Tittle says it all,

There's been another collapse in the horse level blocking it completely about 100 yards or so before you reach Bog Shaft. It's still drafting well and appears to be blocked by several large boulders that have come down, squashing the adjacent arching. I've not been to the other side to gauge how bad it is yet.

🔗Personal-Album-1863-Image-70854[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1863-Image-70854[/linkphoto][/link]
(sorry about the poor picture quality, but you'll get the general idea...)


There have also been numerous new collapses in the shale beds beyond the incline and before "toilet junction". Although there has been significant new falls, the general condition of that section of the level is much the same as before...

Edit: Picture added

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Jeepers, that looks fairly terminal from the size of that boulder on the left.

Looks like it might be High Level only for the through trip from now on.

Jeepers, that looks fairly terminal from the size of that boulder on the left.

The one behind it is bigger...

My main concern is that the big one you see on the left has squashed the arching, so disturbing it to clear it could bring down even more... It's hard to judge how much work it will be to clear without having a look from the other side, which would be easier access to clear it anyway; assuming it's not flooded to the roof 😮

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Are you absolutely sure that the level is blocked completely?

Only it does look a bit familiar to me

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I have spoke with Pete, and it looks like the fall is in the same place that there already was one. It is past the junction for CC North Vein.

It is the place with the big boulders already down and then past that, the really deep water. When you went through that chamber and looked up, it always looked like there was more to come down.....

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Are you absolutely sure that the level is blocked completely?

Only it does look a bit familiar to me

Absolutely.

As Mr Mike says, it is at a point where there was already a lot down, but it is now impassible. It is still drafting well, so maybe only a few big lumps have come in...

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Roy, does this look a little less familiar?

🔗Personal-Album-1863-Image-70856[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1863-Image-70856[/linkphoto][/link]

The boulder to the left has I think been there some time, the one in the middle is new as are a lot of the bits around and about.

Again, apologies for the poor photo quality

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Ah, yes I was right but then wrong as well

As Mike says, it was at at a place that I called "my fish route". A lot of people who do the through trip nowadays go up through the north Flats using SRT, I prefer my fish route.

It needs someone to take a look from the other side as it may be easily clearable.
There was a climb up to the right of the big flat slab avoiding the hanging arching, bit of a squeeze, then drop down into arched level with about 8 inches of air space.

I doubt that anything can be done from the Caplecleugh side, it needs to be tackled from the Smallcleaugh side.

As far as Dowgang Level is concerned, a lot of the fallen shale is well trampled but there is a section that apears to be constantly flaking from the roof. I want to try to organise some work there next year, it will be Easter before I am up there again

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It needs someone to take a look from the other side as it may be easily clearable.

I'll be up that way after Christmas, perhaps even before then.
Will try to take a look if i'm in that area.

It needs someone to take a look from the other side as it may be easily clearable.

I'll be up that way after Christmas, perhaps even before then.
Will try to take a look if i'm in that area.

We will have to keep our fingers crossed Chris. If you get to the end of the arched level you only have 8 inches of air space and if its solid fall in front of you, we may have had it.

I would then try poking with a long bar from the Caplecleugh side to see if anything can be dislodged to gain access to the cavity made by the fall. If the cavity can be gained from either side, then we may be able to recover the situation.

Be careful

EDIT
While I have Caplecleugh enthusists here, please be advised that the new SRT rope that has appeared going up to 'Loop Flats' on Caplecleugh Vein was put in by me.
For some time I have considered that the climb up the air pipes and crossing over an open hopper was an accident waiting to happen. NAMHO next year was originally planned for Nenthead and I was going to take a Caplecleugh trip, or 2, or 3! anyway, I was going to do this for the event, and then thought "why not do it anyway".
I ran it past ba few people last year, and everyone thought it a good idea.

What a struggle getting the DeWalt through the bloody shale, working on my own as usual.

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I would then try poking with a long bar from the Caplecleugh side

I picked up a 5' bar from nearby to have a poke, but on closer inspection decided 5' was closer than I wanted to be if anything did move. Without supporting the adjacent arching first I would worry about trying to dislodge anything there...
Either way, the bar is still there for use by anyone who dares :devil:

My immediate thought was to try breaking up the larger boulders by use of a remote boulder breaking device 😉 then poke at it/ clear the smaller stuff by hand

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Is there any sign that water is flowing past the collapse Pete?

It seems to be flowing through the lower parts of the fall as it did before, so I'd be fairly sure it wont have backed up too much if at all...

...but don't quote me on that when you're breathing through straws 😮

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We had a look in from the other side today, enabling us to get up into the cavity above the collapse. With a few hours work, we've managed to dig back through and drop the water level back to its former level. 🙂

Mr K forgot his camera battery, so no photos, but the level is now passable again (and you might even say it's in a better state than before it fell in)

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Excellent news Pete, been meaning to go for a look myself but seem to have a lot on at the moment. :thumbsup:

Nice work!

Roy wil be back on his 'fish route' Easter. Glad you didn't drop the water level completely and spoil my fun

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Excellent - go team youngen !

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Glad you didn't drop the water level completely and spoil my fun

Wouldn't dream of doing that 😉 and besides, that'd be one hell of a job 😮

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