Will’s Hole, Sunday 1st May 2016 by Barry Burn

Barry Burn
Tristan Burn
Tom Williams
Vicky Blüemel
Andrew “Zeb” Zerbino

With the aim of allowing Vicky and Tom to try out their newly aquired SRT skills, a suitable pitch was needed and so Will’s Hole was settled upon.

It transpired that Vicky and Zeb were going to have some problem getting to Dinas Rock in the near future so Tom, Tristan and I continued on ahead to rendevous with Huw Jones, the club tacklemaster to pick up some club kit and then on to Dinas Rock find a completely packed car park. Luckily one van was leaving so we were able to squeeze Tom’s Disco, change and head on upstream to the cave where we quickly entered and made the short way to the pitch.

There are a load of ancient spit anchors placed all over the pitch in Will’s Hole, the majority of which are very dubious along with a piece of railway placed back from the pitch at floor level, the best of a bad lot were selected and the pitch rigged.

Tom was first off down the pitch followed by Tris and finally myself.

Tom sets off down the pitch.

Tom sets off down the pitch.

I’d love to say that Will’s Hole is an amazing cave that should be on everyone’s to do list, but I can’t. It’s a horrible, muddy dismal place and after taking some pictures, we were soon ready to head back out.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Just as we were getting to the pitch, we heard a “Hullooo” from the top. Vicky and Zeb had arrived. The three of us at the bottom headed up to meet them and to allow them to visit the muddy delights that awaited them.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Tom Sets Off

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Tom Approaches the Pitch Head

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Tris At the Top

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Vicky Heads Down

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Vicky Mid-Pitch

Zeb and Vicky also didn’t stay too long in the cave, just long enough for one of them to fall gracelessly into the mud taking the other with them. Then it was back on to the rope and back up and out.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Vicky Appears at The Top

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Zeb On Way Up

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Zeb at the Top

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Will’s Hole is not a great cave and as it is used quite a bit, could probably do with some P-bolts placed to ease the rigging. However, we did enjoy the visit especially for the chance for some SRT.

 

 

Upper Dinas Silica Mine, 1st May 2016 by Barry Burn

Barry Burn
Tristan Burn
Tom Williams
Vicky Blüemel
Andrew “Zeb” Zerbino

After leaving the delightful Will’s Hole behind us, we decided to go back to the cars via the Upper Silica Mine that can be reached by following the river upstream until an obvious mine entrance is found up a banking and behind a low fence.

We entered via the lower entrance and had a quick look around the lower levels where you can walk to the far end of the mine with steep inclines to your left that lead to higher parallel galleries and lower flooded levels to your right.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Looking back to the lower entrance

And we explored some of the lower levels of the mine.

 

Tris decided to have a look at one of the flooded levels.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

And we threatened Zeb with what might happen the next time he’s late.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Late again and we remove the chocks…

A detour to the crane and then back out by climbing the slope up to an upper entrance at the top of the hill.

It is quite amazing when you pop out the top of the hill to realise that the whole interior of the hill has been hollowed out by mining activity.

A walk back down off the rock back to the cars followed completed an enjoyable double-trip day.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Back Down The Rock