Post by Brad Tipton on Nov 10, 2007 21:43:34 GMT -5
On Saturday, I decided since the forcast called for sunny skies and mild temperatures again, we would take advantage of the weather and head to Long Island Cove for a day of pit bouncing. The goal was to bounce Rocks-A-Lot Pit and N.A.G. Well, 100 and 112 feet respectively. Johnathan, Tim, Powder, Angie and I left the trucks parked at the boat ramp and started up the mountain towards the power line cut.
All the pits on the hillside, unfortunately, are located in the middle of a power line clearcut. Navigating the powerline cut through a forest of briars searching for a 2 foot wide entrance is rather difficult. Eventually we located Rocks-A-Lot Pit directly in the middle of a miserable maze of briars.
With no viable trees to rig to other than a small 6 foot tall spruce, we were forced to use the single bolt at the entance for a main anchor. We still rigged the tiny tree at it's base for moral support. ;D Inside the pit there is a second bolt that redirects the rope down the pit and keeps it off the lip. The pit is basically a 4 foot by 4 foot shaft for the entire vertical extent. At the bottom there is no safe place to stand out of the fall zone......so if you do the pit 2 at a time it's best not to kick anything down the pit or your pals might be pissed when they get flat rocked.
Johnathan, Tim and Angie bounced the pit while I went further down the powerline cut in search of N.A.G. Well. I found what I thought was the pit from my memories of a previous trip many years ago. Once I thought I had located it I went back to check on the others. When I returned the others were out and Powder and I took our turn while they packed up and headed to the other pit. Once we were out, I headed towards N.A.G. Well, Powder headed down the mountain.
When I arrived at N.A.G. Well, the consensus was that the larger entrance was out of the equation due to a 50 pound rock wedged 6 feet down the pit. We sent Johnathan into the 2nd much, much smaller entrance to scout out the pit. He struggled getting into the pit which was rather discouraging for me considering I am much heavier than Johnathan. Eventually he managed to get on rope and rappell. When he bottomed I tried to follow, but I was turned back by the squeeze.
Johnathan returned to the top and made quick work coming out of the tight spot to my surprise. I decided we would try to extract the chocked boulder in the other entrance in order to gain access for Tim and myself. 10 attempts at excavating while upside down and 3 hours later we finally........gave up.
Tim decided he would take a crack at the tight entrance. An hour later he was finally on the bottom of the pit. When he returned to the top he didn't have any trouble getting out. Encouraged, I decided to take another shot at it.
Once into the crack, I shed my helmet and climbing gear. Free of the burden of the extra gear I was finally able to negotiate my way into the pit. Tim handed down my helmet and gear and I rappelled to the bottom. The entire pit is nicely decorated with flowstone from the top to the bottom fo the pit. The rappell was fairly free as the pit belled out nicely. At the bottom of the pit the was a register with very few names. I can't imagine why?
The exit was a bit more difficult for me than the others, but I managed. I can't remember the last time I worked so hard just to get into a pit. Despite the briars and boulders a great time was had by all.
All the pits on the hillside, unfortunately, are located in the middle of a power line clearcut. Navigating the powerline cut through a forest of briars searching for a 2 foot wide entrance is rather difficult. Eventually we located Rocks-A-Lot Pit directly in the middle of a miserable maze of briars.
With no viable trees to rig to other than a small 6 foot tall spruce, we were forced to use the single bolt at the entance for a main anchor. We still rigged the tiny tree at it's base for moral support. ;D Inside the pit there is a second bolt that redirects the rope down the pit and keeps it off the lip. The pit is basically a 4 foot by 4 foot shaft for the entire vertical extent. At the bottom there is no safe place to stand out of the fall zone......so if you do the pit 2 at a time it's best not to kick anything down the pit or your pals might be pissed when they get flat rocked.
Johnathan, Tim and Angie bounced the pit while I went further down the powerline cut in search of N.A.G. Well. I found what I thought was the pit from my memories of a previous trip many years ago. Once I thought I had located it I went back to check on the others. When I returned the others were out and Powder and I took our turn while they packed up and headed to the other pit. Once we were out, I headed towards N.A.G. Well, Powder headed down the mountain.
When I arrived at N.A.G. Well, the consensus was that the larger entrance was out of the equation due to a 50 pound rock wedged 6 feet down the pit. We sent Johnathan into the 2nd much, much smaller entrance to scout out the pit. He struggled getting into the pit which was rather discouraging for me considering I am much heavier than Johnathan. Eventually he managed to get on rope and rappell. When he bottomed I tried to follow, but I was turned back by the squeeze.
Johnathan returned to the top and made quick work coming out of the tight spot to my surprise. I decided we would try to extract the chocked boulder in the other entrance in order to gain access for Tim and myself. 10 attempts at excavating while upside down and 3 hours later we finally........gave up.
Tim decided he would take a crack at the tight entrance. An hour later he was finally on the bottom of the pit. When he returned to the top he didn't have any trouble getting out. Encouraged, I decided to take another shot at it.Once into the crack, I shed my helmet and climbing gear. Free of the burden of the extra gear I was finally able to negotiate my way into the pit. Tim handed down my helmet and gear and I rappelled to the bottom. The entire pit is nicely decorated with flowstone from the top to the bottom fo the pit. The rappell was fairly free as the pit belled out nicely. At the bottom of the pit the was a register with very few names. I can't imagine why?
The exit was a bit more difficult for me than the others, but I managed. I can't remember the last time I worked so hard just to get into a pit. Despite the briars and boulders a great time was had by all.