Hi people

I am very keen to visit the above workings, hence my current interest in waterproof cameras!

Wondering in anyone been there in the last year or two?

Are all roads open?

The water at the bottom of the Western Winze from Parc 2 would have been too deep lately, but hoping for a dry spell in the coming weeks. But any more collapses between there and the Cyffty Rise?

---

Sorry no, but we were discussing it yesterday while standing above in the sunshine. It's definitely on my to-do list.

---

Might be good for a meet up.

I am still considering kit and sorting things. I want to get some good modern pics of the rising mains and clack boxes in Western Shaft.

From Western Winze down from Parc 2 you have the deep water, then deep ochre (keep right!) then clean water as you hit the 'no go' previous left branch. Eventually an old dig before my time, then two of mine, and eventually reach the Cyffty Rise with all the water coming down. Ladders are good up the the 25. Route up from the 25, one is obvious ladders but top section missing, other is up through old stopes to a fixed rope put in by me about 20 years ago, it is climbable though.

On that level at last visit Western Shaft access blocked by debris brought down by heavy rain, my have dropped by now?

The sexy pipework is on the 25.

There is a route up to adit level from the 10, fixed rope put in by SCMC years ago. Adit inbye is lethal.

---

Might be good for a meet up.

Excellent!
I'm sure one or two of the Thursday nighters will be up for the trip. They're keeping quiet at the moment purely because they're such a polite, reserved bunch and nothing to do with it scaring the bejeesus out of them.

---

Its hard trip that requires quite a bit of stamina. The Cwffty rise is a lot of fun in wet weather.

---

Did it 5 years ago, was all good then, even the 20 year old rope :thumbup:

---

There is a route up to adit level from the 10, fixed rope put in by SCMC years ago. Adit inbye is lethal.

Quoting myself, herein lies a tale

If it is at all possible to explore the adit inbye there is a section of plankway over understoping. There are traverse lines that I put in.
When I did this and reached the far side I saw a solitary set of footprints in the ochre. Whoever it had been had obviously got in from the other side, explored as far as the plankway, looked at it, had second thoughts, then turned back.

Who was it?
When was it?
and
How the devil did they get in from the other side?

Only logical answer is that it must have been from Engine Shaft before it was filled in, it must have had usable ladders in situ.

Its probably all off now as the issue when I explored it was stuff coming down from above from narrow overhand stoping. The workings were all very narrow.

---

A trip in obscure bits of Parc sounds lovely. When roughly were you thinking?

Later in the year when I have the kit I need sorted out, and possibly when there is a dry spell. The water at the bottom of Western Winze is just under my chin and I stand 5ft 10 ins in old money. There is a higher tide mark that gives me some concern.

There is a blue poly rope above the water I put in that can give a bit of confidence.

I dont want to drag a kit bag through it all. I want to sort things down to pockets and belt kit and possibly a little bag, I think they call "riggers mate", you know the thing.
I dont have physical problems, I just hate kit bags. Years ago I dragged one through there with an Olympus OM1 in a rocket tube together with a couple of flash guns, plus some very basic SRT and other stuff.

More cool stuff

In Western Cwffty there is a passage on the 10 where a whole section of hanging wall has broken away and fallen into an understope, with more following!
The whole place is photographers paradise.

I will probably be doing several trips.

---

The water at the bottom of Western Winze is just under my chin and I stand 5ft 10 ins in old money.

Hm, I'll make sure I'm mentally ready for swimming. I am only 5'5''!

You could probably manage Ok by clipping on/hanging on to my blue poly rope, I dont know.

You could always hang onto me!

---

Any scope for lowering a bag full of goodies down Western Shaft on a rope?

---

You could always hang onto me!

I can see the tabloid headlines. 'Bloody foreigner drowns legendary UK mine explorer'. :surrender:

Any scope for lowering a bag full of goodies down Western Shaft on a rope?

Its grilled over.

You could always hang onto me!

I can see the tabloid headlines. 'Bloody foreigner drowns legendary UK mine explorer'. :surrender:

Daily Mail?
:lol:

---

The last time I was there it was with a friend from Portmadog. I was a right nuisance by asking him a maths question as he came off the top ladder. I have a casual interest in how quickly people can think under stress. The ladders are stressful with water coming down on you and being underground with me is stressful in its own right.

"If you stop to rest on one of the rungs exactly half way up and there are 11 rungs above you, how many rungs in the ladder."

---

I'd just tell you to sod off, Roy. :lol:

"If you stop to rest on one of the rungs exactly half way up and there are 11 rungs above you, how many rungs in the ladder."

23.

is that 11 rungs above your feet or hands ?

but on a serious note - i has done the trip previously - and didnt make it to what other people have reported us " up there " - so yes - i would be up for a return trip - and has at least one minion who would return too 🙂

"If you stop to rest on one of the rungs exactly half way up and there are 11 rungs above you, how many rungs in the ladder."

23.

:thumbsup:

---