WARNING, Eyam dale shaft / caulswalk, tree unstable.

[cavemanjez]

Hi all, I was doing a Eyam dale through trip with a group from our centre yesterday, when a well built member of the group grabbed the rotten tree at the shaft head, which it then flexed and moved.
I had suspected it's strength and stopped rigging to it years ago, but now worried about its stability.
I spoke to Pete knight ( Dca projects officer) about it,
We are going to take the tree out over the next few days,
And Edale will approach the Dca to fund, support, organise creating
A Dca approved ground anchor as s back up anchor for caver use.
Jez Parr

 

[Pete K]

Cheers Jez.
I suspect it might be simpler just to get caver's to bring a longer rope and rig back off one of the good trees now, I'm not sure if you could hammer in some angle deep enough for a steak anchor anyway. Will sort this out asap.

 

[cavemanjez]

I've sent an email to Jenny pots (Dca sec) to distribute but not sure if it went, jez

 

[martinm]

Hi all, I was doing a Eyam dale through trip with a group from our centre yesterday, when a well built member of the group grabbed the rotten tree at the shaft head, which it then flexed and moved.
I had suspected it's strength and stopped rigging to it years ago, but now worried about its stability.
I spoke to Pete knight ( Dca projects officer) about it,
We are going to take the tree out over the next few days,
And Edale will approach the Dca to fund, support, organise creating
A Dca approved ground anchor as s back up anchor for caver use.
Jez Parr

Take a bow saw up there, fell the tree, then use a longer rope to back up to another tree. No funding necessary... 

 

[Stu]

I should know this but can't get to check - is the entrance on a SSSI? If so would you need to be careful wandering round cutting stuff?

 

[bograt]

Just note, every tree in the National Park over 14ft height has a protection order on it and requires planning permission to fell

When it comes to funding, maybe PICA would help (with DCA support of course)

 

[Pete K]

The tree Jez is talking about is very very dead. It's been propped up across the entrance for at least the 7 years I've lived locally. The concern about SSSI is well noted but is a moot point now anyway. Having some time today, and needing to get a break from DIY, I drove over and with no tools at all brought the trunk down. It's now gone to safer place.
About time too as it was very easy to break down, it's a worry that the thing has been used as a back up anchor in recent times!

 

[Stu]

I agree it was in need of doing and good effort for getting it done.

 

[Gollum]

I have not used it as a back up for years because it has not been fit for purpose for time.

 

[DrBart]

many thanks pete, sorry for holding you up while we came back up the shaft this afternoon. Nice to see you again!

 

[Pete K]

It was a nice afternoon for a chat and it was nice to have a bit of company, I've been decorating solo for a week now at home. Good to see you out, catch you underground again some time.

 

[DrBart]

yep too.. give us a shout when you've got a spare day..

 

[2xw]

I always wondered where the belay was the book mentioned, I didn't know it was that rotten log.