Hendre Spar Mine 31.1.13 Water Level Assessment

[Robin Jones]

On the trip were: Vikki, Rob, Iestyn, Dan, Budgie, Martin (Budgie's cousin), Ben, Ant, Ian & Tony.

The trip started with a brief-in in the car park as we had 3 new cavers with us (welcome Martin, Ben & Ant) and we soon headed up the slippery slope and dropped down the first ladder and through the crawl into the first cavernous chamber.  Here we pointed out the pitch that used to be rigged for SRT.

Without further ado, we continued over the rail (apart from Ian & Tony who went straight down to the worm hole area), up the fireman's hose (which now has a ladder in situ since early December) past the open shaft and down the next ladder, down some more ladders, closely followed by another 3 ladders.  The main reason I came on this trip is to see what the water level was like at the bottom of the 3 ladders, as in late December 2012 it was [strike]"balls deep" / "camel's hoof deep"[/strike] just below "waist height"  :S
 
To our amazement, the water level had dropped low enough to have a mooch around - so we did (see photos below)

We soon headed out with a brief detour down to the worm hole area before climbing the final ladder and we all descended the incredibly slippy hillside absolutely without incident  :dry:

thanks for a great evening people  :woohoo:

[Robin Jones]

[Robin Jones]

[Robin Jones]

Sorry about the shoddy photos peeps, but I couldn't be arsed taking a tripod (a bad workman always...........................................................)

[Andrew Farrow]

hey top stuffs - i cannot believe young vikkie is exploring in a white coat

PS - does this mean that hendre water levels are a law unto them selves - and nothing to do with pumping ?

[Anthony Britner]

Thanks for the enjoyable trip! Afraid my photos are absolute rubbish!

Not sure what was worse though, the ladders or the walk up the muddy slope"

[Ian A]

[Tim Watts]

i'm thinking that maybe the plug has popped! :-)

Ian, r.e. the last photo - you should get some cream for that.

The level in the quarry (last night when i went down susan shaft to retrieve a rope) was HIGHER than a few months ago when the water level was confirmed as 'up' in hendre.

FIngers crossed the plug has popped for good!

[Robin Jones]

Nice photos Ian  B)

The shafts / declines on the level at the bottom of the 3 ladders were still flooded to the brim so I'm assuming whatever has popped must be on that level we were walking on.

[Robin Jones]

[quote="Ant89" post=13824]Thanks for the enjoyable trip! Afraid my photos are absolute rubbish!

Not sure what was worse though, the ladders or the walk up the muddy slope"[/quote]

Great to meet you last night Ant!  I'm glad you enjoyed the trip  

I wouldn't have known you didn't like ladders unless you'd said, as you seemed quite confident on them.  Look forward to caving with you again soon  

[Anthony Britner]

[quote="Sweetie" post=13833][quote="Ant89" post=13824]Thanks for the enjoyable trip! Afraid my photos are absolute rubbish!

Not sure what was worse though, the ladders or the walk up the muddy slope"[/quote]

Great to meet you last night Ant!  I'm glad you enjoyed the trip  

I wouldn't have known you didn't like ladders unless you'd said, as you seemed quite confident on them.  Look forward to caving with you again soon  [/quote]

Sometimes things are not as bad as you think they will be!