hi all , after cabin shaft / main chamber entrance and turning right , we continue'd for a fair way until eventually dropping down into the stream way passage which we followed for ages in ankle deep water at walking height until a squeeze , we decided to turn back at this point ( bottled it due to running water )
:-[
anyway can any one tell me what might be beyond and possibly where we had been 😢 seemed a bit of a maze ?

should of add ,,,,, is that the general direction of grand Turk passage ? we passed a small shaft with a rope and old wooden ladder at the base with a small waterfall / after that seemed to go on forever until a squeeze ?¿

should of add ,,,,, is that the general direction of grand Turk passage ? we passed a small shaft with a rope and old wooden ladder at the base with a small waterfall / after that seemed to go on forever until a squeeze ?¿

You could get to Grand Turk that way (by going up) but my understanding is there has since been a collapse (may have been re-dug) preventing the connection .....

Ian

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ah I thought it might , once again thanks Ian , I have see a few groups in there recently doing some sort of digging but I'm sure they were off to the left once down cabin shaft not right , anyway going to go back some time soon and try find a way or confirm a dead end 😎

I was in that area just before Xmas. As Ian said the shaft with the rope and ladder at the bottom is the old way to Grand Turk. IIRC you used to climb the rope for about 20' and then struggle through a muddy tube till you reached the chamber above the winze into Grand Turk. It's much easier to enter from the surface via the NWCC hatch which seems to be left open now.

The passage at the bottom of the shaft (called footway) is Maesyffnon Deep level which used to connect with the river Clywedog passing through the quarry and drained this section of the mine. The portal is blocked and I suspect there are several other collapses along the way. It was a tad wet when I was there so there was little enthusiasm for climbing up footway shaft or wandering along MDL.

As usual I got lost in a few places and failed to find the route to passage with the rails which was one of the areas I wanted to explore in more detail...

The area around Boundary shaft is interesting, It is possible to get near to the bottom of boundary shaft by following the stopes down using a collection of in-situ tat (ladders, rope etc). I haven't found a way on... There is a roped route around the back of boundary shaft which seemed to lead into more stopes. but it was a bit like being on a scree slope and I chickened out.

Dave

thanks very much for that Dave , still not sure where you found the ladders or boundary shaft , but now a bit clearer on what's what :confused: I don't suppose you know if it is possible to get from cabin shaft through too grand Turk anymore ?¿

When you say right .... Is that right as though you were standing at the bottom of the shaft after abbing in ? Or right as though you were standing at the top of the shaft looking at the entrance ... Apologies if I am being a bit thick. We are slowly working our why through the maze. Absolutely no idea what direction we are going in but we've reached an electron ladder insitu followed by a bit of a belly crawl and eventually reached a shaft with scaf poles and a rigged traverse at the top. We were also wondering if this was the direction of Grand Turk....

Ps ... Insitu tat - great description

When you say right .... Is that right as though you were standing at the bottom of the shaft after abbing in ? Or right as though you were standing at the top of the shaft looking at the entrance ... wondering if this was the direction of Grand Turk....

Yes, on your right having just abbed in and looking across the chamber. If you head right and follow the passage along (IIRC you pass under a shaft) then look for a low crawl to the left - there are a couple that just go into blind chambers, but I think the third is not quite so tight, but a bit longer and enters a chamber. Climbing up you will hear the sound of water dropping down the shaft. Follow your ears and you will see a window into a shaft with a rope - this is footway shaft and is the climb up and way onto to Grand Turk. That said it is easier to get in via the NWCC entrance which is above & behind the lime kiln you can see across the car park. If you follow the track towards the quarry a little past the second gate and cross the stream and walk diagonally left towards the lime kiln you will find a path above it - the entrance is visible from the path.

Dave

When you say right .... Is that right as though you were standing at the bottom of the shaft after abbing in ? Or right as though you were standing at the top of the shaft looking at the entrance ... wondering if this was the direction of Grand Turk....

Yes, on your right having just abbed in and looking across the chamber. If you head right and follow the passage along (IIRC you pass under a shaft) then look for a low crawl to the left - there are a couple that just go into blind chambers, but I think the third is not quite so tight, but a bit longer and enters a chamber. Climbing up you will hear the sound of water dropping down the shaft. Follow your ears and you will see a window into a shaft with a rope - this is footway shaft and is the climb up and way onto to Grand Turk. That said it is easier to get in via the NWCC entrance which is above & behind the lime kiln you can see across the car park. If you follow the track towards the quarry a little past the second gate and cross the stream and walk diagonally left towards the lime kiln you will find a path above it - the entrance is visible from the path.

Dave

Cheers for that info ... We've been going left each time we go. Spiralling down a bit further each time. The place never seems to end.

thanks very much for your info - electron ladder and scaff poles sounds interesting - will have to go back s:ooon

Perhaps there should be a trip organised on here?

I would join you, never get fed up of Cabin Shaft

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Perhaps there should be a trip organised on here?

I'd be interested as well.

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