Lancaster Hole – Wretched Rabbit

Connor, Tom, Will, Yolanda

Report written by Tom?

Thwarted yet again by the weather, we sacked off Penyghent Pot and, given that most of the attendees would soon be heading to the Berger, we decided that a nice tiring Easegill through-trip would be a good option. 

We headed into Lancaster and made our speedy way down to Fall Pot, with Will being pointed on a short solo diversion to the Colonnades as he hadn’t seen them yet. At Fall Pot, Connor headed onto the gloopy in-situ rope of the main pitch while Tom headed for the more climb-y bypass down the slot. Will and Yolanda clocked the thick mud oozing from Connor’s descender and decided to avoid getting their gear mucky at such an early stage, instead choosing the bypass.

Given the forecast we chose the high level route from here rather than chancing the main drain, so along to Stake Pot we headed, and swiftly across the bridge and up to Bob’s Boss. After a bit of formation admiring, we slipped, slithered and sometimes skied our way along the high level, once again thankful for the traverse lines around Scylla and Charybdis.

Passing Oxbow Corner we paused in Oakes Cavern at what’s becoming the usual lunching spot for some choccy and hydration, before pressing on through the Minarets and through the various massive caverns dotted along the route. Will spotted familiar territory as we approached Main Line Terminus, having been there just last week for the Manchester Bypass trip. On we headed to Stop Pot and regained the main streamway.

At this point we made our way up to Holbeck Junction and a short diversion into Gypsum Caverns. The straw-covered chamber at the end is always a pretty sight. Will attempted a LiDAR scan but the straws prove difficult for it to see and it didn’t quite do it justice. At this point we were feeling well-exercised and it was nice knowing that just half an hour of knackering caving would see us out of Wretched Rabbit. We twisted and wound our way through the labyrinth and made our way up into Spiral Staircase, with only some mild cursing from Yolanda in the tight pitch bypass, before bursting out of the cobble funnel and hauling ourselves out of the entrance climbs. 

A quick wander down the gill and up onto the fell, and Connor was all too eager to de-rig Lancaster. Grand day out.

Photos by Will.