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.
No comments:
Post a Comment