Fixed aids in CUCC caves
At various points of the cave, passages have been reached by climbs up
which would have to be repeated unless a rope was left on from year to year.
A few pitches were explored from the top, but form potentially important
routes of access when approached from below - for instance the bottom of the
Left Hand Routes in Kaninchenhöhle can be reached without rigging many
pitches by means of two short up-pitches in Ambidextrous. Such permanently
rigged verticals are mentioned in the descriptions, but are also gathered
together here to help those needing to keep track of and maintain these
ropes.
As an area may not be visited for some years, it is important to
keep a record of when a rope was last changed or inspected, so that
some idea may be formed of its likely state. There are currently
around 700m of ropes in various places, as much as twenty-five years
old, and in place for up to 25 years. Current thinking is that
if static ropes are not subject to disturbance causing abrasion
(eg. by flowing water) or rockfall, they probably deteriorate
a lot more slowly in the cave than in the tackle store. We have
successfully use ropes left in the cave for 15 years without mishap
(3-wise men traverse, left 1994, returned 2009).
In all these cases, it is the users' responsibility to convince himself of
the safety of the rope before using it. If in any doubt, take climbing and
protection gear (dynamic rope) and repeat the climb, or use dynamic rope to
protect the first person on a traverse and replace the fixed rope.
CUCC expeditions have placed these ropes for their own use, often not
expecting them to remain in place for more than a year or two. Neither CUCC
nor any individual expedition member, past or present, makes any
representation as to the safety of this equipment, nor can be held in any way
responsible for any mishap arising from its use!
| location | length | diameter | rope vintage |
year left rigged | hangers | other info |
|---|
| kraken pitch |
?100m | ?10mm | ? | 2014 | 10+ | |
| inferno pitches |
?120m | ?9mm | ? | 2014 | 11 | 3 slings, 2 crabs |
| location | length | diameter | rope vintage |
year left rigged | hangers | other info |
|---|
| Climb at the NE end of China |
?20m | ?10mm | ? | 2013 | 2 | |
| location | length | diameter | rope vintage |
year left rigged | hangers | other info |
|---|
| Traverse up into Chocolate Salty Balls from Cave Tree Chamber |
?15m | ?10mm | ?1997 | 2001 | ?4 | |
| Upclimb midway along Choc Salty Balls |
?10m | ?10mm | ?1999 | 2001 | 0 | |
| Ascent into Cresta Run from Swings + Roundabouts |
?10m | 9mm | 2002 | 2004 | 3 | |
| Up-pitch into High Hopes |
26m | 10mm (?) | 2003 | 2005 | 1 ring, 1 twist+MR |
| Climb in High Hopes |
16m | 10mm | 2000 | 2005 |