Swinsto and Simpson re-anchoring

[CNCC]

Swinsto Hole and Simpson Pot anchor remediation​

Simpson Pot and Swinsto Hole on West Kingsdale are two of the most well known potholes in the Yorkshire Dales.

Most trips these days are undertaken as a ‘pull through’, exiting at Valley Entrance (which should always be rigged in advance by taking a quick trip to the 7m pitch from the Roof Tunnel down into the Master Cave).

Anchoring of these pots in the 1990s was not done with pull-through in mind. As a result, many of the anchors are poorly located for efficient pull-through. We see that UKCaving posts about stuck ropes are common. In some areas, compensatory ‘tat’ has proliferated, which can quickly become hazardous.

We are also aware that several anchors across both pots show signs of movement, or resin erosion, due to 25 years of battering from the water and the effects of resin-shrinkage.

Several months ago, the CNCC agreed to support an audit and partial re-anchoring of these pots.

The first phase of the work at Swinsto Hole is now complete!​

New anchor installation at Swinsto began at the start of the year, and was completed a few weeks ago in early June.

Several new anchors have been installed to make the rigging more suited to ‘pull-through’ trips. For now, these new anchors stand alongside the originals, so the rigging information on our topos is still valid. Later this summer, the team will return to check rope lengths, redraw the topo, remove defective or surplus anchors, tidy up any resin from the new anchors and remove in-situ tat that has been abandoned.

To quote one of our installers;

“I am determined to make it look spot-on”.

Work will then start on Simpson Pot. If you meet our team, please be patient waiting to pass, and say hello!

Thank you to the team involved for several days of great work. This project will support the enjoyment of Simpson Pot and Swinsto Hole as popular trips for decades to come, with fewer issues of stuck ropes or abandoned tat.

Photo; New anchors labelled and ready for installation in Swinsto Hole, by Ian Patrick

 

[LadyMud]

Well done, CNCC team!

I've not done Swinsto yet, so I'm really looking forward to it

 

[hannahb]

Have some of the worn anchors been removed, or are there now more than there were before?

I'm interested to note the steady accumulation of tat will be removed. I've done some removal in Swinsto, having received a not-too-helpful reply when I asked the CNCC whether they could advise/help on the matter.

 

[hannahb]

That's not to say I'm not very grateful to Ian P and team for planning to remove the tat!

 

[CNCC]

Hi Hannahb

At the moment, the worn anchors have not been removed (that requires a separate trip with a completely different set of equipment... the anchor puller kit is EXTREMELY heavy), but this is planned for later in the year.

Sorry to hear you received a not-too-helpful reply on contacting the CNCC about this previously.

We do try to strike a balance between doing what northern cavers want and expect of us, without going too far and becoming 'the cave police'. Taking a standpoint on 'tat' removal is an area that we risk getting the balance wrong if not done in a carefully considered way. Frankly, in the absence of any agreed position, we (and probably the individual you contacted) have historically avoided this hot potato.

This is something we have now rectified through the following CNCC-approved statement (specifically, points 6/7):

CNCC Equipment and Fixed Aids

CNCC fixed aid installations, equipment and safety information.

cncc.org.uk

Stretching minds back a little, it may even have been the discussions with you (and the very fact that we weren't able to be helpful on the matter) that made us get off the fence, discuss it and work out a consensus on where we stand!

If you would like to discuss further, PM or contact us again and hopefully we are in a position to be more helpful now

 

[hannahb]

That makes sense, I agree it's a contentious issue and I am really pleased you're in a position to be able to help with it now.

That's great that some bolts will be removed eventually.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Having injected resin into cracked brick and concrete in the past (including last weekend) I know how horribly messy that can become with the slightest mistake. My first caving trip was on a route using several of IanP and team's newly installed anchors (so new I had to remove the "Do not use before" labels) and I was surprised at just how neat and tidy perfection they were. The team must be OCD-level perfectionists doing the anchors! Thank You!

 

[langcliffe]

Putting a nozzle in a round hole, injecting resin, and wiping off any surplus after the bolt has been emplaced, does not require one to be an OCD-level perfectionist - just motivated enough not to do a crap job.

 

[langcliffe]

Have some of the worn anchors been removed, or are there now more than there were before?

I'm interested to note the steady accumulation of tat will be removed. I've done some removal in Swinsto, having received a not-too-helpful reply when I asked the CNCC whether they could advise/help on the matter.

I'm not convinced that it is the job of the CNCC to adjudicate on such matters, and your policy of taking the matter into your own hands is probably the best way. It is certainly one we have taken with regularity over the years.

One does need to be careful about not being too anal about the issue, though. Some fixed ropes are a Good Thing - e.g. the three on the Goyden Figure of Eight route.

 

[rm128]

motivated enough not to do a crap job.

Now there’s a strap line for a CV

 

[caving_fox]

Really interested to try the new pull through rigging when it's ready. Split pitch has always been troublesome so any improvement here would be great.

 

[caving_fox]

Really interested to try the new pull through rigging when it's ready. Split pitch has always been troublesome so any improvement here would be great.

Which I've now done. Worked flawlessly for us, good fun easy trip. New bolts seem an improvement to me.

I'd suggest that groups with less experienced members (or good practice in general) bring a few slings to clip to the approach Pbolts to help protect the pitch heads.

 

[langcliffe]

Really interested to try the new pull through rigging when it's ready. Split pitch has always been troublesome so any improvement here would be great.

The top half of Split Pitch is definitely an improvement. I was hoping to see another bolt on the right-hand side hang of the second half, but beggars can't be choosers. Curtain Pitch is a lot easier without that silly rope tying one in knots, and I was pleased to see the new bolts on the final pitch.

All in all, a proper job.