¥ Newsletter APRIL 1996, WARNINGS concerning the incorrect use of resin bonded anchors (Eco - bangers) have been nade, folloving a report of 2 loose anchor ix Heron pot. Leaders have been observed abseiling down the pitch, then lowering novices with the rope running directly through the anchor, rsther then through an attached aailloz or karabizer: It is possible thet heat generated by rope friction could loosen the anchor, a8 well as causing danage to th Oven Clarke, the MCA equipment officer, has cond le test where he ran a used rope backwards kg loading and 30a of rope travel per S0s, simulating hauling a tackle bag. Immediately after stopping a tenpersture tise of 50 degrees C was measured at the antact point in the banger, dropping to 10 degrees C after two minutes. It is felt that this temperature rise over the course of successive activities could, damage ropes and resin, aot to mention cavers. Eco-hangers aust not be used vith ropes ri teda through then. A pulley should be used for lifelines or alvays be when lovering, and two hangers aust used for througe trips. ng: This practice is dangerou No. 38 FORTHCOMING MEETS. fpril. Sat Léth:> Gaping bells Sat SOth:~ Otter Hole, GR-V, Max 5 Peoole, tay. Sun Ast:= Oxlow Cavern, GR-III/¥. NGR-125822. LeLdka, 0-450. Sun 1Sth:~ Siapsons Pot/ Swinstoe Hole, EXCHANGE. Sun 22ni = Penyghant Pot. GR-V. NGR, $0 €29775. L=$.2km. 0160 June. Sun Sth:- Birksfell Cave, GR-IV. NGR, SD 931769, L-S.gkn, 0-142, Pot, COTY, WER, SD 821744, 98n. ‘Sun 19th:- Lith (10978. Sat 25th:~ Dan-y-ogof. South Wales. L-? 0-? ee I (a) (e) 2 (a) (b) 4 (a) tay Grewe Climbing and Potholing Club Rules The Club shall be called the Wrewe Climbing and Potholing Club. The club is established to provide the opportunity for underground exploration and its associated sciences, climbing and associated activities. In the furthering of these abjectives the club may arranged some recreational and money-raising activities for the benefit of the club. The officers of the elub shall be:- Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer one or two Equipment officers, and Training officer. The officers of the club shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting and subject to termination of office by resignation or otherwise shall remain in of@ice until their successors are appointed at the Annual General Necting following their appointment. The retiring officers shall be eligible for re-election. All members shall be liable upon any contract entered into and for any financial liabilities incurred by an officer of the club upon the express authorisation of the club members end for these purposes the officers of the club shall be agents of the club and of all the members Every candidate for membership shall be proposed by a member of the club and the election shall be at the discretion of the club members, No person under the age of IS years may apply for full membership of the club, Eersons under the age of 18 years who have passed their 16 Birthday may apply for Junior membership. Junior members must be sponsored by & full member, at no time may a full member eting cg a sponsor for more than one Junior sember, Junior ll pay fees ac for students but have no voting powers neetings. verental consent must be civen in writ: application, Assoc ll have thi as Junior members. nertbers 1 bat may The Club Members shall nave the power to request any member to resign or ta terminate any membership but for the purpose of this rule agreement of nat lees then two thirds of the shole club shall be necessary. Upon termination of membership under :his rule the subscription paid for the current year and in the case of a menbor who has been elected during the current year, the entrance fee, may be returned to,the member wholly ar in part at the discretion of the club nbers. Sast_of Meabershia An entrance fee, as agreed at each Annual General Meeting, shell be payable by each person upon his or her election to the membersht of the club, which includes a club badge, membership card, copy of the club rules and a current membership list. The entrance fee shal be payable with the first subscription. No eandidate who has been elected a member shell be entitled to the priviledges of tenbership until payment of the entrance fee and the first ennual subscription hes been paid. If fees are not paid within one month sfter notice of election has been given, the election shall pe void. fn annual subscription, as fixed at each AG all members ugon the iat January each and every year. Pey tke entrance fee and annul subscription by any person ace 2, as a member after Ist October in any year shall cover his membership to the 3Ist December in the following year, without further payment of subscriptions, New members joining before Ist October in any year shall pay 'Pro-Rata' for the remaining months of the year. The clubcannot be held liable for any personal injury or damage to the praperty of any member whatever the cause of the injury or damage. The members shel] heve the power to alter the rales, but no such alteration shall teke effect until the same has been confirmed at the annual generel meeting or 2 special general meeting convened for the purpose. ‘the members shall have power to maxe regulations governing the conduct and affairs of the club and its members providing the same are not inconsistent with these rules. all be held in each year not transmit the following business: etion any duly made alteration A General meeting of the clud s later than the end of vanuary t To consider and, if approves ta the rules. Ta receive a a statement of the ¢lubs $h a member may wish to bring g the annual general meeting before th = than twenty-one days before shall be sent to iel genersl for the ding the expulsion of a to remove any me cies caused ther: 21 aeeting shall be sent to the e the meeting and shall specify Notice covering this spec: members not less than 14 days bef the matter to te dealt aitn. At General Meetings, one third of the membership shell form a quorum, owered te appoint suitable on on its behalf. A committee pplication Instruction:- The club members to ¢ consisting of exit for A_SUMMER IN FRANCE. by Ralph Johnsen. Having spent a couple of weeks with Five Towns Mountaineering Club in the Ecrin National Park. Ross, Darren, Melv, Sharon Marguerite and yours truly finally arrived at at our usual site in Tardets. Our first day in the Pyrinees began with a sunbathing session, an excuse to recover from a harrowing descent of the Ardeche by canoe and kayak “up side down in Darrens case!!" that was everyone except me who had arranged to meet Micheal Lauga an old friend from a past PSM trip. Accompanied by Marguerite (as interpreter) I finally extracted a list of suitable easy to find (joke) trips that were not to remote. These were to replace our trips with the Belgians, to Couey Lodge and Lonne Peyret which due to a total cock up with dates had been abandoned - perhaps as well but more of that later. We decided to spend a day locating the most likely three holes before planning our intinery. What an utter and total disaster, we got totally lost. Savaged by dogs, soaked to the skin, found only two of the holes, and manage to loose Melv completely. Undermined we planned to do the first trip down Karhalzeta Ko Karbia (No.1) with Sharon, Ross and Darren rigging, and with Melv and Ralph derigging (at least that was the plan). This hole was probably something of a joke, being tight, muddy and infested with - wait for it - Squirrels!!!! Our greatest concern was whether or not they would decide to sharpen their incisors on our rope. Needless to say the trip took about three times as long as expected, leaving us only minimal eating, drinking and carding time before having to crawl into bed, for an early night some time well before dawn! Aven Bouche De Lucucillo was similar in many ways being difficult to find and awkward to rig, extremely tight (we almost abandoned Ross) and muddy. Another of Michel's jokes! He did comment that British Cavers would find the tight bits interesting. Reseau De La Bidouze was perhaps the best of all being sporting with lots of wet pitches, good formations and even a small group of salamanders close to the impenetrable sump. Unfortunately it was rather short so some did it twice. Nearby was the entrance to some thing on Otter, rather like a miniature Peak Cavern but unfortunately this rapidly terminated in an ominous looking sump Probably the best trip of the holiday proved to be Canyoning. (see map) A really sporting trip where I managed to loose my glasses and almost drowned along with Sharon. ~more of that later- The Canyon is easy to find being sign posted, but the pitches didn't seem to correspond exactly to the guide, which we had tried to memorise (in french). Some of the belays were questionable to say the least, I would suggest taking some tape slings and even pitons if the trip is planned AbD Howe AG Wide OO WLAZ IVEY AVEN BOUCHE DE LUCUCILLO C¥ AALCAY (PA) COUPE DEVELOPPEE ° 10 25 ——— ECHELLE : 1/soo Pe ay 20ny The canyons proper end is in a second canyon, with a deep pool of about 50m. Darren in full wet suit set off tailing a rope which he and Melv were going to use to assist Sharon and I who were only wearing thin neoprene long johns.The first epic came when the rope sank and looped under a tree. I managed to let go but a loop caught round my ankle momentarily submerging me has Sharon shot passed at great speed due to Melv's and Darren's efforts. I surfaced as she shot passed, but just managed to grab hold of a tackle bag being towed. Here the fun really started. The speed of tow seemed to be critical. Too fast - we sank. Too slow - we sank, Unfortunately we never did find the optimum speed and since our mouths filled with water each time we tried to shout information it was a tense few moments. Needless to say we survived and were able to watch some french experts cross the pool (and later jump from the roadside into it - very spectacular). Only later to find out they were wearing neoprene vest, neoprene long johns and wet suits Unfortunately the day didn't end to well with me driving over to see the Belgians in time to learn that they had had a serious accident in Covey Ledge (’ater found tc be a punc lung as a result of broken ribs and clavicle). Their expedition was abandoned. Anyone likely to be in the area wiling to locate these systems contact one of the group. - A good map is essential — CANYON D'ouRdAYBI GOULOTTE ECHAPPATOIRE AFFLUENT. WE GALCHE a / FARRAH DE TRONS 3 /) 250 my Muay: asia > wetodacey Cora he hell | / Hag! WOLE : jwawaddojanag wy : ayaniuprg vMS VINSINY? 483° ad4snos 3znogdia V1 3d ny3s3u wowiay nohTs senza | @) 2. *