Dry tooling event at Masson quarry, 7 & 8 October

[DCA]

On the weekend of 7 & 8 October there will be a dry tooling event at Masson quarry.

This year the event organisers are putting on a “park and ride” service for the climbers taking part, driving them up from near the supermarket but even so it is likely that the few sensible parking spaces on Salters Lane will be taken.

It would be prudent to avoid those 2 days if you are thinking of a trip to Great Masson or Jug Holes.

 

[Brains]

Has any one given the farmer that needs the turning space a heads up - a word up front might save a lot during or after?

 

[Stoney Boy]

Has any one given the farmer that needs the turning space a heads up - a word up front might save a lot during or after?

I don't think they did last year and it was not long after there were problems.

 

[pwhole]

This is from the website:

Please park on Matlock spa road in Matlock (near the Sainsbury’s petrol station, DE4 3TA) from where we will be running a free shuttle service up the hill. For anyone car sharing, feel free to drop your passengers off at the crag to save us a few trips. If you arrive late do not park at the end of the approach track. Either park on Matlock spa road (DE4 3TA), Matlock so you can use the park and ride at the end of the day, or park on the wide section of Bonsall Lane (DE4 2PB) and walk to the Crag.

 

[DCA]

We have just heard that the dry tooling event at Masson Quarry went well, with the organisers shuttling 50 people up and back each day and no problems with the parking (only 3 vehicles parked, 2 of which were the shuttle cars with the 3rd not belonging to cavers).
A good result.

 

[Boy Engineer]

Being a sensitive, easily shocked soul, I had been avoiding a search for the term 'dry-tooling'. Curiosity got the better of me though.
Turns out it's the ice-climbing equivalent of alcohol-free beer.

 

[RobinGriffiths]

I got caught like that once, looking for the quarrying term glory hole.

 

[ttxela2]

So have all the access concerns, plans for landfill etc. gone away up at Masson (I'm a bit out of touch).

 

[pwhole]

I wouldn't say gone away, but nothing's happened, put it that way. Hopefully after the Crooked House fiasco, 'landowners' with mysterious waste-disposal businesses may finally be thinking twice about such ventures. Also the quarry is so busy with visitors that I doubt even a bucketful could get tipped in without someone alerting the whole world. Difficult to fill a hole when it's full of climbers and cavers.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Don't know if this affects cave access but there is friction between land owners and climbers at Masson Lees quarry. Link to UKC below

UKC Forums - Masson Lees.... again

www.ukclimbing.com

No access on Sundays

 

[DCA]

In the past week we have been in contact with the agent who is handling this on the owner’s behalf.

There has never been any formal agreement about access for cavers, who have simply been allowed to use the quarry.

We have not been informed of any change in that situation.

It seems that there will be shoots every Sunday in November so cavers are advised to stay away then.

Cavers who arrive on any day when there is shooting or are told there will be shooting are advised not to continue – the shooters have the owner’s explicit permission to be there, but cavers don’t.

We hope we can get regular information on shooting days, but nothing is clear yet.

 

[cavemanmike]

Let’s hope there’s not a new sport “shoot the caver”

 

[StarburstCLA]

I ran into the clay pigeoners at Masson today with 4 of us from Nottingham Uni.

They were nice and let us continue down to the Mine without shooting us. Hopefully a sign of coexistance....

Didnt resolve the credentials of the guy I spoke to who seemed to lead the pigeoning but he did say he was in contact with the DCA and looking to resolve it all and asked me if there was anyone else he should speak to. He seemed nice and was aware of the longstanding access tradition for us even if he might prefer were not there he was still very plesant.

A note on peakdistricatcaving.info wouldn't go amiss so atleast were not stumbling in unawares.

 

[Pete K]

The access sections of the relevant entries on the Cave Registry have had a warning added regarding the shooting in the quarry. DCA (along with BMC reps) are attempting a dialog with the owner and we will update cavers when we know more.
Pete K
DCA Projects/Equipment Officer