Rowter Hole- Now Bolted

[Goydenman]

The rigging topo for the Rowter extensions will soon to be on the DCA website for all to see.  The draft version shows an astonishing 66 BP-bolts installed by Mark Richardson and his team of dedicated cavers, as well as a number of deviations.  Drawing up the topo and detailing the exact positions of all the anchors installed has been a job in itself - it's meant going and re-checking bolt numbers to ensure that all the DCA Bolt Installation Record details are absolutely spot on - a really major task in a very difficult cave.

As Bob Dearman, the DCA Equipment Officer says:  "I would personally like to thank Mark and the rest of his team on behalf of DCA for the tremendous amount of hard work they put in equipping what has been the largest anchor installation project undertaken in the Peak District."

Many thanks guys!

Jenny Potts,
DCA Hon. Sec.

Well done team a great service to the caving community

 

[Mark Wright]

Well done to the Badgers for the excellent work in not just the bolting but producing the DCA guide.

I don't necessarily agree with the disclaimer in the box at the bottom of the guide though.

'The DCA does not install or maintain any fixed ropes. Any ropes found in-situ are the responsibility of the rope installers.'

The person who decides to climb up any in-situ rope in the far reaches of Rowter Hole takes full responsibility for their condition and definitely not the installers.

Mark

 

[MarkS]

I don't necessarily agree with the disclaimer in the box at the bottom of the guide though.

'The DCA does not install or maintain any fixed ropes. Any ropes found in-situ are the responsibility of the rope installers.'

The person who decides to climb up any in-situ rope in the far reaches of Rowter Hole takes full responsibility for their condition and definitely not the installers.

Mark

Yes, I thought that was a little odd, too. I understand that regional councils do not take the responsibility, but I'm surprised they say that the installers do (or should).

 

[Bob Mehew]

I don't necessarily agree with the disclaimer in the box at the bottom of the guide though.

'The DCA does not install or maintain any fixed ropes. Any ropes found in-situ are the responsibility of the rope installers.'

The person who decides to climb up any in-situ rope in the far reaches of Rowter Hole takes full responsibility for their condition and definitely not the installers.

Mark

Yes, I thought that was a little odd, too. I understand that regional councils do not take the responsibility, but I'm surprised they say that the installers do (or should).

The 'installer' or rather the person who left the rope is considered to attract some liability in law, rather like a person leaving a trip hazard which causes someone else to fall over and hurt themselves.  The assumption is that a court will not necessarily accept that it is solely a matter of the 'user beware' and hence the 'installer' could be held partially or even wholly liable.  (That is also why recognised anchor installers are covered by BCA's insurance.) 

 

[Mark Wright]

The 'installer' or rather the person who left the rope is considered to attract some liability in law, rather like a person leaving a trip hazard which causes someone else to fall over and hurt themselves.  The assumption is that a court will not necessarily accept that it is solely a matter of the 'user beware' and hence the 'installer' could be held partially or even wholly liable.  (That is also why recognised anchor installers are covered by BCA's insurance.)

Perfectly understandable in the workplace but completely beyond the ridiculous at the end of a 1044m, 182m deep + 100m of up pitches, Grade 4 cave.

Rowter Hole is quite different to most other caves where BCA anchors have been installed in that over 40% of them are on up pitches meaning the anchors cannot be inspected before use and obviously you can't check the rigging before committing your weight to it.

The BBPC were encouraged to carry out the anchor installation and testing on behalf of the BCA anchor scheme (Derbyshire version). The anchors were supplied by the BCA and the BCA qualified installers had their expenses paid. The BCA knew that a significant amount of rope would have to be left in-situ to allow the installation to be carried out and for cavers to be able to visit the new extensions so, in my mind, the BCA are responsible for the fixed ropes.

I don't think anyone needs to worry about being sued if a fixed rope breaks at the end of Rowter Hole. It would be laughed out of court.

Mark

 

[MJenkinson]

Genuine question - why did you elect to leave ropes in place instead of rigging a pull through a-la Eldon?

 

[MarkS]

Genuine question - why did you elect to leave ropes in place instead of rigging a pull through a-la Eldon?

I assume from this that you've not visited? A pull-through system would be...complex.

 

[Mark Wright]

Genuine question - why did you elect to leave ropes in place instead of rigging a pull through a-la Eldon?

As Mark says, you would need to see the place to know how impractical that would be. It would almost certainly result in many tons of rubble falling down the Hourglass every time it was rigged or de-rigged.

It is only the first climb out of the main chamber in Eldon Hole that has a pull-through installed. The rest of the up pitches are permanently rigged.

Mark

 

[MJenkinson]

Cool, just wondering

 

[pwhole]

Victoria Aven in Peak Cavern consists entirely of pre-rigged 'up' rope pitches from start to finish for up to 90 metres. Whichever route you take there are about eight rebelays to pass, and you definitely wouldn't want to be rigging pull-throughs anywhere up there.

 

[SamT]

Victoria Aven in Peak Cavern consists entirely of pre-rigged 'up' rope pitches from start to finish for up to 90 metres. Whichever route you take there are about eight rebelays to pass, and you definitely wouldn't want to be rigging pull-throughs anywhere up there.

and block hall too iifc

 

[pwhole]

And Pilkington's Series...

 

[Madness]

Went down Rowter for the first time on Wednesday evening. I'd always sort of overlooked it because it was basically just a big down and back up.

You guys have done an amazing job in extending it and installing the anchors. Thank you!

We only went as far as 'Decisions, Decisions', but it was a great trip. Still plenty more to explore when we have more time.