Ingleborough Hall & Alum Pot

Ingleborough Hall

Yesterday was 5 year revalidation day for underground qualifications. I was one of eight folk attending the workshop at Ingleborough Hall in Clapham. It was ran by Tony Flanagan & Chris Jackson

The morning focussed mainly on: 

- flooding & a review of recent incidents

- current access issues

- radon gas

An afternoon practical session took place in two groups of four in Alum Pot, the weather was fine & dry with clear blue skies, however, as seems to have been the case for some time now conditions were quite damp underground. We worked on the Dolly Tubs pitch looking at best practise in pitch head rigging (well tensioned; high traverse lines; knots; and belaying).Particular emphasis was given to the use of Petzt Traxion devices especially how to lower a climber when using these pulley-jammer systems. We emerged from the cave to a cold, dark showery evening

It was time well spent to take a step back for a day & look at some of the key issues involved in leading groups in a vertical environment underground - a good day.