A new event has been added to the Events page.

Event name: Croesor - Rhosydd Through Trip May 2009

Date & time: 30/05/2009 at 10:00

Details: A trip for competent SRT experienced people only and does not need much introduction.

Croesor and Rhosydd slate mines were linked to settle an argument about whether one mine was trespassing on the other's territory. Both were. The route was explored in the 1980s and completed in the Rhosydd to Croesor direction on a floor now lost to flooding, and then in the opposite direction in the very early 90s.

Nowadays it is a well trodden route, with in-situ gear, however is still a trip not to be undertaken lightly. The through trip involves two abseils of around 80', two fixed zip-wire crossings, two dinghy crossings and two decaying bridges to cross.

This will not be a flat out end to end race, there are numerous artefacts and sites to see in both mines. Anticipate being underground for around 5 to 6 hours with an hours walk either site of that.

Maximum group size is set to 7 on this trip.

Event added by: simonrl

Full event: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/events/?uid=49 

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Mann, that 1st chamber which you abseil into looks rather scary, I wonder how many tonnes of rock came down in there?

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Mann, that 1st chamber which you abseil into looks rather scary, I wonder how many tonnes of rock came down in there?

Quite a lot! The photo on the album illustrating the event is the 2nd chamber though, but the 1st chamber is actually 3 knocked into one, which is why most of the roof is on the floor...

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Ahh, thanks for the quick reply:

I was looking at this pic

[photo]Dark-Places-Big-Bash-CRTT-10-08-2007-Image-014[/photo]

Huge!

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Ah yes, that chamber...

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Hope everybody is all set for the Croesor Rhosydd through trip this weekend.

Attending we have:

blackshiver
Colonel Mustard
Devis
jcam
jones the slate
Kit-Kat
simonrl

Plus:

Vanoord
Pinky

And I think:

DylanW and James Cartwright (if I understood Merddinemry's message from several thousand miles away correctly!)

Could everybody please post a quick message to confirm they are still coming? Thanks :flowers:

Meet up, 10am at the car park at the end of the public road above Tanygrisiau: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=tanygrisiau&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=19.196147,45.65918&ie=UTF8&ll=52.989913,-3.963597&spn=0.00476,0.011147&t=h&z=17 

Full SRT kit required, plus bring along an additional and extra long cowstail for clipping the safety lines - 1m to 1.2m is about right. I'll bring along a pulley and pull back cord, and one dinghy, if anybody can bring a spare that will give us some margin in the event of a burst 🙂

Bank on being underground for about 6 hours, more if we go in search of interesting bits of Rhosydd afterwards, so pack food and drink.

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Jcam, Blackshiver and Devis will be definately attending this trip. :thumbsup:

Thanks jcam, look forward to meeting you all there :thumbsup:

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Since my name is also on this thread, i'll just say that i can't come on this trip-i had an injury whilst hiking today - the details of which ar on the "non srt trip" thread. Just thought i d mention it here aswell incase youd mis the other thread....

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I have created an album for this trip at this http://www.aditnow.co.uk/album/Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip/ 

A few pics of interest:

The first abseil:
🔗Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35722[linkphoto]Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35722[/linkphoto][/link]

The "wall-hung" bridge:
🔗Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35728[linkphoto]Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35728[/linkphoto][/link]

It seems that this was used to gain access to a working floor at the back of what seems to be Chamber 4 East - SimonRL should have a (better!) photo taken from the floor at the back of the chamber.

Three-way turnout:
🔗Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35730[linkphoto]Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35730[/linkphoto][/link]

And a couple of comparison shots of the "Chamber of Horrors": one has been lightened considerably - and to my surprise, it seems that the chamber is a lot shallower at the Rhosydd end that it seems, although I suspect that the 'far' side of the chamber (ie beyond the robbed wall, this being two chambers knocked into one) is much deeper.

🔗Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35734[linkphoto]Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35734[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35735[linkphoto]Croesor-Rhosydd-Through-Trip-Image-35735[/linkphoto][/link]

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I'm going through Sunday with some caving friends...any recent changes?

I'm going through Sunday with some caving friends...any recent changes?

The Bridge which isn't a bridge is less of a not bridge than it was... 😮

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I'm going through Sunday with some caving friends...any recent changes?

The ropes seem in good condition, the knot passes have gone, so I suspect they've been pulled up a bit and re-rigged. Rope protectors are badly shot, definitely in need of changing.

First zip wire is fine.

There's a dinghy at the first boat crossing (ex-ladder bridge) which is serviceable, it leaks, but it'll get you across.

First bridge is missing nearly all of its planks now, looks very different even to 12 months ago. Main timbers still fine.

Second zip wire is fine.

Second bridge is decaying, one of the rails has gone AWOL so you now cross the first part on a single rail which sags rather a lot. Take an extra long cowstail or sling or you really will end up on tip toes. Central timber beam doesn't look long for this world. I think this bridge will give up the ghost before long.

Chamber of horrors has three good dinghies, two person sized and one just about person sized or good for bags.

Have fun!

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* I know just about everybody does take their own dinghy but just in case anybody is reading this in x months time please don't take it as read that the dinghies mentioned here are still in one piece!

* Chamber of horrors is badly in need of a clearout of dinghies. Would be happy to pop through one day to give it a clean up if anybody is interested.

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Thanks guys :)