Someone from Vermont should write there state reps and the chamber of commerce; there should be 4 designated Sundays in vt when ice climbing is permitted on the big interstate ice flows as a special event. will keep some state troopers occupied and close down a lane of interstate traffic. basically, everybody wins.

dave custerwrote:

Someone from Vermont should write there state reps and the chamber of commerce; there should be 4 designated Sundays in vt when ice climbing is permitted on the big interstate ice flows as a special event. will keep some state troopers occupied and close down a lane of interstate traffic. basically, everybody wins.

I think you just volunteered. Send a copy to nh legislation while your at it please

Nick Innhwrote:

I think you just volunteered. Send a copy to nh legislation while your at it please

Know any old quarries for sale? Building a farmer ice park seems like it could be a fun thing

Insert namewrote:

Know any old quarries for sale? Building a farmer ice park seems like it could be a fun thing

That would be rad

The one in st J is wicked tempting. I will probably give it a go one of these days. 

dave custerwrote:

Someone from Vermont should write there state reps and the chamber of commerce; there should be 4 designated Sundays in vt when ice climbing is permitted on the big interstate ice flows as a special event. will keep some state troopers occupied and close down a lane of interstate traffic. basically, everybody wins.

Pay for enough troopers their overtime rate as detail work (which is mandatory to close highway lanes), fill out a stack of permits and waivers, and they might actually go for it.

NFL  is least  suited for other sports.  They train  in spurts and only perform for 8 to 15 seconds at a time.  They all have injuries  to deal with  and are  riddled with assholes.   All that being said they  have the drive to succeed.  Just not as suited to the sport as gymnasts , martial artists  and many other pro athletes.  

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

NFL  is least  suited for other sports.  They train  in spurts and only perform for 8 to 15 seconds at a time.  They all have injuries  to deal with  and are  riddled with assholes.   All that being said they  have the drive to succeed.  Just not as suited to the sport as gymnasts , martial artists  and many other pro athletes.  

Wrong thread unless they are climbing roadside ice.

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

NFL  is least  suited for other sports.  They train  in spurts and only perform for 8 to 15 seconds at a time.  They all have injuries  to deal with  and are  riddled with assholes.   All that being said they  have the drive to succeed.  Just not as suited to the sport as gymnasts , martial artists  and many other pro athletes.  

LOL! Oops. Someone buy this man another cuppa coffee!

;-)

Wrong thread indeed. its for the old farts. St J ice is stellar looking. I sussed out the parking situation  and think I could find the correct secondary road. It has to be a solo. Ropeing up for roadside ice is against the  Rulze... (my Rulze)  top outs can be terrifying... 

Ward Smithwrote:

Back in high school (1970s) we used to climb at the best ice area in Rhode Island, K-295. Basically we soloed until the cops showed up, then ran away.  I would expect the same or worse.

Joe Goudreau and I climbed those routes at the exit ramp of 295 at night. Never got caught.  We rappelled in.  

Nobody told you we were gonna be out here today? Did DOT forget to post the notice again? Ice stability testing. New highways regs. The inspector up there puts in these different length screws and the core sample comes out. He's shouting "ice!" meaning it didn't hit rock. Yeah, yeah you'd better step away, that's why we have the helmets on. 

Brianwrote:

Joe Goudreau and I climbed those routes at the exit ramp of 295 at night. Never got caught.  We rappelled in.  

Centerdale exit, that one has street lights too! Much better odds of getting away with it than the ones along the highway itself.

Petey Gil-Montllorwrote:

Nobody told you we were gonna be out here today? Did DOT forget to post the notice again? Ice stability testing. New highways regs. The inspector up there puts in these different length screws and the core sample comes out. He's shouting "ice!" meaning it didn't hit rock. Yeah, yeah you'd better step away, that's why we have the helmets on. 

Brilliant. Where's my hi vis vest

Vest, hard hat and a clipboard will get you just about anywheres.