Katie
Well-known member
Yesterday we had a trip into Merlins to the bits that are usually too wet to visit - Downstream Shags sump is accessible, and upstream you can get to sump 5.
On the way out whilst crawling past the connection crawl to Gimli's dream/ through to Carlswark a microwaved sized boulder fell out of the roof and landed on one of our group. With some wriggling and assistance from the person behind we managed to get the rock off the caver.
However it was now blocking the crawl for the 4 people behind!
The only way to get past it was to drop the offending rock into the low crawl through to Gimli's dream, and it is still there.
It may be possible to wriggle it out of the hole, and back to the base of the climb or a couple of caps would make the problem more manageable.
So for now the way to the Merlins streamway is passable (keep an eye on the roof though!) however the way to Gimli's dream/ the Carlswark connection is blocked.
After getting passed the fallen boulder I had a reasonable look at the remaining roof, and in my opinion, it looks ok - this rock moving doesn't seem to have de-stabilised the surrounding rocks - however keep a close eye on if passing that way!
On the way out whilst crawling past the connection crawl to Gimli's dream/ through to Carlswark a microwaved sized boulder fell out of the roof and landed on one of our group. With some wriggling and assistance from the person behind we managed to get the rock off the caver.
However it was now blocking the crawl for the 4 people behind!
The only way to get past it was to drop the offending rock into the low crawl through to Gimli's dream, and it is still there.
It may be possible to wriggle it out of the hole, and back to the base of the climb or a couple of caps would make the problem more manageable.
So for now the way to the Merlins streamway is passable (keep an eye on the roof though!) however the way to Gimli's dream/ the Carlswark connection is blocked.
After getting passed the fallen boulder I had a reasonable look at the remaining roof, and in my opinion, it looks ok - this rock moving doesn't seem to have de-stabilised the surrounding rocks - however keep a close eye on if passing that way!
