Tatham Wife Hole

Team: Sophie, Will, Tom, James & Scott

Another beautiful day on the surface and unintentionally we set off with a team full of committee members, plus Helen accompanying for the walk in. Two different routes were opted for, and I followed Sophie, which found us at the entrance a short time before the rest of the team. We took a few minutes to gather ourselves, kit up and say goodbye to Helen before Sophie lead us onward.

After the initial entrance climb, the action begins immediately with a combination of low sections, sideways crabbing down narrow rifts, the occasional open space, cobbled crawls. From the off you’re almost always descending in one way or another, following the water. Before long we were at the first pitch which Sophie had already rigged and was out of sight on a mission. We all caught back up at the second pitch, where we managed to catch our breath and take a few minutes while Sophie rigged, before shooting off again. I leapfrogged Tom and Scott here so I could try to keep up with the front runners and get some pics of them also. Again, Sophie flew down the third ‘Ramp’ pitch so James sent me after her. After navigating the lower more restricted section, I soon found myself on my hands and needs crawling along a lowering and more restricting passage with the occasional slanted section you could do an awkward stoop in. I caught back up with Sophie at the much anticipated duck, which she really was hoping we’d have a go at given how low the water was compared to a previous visit. It didn’t take any more convincing than that as before I even knew myself what was happening I was on the opposite side of the duck, and luckily not as wet as I was expecting! Sophie waited for James to catch up, who told us that Tom had turned around already due to needing to be elsewhere for a certain time, and then she made her way through the duck before James in close succession. Scott had caught up too by now and was having a look above at the alternative route to the duck, but it was pretty tight and awkward. He didn’t fancy getting wet either, I think saving his kit for more bank holiday adventures! Some more wrestling through awkward rifts for the now three of us had us hot on Sophie’s tail finally, and again with ease she had the final pitch rigged and onward we went for the final section. A quick chat amongst champions whilst we caught our breath and we began the return journey, again Sophie leading with James in tow and myself on de-rigging duties. That was the last I saw or heard of Sophie until we reached the surface, see really was on a mission! I was determined to keep close to James for company and not get left behind so was de-rigging like it was an Olympic sport and free climbed the lower half of the last pitch, the lower half of the ramp pitch and the first pitch – all of which felt relatively easy with safe holds in mostly the right places. James and I were relieved to hear Scott’s voice calling down to offer bag carrying services when we reached the bottom of the second pitch, and quickly took him up on the offer! With everything de-rigged and working my way back through the winding rifts trying to catch back up with a now out of sight but not earshot James, it was right as I was thinking we must be nearly there that he said ”ahhh daylight!” and I couldn’t see it but I felt it! Bags tossed up, the last climb out of the entrance and again we sorted kit in the shakehole before making our way back across the limestone pavement in the general direction of a now slightly emptier car park.

A wonderful day expertly lead by Sophie, thank you very much everyone!

Write up by Will, pics by Will