Wrysagan mine [ 23rd DECEMBER 2013 ]

[Andrew Farrow]

Attending :

Andyj-j
Phil S

With atrocious weather , bits of trees and idiots cluttering the roads , We EVENTUALLY arrived at the lakeside café â€" brekkie was ordered and young ladies wearing festive onsies perved over

Despite the fact it was then raining harder â€" we changed â€" and embarked on the Squalid walk up to the mine [ crossing the bridge of death of death of death of death ]

We had a bimble around the surface remains as we ascended â€" phill was dead impressed with the tunnel to the incline over looking the lake

As neither of us had a clue what the mine layout was â€" we just went up and up till we ran out of mountain â€" and decided “ this is the top “

Now at altitude â€" wind joined the rain â€" so we were glad to be underground

With no survey â€" we just mooched around in trial and error fashion â€" mainly taking the path of least resistance â€" and avoiding the areas of obvious instability â€" when bits of roof 5m across are coming down and gaping cracks in the remainder its probally best to avoid it

The main danger zone seemed to virtually bisect the mine vertically â€" which made exploration more difficult â€" as we didn’t want to descent to a point we couldn’t retreat from

But after several up / down explorations â€" we found the bits that were bolted â€" I had a play on the traverse wire â€" and we did two abseils â€" only pulling through once we had found a viable way on [ which added to time and faff ]

But eventually we reached the bottom adit - and Emerged into darkness â€" we cancelled our call out [ thanks dan ] and once changed â€" retired To the pub [ the posh one next to the dation â€" not the grotty cheap one next to the roundabout ] for lubrication before the drive home .

Not a very large mine â€" in the scale of welsh slate workings â€" but an interesting mooch â€" kept us out of mischief

Pics will follow [ camera in car â€" and CBA putting shoes on ]