Saturday 28th September 2024

Mike Kushy and John Cooper.

MK went in ahead freeing up the bang wire, which JC reeled in, and took the drill to the bottom. Then cleared loose rocks up the slope back to the base of the awkward climb. When JC arrived the pair cleared the rocks at the base of the climb back to Boulder Chamber. JC then set to moving rocks up cave whilst MK went to the sharp end to clear the bang spoil, mostly gravel. I believe a lot had been washed forwards with the rain. A good couple of slabs peeled off from the right hand wall and these broke up with a hammer. Once suitably cleared MK then headed up cave to join JC. JC then headed to surface to mix some cement while MK continued clearing rocks back to the bedding slope higher up. The big shelf is pretty much full. MK met JC on surface and the mix was poured into 3 buckets. MK took 1 to the dig face to use whilst JC made his way in with the other 2. A wall was built on the left of the dig face and clatch put behind. MK used the 2nd bucket cementing steps into the floor and patching up some of the walls. JC used the 3rd bucket in Boulder Chamber. JC went round into the old cave to check if we could get a light connection to the hole on the left where we think a chamber is. It turns out JC could get into the chamber from the Boulder Rift area. This could be opened up better from the Boulder Rift side and would allow a lot of spoilt to go that way rather than up the steep slope. JC then left and MK drilled 6 holes, 12mm x 400mm, 3 on the floor on the left and 3 on the floor on the right. 4 1/2 hours for me. Mike.

Before clearing. Photo MK.

After clearing. Photo MK.

Thursday 19th September 2024

John Cooper and Mike Wise. MW charged the 4 holes drilled by JC yesterday. JC advised some of them might be longer than expected, so with only 2m of 40g, we prioritised the two holes on the left and the upcave hole on the right and packed them to the brim. The remaining 250mm or so of 40g went into the 4th hole. JC kindly took the bang bag out while MW connected the det and brought the cable back out to the surface. Fired satisfactorily. MW bang wire remains in place. 1.5 hours. Electrical tape was used in the top of the first hole, but subsequently, 4" cable ties were used because the slimy, wet conditions stopped the tape sticking. Mike.

Wednesday 18th September 2024

John Cooper. Drilled 4 holes for Mike Wise to use tomorrow. All 12mm with a top 100mm of 14mm. Two furthest in 400mm deep and nearer ones 600mm deep. 1½ hours. John.

Sunday 15th September 2024

Mike Kushy and Nicky Pearce. 

Made a 2 bucket mix and me and NP took a bucket in each. NP used the 1st bucket up on the right hand wall, whilst MK had a go at the boulders ahead. Managed to take enough off to allow access to the floor. The 2nd bucket was used by MK to build a retaining wall on the left and cement in the boulders in the ceiling, NP had left during this. MK then cleared as much out of the floor as physically possible and put it behind the new wall. The floor needs drilling and banging to allow progress ahead. 4 hours. MK 

A view under the boulders ahead, I'm about 2 body lengths in. Photo MK.

The dig face. Photo MK.

Friday 13th September 2024

Mike Kushy and Mike Wise.

We cleared some rock back and stashed a load in the Boulder Rift connection. Mike had a camera rig which we poked into the chamber to the left. We then cleared the mid week bang spoil back. 2 big rocks in the ceiling denying us the ability to dig out the floor. Nice view ahead of a solid bedding ceiling. 4 hours. MK.

View ahead. Photo MK.

After clearing . Photo MK.