Tatham wife rigging

[Alex]

I forgot to post this, in Jan this year we had quite a cold trip down Tatham as there appears to be quite an important deviation missing from the 3rd pitch (the one leading down to the ramp) meaning we were forced to descend in the water and it had rope rub to boot. All 3 of us could not see anything to deviate from, and I also don't understand why there's not just a rebelay on the back wall where I would expect one anyway (it's not like there is not some decent ledges). Does this deviation actually exist, or is it so hidden no one will ever find it? I am curious to what we should have rigged off of, if anyone has any pictures.

Yes it's not off an anchor I see, but I did not see anything to wrap a sling around either, or are we all blind when we did that trip?

The deviation in question is this:

 

[rm128]

We did this trip last year and I can confirm that the deviation does exist (https://kendalcaving.org.uk/2024/01/28/tatham-wife-hole/). I can't remember much about it, except that one member of our team struggled to pass it. I think that may have been more due to lack of recent experience, rather than it being intrinsically difficult. What puzzled me more was the lack of any kind of backup or traverse line to the main y-hang. It wasn't a big problem, just a bit out of keeping with the usual way of things. It's a great trip anyway. One that I think has always been underrated.

 

[Alex]

Yeh I found that a bit weird too with no backup traverse, though getting on and off can safely be done by climbing around whilst clipped in so you are behind the little wall when you unclip. Hmm, I guess it was far out across the shaft then. Hmm I guess I was looking for something in that rifty thing on the left seeing as that was away from the water, but I may have been looking in entirely the wrong place.

 

[rm128]

My best recollection is that it was quite high and towards the left as you look out from the pitch head. But my memory isn't necessarily the best thing to rely on these days

 

[IanWalker]

Interesting question.

The original installation record shows a thread deviation. The 2017 version of the rigging guide describes (in the text) that it is a convenient drilled thread. The current text says it is 2m down. Hopefully this helps you and others find it in future.

This pitch originally had three anchors, showing a normal traverse line. In 2017 two IC anchors were installed here to replace loose DMM anchors. Since the pitch head can be approached safely as you say then there is no need for a protecting traverse line. The current text confirms this.

As a minor aside, and I trust this is not too inflammatory, you say you were 'forced' to descend in the water and had rope rub. Could we swap 'forced to descend' to 'chose to descend'. I think the difference is important.

 

[Alex]

Thanks, I must admit, I don't think I had the topo description on me. On the topo there's no DT, those drilled threads are the hardest to spot, IMO.

When I say forced to descend in water, I obviously don't mean someone pointed a gun at my head and said go down this pitch or else, it was either get wet or not go down at all, so I was forced to go down in the water or not continue.

 

[skippy]

Thanks for letting us know.
We are in there on Saturday therefore I shall replace.
As RM has said, I recall it being quite near the top, on the left as you are looking out from the pitch.

 

[Steve Clark]

There was some in-situ rope when we last did it - 26th Feb 2022. Appears to be a thread, below and to the left of the visible spit.

 

[skippy]

There was some in-situ rope when we last did it - 26th Feb 2022. Appears to be a thread, below and to the left of the visible spit.

View attachment 22051

Great, I know exactly where to look to replace.

 

[IanWalker]

Please don't block the drilled thread with abandoned rope. We all know where it is now and can place and remove our own deviations.

 

[IanWalker]

On the topo there's no DT

I have asked the CNCC topo people to make this addition

 

[Alex]

Thanks for the pic that's exactly what I was after. Yeh quite hidden that, no wonder we did not find it.