Great Douk & High Douk

Pete, John Martin (2nd KCC trip), Sophie H, Billy, Chris G, Klaudia, Vikki & Ray

On the drive over to the Dales, we had hoped that the planned Hardrawkin trip would be able to go ahead. But the darkening clouds as we headed along the A65 were sowing serious doubt. By the time we got to the Hill Inn we had more or less given up on the idea. Then the heavens opened and all doubt was removed. Plan B it was.

The obvious plan B was a quick pootle around Great Douk. Not quite the excitement of the Hardrawkin pitches, but everyone seemed happy enough with the downgrade. A miserable change and even more miserable walk led us to the impressive Great Douk shakehole, where the waterfall climb up into the entrance of the cave was pretty wet. So much so that several chose to use the dry traverse along the ledge.

We had a leisurely trip through the cave, poking up various inlets along the way. One, in particular, seems to go a long way, climbing steadily, but doesn’t seem to be shown on any survey I’ve seen. Back in the main passage, progress got lower and lower as usual until we eventually popped out of the top entrance – is this Middle Washfold?

The weather had improved a bit and our spirits were high, so off we set in search of High Douk for even more fun. We did a much better job of finding it than last time. Going in at the downstream end, next to Hardrawkin, a short section involving a bit of crawling and thrutching soon breaks surface again at a collapse before plunging into the depths (well a few feet underground at least) again. I think I’d be tempted just to use this 2nd entrance in future. Having said that, I imagine I thought exactly the same last time I was there.

High Douk is a lovely little cave, much under-rated in my opinion. Progress is easy enough, although there are a few sections where calcite curtains force one to get down on hands and knees in the water. There is no shortage of calcite and moonmilk. If you’re not convinced, just look up occasionally. The passage is usually fairly narrow, but does reach lofty heights in places. Alas, there is no through trip to be had and a collapsed area is eventually reached. I imagine this is quite close to the surface. Perhaps there was a navigable through trip at one time. But not for us, so we turned around, feeling very satisfied with our evening’s work.

Could we have done Hardrawkin? I imagine we probably could, although it may have been miserable. It’s largely irrelevant as it just isn’t worth taking the chance.