jasonbirder
Member
Just a quick query...Is the entrance shaft P-bolted all the way down? The rigging topo seems to imply some of the rebelays need spits?
Thanks
Thanks
Nettle Pot Rigging
- Thread starter jasonbirder
- Start date
paul
Moderator
Brains said:
Yes - the spits have been replaced with P bolts. We took some hangers on Saturday as suggested by th erigging guide.
Also there is a deviation *just* below the Narrows, which needs to be kept short. We used just a krab on that. This unfortunately can make getting through the Narrow more tricky, as you can only face one side, so maybe (for the "larger" caver - like you and me (I'm 6 foot 4 and 100Kg) !) just clip the deviation once all have been through the Narrows in readiness for the ascent.
jasonbirder
Member
Oh no! I've been outed as a 'Larger Caver'
Can we start a support group...
Can we start a support group...
jasonbirder
Member
Blimey Drainrat - i've only agreed to do Nettle to keep you happy and what do I get...abuse
I take it we're using your slings to rig any deviations :tease:
I take it we're using your slings to rig any deviations :tease:
Piglet
Member
Jasonbirderjasonbirder said:
Keith and I went to the bottom of Elizabeth on Saturday. The 'larger 100kg caver' had to wait above the really tight bit where Brains said you swing across. It was comfortable on me, but I'm glad I haven't eaten more chocolate lately!! A foot jammer is a must for me.
jasonbirder
Member
Cheers 
That really fills me with confidence!
Can someone make sure DCRO are in the area on Wednesday night!
Joking aside did the 100KG cave get to the bottom of the entrance pitch and back out?
That really fills me with confidence! Can someone make sure DCRO are in the area on Wednesday night!
Joking aside did the 100KG cave get to the bottom of the entrance pitch and back out?
SamT
Moderator
They should do - its not actually *that* tight. As suggested - a shuffle to one side and the passage is a little larger. (I have thought in the past that it might actually be easier to free climb the narrows - with a shunt or jammer for protection - though Im not seriously suggesting this).
The trouble comes in not being able to jummar normally. removing all unnecessay gubbins from your central mallion - such as stop - braking krab etc and making sure they are on the side of your harness helps. A foot jammer (pantin) helps a lot too.
On the way down - one suggestion (that ive used in narrow slots before) is to put your stop on your short cows tail - so it sits at about head level - you can still reach the handle and control your descent with your braking hand - its just that there is more room to manouver,
The trouble comes in not being able to jummar normally. removing all unnecessay gubbins from your central mallion - such as stop - braking krab etc and making sure they are on the side of your harness helps. A foot jammer (pantin) helps a lot too.
On the way down - one suggestion (that ive used in narrow slots before) is to put your stop on your short cows tail - so it sits at about head level - you can still reach the handle and control your descent with your braking hand - its just that there is more room to manouver,
Brains
Well-known member
Jason, as SamT says, clear your harness of extra bits and put stop on cow tail to go down, on way back up make sure you look up where the bigger bit is and fight to be in there!
You are definetely not too big for the narrows and will fit through, it is awkward but look and think as you go and all will be fine
You are definetely not too big for the narrows and will fit through, it is awkward but look and think as you go and all will be fine
jasonbirder
Member
Cheers guys!Will take all that advice on board...Stop on short cows tail on the way down, a "clean" central maillon, use Foot Jammer and make sure I head for the widest part on the way up...
If i'm still posting Thursday we'll know it didn't go too badly
L
Limestone_Cowboy
Guest
This thread reminds me of a trip into nettle once with girl of, shall we say ample assets, who got wedged by said assets in the narrows on the way up. After some swearing and hefting she manouvered herself to the wider part and carried on. This caused to shout up the shaft how she hated her hips and boobs, much to the amussement of the rest of us .
As an aside I have been known to prussik up to the narrows wedge myself in and use a handy crack in the wall to layback past the tight section therefore avoiding the whole issue of prussiking through it, but I think this approach may be more effort than it's worth.
You may also like to try one footed prussiking with your leg out to the side in the rift.
and hefting she manouvered herself to the wider part and carried on. This caused to shout up the shaft how she hated her hips and boobs, much to the amussement of the rest of us .As an aside I have been known to prussik up to the narrows wedge myself in and use a handy crack in the wall to layback past the tight section therefore avoiding the whole issue of prussiking through it, but I think this approach may be more effort than it's worth.
You may also like to try one footed prussiking with your leg out to the side in the rift.
Stu
Active member
jasonbirder said:
Will take all that advice on board...Stop on short cows tail on the way down, a "clean" central maillon, use Foot Jammer and make sure I head for the widest part on the way up...
If i'm still posting Thursday we'll know it didn't go too badly
IMHO I'd ditch the foot jammer. You're better off feeling around for toe holds, plus I'd imagine trying to stand up in it is going to pull the rope tight possibly having the effect of putting the rope in exactly the tighest bit. I'm with Sam T here, I keep all my upping kit on the rope but "climb/wedge" upwards. Works for me
paul
Moderator
jasonbirder said:
Will take all that advice on board...Stop on short cows tail on the way down, a "clean" central maillon, use Foot Jammer and make sure I head for the widest part on the way up...
If i'm still posting Thursday we'll know it didn't go too badly
I usually use the "descender on the cowstail" trick in other tightish spots such as the top of Bar Pot entrance pitch. It works very well plus you can clip the rope throgh the same krab to use it as a braking krab as well ("Vertaco" method).
I tried that in Nettle but it was really all the clutter on my maillon catching on everything causing the problems just below the rebelay Brains referred to. He is right, you can sort of drop in sideways to make it easier but I didn't try that as I was p*ssed off and knackered after getting wedged and having to extricate myself...
Anyway - I'm sure you'll have no problem. On the way up remember that the advantage of SRT is that as long as you make progress upwards, no matter how small for each step, you'll get through!