Dismal Hill Rope & Maillons

[YorkshireTea]

Ola guys !

I know caving isnt renowned for immaculate kit BUT i did the through trip from Dismal Hill to Old Ing today and the rope work on the waterfall has seen better days. Dont rely on it, just use it as an aid.

I didnt have a camera on me but one section was only tied up with an overhand which released when i weighted the rope, one section has worn to JUST the core and is splitting the strands. After further inspection the maillons appear to have 3mm at the most before they go.

I did this trip about 2 months ago and the rope was in significantly better nic ! ... Safe cavings, just a heads up for you guys

 

[Joe90]

Sounds like it has loads of life left in it.

 

[susie]

I tried to replace the maillon last Saturday, but I needed a cutter to remove it. It had worn thin at the plate, so I turned it round so that the rope effectively bridged the gap.

 

[Alex]

I think one of the bolts came out as well on the later traverse across the pond, came out in the guys hand. I think next time I do that cave, I may just take some boyance and swim it. There used to be a rope on one of the ponds at water level which was great to pull yourself along if you could not be bothered traversing but that has gone now .

 

[susie]

I think one of the bolts came out as well on the later traverse across the pond, came out in the guys hand. I think next time I do that cave, I may just take some boyance and swim it. There used to be a rope on one of the ponds at water level which was great to pull yourself along if you could not be bothered traversing but that has gone now .

That is on the traverse downstream of the Dismal Hill - Baker Series sump blasted crawl, but it hasn't made much difference. I didn't get my feet wet when I did the through trip the weekend before last.

 

[YorkshireTea]

I think one of the bolts came out as well on the later traverse across the pond, came out in the guys hand. I think next time I do that cave, I may just take some boyance and swim it. There used to be a rope on one of the ponds at water level which was great to pull yourself along if you could not be bothered traversing but that has gone now .

That is on the traverse downstream of the Dismal Hill - Baker Series sump blasted crawl, but it hasn't made much difference. I didn't get my feet wet when I did the through trip the weekend before last.

yes there is a bolt out on that hand line along with one on the handline just before you get to the bottom of the new entrance shaft (from the old bedding plane) ... and like susie despite the state of things i still didnt get my feet wet, most can be done with a wide bridge or committed smear =)

 

[Simon Wilson]

Fixed aids are going to be discussed at the coming CNCC meeting. I have had an enquiry about the traverse line in Dismal Hill. I have never seen it so can anybody give some information on this traverse line? I have been told that it is in poor condition and that there might be as many as 21 anchors.

What type of anchors are they?

Who installed them?

When were they installed?

Why were they installed?

Can they be justified on conservation and safety grounds?

 

[Alex]

I can try and answer

I think they are threaded bolt anchors with in-situ hangers and rope. One popped out on us while making the traverse but luckily we did not fall in.

No idea who installed them or when I am afraid, but prob have been there a while. I don't think they were all there on my first trip through the system so I would say less than 10 years.

As to why, to stop you getting wet I presume as without them, some sections would require a swim and other sections there is a risk of a swim and it looked like it would be hard to get out of the water. So as to why, prevent risk of drowning? They traverse lines are just above the water so no risk of falling anywhere.

Before the traverse lines there used to be a line you could pull yourself along on one of the swims, which is actually easier than the traverse but of course wetter!

 

[Simon Wilson]

Let's get this straight. It's an easy through trip with a swim in a narrow canal. The purpose of the rope is simple to stop people getting wet. Somebody has installed 21 Spits and created some sort of underground via ferrata. They have then left them with carbon steel maillons and rope attached to rot away and become a hazard.

 

[ianball11]

Not quite.

Simon, I will send you an email.