Bwlch glas

bharries

bharries

Member
Hi all, plans have changed for me this weekend and I've been wanting to do Bwlch Glas for a while so no better time to scratch it off the list, Can anybody tell me the conditions of the in situ hangers? and I have a nice length of 30m rope, is this ample? as I can't seem to find solid info on the pitch height. Cheers all
 
I have not done this for quite a few years but:

The last time I visited the initial ladders were sound. One near the top, I think the second, was insecure so a friend and I fitted a heavy stemple across the shaft and secured the ladder to it. My thinking was even using SRT an insecure lader was dangerous. You can get off at the bottom of the laders to a sub level so its 2 pitches. The second pitch has a necessary rebely close to the top to avoid foul rope because there is a short slope leading to a free hanger of about 60 feet down the centre of the stope. There is a rock at the bottom pointing upwards like an inverted "Sword of Damacles" So note that the requirement is 2 ropes not one, I would at least safety line the ladders.

Also note that this is from my last visit of some time ago so conditions may have changed. The belays at that time were sound, new ones were fitted for a NAMHO event a few years back. So not really answering you main question but hope this info is helpful.
 
bharries said:
... Can anybody tell me the conditions of the in situ hangers? ...
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Some of the anchors at the head of the second pitch were placed by South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team 9/6/2010. I've not been there since.

I would hope that someone else has been there more recently ad can provide more up to date information.

As ever, the user should decide for themself if in situ anchors etc. are suitable and safe to use.

Dave
 
davel said:
Some of the anchors at the head of the second pitch were placed by South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team 9/6/2010. I've not been there since.

I would hope that someone else has been there more recently ad can provide more up to date information.

As ever, the user should decide for themself if in situ anchors etc. are suitable and safe to use.

Dave
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Thank you Dave, I'll take new bolts and hangers just in case they're needed.
 
The second pitch could be rigged with a rebelay as Roy suggests. However I have always seen it rigged with a deviation, so take a few different length slings to find the optimum one.

Chris.
 
Agree – it's been rigged as a deviation the couple of times I've been in there. If I remember correctly it's a very easy deviation to pass as it's possible to stand on the lip of the pitch proper while passing it.

Dave
 
We were there last weekend but unfortunately didn't do any ropework. The initial ladder to intermediate is good condition leading to the pitch head. There were 2 stainless plates in situ, good condition. There were also 2x 12mm through bolts with no plates, nuts or washers for back up. All looked like they were installed yesterday. Can't comment on any bolts or rigging below until we return.
 
Interesting, pleased about the ladders. I did check them all when we put in that big support stemple you may have noticed. We had a right game with it.
 
TLH said:
We were there last weekend but unfortunately didn't do any ropework. The initial ladder to intermediate is good condition leading to the pitch head. There were 2 stainless plates in situ, good condition. There were also 2x 12mm through bolts with no plates, nuts or washers for back up. All looked like they were installed yesterday. Can't comment on any bolts or rigging below until we return.
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Thank you!
 
The old miners peg has some tales. I rigged from it back in the 1990s using a length of electron complete with carpet and of course the rope for SRT. I later learned that people had rigged from this to discover that their tape or whatever had almost come off!
 
Jethro said:
Where can I get rope access lessons?
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Depends where you are. Any caving/mining clubs local? UCET would be a suggestion if you're North Wales. If you are Mid Wales - maybe Aber Uni club? or maybe Shropshire or Dudley?

Or there's quite a few commercial outfits around Peak or Yorkshire who run rope courses of one kind or another - cic srt training courses as a search term bring a few back - £150-200 a day seems to be around the mark.
 
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