After weeks of planning, here we were. Friday night was spent at the Lancs Climbing & Caving Club hut in Tanygrisiau, from where it was an easy hour and a half (or two hours if you were Greg & Jan) walk to the Croesor entrance. We kitted up, and entered the mine at midday.
Once we were down the first abseil we were past the point of no return as far as we were concerned, because nobody wanted to go back up. The second abseil has even more rub points. This is not a complaint; I think the trip is well equipped, and to rig the pitches without rub points would be very difficult and time-consuming. Adequate rope protectors are installed, and the ropes were new-looking as well.
At the bottom of the second pitch it was strainght on to "Bethan's Zip". This is quite (very) fast, and Nicky got a clout in the face at the bottom end. Great fun though. Then it was across the lake where the ladder bridge used to be. We could see it on the bottom of the lake with a large chunk of roof on top of it. The zip-wire bridge was fun, and the "Bridge of Death" was entertaining; but I thought the bridge where you walk across the wooden beam was bloody horrible. Boating across the Chamber of Horrors was entertaining; and nobody fell in.
Finding our way out of the Number 9 adit of Rhosydd took a little longer than we had anticipated; so much so that three team members headed out of the Twll to daylight; but seven of us went out of the adit. The three who went out of the Twll have been informed that they have not completed the through trip, so must do it again!
It took us seven hours to complete the trip, not bad for such a large party. A great day out, and many thanks to all those who have put so many hours, and not a small amount of money, in to equipping the route so that we can enjoy it.
Video by Nicky Bayley: