LKW has been rigged since mid March to allow exploration and conservation work to take place. Some 35 trips in all. During all that time no problems with the rigging had been encountered until this Sunday when the cave was due to be derigged. On this occasion the two surface belays had been undone and the rope chucked down so it hung from the first rebelay. Tampering with rigged gear is a hazard one just has to accept and it was lucky that no one was down the cave at the time as it is easy to rectify from above but more serious from below. Following on from the tampering of ropes in Bar Pot this is just a reminder to beware.
Although the main routes have been derigged, the tensioned line and abseil rope into the Late Breakfast series is still there. This is rigged from concrete screws at the moment but it is hoped to eventually replace them with resin anchors. Anyone using these ropes should preform their own assessment before using.
I hope to write something up on our discoveries and related work soon.
Although the main routes have been derigged, the tensioned line and abseil rope into the Late Breakfast series is still there. This is rigged from concrete screws at the moment but it is hoped to eventually replace them with resin anchors. Anyone using these ropes should preform their own assessment before using.
I hope to write something up on our discoveries and related work soon.