United Cavers Exploration Team

Cave and Mine Exploring => Trips and Events => Topic started by: Ian A on Jul 27, 2020, 04:35 PM

Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Ian A on Jul 27, 2020, 04:35 PM
This week we’re going to Ragman's (through trip) in Minera;

Location : Minera

Meeting time : 6.45pm

Equipment : Wellies, overalls, Lid/lamp, kneepads, change of clothes

Notes : This is a re-run of last week’s cancelled trip â€" we will be doing the “Through Trip” which includes seeing some very pretty stuff but also (maybe, possibly, could be) waist deep water. Tom H will be leading us through the various challenges and you can expect a really marvellous trip!


Parking here (dead centre of map - should be a green marker - I don't know how to use this thing);

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0591893,-3.1077185,950m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-GB


Please let us know if you are coming below ....


Also, I don't know why I am doing Vikki's job - Vikki, please take over !!!! :whistle:

:)

Ian
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Gareth Stonely on Jul 27, 2020, 05:09 PM
See you Thursday
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Les Williams on Jul 27, 2020, 05:16 PM
[quote="Ian" post=38411]This week we’re going to Ragman's (through trip) in Minera;

Parking here (dead centre of map - should be a green marker - I don't know how to use this thing);

Ian[/quote]

Try this...
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.0591893,-3.1077185,950m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en-GB
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Gregory Collins on Jul 27, 2020, 05:26 PM
Can't make it, working as usual this Thursday.  Thursday 13th's still on.  As for pubs in Wales I hear they re-open on Monday the 3rd August (next week) and not this weekend, hence the re-edit of this post.
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Les Williams on Jul 27, 2020, 05:58 PM
Ian, I had a look at your link and it showed me a green marker, so perhaps you do know how to use it...  :whistle:
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Ian A on Jul 27, 2020, 06:18 PM
That is an example of pure luck and flaw  :oops:
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Anthony Britner on Jul 27, 2020, 08:38 PM
[quote="LesW" post=38415]Ian, I had a look at your link and it showed me a green marker, so perhaps you do know how to use it...  :whistle:[/quote]

It helps that the marker for the Wildlife trust reserve car park is in exactly the same spot ;)
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Tom Howard on Jul 27, 2020, 08:41 PM
I said I'll lead you on an explore .. I've done it several times, but can't remember how it all links :-)  

Can someone bring a large-ish adjustable spanner please, mine's gone walkies.

Tom
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Dave Tyson on Jul 27, 2020, 10:15 PM
[quote="Tom Howard" post=38418]I said I'll lead you on an explore .. I've done it several times, but can't remember how it all links :-)  

Can someone bring a large-ish adjustable spanner please, mine's gone walkies.

Tom[/quote]

I think the bolt head is only about 14-15mm across flats so a smaller adjustable will do.

Route from cat flap:
head along passage to streamway. Left takes you to the downstream sump, right takes you to the gour dams. The first is about about thigh deep, but the next is a bit deeper :-) as you head on the water depth decreases. The passage heads to the upstream sump, but on your right is a way on with some mud. The passage starts as a hands and knnes crawl and then lowers, but isn't too arduous. You then reach a wall and the way on it up. The passage here has loose rock and the more rotund folk might need to clear some of the rock on the ground in order to transition from horizontal to vertical as it's a bit tight. once standing up it's an easy thrutch up the passage to reach a wooden trapdoor frame and the Ragman vein - whe you get into this head LEFT to get to the surface as you pass under the passage and are now facing 180 degrees from the direction you came. (I went the wrong way when I first explored it!). Make sure the entrance in the quarry is clear - some of the bat people/NWCC/other do-gooders may have blocked it with rubble...

The above is from memory from a few years (like 10+) back :-)

Dave
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: David R on Jul 30, 2020, 11:59 AM
See you Thursday night
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Tom Howard on Jul 31, 2020, 03:53 PM
Well, I quite enjoyed that!

First trip for me back out since lockdown and although not a big trip, we entered via the cat flap and visited the downstream sump before heading on to the upstream sump and out of Ragman Mine. A quick wander around the Hoffman and back to the cars.

I'm thinking a Thursday night Grand Turk passage trip in the next few weeks perhaps in lead up of maybe trying to organise an ODB trip with NWCC. This way, we can tick off Ogof Llyn Ddu across several trips :-)
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Gregory Collins on Jul 31, 2020, 04:37 PM
I can make the Thursday the 13th, Tom.
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Ian A on Jul 31, 2020, 06:03 PM
Good idea Tom  B)
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Les Williams on Jul 31, 2020, 06:14 PM
[quote="Tom Howard" post=38423]This way, we can tick off Ogof Llyn Ddu across several trips :-)[/quote]

You know that there is also Llyn Ddu II, Ogof Dydd Byraf and then the Park Western Vein Caverns, and then Ogof Llyn Park as well...
You need to do them all to do the full system (Oh, don't forget Cefn Y Gist)  :evil:  :evil:  :whistle:
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Tom Howard on Jul 31, 2020, 06:36 PM
We did Cefn Y gist on a Thursday not so long back.. so with all those I mentioned, the other 2 we don't officially have access to...
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Ian A on Jul 31, 2020, 06:51 PM
Can I stick Grand Turk up for this coming Thursday Tom ?    :whistle:
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Tom Howard on Jul 31, 2020, 06:53 PM
Sure, I'll see you there!
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Ian A on Jul 31, 2020, 06:54 PM
\0/
Title: Thursday 30th July 2020 - Caving Trip
Post by: Dave Tyson on Jul 31, 2020, 08:30 PM
[quote="LesW" post=38426][quote="Tom Howard" post=38423]This way, we can tick off Ogof Llyn Ddu across several trips :-)[/quote]

You know that there is also Llyn Ddu II, Ogof Dydd Byraf and then the Park Western Vein Caverns, and then Ogof Llyn Park as well...
You need to do them all to do the full system (Oh, don't forget Cefn Y Gist)  :evil:  :evil:  :whistle:[/quote]
I emailed Dewi Lloyd to find out the state of play with access in Minera. He said nothing had happened as the NWWT staff were all furloughed and they were waiting on a license from NRW. I am not sure why, but I guess they want to put 'cat flap' entrances on the ragman vein to please NWWT. I am sure NWCC will still be going into ODB, but I doubt if they would allow other clubs in till everything is settled. The new BCA C&A person is interested in finding what is going on and he has a bit more leverage so we may get some clarification.

Of course unofficial access to all other areas: Ogof Malwen, Ogof Hen Ddyn etc. is fine  :)

Dave