Circular walk from Tideswell Sun 24th Feb 2008

The two of us did a nice circular walk of 6 miles or so starting at Tideswell and passing through Cressbrook Dale and Tansley Dale.

Walk from Hartington Sat 16 February 2008

Karen and I started at Hartington on a lovely cold but clear and sunny day. We headed for Pislbury Castle. We saw some beds of snowdrops and gorse bushes in flower. Stopping for lunch at the rock of Pilsbury Castle, we headed back for Hartington and then home.

Oxlow Cavern - Sun 10th February 2008

Karen and I had arranged with Matt and Nikki, other cavers who live in the village, to have a trip down Oxlow Cavern. We stopped off at the Orpheus Cottage to collect ropes and headed off for Oxlow Farm. Avoiding the many farm cats and "killer chickens" I left our "goodwill fee" on the window ledge as the farmer wasn't around and we got changed and headed for Oxlow Cavern.
We had parked at the farm but noticed a single car parked at the lay-by. We met the last of a party of 3 just setting off down the entrance shaft - with all new gear except a helmet! I asked why he didn't bother with a helmet and he said the 3 of them had spent over a thousand ponds on caving gear and would have to get helmets later!
Anyway, we followed down and met the other party at the top of the third pitch. They kindly let us pass (perhaps to see how we rigged this pitch?) and we headed down. On the ramp of West Swirl Passage where 2 30 metres ropes are usually perfect length, a single rope marked "60 metres" was too short by some 8 metres or so! The in situ rope on the ramp looked even more manky than last time and tying on the rope for the final pitch wouold have left not enough ot descend the final pitch, so I decided to pack in and head out. We past the others at the col below the third pitch.

Walk from Home - Sat 9th February 2008

It was a nice, sunny day and surprisingly warm for February, especially considering that last weekend there was enough snow to make getting to the Orpheus cottage tricky. Karen and I repaired the gate at Hefford House and moved the last of the stuff in the utility room. After lunch we went for a short walk from home to Clough Wood where we saw some deer.

P8 - Sunday 3rd February 2008

Keith, Karen and I (Pete Collins had an injured knee so had a rest day) along with new Prospective Members Hannah and Reece who we met on the Oread weekend headed for Oxlow Farm for a planned trip in Oxlow Cavern. Pete Wagstaff had arranged the trip and Boyd also planned to come along but would probably do something else. Pete W. had also arranged to meet Matt Smith and his friend there and as we spotted a number of cars (belonging to a group from South Wales staying at the Orpheus cottage) and around a dozen cavers making there way for Oxlow Cavern, we decided to go somewhere else rather than have a clod, boring trip.
Pete W. decided on Lathkill Head Top Entrance ad headed off with Matt and friend while Keith, Karen and I took Hannah and Reece on a trip to P8. Despite the recent wet weather and melting snow, the water levels were about average.

Water Icicle Close Cavern - Saturday 2nd February 2008

Keith, Pete, Karen and I were back down Water Icicle Close Cavern. Although it first appeared that Keith's new spanner wasn't the right size for the scaffold clips (again!), it still did the job. Keith and Pete did some work on getting scaffolding in place while Karen tidied up fallen rocks in the approach passage and I watched from the top of the ladder when suddenly Keith and Pete shot out of the dig after some small debris started falling.
After a rest, they decided to continue for a bit while Karen and I returned to the snowy Derby Lane ot get changed and returned to Monyash cafe for some more chocolate cake - I already had some during our earlier visit in the morning!

Masson Cavern - Thursday 31st January 2008

Karen and I drove to meet others at 6:30 pm at Jug Holes parking area on Salter Lane for a trip in Masson Cavern with PDMHS. As we were driving there it started to snow and was settling as we were waiting for everyone to turn up. All those with 4-wheel Drive vehicles headed a short way down the lane towards Matlock then turned right along a track. The last section was fairly steep and tarmaced and we were hoping the return journey would be OK.
We all filed in the show mine entrance and after a quick trip to the large chamber at the end we then returned to the gate connecting with the rest of the mine. After arranging to meet again at 9:00 pm all 18 or so of us set off to various parts pf the mine. I took several photos as did some others. Afterwards we noticed the tarmac was slippy with ice while getting changed but luckily getting back up the steep bit was no problem. Some if us had a quick drink in The Miners Standard afterwards.