Eldon Hole - Trip Report

[Mark Wright]

Thanks for the offer of the scaffold board but no thanks we don't use them.

No problem going down into the dig but be very careful as there are a lot of bones in the floor of the dig which could be damaged.

It would be best to avoid the place on Sunday though as we are filming Britains Ancient Tracks with Tony Robinson.

Mark

 

[nickwilliams]

Tim, we'll have the scaff. plank for Bullpit if you need to find a home for it.

 

[Cave_Troll]

sold.

and i'll not go down eldon on sunday

 

[mudman]

Thanks for the offer of the scaffold board but no thanks we don't use them.

No problem going down into the dig but be very careful as there are a lot of bones in the floor of the dig which could be damaged.

It would be best to avoid the place on Sunday though as we are filming Britains Ancient Tracks with Tony Robinson.

Mark

Just out of interest, could you say why you don't use scaffolding planks?
Thanks.

 

[Mark Wright]

Hi,

We will only be using 6"x1" tanalised (or similar treated) planks for the dig with the occasional 4" plank slotted in here and there. Sadly we will have to buy the materials. Badlad taught me very quickly that it's not worth trying to shoe- horn in free materials of irregular sizes that won't last. Best to bite the bullet and buy the kit to do the job properly.

Cheers for the offer though.

Mark

As Mark R. pointed out a couple of years ago, we only use 6' x 1' tanalised timber for the dig with the odd 4" plank used to fill in the gaps. Scaffold boards aren't treated, are too thick, too long, too wide, very heavy (especially when wet) and very very expensive.

Mark

 

[mudman]

Hi,

We will only be using 6"x1" tanalised (or similar treated) planks for the dig with the occasional 4" plank slotted in here and there. Sadly we will have to buy the materials. Badlad taught me very quickly that it's not worth trying to shoe- horn in free materials of irregular sizes that won't last. Best to bite the bullet and buy the kit to do the job properly.

Cheers for the offer though.

Mark

As Mark R. pointed out a couple of years ago, we only use 6' x 1' tanalised timber for the dig with the odd 4" plank used to fill in the gaps. Scaffold boards aren't treated, are too thick, too long, too wide, very heavy (especially when wet) and very very expensive.

Mark

Thanks Mark.

 

[Mrs Trellis]

Has work on the project stopped because of the discovery of human remains?

 

[Mark Wright]

Has work on the project stopped because of the discovery of human remains?

See posts 519 & 536

Mark

 

[Mark Wright]

After a long break Mark Richardson and me were down Eldon Hole tonight.

No digging but we did finally get Damocles re-rigged. We installed a couple of protected webbing slings and a couple of months ago we installed 5 x Petzl Collinox anchors and new connectors on all of the up pitches and tonight we carried out the 15 second, 6kN axial pull tests (they all passed) and installed a 60m single newish 11mm rope all the way from the very top to the anchor at the top of the pull-through pitch from the main chamber.

3 x Petzl Collinox anchors were also installed and tested at the base of the pull-through pitch as the previous anchors were now underneath our digging spoil. 

Another Petzl Collinox was installed and tested on the very last re-belay on the West entrance route, instead of the wobbly hanger that we have been using since we started the project.

We opted for Collinox anchors and the glass resin tubes as an alternative to the BCA anchors which would ruin the placements if they ever had to be removed. Technically, as DCA/BCA don't cover fixed ropes, these anchors fall outside of the BCA anchor scheme.

All the old rope was removed from the cave.

You will still need to take a rope for the pull-through pitch out of the main chamber. 

Mark

 

[pwhole]

Good stuff Mark. It's time I had a visit again soon.

 

[Tangent_tracker]

Good to hear you're heading back shortly! BTW was the show ever televised?

 

[alastairgott]

They keep badgering away, and you hear the odd report from springwatch of badgers being spotted under Eldon hill.

 

[Badlad]

Have those ancient bones had a dark effect on the badgers?  See the Easter satanic ritual below...

 

[mch]

 

[Boy Engineer]

I trust the head was subject to the "5 second" rule.

We have kitchen units now so no longer have to prepare food at floor level. 

 

[chunky]

The paw was very tasty! You do need to be quick though as a tap on wrist with that blade would leave a scratch!

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