On Wednesday I abseiled down the line of Brandyman to inspect the change brought about by the hanging block deciding to leave and join its mates on the slope below, also to attempt to find a new way up onto the upper slab. I was stunned to find that the entire east side of the feature is in danger of sliding and falling from the cliff.
On the 14th October 2007 it was reported that an overlap ( 5 ) had fallen. This did not affect the routes passing over it other than to increase the step up onto the slab above by about four inches. It was also noticed during October 2007 that the section ( 4 ) was dropping and the horizontal crack above was expanding in width. There has not been any noticeable change here.
The final crack on Brandyman has expanded to twice its original width tending to indicate that the section of slab ( 3 ) has moved down and right by about half an inch. It has also started to crush and shatter the block ( 1 ), which is also yawning away from the cliff and is in a very dangerous condition.
Unfortunately it seems that we have to let Brandyman go, as there is little point in working on a route that may not be there next week. Then again, it did take the hanging block twenty-nine years to fall.
Offline 
Send Email