JohnNicholson wrote:
How difficult would it be to fit new ladders to enable non-SRT people to get into this section? If I could get a ladder, then how difficult would it be to get it into place? Obviously a long ladder will not go through the doorway at the bottom of the first shaft, but I seem to recall seeing another vertical hole with trees and daylight showing.
in my opinion - it would be easiest to rig the pitch with electron ladders and life line on a " per visit " basis
however if people REALLY wanted a fixed ladder to enable anyone to access the lower level at any time - with no assistance the instalation is IMHO the easy part
my first question is : i want to know who is going to pay for the materials
the next - the legal and liability issues of fitting such a ladder
i am going there tommorrow - and can take some measurements and think about the problem
the four opitions would be :
1 - a roy fellows template - cave exploration ladder [ 2 wooden drilled sides - with steel rungs ]
2 - a commercial pree-made alloy or steel ladder
3 a maypole ladder - as seen in the top ent of nagdolin
4 a all steel ladder - either pre built or assembled in situ
as john correctly opinies - the open shaft adjacent to the fire hose scramble does actually give access to the lower level - it slumps with mud / grit - but could be dug to increase access
but like i say at the top - who is going to pay ? - i will glady provide time effort and equipment - but cannot afford to pay for materials
its not just the ladder - it has to be secured [ brakets and anchors ] - and if an unsupervised ladder is fitted - the mousehole will require some protection too - like via ferrata foot holds ? to enable safe descent to the ladder itself
once a plan is approved - if the materials are transported to the site - getting them installed is the easy part
but there is the legal aspect - that must be addressed - and like i say - someone must pay for the shoppoing list
like i say - putting a fixed ladder in - opens up the lower level for anyone - but has a price tag - and legal implications
on trips featuring non SRT capable folk - rigging electron ladder and lifeline is very simple - but adds to trip time