Lancaster Hole to and from County Pot

Peter B, Tom C, Bob C, Tim D, Miranda, John, Chris H, Tim K, Ray, Scott, Gareth, Jason

Miranda’s Lancs to County trip had suddenly become more popular with trips to Lost John’s and Pippikin being discouraged by the wet weather.  To avoid congestion, Peter, Tom, Bob, Tim K, Ray, Scott and I headed off to County to do the trip in reverse.

The plan was to go via Poetic Justice to Stop Pot, but the water levels on the way made it likely that route would be too wet for safety, or at least comfort.  So we decided to go for Manchester Bypass, Scott and Tim being reasonably confident of the route,  There were some mutterings at the back, The Bypass having a reputation of  being tight and awkward.  But all agreed to persevere, at least until Brown and Smelly chamber, which is reached by turning up to the right from the PJ streamway just before the climb down towards Spout Hall.  A few twists and turns lead to a rift chamber with an iron ladder and before long, the chamber – Brown but not noticeably Smelly.

From here, a knotted handline leads up to a rift you need to climb up.  This is snug, but not too bad, if you face the right way.  I didn’t, but a helping hand from Tim got me there.  At this point, Tom and Bob decided to turn back for an early bath.  The rest of us now came to Spangle Passage, which I’d remembered from an earlier trip – somewhat small, but entertainingly wriggly.  Soon emerging into Old English chamber and diving back down into a slot in the floor, it’s not long before any misery is forgotten and we were rewarded by the glories of Mainline Passage.  In fact it was so good, we ignored the wide, low turn off to the right and carried on to the window overlooking Snail Cavern.

Retracing our steps, we turned off to Mainline Terminus, and set off on the familiar (in parts) high-level route.  At this point, we met Chris and Tim D heading in the opposite direction, the other three having turned back at the Minarets.  They confirmed that water levels in the streamway were high, but preferred the rigors of Manchester Bypass to going back over the high-level route, which they said was “really shitty”.  That cheered us up.

The humid conditions had made everything greasy, but not that bad, I thought, although it always seems further than I remember it being…  Eventually we reached Lancaster Pot, and there was quite a substantial shower coming down the pitch instead of the usual drips.  Ray was out first, I followed, and was at first surprised at how keen he was to get back to the farm.  But after a minute or so in the driving sleet, I quite came round to his point of view, so off we went, very grateful to be changing in a nice warm drying room.  It was only an hour or so later, when we spared a thought for our comrades Tim K, Peter and Scott who hadn’t yet returned.  Should we put down our drinks and go to see how they fared?  Fortunately the dilemma was solved by their appearance, and we returned to relaxing with a clear conscience!