Water Icicle Close Cavern

Phil Walker and Rich had been digging by the Great Rift in Water Icicle Close Cavern recently and last week they had a major breakthrough! They had been underground until 02:00 running around excitedly exploring around 100 metres of large phreatic passage similar to the North-West Passage.

Today, they had invited several members of Orpheus Caving Club to see their new discovery so Karen and I met up with Phil and Rich along with Chris Jackson, Boyd Potts, Alan Hatton and Pete Wagstaff at the Orpheus hut, along with Keith who was out of underground action for the present as a result of a shoulder operation. Leaving Keith at the hut to carry out various little jobs in his role as Tackle Master, the rest of us made our way to Monyash to drive up Derby Lane and get our caving gear on.

We dropped down the entrance shaft and left our SRT kit there and made our way tot he break-through point which was to the left at the “T-junction” at the end of the North Passage.

They had only to dig a short distance through mainly small rocks and boulders and after a short low section, they found large phreatic passage.

Phil had dropped by our house during the week to pick up some warning tape and stainless steel pegs to tape a path through the floor which has interesting sediments and a bit of formation.

There was a short climb up which Rich and Phil had climbed and bolted and left a rope in-situ but it pitched off higher up so we weren't worried about having left our SRT kits by the entrance shaft.

We had a look at the continuation of the passage which was a cross-rift blocked with mud where they had started digging.

Just before this point, Waggy had investigated a very low and very narrow passage going of to the left and was soon followed by Phil and Rich.

I tried to follow and at first thought I had missed something as the way seemed awfully small and was partially blocked by a small boulder. Phil poked his head back through the passage and explained that you had to squeeze up and past the boulder.

I took another look and there was no way I could get through. Rats.

Boyd had a look and came to the same decision. Alan might have got past but as he hadn't been caving for very long, he was a bit worried about the return journey.

Karen had a look and thought she may be able to get passed but there was another low awkward bit immediately afterwards and didn't think she would get back even if she managed to get through.

So, we had a poke around, Karen replaced some of the red and white plastic tape which Phil had to use with the thinner and stronger orange conservation tape we had got from Dave Webb of the DCA and then took some photos.

An hour and a half went since the three had disappeared and we were getting a little concerned when we heard shuffling and groaning and Rich arrived back. They had found around 60 metres of small passage! We had to help move a small rock so that he could rejoin us in the main passage/

Shortly afterwards, a very muddy Waggy was back, followed by Phil soon afterwards.

By now it was after 15:00, so we decided to call it a day and head for the surface.

After getting changed, and a meal in the café, Karen and I dropped back at the Orpheus hut to pick up the tea and coffee stuff we had left in the morning then headed for home.