A trip to have another look at the Horse Whimsey and also to try
and find the link in the Top Sill's to Brownley Hill. We headed for the
Scaleburn Vein and climbed up the stone steps that lead up into the Top Sill's,
dropping back down via Reeds Sump (which has been dug out) to emerge on
Scaleburn Vein bypassing a collapse. After the sump we came to the Rampgill
Cross Cut which headed south to join up with the Rampgill Vein, we did not go
into it but it would be useful to know if it does connect with the Rampgill
Vein or whether it is blocked.
After around 100m past the cross cut we
came to a branch, and took the left to enter the Horse Whimsey Chamber. This in
fact is the Low Bore Hole Sump and was used for drawing water for hydraulic
operations. In the chamber there is a flooded shaft which we believe may lead
into the Brownley Hill Level as the level does parallel the Scaleburn Vein.
Lunch was had here, and afterwards just past the branch we abseiled down a sump
on your right. This was some 8m, which opened up into a stope and some small
flats. Whilst abseiling you realise that the passage above is a false floor
with wooden stemples and beams supporting it. We had to pendule into the flat
and about 2m below the flat there was what looked like a flooded passage. In
the flats Karli with assistance from Charlie climbed up into a rise, which lead
to a collapsed passage but yielded some interesting artifacts, a rotten box of
intact candles and a shot hole scraper. We think that the flat may be Jon
Vickers Flat.
Meanwhile Mark had stayed up top and noticed that he
could hear us from the Bore Hole Sump, so I dropped down into the flooded
passage and indeed it connected with the bore hole. It also headed south, but
this was flooded and only had about 100mm of air space, from maps this looks
like it well could have been blind. Further along the Scaleburn Vein we came to
a collapse and after this a set of oil drums, Karli had been through them
before, but we did not proceed further as the area was unstable.
We
returned to the Top Sill's to try and find the link to Brownley Hill. A passage
heading northwest lay past Reed's Sump and we took this until we came to a sump
which barred our way, the sump was anchored and about 10m in depth. Karli and I
abseiled down it into another level and then located a further sump which had
anchors and was around the 30m mark, the Brownley Hill link had been found. The
sump that we went down from the Top Sill's we think was Teasdale Sump as it
corresponds with a rise from Brownley Hill. The level here below the Top Sill's
warrants some further exploration as it does go on, also the other end of the
Top Sill's needs more exploration as there are many rises and sumps. It also
looks like the Top Sill's may have had a level mouth somewhere. As always more
cans of worms have been opened.
NOTE: The dug out sump (Reed's Sump) in
the Top Sill's which is the bypass of the collapse on the horse level is only
strong enough to keep the sump open. You should only descend and ascend the
sump using a rope ladder and life line. DO NOT USE THE SUPPORTS AS A CLIMBING
AID FOR FREE CLIMBING THE SUMP AS THEY ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND MAY CAUSE A
COLLAPSE. |
