Having spent yesterday pottering around, something more gritty was
required today and I could not think of anything better than showing everyone
the through trip on the Red Dell section of the Bonsor Vein that I got shown
last year. The morning was grey, cloudy and blowy whilst kitting up at the YHA,
and this kept us company as we made our trek up the valley towards Fleming's
Level.
After half an hour or so, we finally arrived at the portal, last
minute checks, and I went in first, followed by the others - reassuringly
smiling as all cursed at the sudden deep cold water. This part of the level is
a cross cut some 130m long to Fleming's Vein. When we reached the tee junction
on the vein, a north turn took us deeper into the workings and the first
collapse in the floor. Here a short 9m pitch dropped us down deeper into the
stope. Carrying on, we crawled through some very interesting looking stacked
deads to reach a stemple way. Proceeding along I pointed out that the way on
was actually half way along the stemples down a 15m pitch known as the narrow
stope. For the moment we intended to pass this and climb up into an area, which
affords a fantastic view into some very large stope workings and a section of
the Thriddle Shaft. After looking at the large stope, we returned back to the
stemples and abseiled down the narrow stope, which brought the party out at the
top of a rubble slope. At this point I could not remember what the next section
entailed, so to be on the safe side a hand line was rigged and Glasses Pete
went down for a look. Shortly it was confirmed that the bottom of the slope was
the awkward 3rd, 17m pitch. Glasses went down and, I and the others followed.
Near the bottom of the pitch you reach a rubble slope and the idea was to get
of on to it, so that we could go up the slope and look at the Thriddle Shaft.
Finally once everyone had made it to the viewing point, we all went back down
and continued along the shattered stopes until the final 9m pitch to Taylor's
Level was reached.
Having landed on Taylor's Level, everyone spaced out
along the narrow passage to have lunch. Afterwards we made our way across a
hopper and through a dodgy looking fall towards the Thriddle Shaft. Retracing
our steps back to were lunch was had, we followed the twisting and turning
route along Taylor's Level, passing chasms, deads held up by branches and very
soft looking stemples. At one point we reached some woolly orange fungus
covered timber, and the draft here was practically howling past. Right past the
fungus growth the next site that greeted us was a striking shallow blue pool,
with the blue coming form the various copper salts that had precipitated out in
it. Moving on, and rounding a corner we passed over a flooded section of stope,
full well knowing what we were walking on. Here we encountered the New Engine
Shaft and started our climb up the large rubble slope some 20m high. The slope
was directly under the fenced off open stopes at the surface. Fallen and washed
in debris of twigs, leaves and heather could be seen amongst the rocks, along
with the occasional speck of day light - so near, but yet so far away!
At the top of the slope, I knew what was waiting for us on the next
section and it gave me a little pause for thought. Paul had raced ahead, so I
let him abseil the 20m back down to Taylor's Level and the start of the
traverses. Giving him and the others a little pep talk on the route, he
disappeared down and once clear I followed him. Doing the first traverse the
second time round was much less nerve racking than last time, though the falls
of disturbed rocks into the chasm below still did nothing for my active mind.
Half way round the first traverse I started to hear various expletives from up
ahead - Paul must have come to the second traverse. Pete had abseiled down
after me and reported that Sally's light was playing up, I had a spare, but how
do you get it to her? Anyway she swapped out with Glasses Pete and it was
solved. When I reached Paul, he was grinning like a Cheshire Cat at the next
traverse with comments like " the rest are going to like this...". So, Paul
asks me, "are you going next Mike", "no, you raced ahead playing leader, you
go...", expletives. Paul got across with no problems and then I followed. Both
of us waited for Pete, and then those two got going on the next set of
traverses whilst I waited for Sally. I left my spare lamp with her to pass on
to Glasses Pete when he arrived and proceeded round the corner to start the
third double set of traverses, noticing that my forearmswere starting to ache.
Once over it, a quick Mars bar and watering stoked me up. Paul and Pete
disappeared on the last leg, whilst I waited for the next person. One final
small traverse over a small section of fallen floor and we reached the oil drum
dig and into sound passage - how nice. Passing through the slate close head,
and into the final passage to the outside, the level rewarded us with another
wetting of our feet and legs, a small price to pay for getting out
again.
As I came out, Pete and Paul were grinning and already exchanging
experiences of the day, the others came out and more of the same. It had been a
demanding day, and oh how nice the beer was going to be in Coniston that
evening! |
