United Cavers Exploration Team

Any one been down here this year.  Any info on

A- Is the dammed area still reasonable safe

B- In the UCET info bank its mentions you could get cut off via the entrance pipe in heavy rainfall, Is this still the case as thinking as going in this Friday and heavy rain is forecast

Thanks

Hi Mark,

I don't know abut the "dam".

The entrance pipe will carry a lot of water BUT, you could get stuck on the other side if there is a "torrent". You will not be in harms way though - just cold, wet and miserable while you sit it out.

You can access the mine by SRT going in from above the quarry - I haven't done it that way but I think the divers do and certainly the TV crew did.

The entrance to the second part of the workings is (to be blunt) "dodgy as fook". You have to pretty much crawl under a mostly collapsed entrance with water flowing freely over it (will be worse in a torrent) - don't touch any part of it but once inside it's pretty good.


 :)

Ian

Don't be tempted to do any diving in there - Bad air fills the chambers when you re-surface and there was a fatality on the last dive trip.

Ian

not sure if the pipe will get blocked comnpetely, would need a lot of water for that.  entry can also be gained up top at the boiler chamber, it's a easy scramble down but can be slippy so a handline may be useful. but the roof is a bit dodgy where it opens out so take care round there.

I seriously doubt it would get blocked completely but ... if the water level is high it will also be very fast in the pipe (venturi effect) and I wouldn't want to be in there with a small amount of airspace.

 :whistle:

Ian

Thank you both for your info, your time replying is much appreciated.

Best Wishes for Xmas