South Barking Ghyll – Barbondale

During the November Floods a large boulder in a ghyll we regularly use with groups moved after a considerable amount of water washed away the smaller rocks and river bed that was pinning it in place. This boulder was then on the blink of moving down the ghyll and it was feared that if it moved it would crush anyone in the its path.

Attempts had been made to stabilise it but not to a sufficient extent that would satisfy us to be happy to stand underneath it whilst spotting our groups as they climb over it.

2 weeks ago Tom Redfern and I headed over there to move it but ran out of time, just as we where leaving the boulder decided to move with out us touching it and confirmed our concerns as to its stability.

Today I went back to South Barking Ghyll with Ingleborough Hall to complete the removal of the dangerous boulder. After a couple of taps with a large hammer the boulder split as predicted and fell down the ghyll and cracked into a further 2 pieces. This section of the ghyll is now safe for groups to climb past and minimal damage has been done.

Whilst I was there I popped up to the Key Hole in the upper part of the ghyll and removed a selection boulder that where blocking the smaller key hole, now you climb through both.

A good days work.

POSTED: 11th May 2010
BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Staff @ Play