Friday 25th September 2026

Nigel Graham, Wayne Starsmore, Adrian and Jude Vanderplank..and Kate Lawrence (surface support). Wayne rigged a SRT rope from the scaffold with one deviation down the shaft to the bottom. Wayne and Jude went down to look at the bottom first. When they came out Nigel and I descended to look at the bottom. I then came out first self-lifelining up the ladders whilst Nigel chose to SRT up and out. A bit smelly about halfway up but couldn’t find the cause! Adrian.

A happy Nigel. Photo KL.

Saturday 19th September 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Xiao Jin, Mike Kousiounis (Kushy), Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cooler today at 18°C with a slight breeze. Gradually turned wetter as the day wore on but not too wet. Kate down to start with, sending up buckets of rocks and buckets of gravel. Joined later by Kushy to help and then replaced by Adrian with his capping kit. The rift swallowed Adrian’s small bag at some stage. The GoPro footage taken down the rift at the end of the session didn’t reveal anything new. Total for the day was 29 loads of rocks and 19 loads of gravel (and a teeny weeny bit of broken stal). 3¼ hours. John.

Looking down. Photo MK.

Saturday 12th September 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Mike Kousiounis (Kushy), Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Warmer again today at 20°C, sunny and with a slight breeze. John down initially to unhook and reposition the bottom double ladder. Kate then down and after the ladder was removed she sent up 19 loads of rocks and 15 of gravel. She then came out and John descended, sending up another bucket of rocks and 3 of gravel. Total for today was 20 of rocks and 18 of gravel. He then drilled series of holes, 4 with his 900mm bit and 8 with his 600mm bit, all 12mm diameter. He then came out and Adrian descended to charge the holes. Only 5m of 40gm, which was insufficient cord for all the holes so only the 4 deeper ones at the North end and 6 in the middle used leaving the 2 at the South end unused. All went OK so should be some spoil for next time. 4 hours. John.

Monday 7th September 2026

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cooler today at 18°C but no real breeze. Kate to the bottom to remove a frog and other critters then was joined by John who explained where he going to drill. Kate then ascended and John drilled a line of 8 holes on the West wall above the floor, the intention being to widen enough to work. John then came out and Adrian descended to charge the holes, 3.5m of 40gm. Meanwhile John retrieved the mattock and spade from the upper level before running the wire down behind the fixed ladder. The double builders ladder was then raised above shrapnel range and Adrian completed the set up before coming out. There should now be spoil for Saturday. 2 hours. John.

Saturday 5th September 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cooler today at 18°C but sunny and with a slight breeze. Kate down first loading buckets but only 3 of rocks and 2 of gravel sent up before she said help required. Kate ascended after John descended but he only managed another 2 of gravel before he came out. Adrian then descended with capping kit and the 2 dumpy bags which he used to block the rift in the floor. Didn’t really need them as he gave up having decided capping had no effect. Whilst Adrian was capping John measured the depth from the bottom of the fixed ladder to the floor as 5.8m. Decided to install the next section, 4m, of fixed ladder. Pete drilled a couple of holes on each side of the new ladder above the top rung. John descended and detached the bottom double ladder which was lowered to reach the floor (dumpy bag). Adrian came out and the new section of ladder was lowered. A protrusion prevented a nice hang which John tried to remove and then called for Adrian to cap it out. One broken drill bit later and sufficient had been removed to allow hammer and chisel to finish the job. Adrian ascended and John attached the new section. Still needs an attachment to the wall a couple of metres down. John checked out the top of Pete’s North wall to see what needs doing. Plenty of building up still required. Next session will be a small bang to widen the bottom 50cm down to floor level. 3½ hours. John.