I think we can all agree..that any underground trip is not to be treated with complacency...its fortunate everyone got back to the surface unharmed and I am sure that the CRO would rather be called out early to a relatively non-serious situation...than leave it till later when it could be an entirely different matter...
I don't know what occured on this particular trip and i am sure they did what was considered sensible and safest under the circumstances...they apeared to be well equiped and prepared in the You Tube video's...and as we all know sometimes things beyond your control just happen...cold and tiredness can effect the best of us, so perhaps its best not to make any judgements from the safety of our own armchairs...
It serves as a timely reminder to us all that being prepared, having the proper gear and making a realistic assesment of our own abilities is vital on even the simplest of trips.

I agree JB :)

Although I suspect that NWCRO would have preferred to have been dealing with people who set off at 10am rather than 4pm, meaning that they would have been called at 9pm, not 3am! ::)

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I have to add to what I said earlier. When I saw the comments about it being easy on DP, I did think that was misleading and verging on irresponsible. Possibly people when giving advice should bear in mind who they are answering and who might also read it. I really do think the comments gave a misleading impression of CRTT. I wish (with hindsight - always the best sight) I had commented on DP to that effect. Yes, I have noted that this weekend's event wasn't the same people, but my point still stands regardless of that.

Here's what i wrote on Darkplaces

Usual SRT kit, dinghy and a steel wheeled pulley for the zip wires.
Nothing too outrageous needed
Route finding is pretty easy...just follow the main trade route...hardest part is finding the way down the incline in Rhossydd which leads to the way out through the No9 Adit...but its not that bad if you have a poke about...
Plenty of trip reports on the web (try Mine-Explorer or Adit Now) which will give you an idea of what to expect...
Trip has a bit of an undeserved reputation...the hardest part is the walk up the hill to Croesor!

I stand by what i said on Darkplaces 100% - I feel thats an entirely accurate description...if anyone has issues with it i'd be interested to hear what they are...

I think it must have been quite a challenge being the first people to set up all the cables, wire ropes etc in Croesor that are now used by all.
The route is now basicaly an assult course and is nothing compared to the trip in early years where I think a large degree of skill and knowlage was needed to complete it safely.
If anyone says it is safe down there, then they are seriously wrong. The underground area from Rhosydd and Croesor is slowly falling down on itself and will eventualy be blocked and be unpassable. Rhosydd itself has changed dramaticaly in the last eight to ten years and I can understand how these people were unable to find their way out, being dark did not help. But the old miners used to tell me that most rock falls happen at night in the slate mines if that is of any consolation to anyone.
I have done the trip myself with people with more experience than myself of abseiling. And I enjoyed every minute of it as it had been on my agenda for about ten years or so. My interest having being sparked off by talking to lorry drivers that used to carry the explosives up the track and into the mine. Also having spoken to the man who scrapped the mine as the water was rising up the incline.
Mine exploration is addictive and interesting as well as the past and present history of it. People will continue to do the Croesor/Rhosydd route. But I think it is important to plan the journey, make sure you know the ways out. And prepare for the unexpected.

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I did the trip yonks since before any of the wires etc. and yes it was of a very different character to what it has become.

Lots of valid comments about the state of the mine etc but I personally feel that the most likely cause for a fatality on the trip is drowning. Lots of us 😞 have done the trip without any form of bouyancy aid and I would venture that it should be a dryfoot trip, but as has been proved quite recently its very easy to fall out of your boat and not nearly so easy to swim in full SRT kit. Add to that the temperature of the water and the scene is set.

With adequate precautions the trip is now pretty easy, but as has already been pointed out, it can still very easily bite.

Apologies for wandering slightly OT.

Simons first link to the article describing the trip was what instigated my first through trip in '96. My writeup has some pictures of the condition of the bridges etc in those days.
http://www.cowdery.org.uk/rctrip.php 
(ignore the first link to photos, it's broken. They are further down the page).

Importantly, we'd verified the Rhosydd end of the trip beforehand to ensure we could get out of the lake, and always make sure we could retrace our steps.

On another occasion we were overtaken by two lads with no helmet, just a head mounted light, outdoor walking clothes, figure 8's and a small bag with a dingy. They did the trip in a couple of hours. However, they had absolutely no contingency for problems. They had to either make the trip or sit and wait to be rescued.

I think the key point is that although the trip is fairly straightforward (if you are suitably equipped and know the way), it can rapidly change to an epic with the tiniest issue arising, even as simple as not being able to navigate sucessfully across the moor in the fog & dark from Rhosydd to Croesor! (sounds like it wasn't just us that had that small issue!)

Chris.

even as simple as not being able to navigate sucessfully across the moor in the fog & dark from Rhosydd to Croesor! (sounds like it wasn't just us that had that small issue!)
Chris.

I have always maintained thats the hardest bit!!! 😮

I'm loathe to suggest installing some wee signs pointing towards the way out... 😠

lol, as if you would do something like that eh?

Yes the CRTT has had it's profile raised recently. And yes it's a lot easier now than it would have been before all the new rigging has gone in but people do still seem to underestimate it quite frequently. It's the only slate mine around here that people keep getting rescued from.

I forget who it was, one of our lot, was out walking the hills near Crosor when he happened upon a bloke and two young lads looking like they were trying to find the way in.

When questioned, the father said he'd read about the through trip on the Internet and he and the boys were going to do it.

The fact they didn't have helmets, no SRT gear, and only domestic hand torches didn't seem to deter them. I believe they'd never even been underground before.

How far they got I don't know, but makes you think does't it? There are some people who just don't get it.

2 easters ago, i took some mates on a walk over Cnicht, then to Rhoysedd, up into Adit 9 and into the Twlls. Then we walked to Creosor. Upon arriving at Creosor i was suprised to see a lone bloke on a brand new trail bike (Yamaha 400CC thing) putting underground kit on. I asked him where he was going......"Oh, i'm gonna do the thru trip!". I was gobsmacked. He got his kit out and from memory he had 2 pulleys, a harness and some SRT kit!. I walked off to calm down and 10 mins headed in to take pictures. After i had taken pics of the flooded chamber and watched a frog going for a dive, we saw a single light headed towards us from up the incline. Now i was expecting to see bike man......but no it was someone else doing the through trip. I asked if he had seen a bloke on his own, "Yeah, he's just about to go down the first ptich now!".....this was 4pm ish.

DP

Blimey. I gather a lot of people do it on their own. Must be like a Ffestiniog keep-fit thing eh?

Only the lazy so and so should have walked up :lol:

Having been up and down the Number 9 incline and out of the twill more times than I care to remember with my old man armed only with candels, and having done the trough trip twice October 3 years ago with Simon, Vanoord and Jasonbirder and last years BB08*.

I still reckon that this is one trip not to be taken lightly, yes I do aditmit its an underground assult course BUT one that can turn round and seriously feck you over.

* I still have nightmares about you Barney, on the BoD at the change over point with nothing clipped in (thank fcuk you were last and nobody else saw) man, you have balls of steel.

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I guess alls well that ends well. I was glad to read that all were well at the end. (that wasn't my first thought when I saw the thread title 😞 )
I think they made one correct decision in not ALL going back. Trying to get a bunch of tired people who may be not quite up to reversing the trip (which I don't know if they were just surmising a possibility) may not have been such a wise move.

Two more points...daylight is a great way to find your way out of Rhosydd or (as CrisJC says) prior route reccies.

Also to think that because the thing has been rigged previously so therefore is safe would be an unwise move. Just ask anyone who was on "uncurling hook of death" trip.
(NB...not me 😉 )

Finally well done to all involved in the rescue...I'm so glad everyone walked out.

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* I still have nightmares about you Barney, on the BoD at the change over point with nothing clipped in (thank fcuk you were last and nobody else saw)

The first couple of times we did it there was nothing either of us wanted to clip onto! It all looked very tatty, and more importantly, it was all tied to the bridge itself. Deciding that should the bridge forget its station in life and go for a swim this would be a bad thing, so crossed it unatached - except we had a loose line belayed at the end our mate was at so that should you fall in the water (cue Goon show fans everywhere) your mate could stop you drowning, tie off and you climb out. Seemed like a sensible compromise.

I finally done the through trip last Friday, having wanting to do it for years. I thought it was great!

I agree that the hardest part was crossing the moor but also agree that this trip must be given respect. My solo venture went without a hitch but there are so many places where things could have gone very wrong, very easily. I made sure I had more than enough kit to cover just about every eventuality I could think of.

I would have found it a lot harder had I not read several trip reports beforehand and been very familiar with the Rhosydd side and the escape to the surface.

I would hate to think of anyone attempting the trip without some serious consideration and planning.

BTW, are there any plans to resorect the metal wire bridge?

Speedy.

BTW, are there any plans to resorect the metal wire bridge?

We tried to recover it soon after it came down. The problem is that all the cable fouls up around and under the rocks on the bottom. When one part is twisted free, another bit buries itself. (It is now free from the rock that fell and took it down though.) About 4 or 5 feet were reclaimed but thats all. Apart from a traverse around the chamber, nothing more has been discussed as far as i know.

🔗Personal-Album-4-Image-011[linkphoto]Personal-Album-4-Image-011[/linkphoto][/link]

BTW, are there any plans to resorect the metal wire bridge?

We tried to recover it soon after it came down.

Yeah - Vanoord tied my wall rope to it, round a nice sharp bit and all, and then we all heaved on it :lol:

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Hi folks newbie hairyjon here. I have read this item with interest as it is an area that I have walked on many occasions when I was young (a long time ago!) while on holiday with my parents in the late 60's. I have often wanted to explore underground in this area as slate mining and quarrying and it's history has always interested me. I lost my nerve for underground exploration after a trip down a hearthstone (I hope I have the right name for it) mine north of Redhill, Surrey in 1967 where my mate and I got lost underground. We took a ball of string and firmly anchored it at the entrance but it got wet, snagged and broke. I have never been so scared since! It was terrifying! As far as I know the M23 was built over it. I can remember finding an underground lake. Have any of you got any info regarding this area. Should I have started a new topic? sorry 😢 Regards, Hairyjon

BTW, are there any plans to resorect the metal wire bridge?

We tried to recover it soon after it came down. The problem is that all the cable fouls up around and under the rocks on the bottom. When one part is twisted free, another bit buries itself. (It is now free from the rock that fell and took it down though.) About 4 or 5 feet were reclaimed but thats all. Apart from a traverse around the chamber, nothing more has been discussed as far as i know.

🔗Personal-Album-4-Image-011[linkphoto]Personal-Album-4-Image-011[/linkphoto][/link]

I have had a couple of divers approach me at our club who might be interested in a mission to recover the bridge.

I mentioned this on Darkplaces back when I could be bothered to see if the guys who were responsible for the bridge would be interested, but was shot down.

So I guess now am in more grown up company, will mention it again - if the offer is of interest then let me know and we can arrange something.

Hi folks newbie hairyjon here. I have read this item with interest as it is an area that I have walked on many occasions when I was young (a long time ago!) while on holiday with my parents in the late 60's. I have often wanted to explore underground in this area as slate mining and quarrying and it's history has always interested me. I lost my nerve for underground exploration after a trip down a hearthstone (I hope I have the right name for it) mine north of Redhill, Surrey in 1967 where my mate and I got lost underground. We took a ball of string and firmly anchored it at the entrance but it got wet, snagged and broke. I have never been so scared since! It was terrifying! As far as I know the M23 was built over it. I can remember finding an underground lake. Have any of you got any info regarding this area. Should I have started a new topic? sorry 😢 Regards, Hairyjon

lotts of good stuff in the slate mines, peter burgess knows more about the hearthstone mines in surrey, please dont use the string again. have fun 😉

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