Today there had been a plan for an Orpheus trip down James Hall
Over Engine Mine (or “JH”) with most participants exiting via
Peak Cavern. Karen and I were planning to return via JH after
visiting some part of the Speedwell Cavern system.
During the week I had noticed that the levels of rainfall reported
on the www.peakdistrictcaving.info
website had been fairly high recently and a photo of Peak Cavern's
resurgence on Monday showed the water level issuing from the cave was
high.
I email Wayne Sheldon, who knows Peak Cavern very well, for his
thoughts and he agreed that the Speedwell System would have high
water levels and there was a chance that exiting (or entering) Peak
Cavern would be a “no go”.
So after contacting other Orpheus members, a decision was made to
switch the plan to do an Oxlow Cavern/Maskhill Mine exchange instead.
Some were also planning a trip into and out of Peak Cavern for
tomorrow, but whether that would be on or not would have to wait
until tomorrow morning to see what water levels were like.
Anyway, Keith was giving a lift to Alice on his way up from Rugby
and the four of us met for breakfast as usual in Monyash café and
then headed for the Orpheus cottages at 10:00 to meet up with others
who were caving today as arranged.
We found Paul Thorne, Pete Wagstaff and Boyd busy packing ropes
into tackle bags for the trip. Then after getting a list of who was
caving where we realised there would be fourteen of us (including
Brian Potts who would wait in the “Oxlow” layby)!
Karen and I wanted to go in and out of Maskhill Mine while Keith
and Alice were wanting to drop down Maskhill Mine and exit via Oxlow
Caver. As there were so many of us, Pete suggested that we four
should head off first to start rigging Maskhill Mine to minimise
delays and he, Paul and some others would drop down Oxlow Cavern and
the de-rig Maskhill Mine later on. This sounded like an excellent
plan so we set off for Oxlow Farm near the top of Winnats Pass
passing the wreck of a BMW sports car astride a drystone wall next to
the A515 near Parley Hay, which must have crashed last night while
the road was icy.
As usual, Karen, Keith and I, joined by Alice, parked at the farm
and made use of the barn to change in. We were grateful that the
farmer allowed this as there was a very cold, strong wind blowing
with temperatures not much above freezing.
As we were changing, Boyd arrived with Jason and Jack and they
parked on the grass verge opposite and also got ready for their trip
down Oxlow Cavern.
Once changed, we grabbed the tackle bags, five in all, and walked
back down the road towards the layby and stile leading to Oxlow
Cavern, Nettle Pot and Maskhill Mine, where we met the others parked
up and also changing into caving gear.
Karen, Keith Alice and myself were joined by Dave Phillips and
Brian Potts as we walked up the steep ground to the shaft entrance to
Maskhill Mine.
It was bitterly cold in the wind as Keith started rigging the
entrance shaft and I was very glad when he shouted “rope free”
and I could get my descender on the rope and into the shaft out of
the wind. Not only were you completely out of the wind once in the
shaft, but it was much warmer.
With shouts of “rope free” below and above, we all made our
way down the various pitches with the odd pause to allow the next
tackle bag full of rope to arrive to keep Keith supplied to continue
rigging.
At the small section with a traverse around a hole leading up to
the small col above the final drop down to the sump, Karen had
dropped down the last tackle bag, which she had been carrying and
after Dave had picked it up. I let him pass so that he could hand the
bag onward to Keith.
I followed the two of them down this short pitch which is rigged
with a cord Tyrolean Traverse to allow the rigger to reach a small
platform on the opposite side of a large shaft. Normally I just
abseil down this short pitch, lock my descender off and pull myself
across to the platform using the rest of the rope, but on this
occasion the loop of rope wasn't long enough to do this so I had to
swap over to prusiking and then re-ascend the short way back to the
rebelay above and then again swap over to descender and again abseil
but this time with my long cowstail attached to the Tyrolean cord in
order to reach the platform.
A short drop led to a wide “Y-Hang” above the impressive Oxlow
West Chamber with the lights of various cavers below and I was soon
down to join Keith and Dave plus Mat Adlam-Styles, Jack Barratt,
PeteWagstaff, Paul Thorne and Phil Wall from the Oxlow party, who had
already arrived in the West Chamber. There was a lovely smell of hot
food which turned out to be Mat's soup which he had carried in a
flask. Karen, Alice and Brian were following down behind me.
There was no sign of Boyd, Chris Jackson and Jason, the remainder
of the Oxlow party, yet so I started walking towards the end of the
West Chamber to see of there was any sign of them and I soon saw
their three caving lights approaching. They had also dropped down
East Chamber for a look around.
I turned back to the others waiting below the last Maskhill Mine
pitch where some were having a look at the drop down to the very wet
sump at the far side of a short tubular passage and soon Karen, Alice
and Brian had joined us. It was quite a group with the fourteen of us
re-united in the West Chamber – and no one had brought a camera to
record the event!
Soon Karen got back on the rope and started prusiking back up on
the long climb back to the surface followed by myself as arranged
with the others, with Phil following. Pete was already at the top of
this pitch as he had prusiked up in case Brian need a help at the
Tyrolean.
It was very pleasant making our way up the various pitches,
especially without having to carry any tackle bags!
At first I could hear Phil's shouted replies with each shout of
“rope free” I gave but soon it went quiet as he waited for Pete
and Paul to arrive so that he could grab the first tackle bag and
continue upwards.
Soon we were making our way up the scruffy and dirty section of
the mine near the entrance shaft and back on the surface. There was
still a very cold and strong wind blowing and we didn't hang around
and made our way downhill and back to the road and the farm to get
changed.
As we were walking back towards the farm along the road, we saw a
pair of cavers walking towards the stile next to the gate across a
field and we presumed these must be a pair who had exited via Oxlow
so we shouted and waved and they waved back. We could work out who
they were, but we found out later that they were a pair of cavers
nothing to do with Orpheus who'd had a trip down Oxlow Cavern.
Anyway, once back at the barn and after saying “hello” to the
farmer who was busy collecting stuff from the barn, and getting
changed, we headed off back to Monyash to get warmed up at the café.
We must have made good time coming out of Maskhill Mine because there
was no sign of anyone else from our group, including those who were
coming out of Oxlow (including Keith and Alice).
We were back at the café in time for a hot snack and a mug of tea
and a little while later we were joined by Boyd, Jack and Jason with
no sign of the others yet.
Anyway, we headed for home.
Saturday, 1 February 2014
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Water Icicle Close Cavern
I joined Keith and Pete Collins, who had driven up to the Peak
District yesterday evening and stayed overnight with us a s usual, to
shift the scaffolding we had moved a fortnight ago as far as the
gate, to Three-way Aven.
We met in Monyash café for breakfast as Karen wisely stayed at home in bed as it was already raining.
Leaving the café, I followed after Pete and Keith in Pete's car and at Derby Lane I saw a “convoy” of three cars just turning off the road onto the lane with 5 or six more waiting to follow them!
The car in the lead stopped at a large pool of water just past the tarmaced section by the farm and the others were waiting. I saw the driver get out and I did the same. He explained he was concerned about the pool but when I explained that it wasn't very deep, he was happy to continue.
The “convoy” parked on the grassy section next to the stony section of the track not far from where the soft grassy and muddy section starts with Pete's car just a short distance further along.
I got changed into caving gear and after a quick chat with some of the other cavers, it turned out that they were from the Combined Services Caving Club, staying at the Orpheus cottage for the weekend and, as I guessed, having a trip in Water Icicle.
I mentioned I was with two others already heading for the cave on a digging session and wished the a good trip and set of in the strong wind and heavy rain along the muddy track towards the field containing the entrance shaft.
I though if I brought my SRT kit in its tackle bag rather than put it on at the car I might catch the other two up, but they were already gone having dropped down the shaft. So I walked to the nearby corner of the field to get a bit of shelter from the cold wind and rain as I got my SRT kit on and then walked to the shaft top, clipped on a cowstail, got my descender onto the rope and clambered into the top of the shaft.
What a difference! It was noticeably warmer and completely out of the wind.
I abseiled down to the bottom and set off for the end of North-west Passage where I could here Pete at the the gate above rattling scaffold tubes as he moved them.
I climbed up the bolted-on builders ladder and as Pete went further down the scaffolded route through the boulder choke, I started handing down the scaffold tubes to him and he dropped them further down into the small chamber beneath so that Keith could then move them onwards.
Once all the scaffold tubes were shifted, I started moving the 60 plus scaffold clips onwards as well in three stages.
The three of us then shifted the clips to join the tubes in Three-way aven.
Once this was done we had a look at the top of The Elevator pitch where there had been a minor fall of some of the loose material while a group had been on a recent trip into the gated extensions.
Once this was done Keith and Pete went for a look at the end of the Cherty-two extension while I mad my way back towards the entrance shaft, where I found some of the Combined Services Club on their way out.
I noticed third rope in the shaft and they said some more cavers had come in earlier which turned out to be Pete Wagstaff and other Orpheus members on a digging trip in the newer extensions.
In the meantime Pete and Keith arrived and eventually we were all back on the surface with the wind as strong as ever and light rain.
After the rather unpleasant action of getting changed back at the car with wet and muddy gear, it was back to the café to warm up and aplenty of tea!
We met in Monyash café for breakfast as Karen wisely stayed at home in bed as it was already raining.
Leaving the café, I followed after Pete and Keith in Pete's car and at Derby Lane I saw a “convoy” of three cars just turning off the road onto the lane with 5 or six more waiting to follow them!
The car in the lead stopped at a large pool of water just past the tarmaced section by the farm and the others were waiting. I saw the driver get out and I did the same. He explained he was concerned about the pool but when I explained that it wasn't very deep, he was happy to continue.
The “convoy” parked on the grassy section next to the stony section of the track not far from where the soft grassy and muddy section starts with Pete's car just a short distance further along.
I got changed into caving gear and after a quick chat with some of the other cavers, it turned out that they were from the Combined Services Caving Club, staying at the Orpheus cottage for the weekend and, as I guessed, having a trip in Water Icicle.
I mentioned I was with two others already heading for the cave on a digging session and wished the a good trip and set of in the strong wind and heavy rain along the muddy track towards the field containing the entrance shaft.
I though if I brought my SRT kit in its tackle bag rather than put it on at the car I might catch the other two up, but they were already gone having dropped down the shaft. So I walked to the nearby corner of the field to get a bit of shelter from the cold wind and rain as I got my SRT kit on and then walked to the shaft top, clipped on a cowstail, got my descender onto the rope and clambered into the top of the shaft.
What a difference! It was noticeably warmer and completely out of the wind.
I abseiled down to the bottom and set off for the end of North-west Passage where I could here Pete at the the gate above rattling scaffold tubes as he moved them.
I climbed up the bolted-on builders ladder and as Pete went further down the scaffolded route through the boulder choke, I started handing down the scaffold tubes to him and he dropped them further down into the small chamber beneath so that Keith could then move them onwards.
Once all the scaffold tubes were shifted, I started moving the 60 plus scaffold clips onwards as well in three stages.
The three of us then shifted the clips to join the tubes in Three-way aven.
Once this was done we had a look at the top of The Elevator pitch where there had been a minor fall of some of the loose material while a group had been on a recent trip into the gated extensions.
Once this was done Keith and Pete went for a look at the end of the Cherty-two extension while I mad my way back towards the entrance shaft, where I found some of the Combined Services Club on their way out.
I noticed third rope in the shaft and they said some more cavers had come in earlier which turned out to be Pete Wagstaff and other Orpheus members on a digging trip in the newer extensions.
In the meantime Pete and Keith arrived and eventually we were all back on the surface with the wind as strong as ever and light rain.
After the rather unpleasant action of getting changed back at the car with wet and muddy gear, it was back to the café to warm up and aplenty of tea!
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Kinder Scout
Karen was going to a spa with some workmates and I went walking on
Kinder Scout again. It was a cold morning, but above freezing, and
pretty windy.
The forecast was for a good morning but turning wet in the afternoon.
As the forecast was for a westerly wind, I decided to walk with the wind mostly from behind so I parked in Edale car park and made my way along the beginning of the Pennine Way then branching off towards Crowden Clough before the path drops down towards Barber Booth farm.
I always enjoy this route onto Kinder as it is always quiet with the crowds following the Pennine Way up Jacobs Ladder or the original route which follows Grindsbrook Clough. There is also a lovely river a lot of the way and an enjoyable little scramble at the top which was wet and a bit dirty but the holds are excellent.
After making my way up Crowden Clough I made use of the shelter offered by the top section near the path following the edge of the plateau to stop for a few minutes and have a hot drink from my flask. There was a string wind but it was dry so far with sunny periods.
I continued following the southern edge path right around the plateau edge until reaching the gritstone ridge known as Ringing Roger. I found a small bit on the eastern side of the ridge I have used in the past which has a small flat grassy area and is sheltered on three sides by the rock. There is also a geocache container there. I sat on this sheltered spot to eat my sandwiches and afterwards made my way back down towards Grindsbrook Booth and the Edale car park.
As I reached the village I noticed the sun had gone and darker clouds were making an appearance over the heights of Kinder above. Aha – here comes the rain!
As I was dropping down from Kinder I was passed by several others, some with rucksacks, some wearing jeans and down duvets, etc. heading up. Since it was around 13:30, it would be getting dark in three hours so I have no idea why they were leaving it so late in the day to set off. Of course now they would also be getting very wet!
As I neared the car park the first one or two rain drops tarted to fall and just as I changed out of my walking boots and got into the car, the heavy rain began.
As I was driving towards Hathersage to eat at Outside, the heavens opened with torrential rain and lighting as well to add to the fun.
The forecast was for a good morning but turning wet in the afternoon.
As the forecast was for a westerly wind, I decided to walk with the wind mostly from behind so I parked in Edale car park and made my way along the beginning of the Pennine Way then branching off towards Crowden Clough before the path drops down towards Barber Booth farm.
I always enjoy this route onto Kinder as it is always quiet with the crowds following the Pennine Way up Jacobs Ladder or the original route which follows Grindsbrook Clough. There is also a lovely river a lot of the way and an enjoyable little scramble at the top which was wet and a bit dirty but the holds are excellent.
After making my way up Crowden Clough I made use of the shelter offered by the top section near the path following the edge of the plateau to stop for a few minutes and have a hot drink from my flask. There was a string wind but it was dry so far with sunny periods.
I continued following the southern edge path right around the plateau edge until reaching the gritstone ridge known as Ringing Roger. I found a small bit on the eastern side of the ridge I have used in the past which has a small flat grassy area and is sheltered on three sides by the rock. There is also a geocache container there. I sat on this sheltered spot to eat my sandwiches and afterwards made my way back down towards Grindsbrook Booth and the Edale car park.
As I reached the village I noticed the sun had gone and darker clouds were making an appearance over the heights of Kinder above. Aha – here comes the rain!
As I was dropping down from Kinder I was passed by several others, some with rucksacks, some wearing jeans and down duvets, etc. heading up. Since it was around 13:30, it would be getting dark in three hours so I have no idea why they were leaving it so late in the day to set off. Of course now they would also be getting very wet!
As I neared the car park the first one or two rain drops tarted to fall and just as I changed out of my walking boots and got into the car, the heavy rain began.
As I was driving towards Hathersage to eat at Outside, the heavens opened with torrential rain and lighting as well to add to the fun.
Sunday, 19 January 2014
Aquamole Pot
A repeat of yesterday morning with breakfast at Bernies to start
the day. It was like the good old days of the 80's or 90's with with
a crowd of cavers in Bernies, mainly because there had been a party
yesterday evening for Dave Brook's birthday.
Anyway, while the others had various plans for the day, Boyd and some others were going to visit Kingsdale Master Cave via Valley Entrance for example, we decided on a second try at Aqualmole Pot with Alice joining us today.
Luckily not only was the weather better today, there were no cars parked at the usual caver parking places! Hooray!
We parked in a better location today and after getting changed into caving gear, we walked back up the valley side on a better route than yesterday to arrive at the shaft leading into Aquamole Pot.
Again Keith was on rigging duty followed by Karen then Alice and finally myself bringing up the rear.
Alice was not very experienced at SRT so we took care to remain fairly close in case she had a problem but in the end, she was absolutely fine.
One of the rebelays was very drippy so we put on the hoods from our oversuits.
We hadn't planned on descending the final pitch due to the time so when we got to the short crawl at the bottom of one pitch I waited for the others to have a look at the top of the final pitch-head as I kept getting various bits of SRT kit stuck in the crawl and I wasn't sure how large it was beyond a bend I could see. I went as far as the bend and then reversed back to the beginning of the crawl. After a short rest (and a Mars bar!) I took off my small tackle bag from my belt and left it and was about to have another go at the crawl when I heard the others returning.
So I waited for them to arrive and then took the tackle bag they had and set off back up the pitches to the surface.
Again, the usual routine followed: change out of caving gear and back to Bernies before heading for home.
Anyway, while the others had various plans for the day, Boyd and some others were going to visit Kingsdale Master Cave via Valley Entrance for example, we decided on a second try at Aqualmole Pot with Alice joining us today.
Luckily not only was the weather better today, there were no cars parked at the usual caver parking places! Hooray!
We parked in a better location today and after getting changed into caving gear, we walked back up the valley side on a better route than yesterday to arrive at the shaft leading into Aquamole Pot.
Again Keith was on rigging duty followed by Karen then Alice and finally myself bringing up the rear.
Alice was not very experienced at SRT so we took care to remain fairly close in case she had a problem but in the end, she was absolutely fine.
One of the rebelays was very drippy so we put on the hoods from our oversuits.
We hadn't planned on descending the final pitch due to the time so when we got to the short crawl at the bottom of one pitch I waited for the others to have a look at the top of the final pitch-head as I kept getting various bits of SRT kit stuck in the crawl and I wasn't sure how large it was beyond a bend I could see. I went as far as the bend and then reversed back to the beginning of the crawl. After a short rest (and a Mars bar!) I took off my small tackle bag from my belt and left it and was about to have another go at the crawl when I heard the others returning.
So I waited for them to arrive and then took the tackle bag they had and set off back up the pitches to the surface.
Again, the usual routine followed: change out of caving gear and back to Bernies before heading for home.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Bull Pot, Kingsdale
Karen and I drove up to the Dales last night arriving at our
accommodation for the weekend at the Old School House in Helwith
Bridge. We met Boyd and Jenny Potts there as well as Pete Wagstaff
and Jack and Jason.
At Bernies in the morning we also met Keith with Alice (who he gave a lift to), Brian Potts, Dave Phillips.
After breakfast, Boyd headed for Selside with Jack, Jason and Brian to have a trip in Alum Pot, Pete, Dave and Alice set off for Clapham to walk up to near Gaping Gill to have a trip in Marylin and then towards Far Country. Keith, Karen and I left for Kingsdale intending to have a trip in Aquamole Pot.
As we drove along the road in Kingsdale we could se the beck was flowing well after all the recent rain. Luckily it wasn't too cold (at around 6 degrees) and there was the odd light rain shower. We spotted three vehicles parked up in one of the laybys and I stopped to ask where the cavers (who had changed into their caving gear) where they were heading for? The reply: “Aquamole!”. And they were planning to spend the hole time “trying out their new 9mm rope only in the entrance series!”.
Rats.
In the meantime, Keith, who had got to Kingsdale before us, realised that Alice had gone off with Pete without collecting his spare SRT kit which she was going to borrow. So, he had to drive over to Clapham to deliver his SRT kit!
As it had started to rain, rather than start getting changed and having to wait for Keith's return, we sat in the car and waited.
Meanwhile, the other party of cavers were still standing around their vehicle.
So it was Plan B. We decided on a trip into Bull Pot, which wasn't ideal due to the wet ground and chance of rain. But it was nearby and the ropes we had with us would be suitable.
Eventually Keith returned and I suggested Plan B: Bull Pot. The rain had stopped so we started to get changed. The other cavers started walking up the valley side towards Aquamole Pot.
We got into our caving gear. Some of the other cavers still were making their way up the valley side.
We rearranged the ropes and tackle bags and then the other cavers had gone out of view.
We followed them up the valley side and saw most of them standing around the shaft entrance to Aquamole Pot!
As we were on the wrong side of a drystone wall, we found a suitable place to climb over without causing any damage and made our way along the Turbary Track in search of Bull Pot.
We soon found our cave and Keith dropped down the entrance pitch rigging as he went, followed by Karen then me.
In the chamber below the third pitch (we had used the “slot” variation to avoid any water should there be any rain.
Karen and Keith dropped down the fourth pitch and had a look at the top of the final pitch, which we weren't going to bother with as it only drops down to a sump and is rather tight and awkward.
I waited at the top of the fourth pitch as I would have problems getting back to the nearby chamber of there was any increase in water level, which was actually at normal levels while we were there, as the connection is quite narrow and I would have to crawl at the bottom where the water would be.
Soon we were busy de-rigging and re-ascending to the surface.
We walked back to the road via a more direct route and then along the road to where we had parked.
In the meantime, the cars belonging to the other group in Aquamole Pot entrance series were still there.
A quick change and then back to Bernies.
In the evening we met in the Helwith Bridge pub to eat at 19:00. They were having a darts, pool, etc event so wee only doing food until 19:30. Pete and Alice turned up after their trip in the Gaping Gill system (Dave was only up for the day and had gone home) looking food. It was 19:31 and they missed out!
Never mind , they managed to get a pizza and some chips in Settle later on.
At Bernies in the morning we also met Keith with Alice (who he gave a lift to), Brian Potts, Dave Phillips.
After breakfast, Boyd headed for Selside with Jack, Jason and Brian to have a trip in Alum Pot, Pete, Dave and Alice set off for Clapham to walk up to near Gaping Gill to have a trip in Marylin and then towards Far Country. Keith, Karen and I left for Kingsdale intending to have a trip in Aquamole Pot.
As we drove along the road in Kingsdale we could se the beck was flowing well after all the recent rain. Luckily it wasn't too cold (at around 6 degrees) and there was the odd light rain shower. We spotted three vehicles parked up in one of the laybys and I stopped to ask where the cavers (who had changed into their caving gear) where they were heading for? The reply: “Aquamole!”. And they were planning to spend the hole time “trying out their new 9mm rope only in the entrance series!”.
Rats.
In the meantime, Keith, who had got to Kingsdale before us, realised that Alice had gone off with Pete without collecting his spare SRT kit which she was going to borrow. So, he had to drive over to Clapham to deliver his SRT kit!
As it had started to rain, rather than start getting changed and having to wait for Keith's return, we sat in the car and waited.
Meanwhile, the other party of cavers were still standing around their vehicle.
So it was Plan B. We decided on a trip into Bull Pot, which wasn't ideal due to the wet ground and chance of rain. But it was nearby and the ropes we had with us would be suitable.
Eventually Keith returned and I suggested Plan B: Bull Pot. The rain had stopped so we started to get changed. The other cavers started walking up the valley side towards Aquamole Pot.
We got into our caving gear. Some of the other cavers still were making their way up the valley side.
We rearranged the ropes and tackle bags and then the other cavers had gone out of view.
We followed them up the valley side and saw most of them standing around the shaft entrance to Aquamole Pot!
As we were on the wrong side of a drystone wall, we found a suitable place to climb over without causing any damage and made our way along the Turbary Track in search of Bull Pot.
We soon found our cave and Keith dropped down the entrance pitch rigging as he went, followed by Karen then me.
In the chamber below the third pitch (we had used the “slot” variation to avoid any water should there be any rain.
Karen and Keith dropped down the fourth pitch and had a look at the top of the final pitch, which we weren't going to bother with as it only drops down to a sump and is rather tight and awkward.
I waited at the top of the fourth pitch as I would have problems getting back to the nearby chamber of there was any increase in water level, which was actually at normal levels while we were there, as the connection is quite narrow and I would have to crawl at the bottom where the water would be.
Soon we were busy de-rigging and re-ascending to the surface.
We walked back to the road via a more direct route and then along the road to where we had parked.
In the meantime, the cars belonging to the other group in Aquamole Pot entrance series were still there.
A quick change and then back to Bernies.
In the evening we met in the Helwith Bridge pub to eat at 19:00. They were having a darts, pool, etc event so wee only doing food until 19:30. Pete and Alice turned up after their trip in the Gaping Gill system (Dave was only up for the day and had gone home) looking food. It was 19:31 and they missed out!
Never mind , they managed to get a pizza and some chips in Settle later on.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
Water Icicle Close Cavern
While Karen did what may have been the sensible option of going
shopping with work mates, I met Keith and Pete Collins in Monyash at
the café for breakfast.
The weather had turned much colder than of late with a heavy frost which helped Pete get the truck he had borrowed from work up Derby Lane all the way to the end. He had borrowed the truck to get a load of scaffold poles and clips up towards the cave entrance.
We got changed and started moving the scaffolding over to the shaft entrance and then down the shaft.
Then started the hard work of getting it all through North-west Passage and up the builders ladder to leave the scaffolding just outside the gate to the newer extensions.
The scaffolding will be used in the continuing dig at the foot of The Elevator pitch in the future.
The weather had turned much colder than of late with a heavy frost which helped Pete get the truck he had borrowed from work up Derby Lane all the way to the end. He had borrowed the truck to get a load of scaffold poles and clips up towards the cave entrance.
We got changed and started moving the scaffolding over to the shaft entrance and then down the shaft.
Then started the hard work of getting it all through North-west Passage and up the builders ladder to leave the scaffolding just outside the gate to the newer extensions.
The scaffolding will be used in the continuing dig at the foot of The Elevator pitch in the future.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
P8
Although it was a dry morning, it wasn't altogether surprising
that there was a lot of water flowing into the usual entrance to P8
near Castleton.
We could have clambered down the usual entrance even with the amount of water poring down it. It would have been very wet and cold, but coming out would have been much, much worse as it would take a longer time.
So, it was an easy decision to give it a miss on this occasion despite having changed into caving gear and walk all the way over to the cave.
As we were there, I thought I would have a look at the older, dry but tight entrance to P8 which was a few metres away.
Karen dropped first down through the small hole to the small chamber just inside the old entrance and I followed. It was noticeably warmer in the chamber compared to the surface and Karen had already disappeared down a short low and sloping continuation. This led to a rift section with a flat out tube continuing at head height (while standing on the floor of the rift) and a second continuation at floor level.
Karen decided that either alternative looked very tight so she came back to the small chamber as I was having a look at what looked like another possible route from the chamber, but turned out to be a dead end.
Once Karen had returned, I went to have a look at the rift and small crawling passage and they certainly looked to be very tight. There was sound of water coming through the lower continuation: the tight section leads to the section of the cave not far in the wet entrance.
We clambered back to the surface and washed the mud and grit from the cave off of our oversuits in the small stream flowing into the cave and then slid down the wet grass on sloping ground to wash the dirt off our backs.
It was a very short caving trip but at least we got underground!
We could have clambered down the usual entrance even with the amount of water poring down it. It would have been very wet and cold, but coming out would have been much, much worse as it would take a longer time.
So, it was an easy decision to give it a miss on this occasion despite having changed into caving gear and walk all the way over to the cave.
As we were there, I thought I would have a look at the older, dry but tight entrance to P8 which was a few metres away.
Karen dropped first down through the small hole to the small chamber just inside the old entrance and I followed. It was noticeably warmer in the chamber compared to the surface and Karen had already disappeared down a short low and sloping continuation. This led to a rift section with a flat out tube continuing at head height (while standing on the floor of the rift) and a second continuation at floor level.
Karen decided that either alternative looked very tight so she came back to the small chamber as I was having a look at what looked like another possible route from the chamber, but turned out to be a dead end.
Once Karen had returned, I went to have a look at the rift and small crawling passage and they certainly looked to be very tight. There was sound of water coming through the lower continuation: the tight section leads to the section of the cave not far in the wet entrance.
We clambered back to the surface and washed the mud and grit from the cave off of our oversuits in the small stream flowing into the cave and then slid down the wet grass on sloping ground to wash the dirt off our backs.
It was a very short caving trip but at least we got underground!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)