Warning - Suicide Cave, Winnats Pass

Pete K

Well-known member
Warning - Suicide Cave, Winnats Pass.
There has always been a nasty bit of rock on the wall at the far pitch in the roof. Last night we attempted to remove this once and for all which successfully ended with about half a ton being redistributed to the floor.
https://youtu.be/q8ZcEieAkEc
Removing this section revealed a lot more loose rock, one section of which is very close to the P anchor or may even contain it. The other being at least a ton.

The route along at floor level is still open but does have a good selection of new rocks. 1st & 2nd pitches do not seem to be affected.

Pete Knight
PICA Chairman / DCA Projects
 

Attachments

  • Suicide far pitch BEFORE (1).jpg
    Suicide far pitch BEFORE (1).jpg
    114.8 KB · Views: 1,198
  • Suicide far pitch AFTER (1).jpg
    Suicide far pitch AFTER (1).jpg
    82.6 KB · Views: 258
  • Suicide far pitch (6)_LI (1).jpg
    Suicide far pitch (6)_LI (1).jpg
    108.2 KB · Views: 530

Pete K

Well-known member
Update 16/10/17

Plans are in motion to secure this loose area of rock at the far pitch. I'd recommend cavers stay away from this part of the cave until remedial works have been completed and the anchors have been inspected for their integrity. Safety notices may well appear in or at the cave in the near future. DCA will update via web and social media when the work is completed.
 

Pete K

Well-known member
Update 20/10/17

Today a chain barrier was installed in the cave just prior to the scramble up to the 1st pitch. This was done in consultation with NT and is merely a visual barrier and warning for members of the public straying into the cave. The idea being that they are less likely to wonder off past a safety barrier with their mobile phone lights and should therefore stay well clear of the far pitch instability. This is NOT an access restriction to cavers and nothing has changed in that regards. Simply lift the left side of the chain and duck under.
Nothing has yet been done to stabilise the far pitch or assess the anchors so it is still suggested that cavers give that part of the system a miss for the time being. The rest of the system is as it has always been.
 

Attachments

  • 20171020_094526847_iOS (2).jpg
    20171020_094526847_iOS (2).jpg
    71.9 KB · Views: 983

Pete K

Well-known member
Would the next moderator who views this mind pinging me a message please? I have a little change I'd like to make to the 1st post if possible.
 

Pete K

Well-known member
Update 28-10-17

In response to a request from the National Trust, the DCA meeting today decided that the anchors on the far pitch will be removed due to concerns with the stability of the rock in the area of the pitch and in which some of the anchors are installed. The anchor removal may not occur for a few weeks depending on workload. To mitigate the loss of this pitch for training, the DCA and NT are prepared to re-equip another pitch in the near-entrance area with resin anchors should cavers request it. Please contact the DCA Equipment Officer to make suggestions if you feel this would be a benefit to cavers.

Pete Knight
DCA Projects (on behalf of Bob Dearman, DCA Equipment Officer).
 

Pete K

Well-known member
Update 6-11-17 - WORK COMPLETED

The anchors on the far pitch have now been removed. This comprised of the 3 x P anchors immediately at the pitch head and the 2 x P anchors (and several Spit sleeves) on the approach. The 2 x P anchors at the top of the slippery climb up to this area appear to be in sound rock and were left in situ as they give a good place to practice rigging handlines / belays.
The DCA has no plans to replace any anchors in the far pitch area, the rock quality is just not sufficient to be 100% sure of a safe pitch.
 

Attachments

  • Suicide Cave anchor removal SMALL.jpg
    Suicide Cave anchor removal SMALL.jpg
    284.8 KB · Views: 641
Top