Sunday's team for this trip comprised JohnnyM, Miles and myself, the main objective was to get across the chamber 17 bridge (BODOD) and have a proper look beyond.

As the previous crossing by JM and FF had been the first, it took far longer to rig than to cross rigged. Hence they had little time for exploration beyond a brief investigation of what lay beyond, and had no camera gear with them.

We set off from Cwmorthin lake level, via the usual route down to the boiler chamber, over the DE collapse to the Victorian staircase, up two short rope ascents and ultimately to floor 3.

We took a short deviation at Miles suggestion to investigate a collapsed area of floor 2. A quick squeeze through the collapse yielded a short section of tunnel and a well preserved winch, possibly made from the remains of a tripod crane. One set of footprints suggested that at least one explorer had been here before us, and the winch itself indicated an incline would have been present for hauling material. However both branches of the tunnel were impassable due to collapse.

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-002/[/img]

The bridge was crossed reasonably quickly, and on the fixed gear it was easier to pause to allow it to be photographed, here is JM around a third of the way across:

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-004/[/img]

Once across the bridge we were able to explore chamber 18 and a section of tunnel beyond towards chamber 19. However this came up against a collapse (as reported by JM and FF). The ground was so shattered that it was hard to tell whether we were in a walled section of tunnel, or a chamber. However we scrambled up a void left by this collapse to assess the viability of pushing onwards.

Inside the void:

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-008/[/img]

Hideous roof:

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-009/[/img]

At this point, and despite what looked like a squeezable hole above us; we decided that whilst discretion may well may be the better part of valour; cowardice was most certainly the better part of discretion, and picked our way back down.

Tunnel of floor 3 between chambers 18 and 19 (not reachable)

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-012/[/img]

Returning back to chamber 18 we took a quick photograph to determine whether there might be a manway or tunnel leading off from the back top of the chamber, however none were apparent:

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-013/[/img]

By this stage we had established that further exploration beyond chamber 18 on floor 3 is not possible. If exploration in this area is to be continued, one possibility might be to descend chamber 18 part way until a level leading off towards the western workings is reached.

Looking down chamber 18:

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-017/[/img]

Before crossing the bridge back I took one last photograph towards the opposite working face of chamber 17 and the catwalks on the face.

Crossing the chamber on several ropes securely attached to the rock using Petzl bolts and modern climbing gear is one thing. These catwalks are something else altogether.

I cannot help but wonder at the nerve required to work on a small plank, way above the chamber floor with nothing but an iron chain for safety. Admittedly these catwalks are likely to have been placed and worked from before the chamber was dug to its current depth, however even so the drops would have been extreme.

Occassionally it does us good to stop and think about the working lives of the men who cut these massive chambers, sights like this are a vivid reminder.

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-020/[/img]

Atmospheric shot of the day award goes to Miles for this photo of JM and myself on the far side of the bridge (pic by Miles):

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/showimage?f=/community/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007-Image-021/[/img]

On our way out we took a detour to Ch15 to investigate part of Miles' big DP round trip. A couple of bolts and one descent by MM later, and he confirmed that the Ch14/15 link is possible.

All in all, a very successful and fun day. Thanks JM and MM.

A fuller album of photos is available here: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/album/Oakeley-Slate-Quarry-22-07-2007 .

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