Pin the bolt on the mine shaft

StoneyGraham

New member
If anyone is interested in a fun game...If you had 4 bolts where would you put them? (Assuming there are suitable anchors available at ground level)
 

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aricooperdavis

Moderator
With only 4 bolts I'd probably stick 2 y-hangs in at the tops of the pitches and let people carefully scrabble their way into/out of the level. The y-hangs would have to be quite high, though, to facilitate getting on and off the pitches safely. Not ideal.
 

pwhole

Well-known member
I would try and get more bolts! You can't have folks falling down a blind pitch, so getting into the level safely off the first pitch is paramount - and getting the right length on the slack loop will be difficult, as the rope following it will likely be on the floor, not floating midway up. There will be horrible rub on that bottom edge if too long, and you'll struggle to get in or out of the passage if too short. You really need another bolt or two inside the level so folks can get off the first down pitch safely, and at least one more backup bolt before the second rebelay.
 

andrewmcleod

Well-known member
Depends...

Does the first pitch need a rebelay at the top?
How long is the level?
How easy it is to get in/out of the level at each end?

And (always most important of all) where is there good rock to actually put any bolts?

Also ideally people wouldn't be putting bolts in at all, but putting in resin anchors instead...
 

wellyjen

Well-known member
Assuming the top anchors of the shaft are taken care of, the zig-zag of the rope on the first pitch suggests a pair of deviations, one on the left wall and one on the right, so an anchor for each of these. Then two anchors for a Y hang at the head of the second pitch.
 

hannahb

Active member
I would put one just below the top of the first hang, one just inside the traverse, and two at the top of the second hang
 
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rm128

Active member
Am I the only one who is a bit uneasy with this thread? Stoney - if you are unsure where (or how) to place anchors, you need assistance from someone on the ground, not via a forum. I'm sure there are lots of (local) cavers on here who would be willing to help. There may well be all sorts of issues that are only apparent at the site. And, rather than limiting yourself to an arbitrary number of anchors, can I suggest that it takes as many as it takes?
 

wormster

Active member
Hardcore mine explorer version:

“3 Fat Bastard Belay” with a rope bag as a rub protector at the top - then send “Fuzz” down to the crosscut to see if it goes on or not. No need for anchors!!
 

StoneyGraham

New member
Hardcore mine explorer version:

“3 Fat Bastard Belay” with a rope bag as a rub protector at the top - then send “Fuzz” down to the crosscut to see if it goes on or not. No need for anchors!!
I used that method first time i did Garlands pot but with a 2 skinny climbers belay, works alright.

But I'm speaking to people about assistance so all sorted now. And the LH passage bolt, RH passage bolt, Y hang for 2nd shaft seems most appropriate for the circumstances (my poor unscaled diagram didnt help).
thanks :)
 
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