How dangerous is mine exploration?· Page 2

Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians

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royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#21

"gNick" wrote:
On a slightly flippant note, if I find one of the loathsome reptiles that insist on spray-painting arrows in Smallcleugh they will find out just how dangerous mine exploration can be... :devil:

This looks fresh this year?
Was in there Easter

Catch someone, I could turn my lamp on them, far worse than anything you can do
:lol:

My avatar is a poor likeness.

tomh
50.2% (Neutral)
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11 years ago

#22

What is this about spray painting arrows in mines?

Are people intentionally spraying them the wrong way found, if not what is the problem?

NewStuff
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11 years ago

#23

"tomh" wrote:
What is this about spray painting arrows in mines?

Are people intentionally spraying them the wrong way found, if not what is the problem?

There are 3 schools of thought I have encountered regarding painted arrows.

1) If you can't read the plan, you shouldn't be in there in the first place.

2) By all means leave arrows on the floor, made from stones or similar, and take down on way back out Don't graffiti up the walls.

3) "Can't stop me doing it if I want to"

Daubing arrows in mines everywhere is daft, and if you have to leave directions to find "out", a simple cairn on the floor does well for the vast majority of places. People with the latter attitude tend to **** most people off.

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#24

Painted arrows are a potential danger in themselves. Was the culprit intent on marking the route IN or the route OUT? If you get it wrong following someone else's marks, you might be in deep do do's. Even if someone marks the arrow with the word "EXIT", this isn't necessarily going to work. I was in a system the other day where there are some of these. Since they were painted, not only has the layout of the system altered such that you would walk into a collapsed area if you followed them, the entrance that they point to is now sealed, and the open entrance is in the opposite direction!

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#25

It staggers me that someone could have so little empathy with and so little respect for the underground environment that they think it is in any way acceptable to daub walls with paint.

Take only photographs, leave only footprints.

gNick
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11 years ago

#26

"tomh" wrote:
What is this about spray painting arrows in mines?
Are people intentionally spraying them the wrong way found, if not what is the problem?

The wrong way round depends on which way you are going.
The ones that have riled me just now are are spray painted on the walls either side of a sump (Readshaw's for those who know Smallcleugh) so about 6 feet apart and pointing inbye, they are not at a significant junction and serve no purpose.

The problem is they are unnecessary and a permanent(ish) defacement of the mine. In many ways no different than the trash that scratched their names into the plastered deads in Smallcleugh flats. The mine is an historic place and I would prefer it if it could remain as it is rather than starting to look like some inner city underpass.

I have an unpleasant feeling that they might have been put there as a rebellion against the recent clean up, I hope not.

Apologies for sending this a bit off topic, though if I find the culprit it could well come back...

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

miningstevens
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#27

"We on the other hand know that mines are as trustworthy as politicians and therefore are less likely to drop our guard. "

Great quote

Drillbilly.
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#28

I gather the Wheal Edward Sump Shaft accident was in 76.

I recall hearing that she overtook her boyfriend in the shaft and "it was a good job she was wearing a wetsuit, because it helped hold her together". I think sump shaft is about 420 ft to water with the bottom level about 340ft. I gather it's a particularly massive shaft, as well as deep.

Probably unwise for me to comment on the original topic, due to the potential of upsetting the authorities.

Aditaddict
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#29

Going off that list , stay out of caves , dont dive and stick to mines;D

Aditaddict
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11 years ago

#30

"gNick" wrote:
On a slightly flippant note, if I find one of the loathsome reptiles that insist on spray-painting arrows in Smallcleugh they will find out just how dangerous mine exploration can be... :devil:

Just an idea , but why not take cans of suitablly coloured spray paint on underground trips and over spray all the arrows ?
You never know someone might have to ask for your help to find their way out 🙂

fjällvandring
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#31

Seems common place in limestone mines to leave arrows, but then again you do get just anyone camping out in several of them and leaving a mixture of string, tape and arrows to find their way back. Perhaps as mine-exploring has become more easily accessible through the internet and stuff, arrows and graffiti appear elsewhere.

jeg elsker Norge, landets dialekter, folk, landskap og naturen!

NewStuff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#32

At the risk of sounding Elitist (which I sure as hell am not), If you cannot find your way in and out of a mine without leaving a permanent scar on it, you shouldn't be there. Go with someone and learn the system, get a map.

I should make some sort of removable navigational ad to sell to n00bs.

"fjällvandring" wrote:
Seems common place in limestone mines to leave arrows, but then again you do get just anyone camping out in several of them and leaving a mixture of string, tape and arrows to find their way back. Perhaps as mine-exploring has become more easily accessible through the internet and stuff, arrows and graffiti appear elsewhere.

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

exspelio
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#33

As a point of interest:

When I worked down "the hole", I was given a pot of paint and instructions to paint signs on the wall to facilitate direction finding in case of a rescue. When cleaning off please be aware you are not obliterating historical features, I suspect these will be brush painted rather than sprayed.

Always remember, nature is in charge, get it wrong and it is you who suffers!.

crickleymal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#34

You even find them in the simplest of mines. I have a dig in the Forest and it consists of one main passage with the entrance via an old scowl entrance. I've found arrows on the walls in there even though there is only one way to go in and one way out.

Malc.
Rusted and ropey, Dog eared old copy
Vintage and classic or just plain Jurassic
All words to describe me.

gNick
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#35

"exspelio" wrote:
As a point of interest:

When I worked down "the hole", I was given a pot of paint and instructions to paint signs on the wall to facilitate direction finding in case of a rescue. When cleaning off please be aware you are not obliterating historical features, I suspect these will be brush painted rather than sprayed.

I am not aware of any historical arrows up at Nenthead - the arrows that annoy me are definitely NOT historical and are definitely spray painted.

The original graffitti, i.e. by miners, is usally easy to spot by the calligrapghy being significantly better - even if the use of upper and lower case is a bit unusual!

Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...

RJV
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Newbie

11 years ago

#36

"gNick" wrote:
I am not aware of any historical arrows up at Nenthead - the arrows that annoy me are definitely NOT historical and are definitely spray painted.

The original graffitti, i.e. by miners, is usally easy to spot by the calligrapghy being significantly better - even if the use of upper and lower case is a bit unusual!

Not an extreme example granted but illustrative nonetheless.
[photo]Personal-Album-988-Image-95248[/photo]

exspelio
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Newbie

11 years ago

#37

"gNick" wrote:
The original graffitti, i.e. by miners, is usally easy to spot by the calligrapghy being significantly better - even if the use of upper and lower case is a bit unusual!

How old do you think I am?:-[ My art work was done in the 1980's.

I think the reason was to help rescuers unfamiliar with the mine with restricted visibilty due to wearing BA's in smoke, machinery (diesel) fires being a perceived hazard.

Always remember, nature is in charge, get it wrong and it is you who suffers!.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#38

Interesting if off topic debate starting here.
How old does someones initials have to be before it ceases to be a 'mindless daubing' and becomes of historical interest.

Case in point, "RF 1964" was scrubbed away in Bryeglwys some years ago. At time it was removed it was possibly only a few years old, but in a few years (hopefully quite a few) and after I am dead and it would be off interest.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Tamarmole
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Newbie Topic Starter

11 years ago

#39

"royfellows" wrote:
Interesting if off topic debate starting here.
How old does someones initials have to be before it ceases to be a 'mindless daubing' and becomes of historical interest.

Case in point, "RF 1964" was scrubbed away in Bryeglwys some years ago. At time it was removed it was possibly only a few years old, but in a few years (hopefully quite a few) and after I am dead and it would be off interest.

I would suggest that if graffiti dates from the working life of the mine it has historical significance. If it has been added by later explorers is not part of the working history of the mine and is of little or no historical value.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

11 years ago

#40

Its a valid opinion Rick but somewhere in Wales there is a "DEB 1954"
A lot of people would be upset if it were to be scrubbed out.

For those not in the know its David Ewart Bick

My avatar is a poor likeness.