Caplecleugh High Level. · AditNow Community

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Steetleysurfer
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8 years ago

Anyone dropped down the shafts on the high level?
The ones I'm talking about are on the right hand side, if you are headed toward the portal/final fall/chalk graffiti.
Just wondered whether anyone could shed some light on them before we arrange a return visit.
Roy or Mr Mike maybe?

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Mr Mike
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8 years ago

I take it you have read Roys reports on his exploits - that give details on what they did. See:

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents//CAPLECLEUGH-MINE-EXPLORED.pdf

Might answer your question?

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

Steetleysurfer
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8 years ago

Certainly have.
Not 100% sure the sumps I mean have been looked at?

Mr Mike
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8 years ago

It is difficult to say, a lot of the sumps go to a sublevel in that area, but there a number of larger sumps which could go deeper to the workings above CC horse level on the north vein and make the connection with the fan stopes ?

Out of interest what is the state of the ropes for getting up there these days ?

Ian Hebson and Roy Fellows are the ones to ask.

BTW, the list of shafts that Pete was referring to, last time I looked at that I don't think any of the ones that would have been in that area are open. Certainly ones that I have looked at in the past on the surface have been flooded / run in - not saying that everyone is accounted for, but it wasn't hopeful.

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

Steetleysurfer
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8 years ago

We looked at three or four shafts.
All seemed to drop down a long way.
One was past that "square" sump, with a rather shaley top bit.
Another was along a short passage with a flat out crawl at the start of it.

Mr Mike
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8 years ago

With your recent visits it sounds like you know more than me on the layout. But I can tell you the Square sumps are way off (about 350-400m) from the fan stopes rises that you get to from the Low level. The short level with the crawl I think goes to the Old Whimsey Shaft / Engine Shaft which is a surface one.

On another note, have you by any chance looked at the High Level from the surface to the fall. We surveyed it and have an exact distance to the fall from the Steps Adit, it is 533m, but if you use the surface shaft (not deep) you can be within 90m of the fall and avoid all the horrid duck walking.

When we were at the fall on the outby side we thought that a faint draft could be detected.

Roy / Ian have a survey for the other side..... I don't think its a big gap. Possible project to dig here for easier access?

Mr Mike www.mineexplorer.org.uk

Steetleysurfer
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Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

I did think those sumps were too far along the level.
It's hard to judge distance underground for me though.
We passed some on the left on the way in, a lot closer to the route up.
Perhaps the answer lies there?
I did get the impression from Roy's report that he had been down at least some of these.
I have zero experience digging!
I'd always assumed that the fall close to the portal (if that's the one you mean?) hadn't been excavated as it'd spoil the chalk graffiti, besides - I quite like the length of the trip to CCHL. It's good for the soul!
Roy Fellows is a different breed going up there on his own. Phenomenal achievement.

royfellows
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8 years ago

"Steetleysurfer" wrote:

Roy Fellows is a different breed going up there on his own. Phenomenal achievement.

or maybe just mad?
:lol:

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Steetleysurfer
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8 years ago

Yep, or maybe just mad!
Either way, not something I'd fancy.
What is your take on those sumps Roy?
You must have an opinion on them.

royfellows
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8 years ago

#10

No I havent. Ian Hebson is the one to ask there.

If you go in the opposite direction west, assuming the digs are still passable, there is a drop that leads down into some significant stoping. Ian did it but it was a Tarzan act getting off the rope, if memory serves me correct.

Its been years since I was last up there.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Steetleysurfer
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8 years ago

#11

Ok, no worries.
Is Ian Hebson often on this website?
It'd be nice to ask him what he thinks.
Personally, I'm convinced there's a connection between Fan/North Vein Flats and CCHL. Perhaps I'm just chasing rainbows....

gNick
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8 years ago

#12

"Mr Mike" wrote:
On another note, have you by any chance looked at the High Level from the surface to the fall. We surveyed it and have an exact distance to the fall from the Steps Adit, it is 533m, but if you use the surface shaft (not deep) you can be within 90m of the fall and avoid all the horrid duck walking.

When we were at the fall on the outby side we thought that a faint draft could be detected.

Roy / Ian have a survey for the other side..... I don't think its a big gap. Possible project to dig here for easier access?

When I was in there relatively recently, some time last year IIRC, there was a strong draft at the fall, or at least in the entrance to where the fall is. I couldn't work out where the air was going, probably need to do a smoke test, but the fall can't be too thick as the flow was good.
I did seriously look at the possibilities of digging but at the time there were some big hanging death rocks (you know the defying physics types!) that would need to be brought down before anything started and they would be likely to block the access into the fall area. Nothing that can't be overcome of course and at least the shaft access would mean that there was a less painful way to get gear in. :)

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

royfellows
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8 years ago

#13

"Steetleysurfer" wrote:

Personally, I'm convinced there's a connection between Fan/North Vein Flats and CCHL. Perhaps I'm just chasing rainbows....

There are connections with the North Flats.
Going west there is a branch to the left off the high level, the 'water incident' in my write up, that all went down into the north flats. Also a sump on the left going east just before the neck deep water. I recon that would have been a continuation of the rise in north flats blocked by the giant stal, or maybe blocked calcite ladder. No way on though.

As I said its been years since I was last up there or even thought about it all. The write up is pretty comprehensive if you can place exactly where you are in the descriptions.

If you want an easy route up as an alternative to Archers Rise, there is the 'water incident' one but I think far too dangerous?

If Hebs around he has done more SRT investigations up there.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Steetleysurfer
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Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

#14

Not looking for an easier route up - the current route isn't that bad, in my opinion.
I was just curious as to the draught in North Vein Flats, and saw the high level as the only real option.
Rereading your report it is a little more obvious to me now.
It would've made for quite a good round trip I reckon, but if you say those sumps/man ways are too dangerous then I think it'd pay to take heed of that.

royfellows
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8 years ago

#15

I wouldn't mind a trip up the thinking about it now, I wonder how far west I would get, some crawls through loose ground also bad air and gas.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Steetleysurfer
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8 years ago

#16

I've never been west on that level.
Sounds a delight.