That was a shame Llion, I think you'd have enjoyed the trip!
We used a 40m rope down that 2nd pitch ignoring the short handline in favour of one of Pingu's pristine examples.
There was a side passage some 15m down, heading right, parallel to the upper level. A short way along it was barred by a massive rusticle which would have been destroyed if anyone tried to squeeze past. It didn't look as if it went on much further anyway.
🔗Personal-Album-9884-Image-85906[linkphoto]Personal-Album-9884-Image-85906[/linkphoto][/link]
So down the rope, the stope drifts to the right becoming a downhill passage over a possible false floor of waste. We ran out of rope at an awkward opening over a massive slab detached from the ceiling. More of the same are hanging over the passage, held up by rubble.
Pingu headed back for more rope :flowers: which was then tied to the 40m and passed over the slab, followed by his good self. About 20m down, he reached the water level and confirmed that the stope continued under water but there was nowhere else to go. Pingu's return looked a struggle as the slab was now an overhang and the awkward opening doubly so. But he reached the bottom of the explorable bit and it was a long way down! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
A long scramble back up, then I tested everyone's patience by trying out my boat along the flooded passage to the left.
And I have to say that after a tiring scramble, there are few things as relaxing as lying back in a dinghy, gently floating along a passage guided by your hands and feet on the side walls ... then ceiling ... at which point the boat wouldn't fit through any further. In the distance I could make out a widening and possibly a fork in the passage as the water reached the top. We'll never know unless that water goes away. Marks on the side of the passage show the water level has been at least 2ft higher.
Unfortunately I couldn't persuade Skimble or Pingu to have a go in the boat, which had resisted puncturing despite almost constant scraping against the walls. It got ripped later though while dragging it up the top handline. 😞
So have we exhausted all avenues?
Nope. Pingu reckons there's a possible route upwards near the start of the flooded passage. There's also the shaft heading vertically upwards at the end of a side passage off to the left of the flooded passage. That had water running down and looked a difficult climb of perhaps 6m.
Talking of water, there was a lot more running down the 1st handline section than during our last visit. Perhaps due to frozen conditions outside back then?
"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"