Skears low level.

Mine donkey

New member
Hi all. Just a heads up if anyones planning to do the through trip from Firestone level.

The roofs come down in the boulder clay section 100m inbye of the portal.
The waters currently about 2 feet above the arching where it’s known to sump, so there is currently no way of getting out for anyone attempting the through trip.
 

legendrider

Active member
Yes, this was discovered the hard way by rescuers who did it as a pull-through, after the recent multi-agency rescue of a trio of inexperienced explorers who got stuck in the horror which is the first pitch from the D2 Vein sublevel. Even if Skears were a wheelchair-friendly walk-out it would be a hard trip - I would advise against anyone (except maybe Leif and Heb) attempting it. I opened the route and did the first Through in May 1993 with Alex F and Adam H, and again a few years later; I doubt I'd ever want to do it again.
 

tomferry

Well-known member
I am absolutely clueless about this place but am interested being a mine explorer myself what makes it so hard , is it srt ? Crawling ? Or risk of getting lost .

Cheers Tom
 

christwigg

New member
Instability, the top pitch is a collapsing ore hopper which often needs digging out when you reach the bottom.
The lower level is prone to collapse and flooding as mentioned by the original poster.

We did it as a CATMHS trip about 10 years ago and went the week before to rig and check it was clear and the week after to derig.
Turning up and expecting to simply knock off a straightforward pull-thru can catch people out.
 

hobbitcaver

New member
54363A06-550B-4C6A-B291-B7328523A48B.jpeg It’s down a little bit after a little digging but still would not recommend it
 

legendrider

Active member
Needs a dedicated team to clear it properly, with full consideration for spoil removal and disposal. Unfortunately I'm committed to other long-term projects elsewhere otherwise I might have run with it myself. MARK
 

hobbitcaver

New member
Needs a dedicated team to clear it properly, with full consideration for spoil removal and disposal. Unfortunately I'm committed to other long-term projects elsewhere otherwise I might have run with it myself. MARK
If you ever get round to it I don’t mine having another go at it.
 

legendrider

Active member
Thanks for that - good to hear that someone's up for repairing and maintaining.
WRT Tomferry's comment - it is a hard enough trip without this new collapse. When you drop out of the hopper on D2 Vein you're straight into waist-deep cryogenic fluid till you get to D/E junction!
MARK
 
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