Author Topic: Danger - Rhinos Rift (Read 34976 times)

cucc Paul · « **on:** March 26, 2007, 02:50:52 am »

Just had a scarry moment down rhinos when a rather large lump of resin fell out the P hanger I was anchored to and dropped off in my hand. the resin lump was about 2cm square, I checked the anchor and there is no/very little movement (nothing to write home about) but all is not right with it. The anchor in question is the farside y hang anchor for pitch 1, There is also a crack in the resin in one of the other anchors... The other bad news is that the padlock desintigrated and wasnt locked propperly when we arrived. We have done our best to make it appear locked but the lock needs attention ASAP.

PS could some one let the appropriate people/group know about the above as we/me are not too sure who to notify, thanks

.
PPS There are lots of bats down there at the moment and most are roosting (is that the word) in the entrance passage making navigation a bit tricky.

Hammy · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2007, 12:00:19 pm »

Goodness me!! Dodgy bolts in Rhino Rift!!

Who would have thought it....

http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php/topic,3221.0.html

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2007, 03:48:58 pm »

Yeh; being involved in HELPING with caving is such a pain it's enough to make you want to either a) get involved if you aren't already or b) resign if you already are. I think plan B will be the one for me. Bollocks to it all.

Elaine · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2007, 05:28:20 pm »

I can see where you are coming from Cap'n C. Please don't go though. I trust you if you say that the bolts are fine as far as available tests can tell. Mind you, I don't ever intend to go down Rhino again!!

graham · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2007, 05:57:38 pm »

The bolts are beig tested now, even as I type this. I can confirm that the lovely Cap'n isn't the only person peed off today.

Peter Burgess · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2007, 06:40:30 pm »

Are there any good natural belays to hang my ladders from?

[Ducks out of the way VERY quickly.]

graham · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2007, 06:51:52 pm »

Quote from: Peter Burgess on March 26, 2007, 06:40:30 pm

Are there any good natural belays to hang my ladders from?

[Ducks out of the way VERY quickly.]

Speaking as someone who has done RR on ladder, I can confirm that there are no natural belays.

graham · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2007, 07:30:27 pm »

I have just had a report from CSCC's bolting co-ordinator:

The reported bolt is dangerous

DO NOT USE

graham · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2007, 07:37:11 pm »

However, the padlock locked perfectly easily ...

truescrumpy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2007, 10:11:35 pm »

Quote from: graham on March 26, 2007, 06:51:52 pm

Quote from: Peter Burgess on March 26, 2007, 06:40:30 pm
Are there any good natural belays to hang my ladders from?

[Ducks out of the way VERY quickly.]

Speaking as someone who has done RR on ladder, I can confirm that there are no natural belays.

www.atkinsonsteeplejack.com/chimneys.html

whitelackington · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2007, 02:37:51 am »

Are there ANY new bolts in store for Mendip? $:-\$

traff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2007, 11:03:27 am »

I'm going to risk being seriously flamed here.

Quote

Rhino Rift Hanger Tests

Following a number of comments posted on various caving forums in recent weeks, the CSCC Bolting Coordinator paid a visit to Rhino Rift on Monday January 15th 2007.

ALL of the P hangers on Pitches 1, 2 & 3 were carefully inspected and then tested with a Hydrajaws pull tester.

ALL of P hangers held a sustained 6kN pull for 2 minutes.

A small number of hangers did exhibit 1 or 2 mm of twist movement.

No hangers exhibited any obvious signs of outward movement which is not
acceptable.

Given these findings the CSCC will not be conducting any remedial bolting in Rhino Rift.

Hon. Secretary
Council of Southern Caving Clubs

The hanger is now in a dangerous condition only two months after inspection.
The next scheduled inspection 17/11/2010.
What are the factors involved in this rapid degradation.
Is it possible that the sustained 6KN pull used in testing may have propagated any weakness.

Food for thought $:-\$

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2007, 11:23:26 am »

Perhaps all the bolts in this cave and elsewhere should be tagged as unusable and people should get used to doing traditional caving trips instead. After all, SRT is a mug's game, innit?

graham · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2007, 11:39:32 am »

Quote from: cap 'n chris on March 27, 2007, 11:23:26 am

Perhaps all the bolts in this cave and elsewhere should be tagged as unusable and people should get used to doing traditional caving trips instead. After all, SRT is a mug's game, innit?

$:-\$

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2007, 02:34:33 pm »

Graham, have you done a count of the amount of email traffic, and the number of person hours this topic has involved? I imagine people might be surprised. At the last count I've got 34 emails on it.

However, I am allowing actual caving to get in the way of surface caving stuff at the moment.

Peter Burgess · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2007, 03:31:53 pm »

I think some folk owe you a lot of beers, Chris. Shame you don't drink. I would demand the money instead, and go and buy a load of Jammy Dodgers.

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2007, 04:28:17 pm »

Actually I think Andrew Atkinson is owed an entire brewery so far. Me, I'll just settle for jammy dodgers `cos I luvs em, I doos.

graham · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2007, 06:26:53 pm »

I am up to 22 emails and five or six telephone calls and I have not yet personally gone near the cave - yet.

However, the point behind this posting is to say that the lock on Rhino is being changed and the cave closed to normal traffic while the situation is evaluated. This decision has been made on advice from technical, legal and insurance personnel.

This process will be carried out as rapidly as manpower and other resources allow.

Peter Burgess · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2007, 06:32:57 pm »

Is this a competition? Which of you shall I favour with an email about Rhino Rift? $:-\$

graham · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2007, 07:35:51 pm »

Peter, with all due respect

FECK ORF.

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2007, 09:19:00 pm »

It's been a long day and looks like there's another one tomorrow.

Peter Burgess · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2007, 09:32:49 pm »

Quote from: cap 'n chris on March 28, 2007, 09:19:00 pm

It's been a long day and looks like there's another one tomorrow.

I sincerely hope so. The end of the world is due at mid-day. Tomorrow will be a day of morning.

Cap'n Chris · « **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2007, 03:23:10 pm »

Quote from: Peter Burgess on March 28, 2007, 09:32:49 pm

I sincerely hope so. The end of the world is due at mid-day.

BST?

Peter Burgess · « **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2007, 03:43:34 pm »

British Speleological Time.

cucc Paul · « **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2007, 03:43:40 pm »

Im glad someone else feels that the anchor in question is deffinatly suspect. Shame the caves had to be closed

we wanted to go back and dig

Good job to those fixing such anchor.

As with regards to checking anchors you should check them yourself every time you use them hence us noticing this one was broken, people never used to go round checking spits n the like. A piece of PPE can be deemed unsafe after ten minutes use or ten years use depends on its use, environment, etc.... Although it is worrying the test didnt pick it up last time

Good Job all

Author Topic: Danger - Rhinos Rift (Read 34976 times)

cucc Paul

truescrumpy

cucc Paul