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Whalf Climbing Shaft blocked
- Thread starter DCA
- Start date
Rob
Well-known member
A few of us from Team Awesome went in last night and cleared the blockage from below.
We went in Hillocks to make more of a trip of it (my first time through!), however our fancy plan to use a collapsible ladder to ascend the lower pitch was thwarted at the first pitch.
Thankfully the freeclimb was pretty easy.
There was indeed quite a lot of rocks and branches (!) to clear. These are mostly down down the next pitch. Unfortunately thirst took over from our natural desire to do an Awesome job, so the place would benefit from a little more clearing to make tidy, once the bolts have been assessed/fixed.
We went in Hillocks to make more of a trip of it (my first time through!), however our fancy plan to use a collapsible ladder to ascend the lower pitch was thwarted at the first pitch.
Thankfully the freeclimb was pretty easy. There was indeed quite a lot of rocks and branches (!) to clear. These are mostly down down the next pitch. Unfortunately thirst took over from our natural desire to do an Awesome job, so the place would benefit from a little more clearing to make tidy, once the bolts have been assessed/fixed.
Attachments
Rob
Well-known member
A longer writeup for anyone interested...
www.eldonpotholeclub.org.uk
Medals down Whalf - 29/08/2024
www.eldonpotholeclub.org.uk
al
Member
Well done lads! I can't believe you haven't been in Whalf-Hillocks before though. There's so much potential for finding new stuff (to modern cavers that is) in there, I'd have thought that it would be well up on your "To-Do" list! Reasearch the Cascade connection to get some idea of the possibilities.
Gritstone
Member
I'll go down Tuesday and sort it out, cheers guys.A few of us from Team Awesome went in last night and cleared the blockage from below.
We went in Hillocks to make more of a trip of it (my first time through!), however our fancy plan to use a collapsible ladder to ascend the lower pitch was thwarted at the first pitch.
There was indeed quite a lot of rocks and branches (!) to clear. These are mostly down down the next pitch. Unfortunately thirst took over from our natural desire to do an Awesome job, so the place would benefit from a little more clearing to make tidy, once the bolts have been assessed/fixed.
Gritstone
Member
As promised I dropped into Wharf Engine shaft today and removed all the crap from the bottom of the picked shaft and dropped it down into a neat pile in Hillocks mine. So if you fall over when the climbing shaft is reopened it's your own fault.
The shaft is pretty much as was now pending a re-rig.
The shaft is pretty much as was now pending a re-rig.
Pete K
Well-known member
Thank you very much for your work here @Gritstone, and of course the Team Awesome folks too.
DCA are making arrangements to replace the anchors in the shaft soon. We still need to sort permission from NT for access across their land from the Engine Shaft in future, but will likely move ahead with the fence repairs and closing off access from the lane as soon as volunteer time allows. On that note, if anyone here has experience with installing barbed wire stock fencing and wants to give us some help putting a really solid one up then please let me know. It's definitely something I can turn my hand to, but it's always better to get experienced people in with the right tools if we can.
Just in case people don't see the first page of this thread, I'll reiterate that for now, please consider the Whalf Climbing Shaft closed for general caving and that the anchors are currently unsafe to use. We appreciate your patience while we get this all sorted.
DCA are making arrangements to replace the anchors in the shaft soon. We still need to sort permission from NT for access across their land from the Engine Shaft in future, but will likely move ahead with the fence repairs and closing off access from the lane as soon as volunteer time allows. On that note, if anyone here has experience with installing barbed wire stock fencing and wants to give us some help putting a really solid one up then please let me know. It's definitely something I can turn my hand to, but it's always better to get experienced people in with the right tools if we can.
Just in case people don't see the first page of this thread, I'll reiterate that for now, please consider the Whalf Climbing Shaft closed for general caving and that the anchors are currently unsafe to use. We appreciate your patience while we get this all sorted.
Pete K
Well-known member
Fencing materials have been purchased and a date has been agreed for re-bolting the shaft.
I need to get out of the office and stretch my legs, so I'm planning on going over for a few hours later today to rebuild some of the drystone wall around the wood. If anyone fancies keeping me company then drop me a message.
I need to get out of the office and stretch my legs, so I'm planning on going over for a few hours later today to rebuild some of the drystone wall around the wood. If anyone fancies keeping me company then drop me a message.
Pete K
Well-known member
Some fencing has gone up on the lane side of the wood today and the replacement of the damaged anchors is in hand. Installing barbed wire fencing in hawthorn bushes is not something I'd recommend trying!
There are some more holes to patch up in the fencing on the field sides at some point, and plenty of tumbled down bits of drystone wall to rebuild as well if anyone fancies a go at that.
It looks like there is still quite a bit of rock to shift from the bottom of the shaft to return it to how it was, so any volunteers to head down via another entrance and clear the remaining rubble down the second drop into the larger chamber would be appreciated. The 2 of us today just didn't have time to do any clearing.
The Climbing Shaft is still out of action, but we hope to have it safe and open again by the end of September.
Pete K
DCA Equipment Officer
Fabian checking the anchors (all 3 in the shaft were damaged) on his way down to see how the access to the next pitch looked.
The new fence on the lane side of the wood.
There are some more holes to patch up in the fencing on the field sides at some point, and plenty of tumbled down bits of drystone wall to rebuild as well if anyone fancies a go at that.
It looks like there is still quite a bit of rock to shift from the bottom of the shaft to return it to how it was, so any volunteers to head down via another entrance and clear the remaining rubble down the second drop into the larger chamber would be appreciated. The 2 of us today just didn't have time to do any clearing.
The Climbing Shaft is still out of action, but we hope to have it safe and open again by the end of September.
Pete K
DCA Equipment Officer
Fabian checking the anchors (all 3 in the shaft were damaged) on his way down to see how the access to the next pitch looked.
The new fence on the lane side of the wood.
Pete K
Well-known member
Thanks to the volunteers who completed the shaft clearance and made the anchors safe, and to the local caving community for your patience while this was all sorted. We can now let you know that the shaft is once again open for use. Access is no longer possible from the lane due the barbed wire fence, so you will need to cross into the woodland at the stile near to the Whalf Engine Shaft.
At this time the lid has not been modified, so the usual Derbyshire Key is still needed to unlock it. DCA will keep an eye on things here and we would ask that you report any incidences of the lid being open or fences being damaged to us if they occur in future.
Full details on the PDCi website: https://www.peakdistrictcaving.info/home/the-caves/lathkill-dale/whalf-climbing-shaft
At this time the lid has not been modified, so the usual Derbyshire Key is still needed to unlock it. DCA will keep an eye on things here and we would ask that you report any incidences of the lid being open or fences being damaged to us if they occur in future.
Full details on the PDCi website: https://www.peakdistrictcaving.info/home/the-caves/lathkill-dale/whalf-climbing-shaft
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