It's interesting that you haven't had the trouble with the rock-blast trap . I'm totally baffled. I think that the trap would rip me apart even now, and the party has come a long way.

I devised a second solution: five potions of Earth Resistance (however I haven't used it — I'll probably try the vampire trick some day; using the potions would probably cost more than what it's worth). I had to resort to something similar for my trip into the Plane of Fire (I'm almost at level 50 now and still the incessant fireball barrage could wipe out the party in no time) and having each party member gulp down a fire resistance potion with strength 46 works very nicely.