Short Gill

Present: Scott, Jasmine, Ami, Jason, James, Tom (moral support pre trip)

The Wednesday evening trip to Short Gill in the steep-sided valley of Barbondale felt like stepping into an entirely different part of the country. The valley holds an air of mystery, as if it is still guarding many caving secrets yet to be revealed. Short Gill itself is a cave that beckons the “connoisseur” of a more developed palette; it is a place for those who appreciate tight, awkward maneuvers balanced by immense interest, stunning rock formations, and a labyrinth of crazy little nooks and unique geological features.

Before heading in, there was a small debate regarding gear—specifically whether we needed a rope. While Jason argued against it, we took one, but really it wasn’t necessary as nothing really needed it. As it turned out, we encountered a fixed rope on a slightly awkward chimney climb later on the cave 

The approach itself is a spectacle. Ascending the streamway toward the entrance, you feel as though you’ve entered a temperate rainforest. The canyon walls are steep and high, with trees bridging the gap above and a rock bridge spanning the water. Reaching the start of the cave—a hole in the floor at the base of a steep cliff face—marks the beginning of what is arguably the finest caving experience in Barbondale. We climbed down the entrance passage,  eventually reaching an inspiring ladder made of aluminium tubing and threaded bar. Not complaining as it was very useful and appreciated.

The trip took a turn for the “interesting” when we got belly-down in the water. Having left the survey in the car, I plowed on relentlessly, ignoring caution in favour of cave momentum. Jason remarked that things were about to get awkward just as I squeezed through a tight gap and found myself lulling about in a pool with no obvious exit. As I poked my feet around wondering if I’d hit a sump, Ami and Jason cursed the wrong turn as it was pretty awkward to reverse. The wiser members of the team—like Scott, who had been before—hung back and watched the mistakes unfold. We eventually found the bypass, a series of 90-degree passageways that led us into a streamway. This then led to a further bypass and again the streamway. This had some exposed positions but the rock remained incredibly grippy, providing a reassuring sense of security.

The journey ended at a terminal sump where the mysteries of Barbondale truly linger. We had been told by a local specialist that if you listen closely at the crack of the sump, you can hear falling water. Standing there, we wondered if it was the sound of a stream going over an edge or a new tributary joining the system; it’s clear that many secrets remain underground here. The trek out was uneventful, though those of us who took the wrong turns were feeling the wet and the cold by now. However it wasnt long down to the vehicles and the warmth of dry clothes and car blowers

Ultimately, it was a good two-to-three-hour evening trip. The key takeaway was to follow Jasmine’s example: she ignored the rumors of it being a dry cave and wore a wetsuit, proving correctly to ignore everyones advice and go with the gut feeling. Probably best for spring or summer but then youve got midges!