Cwmorthin abseil · AditNow Community

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midlandsmineman
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Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

Hey folks
Think this is my first post on here so a little about me,
I'm ben from the midlands, member of Dudley caving club and I'm pretty much underground 25 weekends outa 52. Fully competent in normal SRT use.

Anyway the reason for my post is a certain ab in cwmorthin.
It's on de/e floor and drops into Oakley g floor.
I understand "corin" took a fall on this ab due to bolt failure?
I looked last weekend and there is a solid resin (I think) anchor at the take of point and many holes on the wall opposite. Some look suspect some look ok. Im proposing to use the car sized boulder in the chamber as a natural anchor with some rope protection as its sharp. What I want to know is rope lengths rather than carrying in overkill and what's at the bottom!? Also if anybody has any better rigging ideas

Cheers
Ben

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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

12 years ago

Hi Ben

I think the place where teh bolt failed on Corin is right at the end of DE floor, it gets very wet down there and there's water running over the edge of the pitch. I don't remember a boulder, in fact it wasn't even really a chamber, just a left branch off DE that hit the top of a chamber.

There's another left branch of the DE main drag that does have a bolted descent in it though, and if memory serves there's a boulder in there - that chamber is reached before the water at the end of DE.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

steve turbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

12 years ago

the best person to ask is miles on m,e i think .it was bolted with 8,10mm bolts before but miles has been playing so not sure now ..a nice abseil too 😉

Wormster
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Newbie

12 years ago

Isn't it *that* drop where darkstar had a moment back in 09, or am I confusing the description with somewhere else in there?

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

12 years ago

"Wormster" wrote:
Isn't it *that* drop where darkstar had a moment back in 09, or am I confusing the description with somewhere else in there?

You are confused old chap 🙂 That's 3 to 2, you go up a few floors; staircase, knotted rope, scramble and short rope then scramble and short rope again, through a level or two, over a wall, round a traverse and you're there :thumbsup:

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

midlandsmineman
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Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

Ok after looking at the survey the ab im thinking might be on e floor, possibly chamber 9 or 10?
I remember walking along the vein and on my left ( as your heading towards the wet bit)just inside the chamber Is a hole (cylindrical) going down at approx 35 degrees? It the ends then I'm guessing it's free abseil to the base of g floor. There is a large bolt at the top and lots of holes possibly form old anchors and two newish looking ones in the left hand wall
Hope this is a better description. It's a difficult one without actually being there!

Wormster
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Newbie

12 years ago

"simonrl" wrote:
You are confused old chap :)

Ah fairy snuff, disregard my original comment then!

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

12 years ago

I can think of about 2 bolted drops from DE to F and 1 to G, but the one to G is way at the end of DE where you're around Ch 11/12 (from memory).

Is this in Cwmorthin back vein - down the BVI to E floor, turn right, through the water and 8 or 9 chambers along?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree altogether?

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

midlandsmineman
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Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

"simonrl" wrote:
I can think of about 2 bolted drops from DE to F and 1 to G, but the one to G is way at the end of DE where you're around Ch 11/12 (from memory).

Is this in Cwmorthin back vein - down the BVI to E floor, turn right, through the water and 8 or 9 chambers along?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree altogether?

Your bang on. If I remember right it's after the newly bolted ab with the "super safe" cows tail line to the take off point

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

12 years ago

#10

"midlandsmineman" wrote:

"simonrl" wrote:
I can think of about 2 bolted drops from DE to F and 1 to G, but the one to G is way at the end of DE where you're around Ch 11/12 (from memory).

Is this in Cwmorthin back vein - down the BVI to E floor, turn right, through the water and 8 or 9 chambers along?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree altogether?

Your bang on. If I remember right it's after the newly bolted ab with the "super safe" cows tail line to the take off point

Ah, in that case you can reach the bottom of it (somebody correct me if I'm wrong, e.g. if it brings you out at the back of an Oakeley G floor chamber that you can't reach from the hanging wall side) by other routes... nip down the Ch 34 incline, and come off at G floor (2 floors down).

Hope that helps! Sorry if I've misread the description and sent you on a wild goosechase!

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Donstuart
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Newbie

12 years ago

#11

Midlandminesman

This drop is from Cwmorthin Back Vein, E Floor Chamber 8 East. It drops to G Floor Chamber Z42 & you land about 4ft. up the forebreast & gently slide down. It's a 20 second drop & a 10 minute walk back up!! 45mtrs of rope should be fine.

Your description of the top is spot on, apart from the fact that there are two very old (1800's?) iron bars sticking out from that adjacent wall (one with a ring on it) which look as though you could hang a lorry off them (excellent for back up).

I used a bit of old carpet about 1ft wide & 4ft long as a rope protector over the edge, attached to a spare length of rope rigged to Miles' resin bolt in the floor.

Willy Eckerslyke
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Newbie

12 years ago

#12

Hi Don! Rob and I met you and Dave in exactly this chamber a few months back and had a chat about this very same hole and where it went. I recall you mentioned that it's a short walk from the bottom to a nice view of the waterfall draining through from the wet bit below the BVI. It's still on my list...
Anyway it was nice meeting you both.

"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"

midlandsmineman
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Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

#13

"Donstuart" wrote:
Midlandminesman

This drop is from Cwmorthin Back Vein, E Floor Chamber 8 East. It drops to G Floor Chamber Z42 & you land about 4ft. up the forebreast & gently slide down. It's a 20 second drop & a 10 minute walk back up!! 45mtrs of rope should be fine.

Your description of the top is spot on, apart from the fact that there are two very old (1800's?) iron bars sticking out from that adjacent wall (one with a ring on it) which look as though you could hang a lorry off them (excellent for back up).

I used a bit of old carpet about 1ft wide & 4ft long as a rope protector over the edge, attached to a spare length of rope rigged to Miles' resin bolt in the floor.

Top info. Going have to find a pal to carry the rope in now 🙂
Thanks to everybody

Miles
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Newbie

12 years ago

#14

The ab you're talking about is the one near the end of E in the back vein (Cwm). Yes it's the one corin had one of his moments on. Yes it drops to G.

I did put a Batinox Resin Bolt into good rock in the floor as just something bomber to back up off. There are lots of expansion bolts in the wall above, not mine, most of these look quite satisfactory however. You've loads there to go off.

Further along inbye you go up the slope to DE, and shortly after you come to a new cowstail line dropping to a much shorter pitch to G. This is mine, it's a safer, easier way to get groups to G that the other pitch. Hence the extra long cowstail line, for punter-parking you see. The pitchhead there isn't finished, it's quite loose and awkward at the moment.

midlandsmineman
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Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

#15

Thanks for the info miles.
Agreed your rigging looks v safe but for fun the other ab ranks higher in my book. May rig yours first and come back up that way.
Ben

martymarty
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Newbie

12 years ago

#16

"midlandsmineman" wrote:
Thanks for the info miles.
Agreed your rigging looks v safe but for fun the other ab ranks higher in my book. May rig yours first and come back up that way.
Ben

Ranks higher ?? you mean ranks higher in stupidity hence why the other one was put in ...be careful.

nid oes bradwr yn y ty hwn

midlandsmineman
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Newbie Topic Starter

12 years ago

#17

"martymarty" wrote:

"midlandsmineman" wrote:
Thanks for the info miles.
Agreed your rigging looks v safe but for fun the other ab ranks higher in my book. May rig yours first and come back up that way.
Ben
Ranks higher ?? you mean ranks higher in stupidity hence why the other one was put in ...be careful.

I reakon it can be rigged just as safe. been in there today and as well as a few solid expanison bolts and miles anchor coupled with a bomb proof natural it's a safe bet.
My ref to ranking higher was purely down to the take off down the "tube" and not knowing what the landing is like. Besides if it goes to **** then i can just prusik back up.
Quess the risk element is fun in everything as long as its calculated.

Miles
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Newbie

12 years ago

#18

Hi all

I think there has been a bit of a misunderstanding. There is nothing wrong with either pitch if you rig it right and use it correctly. My comment on the new one was specifically for when leading groups of novices (which is what I do), it's easier to manage the pitch-head and take-off on the new one. If you know what you're doing, eithe pitch is perfectly fine.