rhychydwr1
Active member
JasonL said:
This sounds really serious. I think you were close to death.
Bad air / pollution / bad bolts / etc
- Thread starter bubba
- Start date
This sounds really serious. I think you were close to death.
Pete K
Well-known member
Original Post:
A team of us from the Darkside CMC dropped down P8 this lunchtime to tackle the rock. After much hauling, pushing and swearing we realized it was far firmer wedged in than was first though. 3 of us could not deliberately move it more than an inch or so. In the end the best option was to clear any other loose rocks from the area and place a small number of large rocks in a way that would further pin the main one in.
So in short, the rock is still in situ but it would take an army of determined cavers to shift it. There are far more dodgy looking rocks in the area to worry about!
It may take a while for the smaller bits of gravel and choss to settle or tumble into the streamway. The whole area is rather loose anyway so care should be taken whilst in the Flats area of the cave. Hopefully there will be no other issues.
Thanks to Faye O'Brian and Beth Brown (and her swine flu germs).
Cheers,
Pete Knight
Darkside CMC \ Edale YHA
Pete K said:
A team of us from the Darkside CMC dropped down P8 this lunchtime to tackle the rock. After much hauling, pushing and swearing we realized it was far firmer wedged in than was first though. 3 of us could not deliberately move it more than an inch or so. In the end the best option was to clear any other loose rocks from the area and place a small number of large rocks in a way that would further pin the main one in.
So in short, the rock is still in situ but it would take an army of determined cavers to shift it. There are far more dodgy looking rocks in the area to worry about!
It may take a while for the smaller bits of gravel and choss to settle or tumble into the streamway. The whole area is rather loose anyway so care should be taken whilst in the Flats area of the cave. Hopefully there will be no other issues.
Thanks to Faye O'Brian and Beth Brown (and her swine flu germs).
Cheers,
Pete Knight
Darkside CMC \ Edale YHA
jasonbirder
Member
Are the downstream pitches in Winnats head accessible now? Or still in the process of being re-bolted...
Are the spits usable if its not been re-bolted?
Are the spits usable if its not been re-bolted?
cap n chris
Well-known member
PINK RESIN:
It fractures a lot, doesn't it?
It fractures a lot, doesn't it?
JB
Member
Winnats Head - Downstream Pitches
The re-equipping of the downstream pitches in Winnats Head Cave is finished:
Pitch 1
Rope: 35m
Rigging: 6 eco anchors, 3 tapes, 1 bolt and hanger for 8mm Spit
Notes: Easy traverse to pitch-head. Descend past two deviations (second one from 8mm Spit) to rebelay and the floor.
Pitch 2
Rope: 30m
Rigging: 3 eco anchors, 1 tape
Notes: Easy traverse to pitch-head. Descend past a deviation to floor.
Pitch 3
Rope: 30m
Rigging: 4 eco anchors, 1 tape
Notes: Traverse to pitch-head. Descend past a deviation to floor.
A good trip but those boulder chokes need care and the downstream pitches are wet so best avoided if it's very wet!
Jules.
The re-equipping of the downstream pitches in Winnats Head Cave is finished:
Pitch 1
Rope: 35m
Rigging: 6 eco anchors, 3 tapes, 1 bolt and hanger for 8mm Spit
Notes: Easy traverse to pitch-head. Descend past two deviations (second one from 8mm Spit) to rebelay and the floor.
Pitch 2
Rope: 30m
Rigging: 3 eco anchors, 1 tape
Notes: Easy traverse to pitch-head. Descend past a deviation to floor.
Pitch 3
Rope: 30m
Rigging: 4 eco anchors, 1 tape
Notes: Traverse to pitch-head. Descend past a deviation to floor.
A good trip but those boulder chokes need care and the downstream pitches are wet so best avoided if it's very wet!
Jules.
Suicide Cave - Loose Bolt at top of Boulder Ramp
At the top of the boulder ramp in the main chamber the Y hang back-up bolt on the right hand wall when stood on the balcony is loose, the stone is breaking away from the bolt and has quite a bit of movemet. To make sure we backed-up to one of the boulders.
At the top of the boulder ramp in the main chamber the Y hang back-up bolt on the right hand wall when stood on the balcony is loose, the stone is breaking away from the bolt and has quite a bit of movemet. To make sure we backed-up to one of the boulders.
Pete K
Well-known member
Servo said:
I think most people may know that as the 2nd pitch (from the entrance). The bolt you mean is a Petzl Collinox (?) resin one, with the resin badly applied/cracking. Needs pulling out.
IMO there is no need for it as there are a number of large threads and spikes in the nearby boulders anyway.
Pete K
Well-known member
P8 Entrance - Loose Rock
Its no 'Windy Knoll' but....
Recent high water and frost has caused a minor slip at the entrance to P8. The steep slope above the concrete entrance has noticably slipped and on a trip there on the 13th of December myself and Adam Evans had to kick a fair few football sized rocks down to safer locations.
It all looked fairly stable when we left but anything knocked down will go straight down the entrance and into the streamway so take care.
A good time to remind ourselves that the area of a cave most prone to instability is the entrance, especially with the winter freeze-thaw cycle kicking in.
Its no 'Windy Knoll' but....
Recent high water and frost has caused a minor slip at the entrance to P8. The steep slope above the concrete entrance has noticably slipped and on a trip there on the 13th of December myself and Adam Evans had to kick a fair few football sized rocks down to safer locations.
It all looked fairly stable when we left but anything knocked down will go straight down the entrance and into the streamway so take care.
A good time to remind ourselves that the area of a cave most prone to instability is the entrance, especially with the winter freeze-thaw cycle kicking in.
JH/Speedwell boulder choke very loose
On a trip to CLiffhanger today, there was evidence of a lot of movement in the scaffolded route through the boulder piles, below the fixed ladders at the bottom of JH>
The area above the scaffold has changed significantly, with a lot of loose rock sitting above. The whole scaffold frame appears to have shifted slightly, and one of the scaf bars at least is bent. The rock has dropped down the climb which is now really quite unstable - large boulders were moving under our feet as we climbed back up. There is an almost constant flow of small pebbles down with the water. We shifted some large rocks further along the passage - these look to have come from further up.
Please be very wary in this area - it has moved within the last 2 weeks, and is still doing so. There is a lot of loose rock above the scaffold frame, and the floor below it has changed as well. The whole area is very loose underfoot, and this is not isolated to small rocks.
On a trip to CLiffhanger today, there was evidence of a lot of movement in the scaffolded route through the boulder piles, below the fixed ladders at the bottom of JH>
The area above the scaffold has changed significantly, with a lot of loose rock sitting above. The whole scaffold frame appears to have shifted slightly, and one of the scaf bars at least is bent. The rock has dropped down the climb which is now really quite unstable - large boulders were moving under our feet as we climbed back up. There is an almost constant flow of small pebbles down with the water. We shifted some large rocks further along the passage - these look to have come from further up.
Please be very wary in this area - it has moved within the last 2 weeks, and is still doing so. There is a lot of loose rock above the scaffold frame, and the floor below it has changed as well. The whole area is very loose underfoot, and this is not isolated to small rocks.
Merlin Mine, Stoney Middleton Dale
Last night there was significant movement of the false floor in the upper level on Stub Scrin, between the intersection of the main adit level and 'Shaft 1'. Some football sized boulders were also seen to fall out of the bottom of the false floor into the passage below. The collapse occurred where there is already a large pile of boulders, which are climbed over on the route through to the three shafts to the lower levels and the Merlin Pipe.
Extreme caution is advised when passing under the false floors on Stub Scrin, and in particular when exploring the upper levels.
Mark C
Last night there was significant movement of the false floor in the upper level on Stub Scrin, between the intersection of the main adit level and 'Shaft 1'. Some football sized boulders were also seen to fall out of the bottom of the false floor into the passage below. The collapse occurred where there is already a large pile of boulders, which are climbed over on the route through to the three shafts to the lower levels and the Merlin Pipe.
Extreme caution is advised when passing under the false floors on Stub Scrin, and in particular when exploring the upper levels.
Mark C
Cave_Troll
Active member
Pollution in Holme Bank Chert Mine
Was diving in Holme bank last Thursday and there was a strong Hydrocarbon smell down by pump base.
There was a similar smell in Jan but I think the fraction smells a bit lighter, although i could be wrong
Was diving in Holme bank last Thursday and there was a strong Hydrocarbon smell down by pump base.
There was a similar smell in Jan but I think the fraction smells a bit lighter, although i could be wrong
paul
Moderator
mr conners
Member
Bad Air Knotlow Waterfall Chamber
Was down on Friday night, 6 of us met up in Waterfall chamber. Had a mooch down the coffin level to fourways and then back out. Whilst waiting to jug the 210 engine shaft I felt bloody awful, light headed and tight chested and was glad to get out. Couple of lads on the way out via waterfall and the climbing shaft also complained of similar symptoms. Just wondered if this is to be expected on a Knotlow trip or a more sinister sign of C0 build up. Not been down before, I know there are many warnings about C0 but I was also informed the recent problems had been cleared up.
Thought I better post just to keep people informed.
Was down on Friday night, 6 of us met up in Waterfall chamber. Had a mooch down the coffin level to fourways and then back out. Whilst waiting to jug the 210 engine shaft I felt bloody awful, light headed and tight chested and was glad to get out. Couple of lads on the way out via waterfall and the climbing shaft also complained of similar symptoms. Just wondered if this is to be expected on a Knotlow trip or a more sinister sign of C0 build up. Not been down before, I know there are many warnings about C0 but I was also informed the recent problems had been cleared up.
Thought I better post just to keep people informed.
ditzy 24//7
Active member
had a trip down oxlow earlier, about 3 metres below the bottom of the ginging there is a wedged boulder with a crack which has left a nose of rock loose and wobbly hanging over the pitch.
next person down could do with kicking it free if their ropes are clear.
next person down could do with kicking it free if their ropes are clear.
Kicking off this particular boulder might not be a good idea. If you are thinking of doing this make sure it's not going to take a load of other stuff with it and possibly block the shaft. It could also destabilise the ginging-unless of course you can organise sorting out the consequences!!!
cap n chris
Well-known member
While kicking it might not be a good idea presumably someone who knows it is loose and potentially dangerous is doing precisely the right thing to (a) bring to the attention of other people and (b) suggest dislodging it in a controlled fashion rather than it remaining in situ for an unwitting person unware of its dangerous state to dislodge it possibly onto other people in the drop zone.
Now that it has been highlighted as possibly dangerous the duty of making it safe would surely strongly argue that it should indeed be made safe, rather than just left there until the inevitable happens.
Also I think it's a bit heavy-handed to infer that whoever spots a loose rock which needs making safe is somehow expected to remediate the cave afterwards!
Happy danglings!
Now that it has been highlighted as possibly dangerous the duty of making it safe would surely strongly argue that it should indeed be made safe, rather than just left there until the inevitable happens.
Also I think it's a bit heavy-handed to infer that whoever spots a loose rock which needs making safe is somehow expected to remediate the cave afterwards!
Happy danglings!
