A new event has been added to the Events page.

Event name: Bwlchglas Lead Mine SRT Trip

Date & time: 16/05/2009 at 10:00

Details: Bwlchglas is a lead mine, mid way between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth.

The trip will take in both surface remains and the underground working, the lowest accessible level of which is reached by a relatively easy SRT pitch which opens into a free hang, exit from the mine is made by ascending the rope back out.

For this reason this trip is SRT experienced only.

The descent is well worth it, as well as the lift cages there are numerous other artifacts.

More details to be provided closer to the time.

8 maximum.

Event added by: Events Admin

Full event: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/events/?uid=55 

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Advise
The deep adit itself is explorable in full wet gear to the point where it is blocked by a fall from the stope above.
At this point there is a winze with a very attractive kibble and other artefacts that make the trip worthwhile.

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To fit in with one possible participant, would it be possible to reschedule this trip for 23 May?

Dave

Sorry Dave I missed your reply to this thread about re-scheduling.

As a few people have already signed up and have likely made arrangements to travel to North Wales that weekend I guess we'll have to stick to the arranged date. Please PM me if you need any more details. Thanks.

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Do not want to be a prophet of doom but has anyone checked the two stagings in the shaft recently.
I know Roy did some work some time back but worth checking from underneath sometime.
They were loose 15 years back!.
:thumbup:

About two years ago they were in good condition but the intention is to rope the shaft as we did last time.

[photo]Bwlchglas-Lead-Mine-14-04-2007-Image-014[/photo]

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Do not want to be a prophet of doom but has anyone checked the two stagings in the shaft recently.
I know Roy did some work some time back but worth checking from underneath sometime.
They were loose 15 years back!.
:thumbup:

If they have gone by the time we get there, we'll improvise 😉

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Do not want to be a prophet of doom but has anyone checked the two stagings in the shaft recently.
I know Roy did some work some time back but worth checking from underneath sometime.
They were loose 15 years back!.
:thumbup:

No Mr Rufenig, I have not done any work at Bwlch Glas, I assume that you mean me and not the other Roy, it would be a long way for him to drive!
I take it as a compliment to be credited with work I have not done. I assume that everyone knows about the "Not RF" note appearing at many digs. This was started by Mole and now they are everywhere.

Also, I assume that a lot of people will be travelling some distance and be around for the weekend. Is anything arranged for the Sunday? Would there be any interest in Talybont Deep Mine?

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Is anything arranged for the Sunday? Would there be any interest in Talybont Deep Mine?

Definitely interested Roy. Thanks for the offer.... Er... will we be required to bring picks & shovels? :lol:

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Is anything arranged for the Sunday? Would there be any interest in Talybont Deep Mine?

Definitely interested Roy. Thanks for the offer.... Er... will we be required to bring picks & shovels? :lol:

No just sunglasses as you will know what caplamp I will be using.

EDIT
There are others in the area worth seeing, such as Henfwlch and an interesting short trip at Brynyrafr, no special gear required, just helmet, caplamp and handline. Maybe fit something in later either Saturday or Sunday?

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There are others in the area worth seeing, such as Henfwlch and an interesting short trip at Brynyrafr, no special gear required, just helmet, caplamp and handline. Maybe fit something in later either Saturday or Sunday?

Sounding better by the minte Roy!! :flowers: :flowers: :flowers:

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Sounding better by the minte Roy!! :flowers: :flowers: :flowers:

Agreed! Thanks Roy :thumbsup:

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I dont mind doing trips Sat and Sunday, you may all well be out of Bwlch Glas by 1500 which would give time for another trip without interfering with any serious Sat night drinking plans.
The same goes for Sunday.
I am easy and will go whatever way everyone wants, its an opportunity to see old friends and make new ones.

Bwlch Glas is not far from Talybont and Henfwlch and Brynyrafr are fairly close. Frongoch is further away, I have almost finished my re timbering there and will post some photos. There is also the possibility of some new ground in a mine near Aberystwyth by then, but what will be found is a matter for speculation.
There are lots of mines in the area, of course Cwmystwyth is out of bounds at the moment.

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Strangely enough I already had a tentative plan to go in Henfwch on the Sunday as it happens.

It's not a long trip (unless you want to include the pitches - I'm not sure what there is to see down those) but there are some interesting artefacts to see and some impressive work by RF getting through a fall (and I understand he's done more work in there since I went in there).

Dave

Kind thoughts good buddy,
You are correct in that there is not much to see down the pitch which requires full wet gear as water comes down on you. It is the outbye extension of the stope you see anyway, but blocked by the fall of material from the Henfwlch shaft. Water disappears down into the fill and must exit by way of Hafan, but my opinion is parallel with that of the late David Bick in that the 2 mines never connected but the water finds way down through a natural fissure.
There is an area of deadwork with a few bits and pieces on top, but little else.

My winze is just a handline and steps job, water is shallow, waders would do it.

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Is there much to see in Hafan? I understand there are adits near the incline - do they lead to much?

Dave

Is there much to see in Hafan? I understand there are adits near the incline - do they lead to much?

Dave

Simon H and his friends got into one years ago but now they appear to be blocked. I have 'looked' at the deep adit with crow bars etc but NG. There are a lot of large rocks to move.

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Really looking forward to this, we've not been down to Wales yet this year.
🙂

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There have been various comments (including my own) in this thread about making a weekend of it. Whilst I don't want to pre-empt Simon's organisation as the originator of this event, here's my suggestions:

Saturday: Bwlchglas as originally planned. I suspect we won't have a great deal of time available to us when we come out. So, weather permitting, perhaps a walk around Talybont to try and find the viewpoint for Roy Fellow's reconstructed 'photograph' of Talybont as it was when the mine was active. Alternatively/also we could have a walk in the forest to the west of Talybont to look at the shaft of Alltycrib mine (which some may wish to descend).

Saturday evening: There are two pubs in Talybont (they are next door to each other) - I would hope we would find one of them to our liking. They serve food, and I'm told there is also a Chinese takeaway in nearby Bow Street. Of course, the more adventurous might want to head for the bright lights of Aberystwyth.

Sunday: I suggest meeting 10.30 at Henfwlch SN 7377 8837. To be followed in the afternoon by a trip to Ystrad Einion to see the underground waterwheel. It might be possible to fit in a trip to Brynyrafr but it's not a mine I know - perhaps Roy would comment on this.

Obviously, people would need to make their own arrangements for accommodation in/near Talybont.

This is not a hard and fast plan - it's just a suggestion until something better comes along. So, if anyone would like to suggest alternatives please do.

Dave

Brynyrafr is an easy handline job, walking boots are OK, no water.
You get into a huge stope going into the hillside, descend to the bottom down a rubble pile and you are looking up 100 feet.
If we have a very dry spell and the lake is down, it might just be possible to descend into the adit. I believe that the portal is both buried and under water.

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