









It was a majestic sight today as herds of top-ropers swept across the foot of Stanage rigging every unoccupied route. Often they would congregate together in what are known as gaggles either to breed, share cigarettes or to seek safety in numbers from marauding pairs of lead climbers. These heartless creatures sometimes snatch routes from under the very noses of inattentive top ropers who then have to suffer the blood curdling roars of disapproval as their ropes snake down around the necks of the prowling predators……..