Collapse in Gilfach · AditNow Community

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ChrisJC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Morning All,
A select few elite mine explorers tried to make the through trip at Gilfach (Cwm Pennant) yesterday.
However they were thwarted by what appeared to be a recent collapse in the stope between the middle and lower levels.
One of the party made the trip at the NAMHO event in 2014, so it has gone since then.
It appears to have run from the surface as daylight is visible at the end of the middle level.
It should be considered to be impassable now until it all goes downwards.

Chris.

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Grout1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Hi Chris

Vicky and I did the NAMHO trip in 2014 too.
Seem to remember that a lot of the stacked deads were being held up by hope and faith. Did make a nice descent.

Alan

John_Smith
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Myself and the Thursday Nighters were there about 2 years ago. Apart from some angry rocks we managed the through trip fine. A part of me is glad that I'll not have to do it again haha

TwllMawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

The collapse was material blocking a raise/winze between the Upper stope and middle adit. It's swept down and into the main shaft, choking high up (looking as far as one can up from the drainage adit, there's nothing to be seen). From recollections of within the upper stope and what's not there now, a significant amount of material has relocated. So who knows how thick the shaft choke is. There's surprisingly little at the base so when 'it' eventually goes, don't be standing anywhere near.

Some comparative photos.

Before...
[photo]51991[/photo]

After...
[photo]121069[/photo]

And this :o:)
[photo]63666[/photo]

ChrisJC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Nice. Yes, those pictures illustrate the problem pretty well!

Chris.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Wow! Pingu was telling me about it last night....so basically everything that Corin is sitting on in the third photo is now gone?!

Yma O Hyd....

JonK
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Yes was all gone last Saturday. Abseiling down in the adjoining stope where the steps are you get to a point where you are beside a large pile of deads all supported on not a lot. Definitely not a place to linger. I think it will be OK once it has all gone but you don't want to be there at the time.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

"JonK" wrote:
Yes was all gone last Saturday. Abseiling down in the adjoining stope where the steps are you get to a point where you are beside a large pile of deads all supported on not a lot. Definitely not a place to linger. I think it will be OK once it has all gone but you don't want to be there at the time.

Haven't been there since it moved so this may be a daft question.....can we 'help' it down? :angel:

Yma O Hyd....

ChrisJC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

I think you could help it on it's way. If you abseiled down from the steps, you can look underneath the stacked deads onto the top of all of the hanging death. I reckon if you lobbed a few boulders onto the planks sticking out, it might all move on its merry way!

It doesn't come without a certain element of risk though.

Chris.

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

#10

"ChrisJC" wrote:

I think you could help it on it's way.

It doesn't come without a certain element of risk though.

We shifted a few tonnes last night in ******* **** **** and that was a bit sketchy but generally well planned and executed, Thursday Nighters-style. :smartass:

Might go and take a look at it. :thumbup:

Yma O Hyd....

ChrisJC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

#11

What you'd be stood on might go with it, so worth remaining on the rope!

I look forward to hearing how it goes...

Chris.

TwllMawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

#12

Btw, I came across a personal artefact of someone’s close by one of the adits. If whoever owns it would like it back somehow please pm me with a description.

To reinstate the trip I reckon it would require three exercises. Stabilising/shifting the hanging death(s), releasing the choke and clearing out the resulting Big pile at the bottom.
A sad consequence of the above being the probable destruction of many if not most stemples and platforms I recall seeing on the way down, (and in a few photos).

ChrisJC
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

#13

"TwllMawr" wrote:
Btw, I came across a personal artefact of someone’s close by one of the adits. If whoever owns it would like it back somehow please pm me with a description.

Almost certainly one of our lot, but given the general level of mental faculties, it's highly unlikely anyone has even noticed the loss of an item!

Chris.