Definition - cycle - noun - a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order.
I thought it about time we had an update on the situation in Spider Hole, Cheddar Gorge.
Fig 1 is a cropped version of the full survey to show the position in 2013 whilst Fig 2 is the full survey to show the position at the end of 2017.
The difference is the bottom pot is deeper and the spoil heaps above Four-Tonne Shaft are larger.
To achieve this the following cycle occurs.
First - create some spoil at the bottom. Usually this is done by drilling some 10mm diameter holes about 900mm deep and using 40gm cord to turn the rock into debris. (Week 1).
Second - move the debris up the bottom shaft and store at the bottom of Four-Tonne Shaft. This requires 3 or 4 people, one to load the debris into buckets and one to drag the skip along the tunnel and empty them. Whilst 1 person can haul them up the shaft and empty into the skip it is easier to split the work. (Weeks 2 and 3).
Third - move the debris up Four-Tonne Shaft. This ideally requires 6 people. One to load the buckets, one on the ledge half way up, one just below the top, one at the top to transfer the bucket along the top tunnel, one in The Pit to transfer the debris to the top bucket and a final person at the very top to empty the top bucket. Five people can manage by combining the third and fourth mentioned. Any fewer requires intermediate storage in The Pit. (Weeks 4 and 5).
The debris at the top is stored behind retaining walls built up using cemented boulders. This can normally be done in parallel with the second stage above.
Digging normally occurs on a Monday evening. Read the reports in the Log Book or this Journal if you wish to know who is involved.
