The presence of resin anchors in a cave does not necessarily mean visiting cavers are obligated to use them. If you want to learn to rig from naturals, they will still be there
The subject of ?to resin anchor or not? is always going to divide opinions, from the purists who prefer their caves totally unmodified, and their rigging entirely from natural belays, to the cavers who have come to expect and desire caves to be fitted with safe anchors for all pitches.
The balance between conservation, safety and accessibility will always be difficult to judge and we will never get it right for everyone.
I am of the belief that many cavers simply want to enjoy the caves they visit without concerns about the integrity of what their rope is hanging off. While resin anchors always require a pre-use inspection, their safety record (at least for all CNCC installed ones) speaks for itself.
Many caves which were fitted with spits, even recently, are now showing issues. I had a trip into (Get Down) Shep Pot on Leck Fell a few weeks ago, only to find two of the spits on the first pitch were unserviceable? and these are relatively recent (within the last 15 years I think).
The CNCC anchor scheme, which Simon does an excellent job coordinating, exists to see that caves in need of new anchors to enable safe descent, are fitted with resin anchors by an approved installer, using resin and anchors which have been shown to be fit for purpose. Careful consideration is given to conservation; ensuring anchors are only placed in caves where they are deemed to be needed and that their placements are not excessive. Again, this is fairly subjective, but we do our best.
We discourage the installation of new spits (or any other kind of anchor) into any major cave (i.e. particularly one that other groups will visit), especially when resin anchoring is so easily available via the CNCC scheme and provides a much safer and long-term solution.
If anyone has a desire to anchor a particular cave, please do get in touch with the CNCC before taking your own action - At the very least to just discuss it. We are not the anchor police (and we are not going to pretend to be), but we do want to try to help. We now have two trainers, and we are happy to arrange training, provide the anchors, and cover the cost of resin and consumables. In doing so you will be helping us to maintain a safe standard for all new anchor placements across our region, which I think is what the majority of the caving community would want to see.
Alex;
We understand that the need to own a drill is a little prohibitory at the moment. The anchor scheme has only just started so we have not yet given consideration to loaning equipment for enthusiastic potential installers who do not own a drill. If you have some projects you would be willing to undertake if the CNCC could loan you a drill, please let us know and we can look into possible resolutions.
Matt Ewles, CNCC Secretary