Heron Pot

A huge KCC turnout for Heron Pot. I’d packed all necessary ropes etc but realised I’d left my mobile (an integral part of my new diabetes monitoring system) on my desk at work. Should I cave?? Decision made I loaded with carbs and led one group to the cave. The other group (taking a different route), got there quicker—but I suspect that was fitness…sorry, my bad knee!

Only issue I had with blood sugar was on trying to drag the tackle sack through the beginning of the cave—thankfully help was on hand—and I passed the bag to Dave. My knee meant I had insufficient confidence in spreadeagling across the traverse, so Paddy rigged the High Level route while I rigged the trad route followed by new Sophie who had only just learned to SRT the day before (at a wall). She did amazingly well, and we all congregated in the main chamber in a timely manner.

Concerned that new Sophie may have a few issues on ascent (her first in a cave, & with a couple of awkward pitch heads), we had a quick wander downstream as far as the very wet section and returned to start our ascent.

Several members exited via the bottom wet entrance, leaving just enough cavers to de-rig both routes.

Sophie (with her new-found SRT skills & general climbing/ropework experience), made quick work of both pitches. Whereas Maz had set up his SRT kit incorrectly and had a mare with the lower pitch – a mistake I’m sure won’t be repeated! Ami de-rigged for us and carried the kit out as well. So I got off lightly all round. The only downside to the trip being the hungry swarms of midges while changing. Thanks everyone.