Thanks!!

nwmines

Thanks to all who came along this afternoon to help move the steel into place in Rhiwbach. What started as a plan to get the steel partway up to the mine ended with all the materials in the mine within an hour!!

Go Below will get in touch when they plan to instal the steel as users will need to stay clear of the mine that day.

As we were there we also installed an additional anchor on the traverse (floor 1) to try and eliminate the rub point, it will need a stainless steel mailon.

Some updates

nwmines

There’s been a few updates sent out to users of Rhiwbach, Wrysgan and Bwlch y Plwm. Would be worth checking with whoever you’re working for if you’re heading underground with groups.

We’re also looking to get a working party up to Rhiwbach Friday afternoon. Get in touch if you’re free to help carry some heavy stuff up to the mine! Did I sell that….

Gethin

Wrysgan Rock fall

nwmines

Sounds like there’s been a small (but worth taking note of!) rock-fall above the traverse on floor 3 of the mine:

Hi Gethin,

Picture attached of a recent rock fall in Wrysgan. Abseil stance at the end of the L3 traverse, after the island!

Obvious missing bits from the roof but I couldn’t see anything hanging….waiting to drop!!

Couple of pieces managed to make it down to L2 at the bottom of the pitch!!

Regards

Jim.image002.jpg

2017 LCMLA Mine Users Meeting Agenda

2017 LCMLA Mine Users Meeting Agenda

nwmines

Meeting: 25th January 2017

10am-1pm Oaklands OEC

Following last years gathering it was suggested we try to arrange an annual get together for those using the mines in North Wales. The aim of the meeting is to try and discus a variety of topics such as access, bolting, radon and this years round of mine inspections.

Details are also available here: www.northwalesmines.worpress.com

Rough Agenda

  • 10am Welcome/Introductions
  • Access
    • Update from CAL (Cave Access Ltd) who are manage access to some of the mines owned by National Resources Wales (previously the Forestry Commission)
    • Developments with Bwlch y Plwm
    • Talargoch
    • Parking at Rhiwbach
    • Any other issues?
  • Radon
    • Where we’re at and what next
  • Recent rockfalls underground
    • Rhiwbach boating chamber
  • Mine Inspections for this year (27-31 March)
    • Works on Rhiwbach
    • Venues: Bwlch y Plwm, Cwmorthin, Fish Mines/Caves, Gaewern, Geironydd Trials, Minllyn, Rhiwbach, Talargoch, Wrysgan
    • Any additional sites people would like to have inspected & are people available to accompany Les
  • AOB

I’d hope we could rattle through this lot in a few hours, hope you can make it. Directions to Oaklands can be found here: http://oaklands-centre.co.uk/index.php/contact-us/how-to-find-us/

Gethin

22 January 2017

 

 

 

2017 LCMLA North Wales Users Meet

nwmines

How would people feel about getting together for a users chat, similar to the event we ran last year?

Topics would include

  • Radon
  • Bwlch y Plwm access
  • Rhiwbach boat options
  • Rhiwbach works
  • Next set of mine inspections (new venues/routes)
    • Category 1 mines
  • Any other topics (get in touch)

I’m trying to pull a date together so feel free to let us know when you’d be available and we’ll pick a date when most are free: http://doodle.com/poll/x6vgttcffyub9feg

Meeting to be held at Oaklands starting at 10am, with a view to possibly doing some heavy lifting in the afternoon up to Rhiwbach!!

Gethin

 

Radon Monitors

Radon Monitors

nwmines

Radon monitors have arrived and will be placed over the next few days. Please do get in touch if you’re around and fancy getting out of the sun for a few hours to place them!

Monitors are to be placed in designated sites, below is a list of whats going where. They will be in place for 4 weeks then sent off for analysis. Once they’re back the reports will be added to the mine inspection reports folders online.

If you spot any of the monitors when underground over the next few weeks please do not fiddle with them. They are sealed in plastic bags and should not be opened or moved. May be worth briefing your groups…

Gethin

Radon Tests Sites for North Wales Mines

  • Rhiwbach slate mine (6 test kits)
    1. Ventilation door/Head of incline (Floor H, Head of incline)
    2. Tyrolean start (floor I, Ch3East)
    3. Large Chamber on first floor (Floor H, Ch2East)
    4. Museum on first floor (Floor H, Ch8West)
    5. Museum on floor 4 (Floor G, Ch8West)
    6. Base of waterfall climb (Floor F, Ch1East)
  • Wrysgan (2 tet kits)
  1. Pitch head/Air Shaft between floors 1 & 2
  2. Top of roped climb (Floor 2)

  • Fish Caves (2 test kits)
    1. Head of main pitch
    2. Far end of floor 1 workings
  • Bwlch y Plwm (3 test kits)
    1. Bridge
    2. Crossroads on floor 1
    3. Far end of floor 1, 5th adit West
  • Cwmorthin (5 test kits)
    1. G Floor Chamber Z38
    2. Caban 1934, Floor DE, Ch34
    3. Compressor Chamber, Floor DE
    4. Stripey Vein, far chamber
    5. Top of freefall pitch
  • Cwmorthin Floor 4 (1 test kit)
    1. Wire ladder junction
  • Gaewern (2 test kits)
    1. Top of fixed ladder climb
    2. Top of “hole in floor” pitch

 

Useful images from previous inspections

nwmines

Here’s a few images/warnings issued over the years that still stand for some sites. These images have dropped down to the bottom of the news feed on the site so I thought I’d add them again and stick them to the top of the updates feed.

Rhiwbach Brow

Here’s a photo of the brow taken after the cracks were originally painted, this image can be used to compare any changes


Rhiwbach Entrance Adit

Picture of the entrance which has seen some vegetation’s slippage over the Winter of 2015-16

Rhiwbach Top Entrance

Photo following clearing some loose rock at the exit of the mine

22 MineReports2013 Rhiwbach Top Exit Picture

Wrysgan Slab

Route passed the fallen (eased) block between floors 4 & 5 in Wrysgan

WrysganSlab2013

Wrysgan Roof

Section of roof which pealed away in 2014. Photo can be used to compare changes

WrysganRockFall 2014