Trip Reports

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Cupcake to Committee Pot – 28th October 2012

The Cupcake – Committee Pot: Richard M, Tim D, Jason

I’d been looking forward to this trip: the combination of one of the newer discoveries in the Three Counties system, some nice pretties and a through trip was enticing.  But I knew my companions would take some keeping up with, they being well-known members of the species Homo Ferrous Troglodytes.

According to Richard’s informant, all ropes were in place except for the short entrance pitch, which was a bonus, so we were quickly at the bottom and able to see The Cupcake in all its glory

– along with many other pristine stal formations and a host of long straws.  Care has to be taken to avoid these on the next little pitch, and more fine formations follow.  The following pitch is aptly named “Mud” and is a portent of things to come, but the going is still easy although a generous coating of mud does nothing for one’s SRT kit.  Then there’s an upward pitch, short but made longer by having to wipe gobs of gloop off the rope at each prussik step.  The next section of passageway is reasonably roomy but requires great care to avoid breaking or clarting-up some more nice formations.  It’s hard not to see this section deteriorating with more visitors.

From here the trip showed its less agreeable side; crawls in sharp hardcore, then mud, then some tight bits before we came to Bendall’s Dilemma.  We had understood this to be a hard squeeze, but we passed it with only a little thrutching and cursing.  We were rewarded by emerging into the fine large chamber of Hubert Carstairs II.  Following on into Hubert Carstairs I,we were presented by a choice of ascending ropes.  Richard took the right-hand one and after some doubtful mutterings, Tim investigated that on the left.  I thought it important for someone to stay in the middle to relay messages (and avoid unnecessary climbing).  After a while, Richard located a third rope, much shorter than the other two, which was the way on.  There swiftly followed another short ascent in a rift.  Short, but tight and awkward, bloody awkward – at least to me.  Richard cheerfully said “you got your money’s worth out of that one!”

Not long afterwards is the “Inverse Superman”squeeze, a U-bend followed by a constriction with a lump of rock cunningly sited at chest level.  A curious balletic episode ensued.  Richard goes first, passing through like an eel.  Jason makes a feeble and unsuccessful attempt to remove his SRT kit, attempts the squeeze, jams his croll against the lump, retreats, advances, jams and retreats again.  Tim reaches over and manages to divest Jason of his harness.  Jason advances – and passes!  Two sets of SRT kit and a helmet are passed forward. Tim advances, jams and retreats twice, then calls for Richard to push from behind.  Jason lies down, Richard crawls back over him.  Somehow his mere presence encourages Tim to a final, successful push. Then Richard crawls over Tim and back through the squeeze to retrieve Tim’s descender which had parted company from him in the fun.

After that, I’d like to say it was all plain sailing.  I’d like to, but it was actually a long grim crawl.  Not without variety though; sideways thrutching, flat-out crawling in mud, flat-out crawling in water.  And all the way pushing a ball of tangled straps and mud that was the SRT kit.  Eventually – eventually – we reached the top of the pitches at the top of Count Lazlo Stroganoff’s Aven.  At least one could sit up, just, though I found untangling my kit and putting it on in that position took so long that by the time I got to the bottom Tim was considering mounting a rescue.  On the last couple of pitch sections, the noise of rushing water became more noticeable.  Could this be the Notts II streamway ?  It could – it was.  Hallelujah!

Richard had already headed out to derig, so we were faced with the quandary of which way to go.  Knowing the inlet (Sir Digby Spode’s) was between the exit and Curry Inlet, it should have been obvious to head downstream.  But by this time, I was beyond rational thought, so we headed upstream for a bit against quite a sporting current (which cleaned up the gear a bit at least) before Tim decided we’d gone wrong.  After rather more streamway than we’d been expecting, we found the familiar passage and headed out for the jumble of scaffolding, ladders and breeze blocks – and daylight.

I was quite surprised, having felt the trip to have gone so long I was expecting darkness, but it was only 4:15.

So, a trip I’d thoroughly recommend to anyone – as long as I don’t have to come with them!

PS – If, like me, you’ve wondered at the origins of the colourful names of the various inlets and chambers of Notts II, you can find some clues here: http://loveandliberty.blogspot.co.uk/2007/03/rogue-male-in-trap.html

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Lost Johns – 22nd July 2012

Lost John’s (or Johns?  Or Johns’ ?) cave.  John F, Andy G, Tim D, Ken W, Jason

The advertised trip (Boxhead to Death’s Head exchange) had mysteriously failed to generate a quorum, so the decision was taken to do something less demanding.  Tim and Ken apparently had more important things to do in the afternoon, so Tim shot off to rig down to Centipede, the rest of us following in a more leisurely fashion.  Having got to the bottom of Centipede, he and Ken did a smart turn-round leaving the rest of us to proceed to the streamway.

This went straightforwardly enough, water levels being surprisingly low given the recent ‘Summer’, although Battleaxe traverse seemed to have even fewer footholds than usual.

Time was not pressing, so we had a look upstream (until it got too small) and downstream (until it got too wet).  John announced he wasn’t going further downstream than welly-depth, but manfully continued until the canal section – he obviously had his big wellies on!

There were a variety of inlets, and muddy ropes hanging from the roof, all of which doubtless went somewhere interesting, but no-one was keen enough to take up the challenge.

The return trip was also uneventful, though slower due to reduced portering manpower.  I tried to persuade Andy of the merits of pantins (I’m a recent convert), but after faffing for a few moments getting it off the rope at the head of Candle, I don’t think he was convinced.   Anyway, we made fair time and were rewarded with the smell of warm grass about 4:30.

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

White Scar – 8th July 2012

White Scar     Elaine, Clive, Gareth, Ed, Sophie, Jason

 

I was looking forward to this trip as I’d only seen it as part of a guided tour before, and at £2.50, it was a bargain compared with the public entrance fee!  So it was a relief that the recent weather hadn’t meant a cancellation, but alas, our leader Mr Gordon was indisposed, so the mantle fell to Elaine – at least as far as paying the entrance fee.

The first section presented no navigational difficulties – follow the concrete until just before the steps, then take the ‘dead end’ (to tourists) to the right, and hop over the barrier.  Very soon, we were in the 60’ lake – aptly, if unimaginatively named.  Some of it was navigable, just, by walking tip-toe, but we were able to use the thoughtfully-provided fat yellow traverse line for the deeper parts – until someone pointed out it was probably the lighting cable for the Battlefield Series.

Soon after comes ‘Big Bertha’, a rock wedged in the passage that is, well, big – then the boulder choke.  This gave some concern as a) we knew it was possible to go astray, b) the most recently anyone had been here was 10 years ago and c) maybe the water levels were high enough to block the way?  Gareth intrepidly found a way through at (or slightly beneath) stream level – when asked how big the air-space in the duck was, he answered “it depends how big your nose is!”.  This wasn’t sounding promising.  Fortunately Sophie, who was next, was more sensible and found a perfectly dry wriggle through the boulders higher up.

After that, we soon found ourselves back in the spacious streamway, which continued on and on.  Entertainingly, the water depth is apt to vary without warning leading to the odd sudden plunge or barked shin on an unseen shelf.

At length we reached the start of the phreatic section – wide lowish passages mostly filled with water.  Once again, Gareth plunged ahead, with the rest of us following slightly less enthusiastically.  Actually it was quite fun when you got used to it – you could keep your head (if nothing else) out of the water – nearly all the time – and with the slight buoyancy of a wetsuit/neofleece, you could float through quite comfortably paddling away with your hands on the bottom.  Eventually (are we there yet?, are we there yet?) we reached the sump, which was fairly unremarkable, but at least we could say we’d made it.

On the way back, we had a quick climb up at the start of the vadose passage to see an alcove full of magnificent straws – easily two metres ! – well, big anyway.

Arriving back in the show cave, we sneaked up the steps to have a look at Battlefield Cavern between tours.  I was briefly tempted to nip down and relieve the ‘caver’ manikin of his Meander oversuit – what a waste! – but thought better of it.  On the way out it was gratifying to make our way past a party of kids who looked suitably impressed.  Or was it horrified ?  Or disgusted ?

Anyway, it was a fine trip, and my oversuit hasn’t been as clean for a long time!

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Lancaster Hole – 3rd November 2011

Lancs   Tim D, Jason

The trip was billed as Lancs to Wretched Rabbit, which I was keen to repeat, but Tim had other ideas, and he was leading.  No complaints though, we had a great trip, and I felt I’d added a couple of pieces to my mental jigsaw map of Easegill.

We went down Fall Pot as usual, splashed upstream (fairly wet, not too bad) to Oxbow corner.  The rope that marked the climb up was still there, but you could see a fridge-sized rock which must have moved recently – pinning the rope and blocking the way on.  We didn’t make a close inspection in case it decided to move again.  So we went through the boulder choke.  And it turned out to be easy.  My mistake previously was to try to climb up through the boulders, as is only natural.  If instead you keep almost entirely to the stream, and keep right where there’s a choice, then pop up to the left when the stream starts to look desperate, you’re through in about 5 minutes.  Then you climb up – back on yourself over the top of the boulders.

So, instead of exiting at WR, we turned back on the high-level route, with many attractions I’d forgotten: Painter’s Palette, fine stalactites and black-and-white striped curtains (how do they form?).  Scylla and Charybdis now boast traverse lines, which slightly spoil the fun, on the other hand the recent wet weather had left a thin film of condensation over the mud, making it very slippy, so it was probably a good thing.

In fact, much of our progress was marked by variations on “Whoops…” – thud! as one or the other lost traction.

Progressing onto Stake Pot we passed the route to Cape Kennedy on the left (another day, perhaps ?) then up and along to the top of Fall Pot again.

A great trip – and remarkably efficient; we were underground only a little over two hours.  The early finish was just as well, as I had two significant diversions due to roadworks to contend with on the way home!

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Gavel Pot – 31st August 2011

Gavel   John, Miranda, Tim D, Jason

The trip was billed as ‘Gavel/Short Drop’, but instead of doing the usual exchange, we split into two parties.  Chris H, in his role as recruitment officer wanted an undemanding trip for two prospective members, so took them down Short Drop.

The rest of us also had different agendas.  Miranda, John and Tim wanted to take advantage of the relatively dry conditions to get to the bottom of Gavel.  I fancied getting some photos of Glasfurd’s chamber, not having been there before.

Tim rigged the entrance pitch at the eyehole to the left of the shakehole.  Crossing the bottom of the shakehole, the second pitch (also quite short) is reached, followed by a climb down a partly engineered shaft.  The guide books recommend a rope for this, but I’m no great climber and certainly didn’t need one.  We all went to the head of the third pitch, which looked a little acrobatic on take-off, so I was happy to turn back to the last right-angled bend in the passage to climb up towards Glasfurd’s.

I’d been told it was a bit tight, but the first constriction was positively roomy.  What’s the problem ?  But as you go on, it’s a series of fabulous chambers and ever-snugger connections, so I had to admit it was no place for the stout.  The decorations are first-class though – well worth a bit of a thrutch to visit, and in good condition for a popular spot.

I spent some time faffing about taking pictures.  The advantage of being solo is that no-one is kept waiting thereby, but I realised the photos lacked something of human interest.           

After that I was surprised to find John only just starting the ascent of the third pitch – it seems it had been an awkward rig, but we’d all got to do what we wanted – I certainly enjoyed it. The only downside being the somewhat late exit meant the local brewing industry went without our support.

 

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Manchester Hole – Goyden Pot – 3rd July 2011

 Manchester Hole – Goyden Pot       Chris H, Jason

I’d been keen to have a club trip to Goyden for a while as it’s relatively close to me in Harrogate.  So much so, that I’d been on a route-finding trip with my daughter Rosa at Easter.  We followed the route at http://www.braemoor.co.uk/caving/route17.shtml – although any number of variations are possible, this being a fairly complex system, Braemoor’s route is a good tour of much of the cave with plenty of interest and variety.

So, it would have been nice to have had a better turnout, but at least Chris came so I could see how much of the route I could remember.  It was a fine day, with low water and no rain forecast, so we entered Manchester Hole cheerfully.  There’s not a lot to this and we soon found ourselves facing the forbidding ‘false sump’, which you ignore and take a sharp right into an uninviting duck (not too bad at all in these conditions).  Passing by the dive line of the real sump, you come to the beginning of the connection to Goyden dug out by the Black Sheep Diggers from the other end.  This is an entertaining mix of bedding plane crawls, wet boulder chokes and at one point, so Chris informed me, a squeeze.

Before too long, we emerged into the impressive main streamway of Goyden, from where Braemoor takes you on a romp around the system.  The caving is very varied, a lot of walking, some crawling, a little canal section and a surprisingly awkward 4-foot climb!  There’s no SRT required, though there is a 20-foot climb provided with a bit of knotted tat when we were there (it was removed soon after as being ‘too dodgy’ !).  There’s little in the way of calcite formations, though there is a lot of chert, often bulging out of walls in bands, giving the appearance of bin liners stuffed into crevices.

We came eventually to the main entrance of Goyden,  where Chris took some nice photos, we spent a few moments in the warm sunshine before somewhat reluctantly turning back to take the quick route back to the streamway and out via Gaskell’s passage to Church Pot.  Before we exited, we decided to have a look at Sump 2.  It turns out that you get there via Pinnacle Climb, which is partially roped, but the bit that isn’t looked highly exposed, with a tight passage at the top, so we wimped out and turned back for Church Pot.  On the way, Chris decided to investigate to investigate a narrow, grotty little dig, I’m not sure why…

Shortly after, we found the right way out, which is hinted at by several excellent fixed ladders taking you up the rift – but not all the way, the final few meters is a sweaty vertical thrutch which emerges from a capped concrete pipe in the bed of the Nidd (which was completely dry here).

So – 3 hours or so of fine and varied caving – much to be recommended!

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Dismal Hill to Old Ing – 18th May 2011

Dismal Hill      Chris H, Andy G, Jason

A skeleton crew of three tackled Dismal Hill – obviously the rest of the club had done it before!
In fact, they missed a fine trip; not long, but full of variety and interest.
The entrance is tucked away in a hollow just to the left of the path from High Birkwith.  A brief crawl led to a couple of nice climbs.  Turning left, I knew I was looking for a tight bedding plane, and quickly found one about 8” high with 6” of water.  If this was the way on, it was to a short trip indeed!

Fortunately, Andy had turned right along a short passage well supplied with sheep bones and found a slightly more spacious bedding plane, which he was kind enough to let me investigate.  It started off tight and continued that way for what felt like a long time (probably about 50m!) until it emerged – much to my relief – in a nice decorated streamway.
Turning downstream, a narrow but pleasant passage goes for about 150m, getting deeper until you have to swim if you want to get to the sump.  We declined.

Upstream also gets deeper, but a thoughtfully-provided traverse line allows you to stay dry – at least above waist-level.  The scum on the wall showed the water level had recently been much higher still.
A climb up leads to another crawl, soon emerging at an impressive waterfall – we were now in the sump bypass part of Old Ing.  An exciting climb up the waterfall (fortunately roped) led to some more damp passageway.  A little before another sump, there’s a climb up to yet another flat-out crawl (Mick’s End) that showed signs of having been blasted out – ie lots of sharp rubble to inch over.  At least it was fairly short.
This emerged in the roof of the main Old Ing streamway via a particularly tight bit, which Andy’s manly chest proved too much for.  A pity, because the exit was only a short upstream stroll away…

After establishing that the squeeze really wasn’t in Andy’s size, he engaged reverse gear to come out the way we’d come in, followed by me, while Chris went out of Old Ing to fetch a ladder to save us the trouble of at least one of the crawls.

Meanwhile, Andy and I positively raced along – it’s amazing how much time you save by knowing where you’re going and not trying to stay dry! – and decided not to hang around for Chris in the streamway.  Again, we made good time to the exit, but not quite soon enough to stop Chris rigging the ladder in the ‘new’ entrance and descending to the streamway!  Never mind, at least he clocked up 3 different entrances to the system …  And he did find out where the ‘new’ pitch comes out – just before the traverse line in the upstream end of the passage, so now you know…

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Aygill Caverns – 15th December 2010

Aygill Caverns            Helen, Chris H, Barney, Tim K, Sophie, Ed, Jason

Though the weather was bracing, the snow had held off, so there was a good turn-out at the farm.  It was a long time since I’d visited Aygill, so I was glad to follow Chris as he unerringly located the entrance.  Despite knowing the immediate entrance series was a bit tricky, we were still tricked for a few moments before finding the way on (as Nick Cave advises “you’ve got to get up before you get down”).   Having done so, it’s not far to the first pitch – one of those that a brave person could free-climb.  An even braver person would have used the frayed tat in situ, but fortunately Helen had brought a 9m rope which was exactly the right length.

The way on is through an uninviting slot right under the pitch leading quite soon to the second pitch, immediately before which is a deceptively awkward little constriction.

There follows the excellent Cascades streamway which all too soon leads to a labyrinth of crawls, climbs, chokes and chambers. Despite being armed with a printed copy of the Red Rose guide, we failed to find the sump, although it was fun poking around everywhere else.  On our way out, Chris found what might have been the ‘low wet crawl’ leading to the sump and we both said that we’d give it a try if the other would.  In the end, I managed to convince Chris that there was more to caving than long low crawls in very cold water – like sitting in a nice warm pub – so we left it for another day….

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Notts II – 25th August 2010

Notts II – Tom Groome, Helen, Jack F, Pete (his neighbour), Jason

Three of the party hadn’t done this trip before, so it was a good chance to show off a cave which must have one of the highest prettiness to accessibility ratios in the Dales.

At the roadside a chap was waiting for his mates to go on a capping expedition to Bruno Kranski’s.  Apparently, a connection to Lost John’s has been smoke-tested and there is only 10m to go.  A good through trip is in prospect, but may be some time off due to the engineering required to make the connection safe.

Having descended the artificial entrance (declared ‘awesome’ by the youths), we quickly got to the streamway and turned left for the downstream sump (by way of leaving the best bits to last).  I had never gone this far before, and most uninviting it looked !

We then yomped upstream, resisting the temptation to explore the many inlets indicated by lengths of muddy rope and headed for the upstream sump.  On reaching the canal, Tom gamely waded on, up to his chest.  I climbed up and tried for the traverse, one simply hates getting wet.  Finding an inviting inlet (number 3?  Or 4?), Helen led the lads up there while I carried on traversing above the canal, not wishing Tom to feel abandoned.  I was pushing the envelope of my traversing skills, but managed to avoid a sudden plunge into the water and eventually caught up with Tom at the sump.

After a quick look at what must have been inlet 1 (which obviously went some distance – I hadn’t realised how big this cave was!) Tom and I returned to meet up with the others.  I waded – and swam – this time, the traverse was more trouble than it’s worth.  Pete was getting cold by this time (his choice of swimming shorts under a ripped boiler suit could have been bettered) so we had a quick look at inlet 5 to admire the fine formations, followed by a quick march out to warm up.

A good trip, well enjoyed by all.

By Jason Clements In Day Trips

Vesper Pot – Sunday 11th April 2010

I arrived at Braida Garth early due to an unusual lack of caravans and milk lorries on the A65.  Oh, I’ve got a text from Barney: “Running late”.  Strange, that’s not like him….  As he was trip leader, and I the only other volunteer, I settled down to wait.  Seeing a stranger sorting out some SRT gear, I asked where they were going.  Down Vesper, was the reply !

An unlikely coincidence which was to turn to our advantage as the three, Dave Ramsey, our Darren (though I didn’t know it then) and another, offered to rig if we de-rigged.  Deal!

So when Barney arrived, we were able to give the others a head start and make a leisurely way up to the entrance.  As the guide promised, the entrance was an awkward sideways crawl, but it was ok provided you dived head-first into the cave.  This was shortly followed by a low, but conventional, crawl, which gradually turned into some meandering rift passage.  Tight and awkward, but again ok, provided you climb up to the upper, wider part of the passage when you can.

Before long we came to the short first pitch, now rigged, which had a somewhat tight and awkward take-off, but then gravity is your friend – on the way in.  The guide describes the passage to the second pitch as a ‘tall and tortuous canyon’.  This is true, apart from the obvious misspelling – it clearly means torturous.  Turning the right way to negotiate one bend, you’re then wrong for the next one, and there’s no room to turn….

Reaching the second pitch, we caught up with the advance party going down the third which follows immediately after.  The cave is roomier at this point which comes as a relief.  Both pitches are around 10m and straightforward apart from a small deviation near the top of the second.  It’s then not far on to the fourth, about 30m and nice.  Unless – like me – you go and abseil past the deviation (about a quarter of the way down) – a good way of adding unnecessary interest to a pitch.

At the bottom of this pitch we found a cat’s cradle of traverse lines around the head of the adjacent 40m fifth (and final !) pitch – and a good deal of head-scratching going on.  The pitch is hung from a pair of threads (oddly, considering every other pitch is P-hangered) impossibly far across the rift.  Dave had somehow managed to reach them, but found the screws only went a half-turn before slipping.  What to do ?  It seemed a pity to turn round at this point.  Barney noticed that the rebelay (about 5m down) was P-hangered, so the pitch was rigged direct from the take-off to here, protecting a rub point with a strategically-placed tackle bag.  Hurrah.  But our troubles were not yet over – a distant voice from below called “I’ve run out of rope!”.  Arrgh!  It turned out, that there was just enough rope – provided you land en pointe on a convenient boulder.  So it was that we all gathered at last at the bottom of the Great Rubble Heap, originally of Spectacle Pot.

The rigging party set off, followed by me – fortunately Barney did nearly all the de-rigging (I didn’t want to spoil his fun…), but I was unable to get out of carrying a tackle bag.  No longer on speaking terms with gravity, I found pitches 5, 4 and 3 tiring but manageable.  Getting off pitch 2 was more of a thrutch, being yes, tight and awkward.  Then there was the snake’s intestine of the passage to pitch 1, now made even less enjoyable by the tackle bag.  I’d spent several minutes trying to force myself round a hairpin bend at the bottom of the passage when Barney’s voice drifted from behind “Don’t forget to climb up around there somewhere !”.  Ah, yes, that’s why I hadn’t remembered it being quite this tight on the way in.

Finally to the first pitch, spirits rising with the end being (nearly) in sight.  Another tight, awkward sod to get off, but at last it’s done – come with me, lovely tackle bag, we’ll be out soon…

Getting to the crawl, I can smell the exit, oh joy, round the corner and hallelujah, it’s daylight – only a few feet to go.

But then, almost literally within spitting distance of the exit, I find my hips wedged.  Thrutch, wiggle, grunt, no movement.  By this time Barney had brought up the rear and was patiently waiting for me to stop fannying around and get out.  If only I could oblige….

After a while, I suggested he crawl over me and give my wife a ring as I knew time was marching on.  As he did so, he laughingly remarked how embarrassing it would be if he got stuck at this point.  The only reply I could give at that point was “gmmph!”.  So – did I really want him to phone home to tell Teresa I was stuck in a cave ?  I saw what he meant, but sent him off anyway. (Later, he reported that he’d used diplomacy and said I was ‘on my way’ out.  Later still, Teresa’s version was the slightly less reassuring ‘there’s nothing much to worry about’).

Meanwhile, I’d decided to retreat to the low, but wide, part of the crawl to take off my SRT kit.  After many contortions and a great deal of coarse language, I managed to retreat about a metre before getting wedged fast again.  Perhaps I could go forward now …?  No.  More contortions, but no progress.  I was starting to get bored.  Eventually it occurred to me that I could (just) reach my chest harness buckle and undo it – then the next time I moved forward, the kit stuck – but I moved on without it !  Moments later, I was out, and happier than I’d been for quite some time – just tried not to think about the hour of my life I’d wasted by not getting the SRT kit off before the tight bit…

I met Barney on the way back – he was possibly even more relieved than me at not having to call out his new CRO chums!