For some time now, the CNCC has had an online reporting system for all sorts of issues:
- Hazards
- Conservation issues
- Errors in topos or descriptions
- Incorrect cave information
- Defective anchors
We're thankful to everyone who reports something, and we try to respond to all reports in a timely manner.
We encourage anyone to report anchors that show movement, damage, or fracturing in the nearby rock. These reports automatically go into our online system where they are made available for a member of our team to ‘triage’.
The response will depend on the seriousness of the issue and whether a resolution is within our remit and abilities.
For the most serious issues, or for caves where multiple minor issues have accumulated over time, one of our team may pay a visit to inspect the situation more closely, or to replace the defective anchors.
Rumbling Hole
In March this year, we received a report saying that two separate anchors in Rumbling Hole on Leck Fell were showing slight rotational movement. This is one of our most commonly reported issues, and is sometimes due to shrinkage of the resin used during the early (1990s) days of anchor installation.
Both of these were single anchor rebelays, so fall factors associated with a failure were higher than usual. Therefore, in April a few of our volunteers took a trip to inspect the situation. In anticipation of remedial action, they went armed with full anchoring kit, and more unusually, a drone and camera equipment.
They produced this rather excellent video showing the process and their efforts.
Both anchors were found to have only a few millimeters of rotational movement but no in-out movement. In these situations, it can be a tough call what the best option is. We know from experience that anchors showing only slight rotational movement often take extraordinary force to remove, and removal can damage the rock so that neither the hole, or surrounding rock can be used for a replacement anchor. Nonetheless, with these being single anchor rebelays, some action was needed. Therefore, our installer opted to install a second anchor at each site to create a Y-hang to spread the load and massively reduce the (already small) risk associated to a single anchor failure.
As you will see in the video, anchor installation work doesn't always go to plan - we'll return soon!
What you don't see in the video is the drone, used to capture the overhead shot, was subsequently mis-piloted into the trees, from where it fell down the shaft. Drone and footage were recovered, the former in a rather sorry state.
The sequel - “Return of the Resin Gun” - may be hitting your screens later this year!