Kingsdale Master Cave incident on Sunday (06/08/23).

[AlasdairRoberts]

Can I just say a huge thank you to the two guys who helped me out of the Kingsdale master cave on Sunday after my chest jammer got stuck on the rope and I had to cut it. I am extremely grateful.

 

[Edwardov]

Glad you got out safely.

How did your chest jammer get stuck? Useful to know so others can avoid it.

 

[AlasdairRoberts]

Absolutely no idea. I was only 4 or 5 feet up. It just wouldn't feed through. It was as if the cam had twisted slightly and got stuck. I tried everything to get my weight off it and release it but it wouldn't budge. It's a CT Evo and it's the first time I've ever had a problem with it.

 

[JJ]

No problem, glad we could help

 

[AlasdairRoberts]

No problem, glad we could help

You're both stars. Thank you!

 

[mikem]

That is worrying, as it could create a major problem on bigger pitches. Did you take it home to investigate?

 

[AlasdairRoberts]

That is worrying, as it could create a major problem on bigger pitches. Did you take it home to investigate?

Yes, I'm not sure what happened at all. It worked fine on a rope I rigged up at home afterwards, but I'm certainly wary of using it again.

 

[pwhole]

I wonder if a small stone, just the size of the gap between two teeth, got accidentally 'locked in' when you put it on, thus removing any potential movement between them and the rope? If it worked fine at home afterwards that discounts the twisted cam theory. Can't think of anything else.

 

[AlasdairRoberts]

I wonder if a small stone, just the size of the gap between two teeth, got accidentally 'locked in' when you put it on, thus removing any potential movement between them and the rope? If it worked fine at home afterwards that discounts the twisted cam theory. Can't think of anything else.

It's possible I guess. Even standing up in the foot loop so that all my weight was off it, I still couldn't release the rope out of it. Very strange.

 

[topcat]

Pantin helps for this, but may not have done in this instance if stone-jammed.

 

[Pitlamp]

Are you going to raise this with the manufacturer?

 

[Greybeard]

I have been using one for a few years without any problems and it has probably passed 2 to 3 km of rope

 

[pwhole]

I retired mine when this happened. That's 'digging via SRT' for you. Probably just over a year of weekly use. The teeth were also pretty worn, to be fair. I only got eleven months from the 'new' Croll - the one with the stainless wear plate that doubles as a knife

I started using a Camp Turbo Chest after that, and more than doubled any previous lifespan for only a tenner more. In fact I got the Camp 'Solo 2' small hand jammer and Turbo Foot jammer too - I'm a big fan

 

[AlasdairRoberts]

Are you going to raise this with the manufacturer?

Probably not. It has never done it before and worked fine afterwards. I may have just been operator error.

 

[rhyst]

Is the in situ rope still usable?

 

[wellyjen]

Is the in situ rope still usable?

Assuming this is a rope from the streamway to the passage to Valley Entrance, then there wasn't one present when we went a couple of weeks before the above incident. Don't assume a rope will be in place, if doing a through trip and exiting from Valley Entrance. Doesn't take long to nip in with a rope of your own and check first.

 

[rhyst]

I, of course, have only ever used it as a navigation aid...

 

[Swallowneck]

On the day of Alasdairs stickage there were two ropes on the climb at the back of the bridge. Actually it was one rope with two drops. Alasdair chopped one when he was stuck. Later that day I removed that short side and its now used on various digging buckets around the area. The second drop was left insitu and may still be there, but it was several months ago so there is no guarentee of that.

 

[rm128]

On the day of Alasdairs stickage there were two ropes on the climb at the back of the bridge. Actually it was one rope with two drops. Alasdair chopped one when he was stuck. Later that day I removed that short side and its now used on various digging buckets around the area. The second drop was left insitu and may still be there, but it was several months ago so there is no guarentee of that.

There was 1 rope there 2 weeks or so ago.

 

[andrewmcleod]

I've never not seen a rope on the Valley Entrance pitch, but it will be thoroughly miserable and cost you a lot in beer if you rely on one being there and it isn't when you need it... Always best to bring your own