We set off early one Saturday morning in late July of 2017. The weather had been gorgeous all week and today was no exception. This was our third trip to Wales since starting the mine adventures in March of 2017 and we had more or less accepted the fact that it rains in Wales ALOT! Today was a rare exception and the sun was shining in all its glory, temperatures soaring to an almost Mediterranean climate.
We set off to our destination, another stunning journey down the winding B roads of North Wales. Will, had travelled down the night before with his girlfriend and myself, Danny and @stefglazby arrived around 9.30am. We had been informed of this mine by a fellow explorer, Luke from Leicester and he was also on route with his girlfriend, late as always...
He arrived about half an hour later and we were finally ready to embark up the huge slate spoil mountains to the adit entrance into this unexplored mine. We had been told to expect the unexpected, excitement bursting from the group making quick work of the difficult climb.
Across the road from the slate pile we were ascending, was another huge mountain and quarry works with all the mining equipment still in working order; we decided that if we had the energy after this side, we would head on over and check out the machinery and hunt for any potential entrances on the other side.
Halfway up and Luke had found the adit. Next to huge winding wheel used to haul slate up and down the steep gradient, an open gated passageway lead into the depths of the mountain. Excitement levels spiked again and we all made haste into the unknown.
The initial passage was as to be expected of a Welsh slate mine. A walk-able, large passage, hand picked and blasted into solid slate with minimal man made supports required. But then, we turned a corner and daylight struck us...
Oh my the views! It was like walking into something from Jurassic Park, a world lost inside a mountain with its own eco system and vegetation, forgot about by humans. I was in awe and so were the others, a series of gawps and other weird noises popped out of the group before the silence returned and the cameras came out. The photographs really give this place no justice... The 8th wonder of the world as I like to call it.
We moved on continuing out of the open air cavern back into the tunnels and soon came across a low unusual section heavily supported by a large steel frame. We made haste through this section as we deemed it unstable or 'sketchy' as we refer to it.
Once through the sketchy section, we soon came up to a ladder, now ladders in mines are always fun! Never knowing the age or stability and not being able to see the bottom always add an extra level of adrenaline fueled danger. This ladder seemed solid and there was a very thick newly fitted rope dropped down at the side of it, we were unaided and all agreed to free climb one a time to the bottom.
WHAT A RUSH! The first man finally arrived at the bottom after several minutes of constant downward climbing. "It's safe! And boys, honestly, get down here sharpish check this shit out!" Luke was like a child at Christmas, I'd never seen him so enthusiastic about anything so I was keen to get down the ladder. @Stefglazby went before and made quick work of the ladder with his previous army experience. He shouted clear in half the time of the man before and it was my turn.
Terrified of heights, adrenaline rushing through my veins causing uncontrollable shaking from the excitement. I timed myself and kept my head up and when I thought it was about the same time as what Stef has previously shouted clear I stopped and looked down... I wasn't even halfway! This was a good 100m of single ladder, my hands were freezing from the cold steel and rust, I couldn't believe I was conquering my fears so well. I finally arrived at the bottom, I guess it took around 4 minutes which is a long time considering its on a vertical ladder!
At the bottom we were greeted by a number of mining relics, an old iron mine cart, a wheel barrow and a variety of tools all collected in laid out for display purposes, no doubt by other explorers creating good photo scenes. We had climbed down to the flooding level and the next ladder down quickly entered deep clear blue waters of the sunken levels.
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We continued through a concrete opening and passed by a number of dammed chambers almost overflowing with water into our pathway and tunnel needed to exit. The weather was stunning so we knew we weren't at risk of any flash flooding today and continued down the tunnel until the next chamber.
A CRANE! Deep inside the mine hung over a flooded chamber and no doubt originally erected inside and left once closed. What a discovery! This place was just rewarding us more and more the deeper we delved. The best still yet to come!
We moved on and again saw daylight at the end of the tunnel, we emerged back out where we had been previously but instead of the high level we we at the very bottom! The open topped chamber was so much more photogenic here and i quickly got some photos. These are possibly my most favorite photos taken to date.
We took a break here, taking in the scenery and having a well earned sandwich and bottle of Corona. Our next direction of travel was back up to the original level and out the same adit we had entered. We climbed the spoil pile and were greeted by a rather slippery, rickety ladder. "It's this way, or all the way back and up the other ladder" Luke warned. We didn't fancy the reverse route so pressed forwards, first man up helping the others as the landing of the ladder was very slippery.
Soon we were back on the outside world and quickly made our way back to the car for a bite to eat before tackling the otherside of the road as discussed earlier.
We first had a wander around the machinery before finding a suitable climbing path up the face of the adjacent mountain. From the top of the mine entrance it looked like there was a depression right at the top and this usually meant an opening or entrance of some sort!
We found another winding wheel and had a little hunt for any entrances nearby and finally found a small hole with a strong air flow blowing out from within. we gathered it must run through to the otherside and quickly scoped out the treacherous opening to pull out quickly due to safety concerns!
The uphill struggle continued...
We took a break, exhausted and sweating from the unusual hot Welsh weather. We looked over the valley at the mountain we had just been inside, still overwhelmed at what we had experienced.
We could hear a heavy waterfall close to the top and I set off without the group to scout ahead just in case I could save a wasted journey if nothing was there. Luckily for my sake it was well worth the effort and I shouted down at the others to come and join me to see what I had found. It wasn't a mine or anything we could venture underground for, but a waterfall at the top of a mountain, and views outwards over the valley were truly epic.
Satisfied, we returned to the cars to pack up and head home, sun beginning to set after a fun filled, busy day.
The views on the way back were absolutely fantastic, so much so i had to pull over at one point to take a photo of the sun setting over the hills of forestry.
Another brilliant explore day. Like always, if you enjoyed this adventure or any of my previous adventures, please upvote follow me ready for my next report :)