Hello All:
Trip: Grand Turk, Minera
Trip Type: General Mooch - PLEASE HELP IF YOU KNOW NY MORE??
Meet Point: The Moors Inn, Bwlchgwyn
Meet time: 18.45
Notes: There will a trip on a long electron & probably mud!!!!!!!
After the electron climb, there is a immediate flat out crawl. It is tight, but not impossible. One through you will be met with stalactites and other pretties. Its a nice trip to be honest, quite a nice phreatic passage once in, eventually leading to a sump.
Gutted am a way . Back saturday will text Dave and tell him for you .. :-)
missing another one - working :-( I doomed never to do the Grand Turk!
I'm off work, but still got the fractured foot in tow
I'm working until 7:30... :(
If there's anybody left from excuses.. I'm game? It's an excellent bit of passage :D
TLH
Well, I am going and I know 3 others are too ... see you there Tom ;)
Thank you Ian :) I shall see you Thursday!
TLH
[quote="Suboffender" post=6575]After the electron climb, there is a immediate flat out crawl. It is tight, but not impossible. One through you will be met with stalactites and other pretties. Its a nice trip to be honest, quite a nice phreatic passage once in, eventually leading to a sump.[/quote]
Just how tight and long a crawl is it ? eg how does it compare to the sand crawl?
Tough call John .....
It's a flat out belly crawl (no chance for hands and knees).
Possibly 40-50 feet ....
My gut feeling is you will "probably" get through - I would give you a 75% chance or better.
.... Stupid caves making it difficult for people to explore :angry:
Ian
you'll get through john - says me whos never seen it and won't be there! ;-)
Think of the photos you'll get ;-)
I've been through and I didn't think it was to tight and I'm no slim jim It's just a long crawl
This might help ...
http://www.wirralcavinggroup.org.uk/trips/grandturk.html
:)
Thanks for the advice guys (Tim's was particularly helpful :dry: )
I will probably come along, unless I get a better offer :woohoo: but don't wait for me if I am not on time.
This is a trip report from back last year, might give some scale of the place too as it has pictures...
http://www.derbyscc.org.uk/club/dcc_log_detail-ed.php?item=092
Count me in :-)
[quote="TLH" post=6594]This is a trip report from back last year, might give some scale of the place too as it has pictures...
http://www.derbyscc.org.uk/club/dcc_log_detail-ed.php?item=092[/quote]
I just get a password request for access to their members area:(
I should be there dudes :)
To extend the trip you might want to have a look up the mined shaft which you access from the main passage near the low crawl is before the sump. You need remember to bag and bring your SRT gear with you after the tedious crawl at the base of the entrance shaft. The mined shaft had a fixed rope in good condition last time we were there (13 Jan 2012), there is a tiny amount of rub at the top, but since the anchor is only 3" from the edge its unlikely to cause a problem. There is a very interesting air control dam, quite a bit of passage and another shaft (which would need a maypole - its on our list to do!). watch out for the collapse at the end of the passage - its a bit loose!
Cheers,
Dave
PS. I would come tonight but its my partner's 60th birthday and I would get it in the neck if I buggered off caving.
[quote="JohnO" post=6596][quote="TLH" post=6594]This is a trip report from back last year, might give some scale of the place too as it has pictures...
http://www.derbyscc.org.uk/club/dcc_log_detail-ed.php?item=092[/quote]
I just get a password request for access to their members area:([/quote]
yer, yesterday i could follow the link and read it - but today its asking for login
Very very sorry I can't manage this trip. Ian's description of this cave is very exciting, despite the challenge of the entry. However, I assume the tight crawl is no worse than the squeezes in the Minera Maze.
Do we have to get official sanction to visit the Grand Turk?
Will there be another trip soon? - preferably in the Summer holiday when Bella can come along.
John, I want to have a look myself so I'd say 'yes' we'll sort another trip sooner rather than later :-)
[quote="JohnNicholson" post=6605] I assume the tight crawl is no worse than the squeezes in the Minera Maze.
Do we have to get official sanction to visit the Grand Turk?
[/quote]
1) The crawl is different to Minera Mine in that it is entirely natural. It is a flat belly crawl - you will be ok ;)
2) As I understand it - no. The cave was under the stewardship of NWCC who have, themselves, removed the lock from the entry gate.
:)
Ian
Sorry for the duff link to the report, didn't realise I was logged in hence the reason I could read it..
Shall see you all later though :)
I hope you all have (are having as I write) a fantastic time.
I lookforward to pictures and gripping story ASAP.
yes, me too - its a very good point actually john. We could all have a go at writing a bit more stuff in the trip reports section :-)
I suppose we all rely upon Ian producing another eppic to record our venture for ever.
My van gear shift has now totally died, so hopefully Joel will come round tomorrow and we can fix the LR101. Meanwhile I have had to hire a modern van. how horrid is that?
i hope you are still bump starting the hire van - dont get used to having a starter motor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trip done ... excellent .... might do a trip report in the spirit of good practice. I have some piccies which are not fantastic and will upload a thread soon.
JohnO ... you would have got through without any more or less problems than the rest of us (it wasn't as confined as I remember it)
;)
Ian
You are getting slimmer Ian?
[quote="JohnNicholson" post=6623]You are getting slimmer Ian?[/quote]
Quite the opposite John ... I may need to cut down on the pork pies and ration myself to less than 5 a day ;)
less than five? Extreme dieting! - you're a madman!! ;-)
Maybe I will go down on Tim's Trip, But the option of possibly getting stuck in a dark underground hole or stay top site in the glorious sun what a bit of a no-brainer for me.
The Summer is happening NOW, make the most of it, it wont last :(
[quote="Ian" post=6624][quote="JohnNicholson" post=6623]You are getting slimmer Ian?[/quote]
Quite the opposite John ... I may need to cut down on the pork pies and ration myself to less than 5 a day ;)[/quote]
Take it steady there mate, you need to go carefully over those gratings in case you slip through the bars... :evil:
.
JohnO ...
~Yes you are right about the summer.
Thing is ... whilst it is hot and dry, the underground riverbed is also dry allowing passage through ....
;)
Ian
I like it wet :woohoo: it's easier to slip in :blush: