After finding a number of rises last month in this area of the
mine, a maypole mission was needed to get up them and find out if they went
anywhere interesting. A relatively early start this time round (even though we
did have to wait for Karli again), we entered the portal at 10:45. A quick
march through the mine saw us at the first target location an hour or so later.
The first rise to climb up was the one on the parallel vein running
north of the Middlecleugh Second Sun Vein on the western forehead, at the
hopper and manway that all the timbering had fallen away from. Three sections
of maypole reached the top, a total of 7m. Karli quickly prussiked up, to find
a little ledge and a further rise of 1.8m. The only problem being that the next
part of the level was actually not very well supported. Karli did not fancy
going higher up, which must have meant it was dodgy! I had a quick look up and
did not like the look of it either. A disappointment, and maybe something to be
tried again at another time. Doing a full reverse we retraced our route to the
junction with Longcleugh Vein to look at the stope with the large stone
arching. Here before cracking on, we had lunch.
After lunch the maypole
was assembled to the full height of 9m, and Karli prussiked up to see what was
up there. A level could be seen as expected. The pole did not quite reach the
top and to make it easier to get up 2 sections where removed and installed
higher up, with the rope being taken from this point via a deviation. A short
length of rope ladder was also deployed to assist in the level entry. Soon all
of us were up and we found the level to be blocked in both western and eastern
directions. However on the west side there was a grotty looking hole. Just to
the east side of the level there was a very impressive dressed stone lined
shaft going up. The level underneath this shaft seemed to have fallen away and
a large stope could be seen below. Scrambling down a slippy slope we passed
tallow candles on the wall and soon entered the stope, to find that it seemed
to be on the other side of the maypole stope we had just come from - (mental
panic occurring here) - as expected a few hoppers were found, then one with
spikes in for climbing. Yes, we did get back to the horse level, and yes we did
curse, and yes we did feel like we had chased our own arses. Oh well, a good
technical exercise and well, we now know that you can get up there without a
maypole. Hummm. More investigation next time before resorting to
maypoles.
Moving on from the stope we recovered the maypole and
proceeded to climb up the manway which gives access to Bogg Shaft. We brought 3
of the maypole sections along for another investigation in the chamber with the
large pipes. The Caplecleugh High Level intersects this chamber some 5m above
and we had wanted to see if the eastern side actually was open. It did not look
promising as the shale here was particular in a bad state. Maypole erected and
a quick traverse along the chamber side and prussik up brought Karli into the
level. Shortly in, it was fully blocked and in a very poor condition. Not
having much luck with the pole? We climbed back down to the manway and had a
look on the other side of it. Some old shovels could be seen along with fuse
and fittings. The level here was short and quickly reached a little short
length of dexion ladder. This gave access to a grotty slope going upwards,
sound familiar? Yes indeed, climbing up it gave entrance to the level at the
top of the maypole we had investigated before.
Conclusion: 1) You can
get to Bogg Shaft without SRT, 2) The stone lined shaft looks very
enticing. |
