Long Kin West

Long Kin West, or Bolty McBolt face.

Team: Toby, John, Big Dave & (report by) Ami

Up the side of Ingleborough to a whole set of exciting looking entrances. John had been before and helped us quickly locate the correct entrance off a rock bridge. Having noted the description did not match the topo, Dave set off rigging first, expecting a roughly 50m pitch with one rebelay, then a rock bridge where the route continued. However, as I descended after him, I heard the call for the others to pause, as navigational challenges were to be found below.

I landed by Dave, on a rock bridge, but here, the walls were more bolt than cave, meaning an overwhelming glut of ways on. The obvious route was right in front of us, but the description indicated swinging around a corner, of which there were at least two, both with Y hang bolts. We debated for a while, and Dave continued down one option, which would have been another 50 metres, with a rebelay and a “essential” deviation.

In the meantime, John and Toby had joined me on the rock bridge. By now, Dave was shouting up that there were no further signs of life. We asked if he could pass under the bridge we were on, thus rejoining another of the route options without coming back up. Alas, he could walk under us, but found only some unfortunate ex-sheep, rather than any route. Poor Dave – back up he came.

Now we were four gathered on a small rock bridge, which despite every other wall in the place being bolted, had no real good safety point. We wonder if the description has one of those helpful bits about a feature that you actually want nothing to do with? So some strange rigging was achieved between us all to pass a line back the other way, meaning Toby – once at the back – was now on to rigging!

This route was more successful (for future parties – just keep going straight down) although we’re not sure what’s so essential about that deviation. Despite Dave’s shelf of dead sheep, the pitch is spectacular, with light filtering through from the many holes above. Another small pitch at the bottom leads to a really full sheep’s graveyard – watch your step!

I took the rigging from here over a fun traverse and down another wonderful pitch through some rock features. Tricky to get the Y hangs right to avoid rope rub, but with Dave’s help we made it to the bottom. A quick snack prepared for the long ascent back up. I’m really pleased we got to this one – it’s an awesome cave and wouldn’t take too long next time we know which bolts to aim for!

Pics by Dave