Trip Date 22nd APRIL 2018.

1st Abseil- rope in place, a little thick, fair condition, would benefit from replacement.

2nd Abseil- fitted new rope 10.5mm.

1st zip line- Cable snapped, tyrollean rope in place, fair condition, anchors ok but require attention.

Suspension Bridge- in place, fair condition, would benefit from maintenance.

Bridges- cables in place and in fair condition.

2nd Zip in chamber with traverse- Cable is frayed in the middle, requires replacing.
I advise using the rope traverse on the right hand wall.

Chamber of Horrors-
1. Abseil- rope in fair condition, thick, would benefit from replacement- approx 10m inc rig.
2. Boat- ok, takes on a little water, I put a new bailing bucket in last trip.
3. Upstream tow rope- was tatty, replaced.
4. Climb- rope in fair condition, would benefit from replacement- approx 15m inc rig.

Hi All
My name is James and I live in Blaenau.
I'm new to the forums.
I visit the mines regularly and would like to get more involved with others in conserving and promoting access to the mines we enjoy.
Is there anyone on here who would be interested in getting a gang together to improve the aid?
I will update on here the condition of aid in various mines as i visit them.

All the best and enjoy.

James.
;D

Hi James. There was some discussion on here a while back about a bit of work on the aids. Worth a search of the forum. There are people on this forum with the means and experience to make this route a lot better in terms of its fixed equipment. Talk faded out a bit but with a bit of a kick, and some proposed dates, it should be possible to get things going.

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Thanks for the status report James.

I am in discussion with the owner to get permission to carry out the works, as I know them already and they are a nice bunch.

They are a trust though so only meet a few times a year, so things are a bit slow.

Hopefully with a go-ahead we can drive up, come and go all we like a do a proper job on it with big tools and all the right gear. Rather than just raiding it with more lightweight patch-ups.

I'll chase them up next week and report back. There will certainly be a call for volunteers as and when works are allowed to start.

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As part of the 'upgrade' it would be interesting to stick a logbook somewhere and try and gather info on how many and how often people are going through. Just a party size and date would be sufficient.

It seems the equipment deteriorates really fast in there, Tyroleans are dropping like flies :thumbsup:

So is the place being used as a playground and abused etc or is it just massive numbers going through?

Hi all
I've read the posts and i see you guys already have it in hand.

Im free most wknds and live in Blaenau, so I'm happy to fund some of the equipment and help with the work.

Can I suggest that we agree on a job to do, who's sourcing what gear and then agree on a weekend day in the future, maybe around July, which gives us enough time to source the equipment and then get to it.

Ive read in the posts that some of you already have the cable and fixings, but this may be helpful also-
I know a company in Liverpool that stocks the cable.
I got this quote from them-
John Teire & co 0151 944 1027

12mm 7/19 galvanised cable £1.60 per metre
MBL 10415kg.

I have an alternative idea for the zip line-
I agree with the post about the zip being fitted as the Cwmorthin spec (30mm double stud anchors, 12mm cab) otherwise its just not worth it, as people will abuse it anyway, they will wreck the cable in time too with Krabs.

How about an alternative Via Ferrata style traverse around one of the walls, as well as the zip or as a complete alternative (would be a shame as the zip is great fun :o)
Fit it with either 30mm stud or slate steps for feet, and a cable for hands and safety line?
It will have the benefit as an escape and no need for boats if the zip failed again, and would last years, so no more expense replacing cables!?

What do you think?
:blink:

As part of the 'upgrade' it would be interesting to stick a logbook somewhere and try and gather info on how many and how often people are going through. Just a party size and date would be sufficient.

i is not trying to stir crap , BUT :

log books are of limited value

some people fill them in diligently

some people fill them in partially [ annecdote - i met a party in a location with a volutary log book - and there were 10 of them , only the leaders name , club and date were in the log book ]

some people ignore them

some people abuse them

if you want a true indication of through put - i would go for a data logger mounted " somewhere " discrete beyond pitch 2

i believe that some caves use them - and they do work - its just a photosensor - and data log - that records caver light - placed in a position that cannot be " evaded "

it has to be beyond pitch 2 - because explorers sometimes visit the top of pitch one - with no SRT gear - and inbetween p1 > P2 - it would get eaten by the roof falls

just my opinion - YMMV

Not stirring crap at all its all good discussion and food for thought. Not sure the data would have any real use but it would be interesting to see.

With regards to the upgrade I'm also up for helping out if a date can be agreed on.

;D Dan

Can I suggest that we agree on a job to do, who's sourcing what gear and then agree on a weekend day in the future, maybe around July, which gives us enough time to source the equipment and then get to it.

No offence Jay, but I would leave the sourcing of suitable equipment and timing to the Go Below guys, as they will have far more experience of what is required than anyone else from their epic undertakings in Cwmorthin (see RAMPAGE's post!) :thumbup:

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Can I suggest that we agree on a job to do, who's sourcing what gear and then agree on a weekend day in the future, maybe around July, which gives us enough time to source the equipment and then get to it.

No offence Jay, but I would leave the sourcing of suitable equipment and timing to the Go Below guys, as they will have far more experience of what is required than anyone else from their epic undertakings in Cwmorthin (see RAMPAGE's post!) :thumbup:

In the meantime however, if you feel like organising and re-rigging it then go right ahead....the same as lots of other groups and individuals have always done in the past. :thumbup:
CRTT has always been a "free for all" and that shouldn't change! :thumbup:

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In the meantime however, if you feel like organising and re-rigging it then go right ahead....the same as lots of other groups and individuals have always done in the past. :thumbup:
CRTT has always been a "free for all" and that shouldn't change! :thumbup:

Just wishing to point out that the route is a deathtrap and falling apart with sub standard gear specifically because it's always been a free-for-all.

Frankly I'm amazed nobody has died, there have been more close-calls than I could shake a stick at. If we do get a fatality in there, the mine will be lost to everyone. And other mine owners in the area will consider their position.

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In the meantime however, if you feel like organising and re-rigging it then go right ahead....the same as lots of other groups and individuals have always done in the past. :thumbup:
CRTT has always been a "free for all" and that shouldn't change! :thumbup:

Just wishing to point out that the route is a deathtrap and falling apart with sub standard gear specifically because it's always been a free-for-all.

Frankly I'm amazed nobody has died, there have been more close-calls than I could shake a stick at. If we do get a fatality in there, the mine will be lost to everyone. And other mine owners in the area will consider their position.

Agree, especially as it is on everyone's bucket list and the chance of someone coming a cropper in there is MUCH higher than in other mines for that very reason.

If someone wants to re-rig it now then that's fine in my opinion and the status quo remains.

If its done properly by Go Below or someone then even better. But then where is the "next" one that needs sorting out? If you had a fatality in Conglog, Diffwys, Fron Boeth, Cwt y Bugail or anywhere else then the effect is the same.....all owners of land with mines on them will consider their position. They can't all be made "safe" as there isn't enough cash or volunteers to go around, so if someone wants to take it upon themselves to make it "safer" in the meantime then we can't stop them.
Until someone takes out a lease on a mine, or the landowner says stop, or the landowner seals it or it collapses and seals its self then they are all free for all?

It is a shame that a hobby becomes so popular and opens up the can of worms. No one worried when it was "niche" :lol:

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I agree that evry mine is dangerous to some degree and we cannot sanitise them all, nor would we want to.

CRTT stands far over and above all the others for ringing alarm bells, because it is so extremely popular, frequented so heavily by people who are not experienced underground types and finally so heavily reliant on technical gear which is in bad order and cobbled together.

I don't want to become some kind of policeman of slate mines, I doubt any of us do. In most cases the mines are best left just as they are. But the CRTT already has all the gear in it, it is just in a dangerous condition. I say either seal it up or fix it properly - proactively before the inevitable accident rather than reactively after it.

Mind you, even with the best rigging in the world, it is still a dangerous trip and always will be...

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I did this trip about twenty years ago, was'nt really rigged at all then. This was the old route before some of it colapsed.
Crossed lake in 6 quid woolworths inflatable dingy that started leaking almost immediately.
Would like to do it again and if it helps with rigging, i have about thirty new steal screwgate krabs to donate. Plus other
useful bits lying around.

This was the first report I ever read for the trip

"This trip is dangerous, in fact, it's the most dangerous thing I've ever done. I've never before been so acutely aware how little my life hangs upon. Especially hanging by a piece of rusty 100 year old steel 20 metres above a lake 100 metres deep, with every possibility of many tonnes of wood and iron coming in with you for a swim if you cock up. It's not recommended, but after a few beers you'll agree to anything!. "

Quite an introduction 😮

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hehe, that's Chris C's I do believe :D

Legend.

Thanks also to you guys for the offer of help. I've messaged the owner again to see if things can be moved along a bit. I don't want to be taking vehicles and equipment up without all the proper permissions, I'm well known around here. Actually one of the owners also owns another property we rent so I know them (which is good) but also means I can't just steam in and do whatever I want. 15 years ago I would have done but these days I need to be very by-the-book and do things officially and properly.

As Sinker says though, if the status-quo remains with people wanting to sort bits out off their own bat, then this is no different to the last 30 odd years of use. It is no something I can have anything to do with, sanction or organise.

I am confident they'll give us the go-ahead for heavier works and do a proper job on it, it is in their interest.

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Certainly was Mr C... and the opening to your trip report on ME if I remember....

Didin't put me off (though it should have done)
Once and once only!!

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hehe, that's Chris C's I do believe :D

Yep ;D

I am 110% behind any efforts to tidy the place a little. It always was dangerous, and it's not improving. I've been through four times, each time was the last!!

I think a little effort in the style of what has been done in Cwmorthin could make a huge difference to safety without it becoming anywhere near boring.

My biggest concern is the pillar that is failing that is at the start of the BODOD or whatever it's called. You don't notice it until you look back!

I'm pleased to hear that a channel is open with the owners, that can only be a good thing if some sort of sensible arrangement (like Wrysgan / Cwmorthin) can be reached.

I would offer to chip in, but it's 185 miles to Tan-y-grisiau from my house, so I won't be popping over on an evening.

I did drive my Montego up to the Croesor side, but that was 1996 and I suspect the road has deteriorated since then.

Chris.

Last time I went through there was some fresh chunks off the wall in the passage leading up to the canoe... The track isn't too bad but I wouldn't like to attempt it in the wet in a 2wd I've seen the divers up there with snow chains on in the wet. The drop into the valley is sketchy as :lol:

I wouldn't like to attempt it in the wet in a 2wd

I don't do 2wd...

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My biggest concern is the pillar that is failing that is at the start of the BODOD or whatever it's called. You don't notice it until you look back!

It's called the Bridge of Death and has been for decades. Why? Because you named it that in the late 90's!

I doubt I'd have much to do with mines at all if it wasn't for you getting into my head so long ago...

bast**d...

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