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Trip to Parc Mine level 2 -- 28th Dec 2007

Group: Dennis, Graham2, Katie, Matt, Dave

This trip was planned to introduce some new members to exploring mines and to work off some of the Christmas excesses. The weather was dry as we left the Wirral, but by the time we reached the outskirts of Llanrwst it was raining, there seemed to be a lot of surface water and there was a wagon distributing sandbags in the centre. We were not entirely surprised to see that the bridge was closed due to flooding and we drove around to Betws-y-coed and crossed the river there. There was a fair volume of water in the river and when we got to the Gwydyr Forest the road we drove up carried a considerable flow of water!

After getting changed in rather wet and windy conditions, we surreptitiously headed towards the mine. As it happened there seemed to be no-one around due to the inclement weather and after a quick look in Kneebones cutting we headed to the Level 2 adit and donned hats & lamps. There was a fair volume of water issuing from the adit and spilling back down the path. Once inside we headed for the junction in the principal lode. About 15 yards inside the adit there has been a significant rockfall which forms a 3' high barrier which holds back a pool of water about 30" deep and over 100 yards long. We encountered the pool on a trip earlier in the year, however the volume of water dropping down from the upper levels meant the pool was rather deeper and colder. The good news is that it does eventually end and once wellies are emptied then its not far to the junction.
[Parc 2] Matt near entrance Portal [Parc 2] Looking out from the adit towards the forest [Parc 2] Getting ready to enter the adit [Parc 2] Looking at the level 2 stopes [Parc 2] Rotting timberwork & stemples in upper stoping [Parc 2] Matt & Katie at the T junction in Principal Lode [Parc 2] Dilapidated floor at T junction in Principal Lode
Dave rigged a traverse line from the compressed air pipes as the floor on the LHS is a bit suspect and we all slipped into the LHS passage en route to the Bidston experimental area. There are quite a few old ore chutes in various states of disrepair and a few interesting holes in the floor which lead down to Level 3.
[Parc 2] One of the holes leading down to Level 3 [Parc 2] Katie & Matt by an almost pristine ore chute [Parc 2] Entrance to the Bidston experimental area
After a short while we reached the bricked up section where the experimental area was located and we also had a look at the incomplete ladderway down to Level 3. This gives access to level 3 before the main blockage, however the bottom section of ladders is missing and so a rope and SRT is needed to reach the floor.
[Parc 2] Entrance to the Bidston experimental area [Parc 2] Katie peering down the ladderway [Parc 2] Looking down the (incomplete) ladderway to Level 3
The Experimental area is a mess of bits of polystyrene insulation and odd metal frames, all the original equipment being long removed. All that is left is some of the mountings and a little cabling. There is quite a bit of timber from the higher levels which seems to have come down over the past few years, probably as a result of increased rainfall.
[Parc 2] Katie in Bidston Experimental Area [Parc 2] Matt pretending to do 'extreme ironing' [Parc 2] Some of the remains in the experimental area [Parc 2] concrete slab with insulation & odd artifacts [Parc 2] Stainless steel mounting in experimental area [Parc 2] More Dexion brackets & graffiti
Further on from the experimental area there are some holes in the floor covered by rotting timber. This seems to be in a lot worse condition than we saw a few years ago and so we retreated back to the main junction, looking at artifacts as we went.
[Parc 2] Strange fungal threads from the timbering [Parc 2] Compressed air pipes and valve
At the junction we pushed on along the main passage, passing the remains of a wagon en route until we came to the dig. We slid through the dig and climbed up Llanrswt new shaft by the pump rod.
[Parc 2] Mineral deposits in roof [Parc 2] Curtains of deposits on walls [Parc 2] The remains of a wagon [Parc 2] Nice straw stals on roof [Parc 2] The [Parc 2] View from the dig, over platform, towards new shaft [Parc 2] Level 2 continues under the platform [Parc 2] Looking back at the dig from the platform [Parc 2] The platform looks a bit precarious
At the top of New Shaft we looked at the crab winch and the pump bob and roller gear and crawled along to the Llanrwst Endeans shaft, which has been blocked by a rock fall.
[Parc 2] Dennis leaning on the Crab Winch in New Shaft [Parc 2] Katie climbing up New Shaft [Parc 2] Dave, Dennis & Katie near the angle bob [Parc 2] Tunnel to Llanrwst engine shaft [Parc 2] Transfer beam & roller [Parc 2] Crab winch at top of new shaft
After this we dropped down back to level 2 and continued on towards Cyffty. The floor was in quite a poor state and after crossing a lot of fallen timber it was decided to head back out without getting to the end of the level. The journey out was uneventful and we reached the adit and found the weather had not improved, in fact it was worse.
[Parc 2] Back in the fresh air [Parc 2] 4 ochre covered mine explorers [Parc 2] Water pouring out of Level 3 adit
Driving back down towards Llanrwst showed the the heavy rainfall had caused serious flooding.
[Parc 2] River Conwy bursting out [Parc 2] Road to Llanrwst unusable [Parc 2] You could get pretty wet waiting for a bus! [Parc 2] The road awash
trip time about 4 hours