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1985-1986

Richard Collcott, Dave Wilson, Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Jim Briggs, Chris Backhouse, Simon Seward, Chris Birkhead, Harry Lock, Dewi Lloyd, Charlie Cawthorne, Jennie Gilbert, Kathy James, Clive Orrock, Steve Lane, Mark Bown, Dave Warrington, Neill Pattinson, Helen Cawthorne, Spike, Chris Cawthorne, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Jane Enderby, John Harrison, Kath Bonnick, Ian Allen, Paul Howlett, Tim Hobson, Andrew Whitaker, Natascha Wiesenthal, Andrew Pugh, Katy Lock, Mark Turnbull

As these were typed up in 2024, some (but likely not all) of the less "politically correct" descriptions of non-cave antics from the original reports have been omitted (typically sexist descriptions, occasionally racist epithets).

Fiona Hartley

Mendip 11-13th October 1985

Dewi Lloyd, Harry Lock, Steve Lane, Dave Wilson, Jennie Gilbert, Chris Birkhead, Malcolm Barr, Ian Allen, Kath Bonnick, Paul Howlett, Andrew Whitaker, Tim Flack, Tim Hobson, Charlie Cawthorne, Helen Cawthorne, Chris Cawthorne

Manor Farm Swallet: Dave Wilson, Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Chris Birkhead, Kath Bonnick

Having squeezed and squashed everyone into various wetsuits/oversuit etc. we set off in the van with the Swildons lot being dropped off on route (and Steve + Jennie then going back to go down Swildons). Arrived at entrance which was laddered then we went on down an almost crawly mined tunnel (the entrance shaft is mined too, I think) (don't quote me on any of this - I didn't write it really!) past an assorted dump of cars etc. dumped thru' an old entrance I guess to the head of supposedly the 2nd ladder pitch. This was rigged on a bar across the head of the pitch. The ladder kept on going into a crack so this pitch and the next baby one were free climbed on the way back. (Chris and Malcolm also free climbed the entrance) We went right to the bitter end (amid a load of smelly 'orrible mud). Came out just as what seemed like hundreds (but in fact wasn't) of people went in.

Swildon's Hole x2 - the expedition!!: Harry Lock, Dewi Lloyd, Charlie Cawthorne, Jennie Gilbert, Steve Lane, Helen Cawthorne, Chris Cawthorne, Ian Allen, Paul Howlett, Tim Hobson, Andrew Whitaker

Sunday

Upper Flood Swallet: Jennie Gilbert, Steve Lane, J. Rat (BEC), Jonathan Roberts (MCG)

An excellent cave in terms of formations. Small entrance opens out into larger passage with superb calcite straws and stal. Have to keep very low to avoid destroying straws. Steve took a few photos. Short trip but good!

Jennie

GB: Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Dewi Lloyd, Kath Bonnick

As always, caving with Malcolm proved to be quite entertaining. He managed to drag us through the "Devil's Elbow" down to the streamway, the climb down being laddered for Tim and Kath with a non-existent belay. We proceeded on into the ladder extension, the wet crawl was even more disgusting than usual. On emerging in the breakdown passage, Malcolm and I disagreed on the route to "Bat Passage" so we went our separate ways. After crawling among the boulders for a time with Tim and Kath, Malcolm came rushing after us, declaring he had found the required passage. This got me very confused, so we all trudged back to discover that Malcolm had found the Main Chamber not Bat Passage. No complaints though as the chamber has some fine formations. We left the cave with no problems, Tim and Kath losing all faith in both of us!

Dewi

South Wales 18-20 Oct 85

Harry Lock, Katy Lock, Simon Seward, Rich Collcott, Niell Pattinson, Sarah-Jane hunt, James Puddicombe, Charlie Cawthorne, Chris Backhouse,Jason Connor, Natascha Wiesenthal, Peter Frost, Peter Churchill, Paul Wheeler

Met Charlie in Bridge

Saturday

OFD - Top Entrance to Maypole Inlet: Simon Seward, Neill Pattinson, Natascha Wiesenthal, James, Jason

A 'tourist excursion' to be remembered. The first few feet in darkness seemed promising, but it was decided by our "leaders" to have a holiday in the White Arch series. After that Jason decided to take over to take us down the Main Streamway - only minor hiccups eg Jason sitting on Niell's head. The rest slightly damp, but we returned in record time ending off the day with a llas bon (not bought - but the less said about that the better).

NW

Cwm Dwr - Confluence, Piccadilly: Richard Collcott, Harry Lock, Peter C, Peter F, Paul

Climbed down first 20-30 feet, almost vertical, by ladder, came fairly shortly to Dim Dwr, scrabble using ends of fingers and toenails for about 5 miles, or perhaps nearer 20 yards. Got to know tread pattern on Pete F's super steel 'wellies' fairly well by the time we emerged into a larger passage. Continued all the way down to Piccadilly via streamway from Smithy (instead of main dry passage). Climbed back to Smithy via different route and then we traced our steps after a couple of interesting navigational errors. Back through Dim Dwr, after which I was so knackered I wouldn't have gone back through it for a five (honest). Sum seemed extremely bright when I finally emerged in the sweet, cool air.

PC

Tunnel Cave/Cathedral Cave: Chris Backhouse, Charlie Cawthorne, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Katy Lock

After spending a while trying to locate the entrance pitch of cave, Chris rigged the 30ft ladder and we all descended into the DARK and mysterious depths below. The twisted ladder on the second 30ft pitch and the wire traverse above a considerable drop added new dimensions to my experience of caving. The rifts and crawls were easily tackled, the only problem being that occasionally the passage goes above you in order to bottom the cave. After going left (under strict instructions from our president!) at the main junction we explored Waterfall Cavern and many side passages. At the fourth attempt of trying to find the way down Chris insisted we backtracked through the rift and turned right. After a muddy slide and clibing down rifts we descended into Cathedral Cave much to the astonishment of visitors to the Show Cave - who are these strangely clad people and aren't they heros (and heroines!) have been through 'the most demanding and arduous cave in the Whole of Britain', lying on the other side of the wire mesh fence. We had a quick look at the atrocities in the most pathetic show cave I have seen (really!) and Chris and Charlie went back and derigged in 55 minutes so we would get back to OFD and shower early.

Sarah

Sunday

Little Neath River Cave: Richard Collcott, Chris Backhouse, Simon Seward, Harry Lock, Charlie Cawthorne, Neill Pattinson, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Natascha Wiesenthal, Katy Lock

Basically it was cold, wet and horrible, and if I catch the bastard who trampled over me at 3.00a.m. on Saturday, he'll be swimming through the canal for the rest of his life (blame the driver not my handwriting).

Anon

I disagree with the above paragraph totally (well, the first line anyway). I thought this cave was BRIL, especially the first 20 yards, which were admittedly rather wet, but all the better for being so.

Before I went in I was warned of how wet it was and how much of a crawl it was. The thought was not exactly appealing! Then, just before we disappeared underground Natasha comes back out after only a couple of minutes complaining that she couldn't breath in cold water! My God! What had I let myself in for? A trip with Courageous Kate and Hunky Harry! The entrance was a shock - being totally submerged (except the head) in v cold water. It was exhilerating half floating downstream into the system. We followed the stream for a bit until we came to the flood by-pass where we turned up the rock flow. This led to a wide but low (~6") which killed my elbows. This eventually came out to the main stream bed via curiously shaped stalagtites. We then passed along the canal. The roof dipped toward the end leaving only a few inches between it and the roof - fortunately it hadn't rained lately. The climb out was very tiring - having to climb a waterfall and swim against a strong current. All in all a very enjoyable trip, being fairly short (about 2 hours) and led by our exuberant president. Thanks to Simon for the loan of his wetsuit which made the trip all the more enjoyable.

unknown

Sarah, Simon (+10 SouthWalesman points each)

Sadly Neill and Natascha turned back towards the end of the entrance series leaving me to explore the cave with Simon. We decided that the best approach was to move quickly through the cave so Simon in dry gear would not catch hypothermia and hopefully tell Chris and Charloe etc to go out quickly so Neill could come down with Harry. The cave was drier than I had expected after having several warnings about water levels from Dewi, Charlie. We crawled through flood by-pass and followed the river downstream dodging boulders and other cavers down there. Had the Whole of British Caving descended on Little Neath we wondered? We passaged Chris and Charlie and crawled down to the sump, they explored a very muddy side passage which was impossible to climb down without assistance. We backtracked passing a 'pseudo-Richard' who Simon kept shouting at and when Simon disappeared off I continued on, reaching what I thought was a duck, but in fact a 60ft sump without a line. Carried on upstream, swimming through the canal, looking at a possible dig and eventually surfacing into the cool afternoon sun. It was an excellent trip, highly recommendable (with a helmet which doesn't keep falling off) and fast, sociable and warm in a two.

Sarah

Rich, Chris, Charlie and other randoms

The hard A-team LNRC pushing group. In and out no fussing in this ace of caves.

Simon

Yorkshire 1-3 Nov NPC

Harry, Simon, Dewi, Dave, Chris, Malc, Pugh, Tim, Kath, John, Katy L, Roger Here, Steve Till, Mark

Good drive up, picked up Till and continued Greenclose via Preston and Cryons - no surprises there. The hut was a complex conker competition and IC3 could only gawp and wish they were kids as well.

Simon

Sat

Rising with Dawn (nice girl but conversation limited) gave us plenty of time to waste sorting out the ropes.

Bull Pot: Simon Seward, Dewi Lloyd, Mark Bown, John Harrison

Late start ~11 am. Arrived at entrance to find several anchors had been removed. Simon rigged down to 4th pitch then I rigged. Very low water in cave so generally uneventful, apart from John's new abseil style / open descender! on 3rd pitch. 5th pitch quite narrow (so I let Simon do the rigging!).

Dewi

Roaring / Sunset (or 1/2 Sunset): Dave Wilson, Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Andrew Pugh

Arrived at Hill around 11.30, got changed (with Steve, Jen (from newly-arrived lane mobile), Chris, Katy who were doing Sunset (and possibly Roaring)). About to set off when AP asks 'OK, where's my helmet.' Found too few had been left in van / packed in London so had to get Roger to drive me to Alan's for a quick access job, with SRT gear and helmet etc on, causing much hilarity to the grockles there present. Caught up with others at Sunset entrance and walked to Roaring. Straightforward trip, with usual ICCC / Malc attitudes to lifelines (I carted our 1 line everywhere and we only used it 2 times). OK trip if you like damp boulders / mud. Took longer than expected, exiting too late to hope bottoming Sunset. Left gear at Roaring and set off to mess around in Sunset entrance until we found others. Got to entrance as it was going dark and set off down to get clean (I didn't succeed). Met others ascending 50' pitch, helped with lifelines and carried their gear out (other a quick trip down the pitch by MB who (for once) ued BOTH lfieline and ladder on ascent!). Eventually found Roaring entrance in dark to recover gear and walked down to find minor cockup on transport front, but at least we got our clothes straight away. Good trip, nobody killed.

Dave

Yorkshire Weekend 15-17 Nov

Wot no heros

(NPC)

Guest starring

Harry, James, Alison, Jane, Neill, Chris, Malc, Simon, Tim, Kath, Jason, Natascha, Peter, Richard

Concessionary guest appearances

Harry, Rich, James, Jane, Alison S

It started just like a normal weekend, the date Friday the fifteeth seemed innocuous enough - nobody realised what powers of evil they were about to confront.

However underneath the surface cracks were propagating quietly, insidiously and unseen. Harry 'Scott' Lock was the flawed hero, his mind becoming increasing dominated by his 'final-year' schizophrenic personality - reality often being left far behind. Richard 'Norman Bates' Colcott was a psychotic with a mysterious past dealing with occult dragon worship - his two year rehabilitation program with the IC3 institution was beginning to crack - and significantly "he had a small knob" J Enderby - experienced knob watcher. Jane 'Driver' Spiegel a relative newcomer to the group had already given dark hints of a 'HGV' certificate in her possession significantly she had no knob at all. James Puddicombe - the youngest member of the group was also a desperate man - desperate for a woman - significantly his knob went up and down.

These four people mixed easily with the rest of the club - no hint was given of the turmoil beneath the mill pond. At Leeds Alison Hhhharry Seward was picked up easily influenced by Lock she was to be the fifth member of the group, now known as "The Five".

The first sign came shortly after the railway station, Collcott began to crack refusing to enter 'The Pub' wildly claiming, in an advance state of paranoia, 'people' were trying to drug him. His confused mind clung to one point the 'Chip Shop' - here was his sanctuary and he pleaded to be taken there.

However on arrival it was too late Evil had taken over and Collcott now quiet and brooding refused to enter - staying in the van...

Next morning, the team rose in high spirits the event of the night forgotten - but heavy rain was falling - the sky foretelling the dark events which were about to occur.

The club divided, as was traditional, into the trips it planned to take. 'The Five' exclusively were put on the same trip - this could not be chance alone - a scientist tells me the chance was 8 15 14! (5! 9!) - 2002 - practically negligible and with an uncanny symmetry the number is incredibly similar to the devils number - 999.

[an anonymous addition, pointing to 999: who didn't see the Omen/Omen II/Final Conflict? 666]

Four of the club: Malc, Chris, Tim and Kath, left in a car for Juniper Gulf - driving out of the story away from danger. The remaining 10 members set off for 'Mason Gill' obviously connected with funny handshakes, sinister organisation, and hung wop kankers under Blackfriars bridge.

On arrival at the lane Jane calmly annouced the gear box wouldn't work - there was no panic. Peter 'Mr Guild Motor Club' examined the van but could not help. Here again the club divided. Neill, Simon, Jason, Natascha and Pete left the 'demonmobile' with 'The Five' remaining behind.

We can now only conjecture the last minutes but it can probably most accurately be described thus.

1202 Jane restarts the van, and 'the five' head down the road in search of a garage

1205 Jane: "The gearbox is stuck again" - panic breaks out. Collcott begins screaming "we're doomed - we're doomed". Puddicombe makes a move for Alison S, is spurned, and resentful

1206 Calm partially restored by the Presidential decree "There will be no wimp out" The hero prepares for a trek to find a phone.

1208 Lock leaves the van Collcott and Puddicombe eye each other nervously - Puddicombe reveals he too dabbled with "D & D". Janes huddles over the stricken gear box - continuously, aimlessly repeating the gear shift moves. Alison anxiously waits for Lock's return.

1210 Some confusion here, it is not known where it started but "The gearbox's going to explode" was shouted and then chanted and screamed in the ensuing hysteria. "Dip out, Dip out."

1212 Lock returns to the minibus with an "AA Man" who refuses to be named, calm restored, but two continue to foam and bite SRT kit.

1215 Examination of van completed "AA man" announces "The van is about to explode" - the last straw, the camels back breaks. Total hysteria outbreak. The Five + AA man panic and run screaming wildly - they are never seen again, the remained of the club abandoned to its fate.

SMS

SPACE FOR COMMENT / RETRIBUTION

"Every word is true" HEL - leader of fated expedition

3 sides of irrelevant but funny crap - Anon

"More drivel than I could write" - RJC

"I'm not a pervert" - JP

"Masterpiece" - Times Literary Supplement

"Complete... factual reconstruction of one of the greatest unexplained mysteries of the world today" - Arthur C Clarke

"Ace, I laughed all the way home / a good diatribe" - RJC

Ireby Fell / Marble Steps: Simon Seward, Neill Pattinson, Natascha Wiesenthal, Jason, Peter Churchill

After we lucky five escape the demonic van, we had the added bonus of a 10 mile (at least 2) walk to Ivy Irbey Fell, with many glances over shoulders to see if we were being pursued by a green van breathing fire. Luckily we were not. When we got near to the aforementioned hole in the ground we were given a lesson in boulder chucking and headbutting by a group of highly experienced Essex cavers whose leaders were determined to freeze off all knobs in the party by making everyone stand under a waterfall while the pitch was being rigged. When we stopped laughing our intrepid "leaders" had a quick discussion about which way the path was, and we headed towards Marble Steps. This turned out to have excesses of H2O going down it but after another leader deliberation session:

NEILL "It's a bit too wet Simon" PATTINSON

SIMON "Let 'em go down, they're only freshers" SEWARD

we went down the first pitch, which was pretty good. Neill and Natascha went back out fairly rapidly and tried to work out same way of keeping warm while we other 3 crawled around a bit more. We came out finally and then followed a 20 mile (at least 3) walk to the Marton Arms (PETE "Christ, I've got to get this crotch strap off" CHURCHILL) and some local took great pleasure in informing us that the rest of our party had gone home and that the hut was at least another 6 miles walk (where our clothes were)...

Jason or Peter?

BUT, they didn't get to the bottom.

Anon

Simon "Just drop us off here we'll go caving and you sort the shit out" Seward

Simon "But for God's sake at least you could have hired a van to bring us some Mars Bars" Seward

Anon

Juniper Gulf: Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Chris Birkhead, Kath Bonnick

Having actually found the entrance after much deliberation / wandering round in the mist and persuading Tim's sit harness to actually fit him! we found the entrance which had tons of water going down (at least twice as much as when I saw the entrance last summer). Just as Malcolm had rigged the first pitch another group turned up. The waterfall in was fantastic. The climb was crazy - the other group went ahead and rigged a traverse across it and spent ages farting around. Eventually they decided to go on out and we had a go not getting much further before going out and back to the car.

Tim or Kath

BUT, they didn't get to the bottom!

Anon

Sunday

Bull Pot: Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Chris Birkhead, Kath Bonnick, Peter Churchill

Reasonable trip with no other groups down this popular cave - makes a change! Some dodgy rigging from CSB saw us down the first and second pitches (and third). Malcolm had a "hash" at the last pitch but found the rope too short when he finally got on it. Eventually managed to extricate ourselves and get on the road for the Smoke, arriving at around 11pm not too bad a day all in all.

CSB

Yorkshire Weekend (First Blood Part III?) 29th-1st

Harry - Where does this man get his energy from?

Clive - Knowing smiles from the old hands when Clive is introduced as ex-President! [Wot's that supposed to mean!]

Chris - 6 1/2 hours later emerging at the top of the final pitch, this man still had a Mars bar in his pocket - enough said!

Mark - Is this man really a newcomer? Did everything twice as fast as me.

Pete - Dark mutterings of the last bedevilled weekend served only to throw a shroud of secrecy over this man's enthusiasm.

Paul - Editor of this epic chronicle, beside its a good excuse for a wimpout. (will nobody believe I'm knackered? - Ed.)

and Roger - first man in living (?) memory to clock a Transit van speedo on a fog-bound M1. (Like me he just comes for the fresh air!)

Saturday

Marble Sink Steps - Heroes get those Grade Vs in: Chris Birkhead, Harry Lock, Clive Orrock, Mark Turnbull, Mark, Peter, Paul

The trip started innocuously enough, with our illustrious President stripping naked in the freezing Yorkshire air, with a menacing murmur of "who's going to wimp out?" There then followed a (long) trek against two inches of best sludgey snow to reach the entrance. A slight scramble down to the beginning of the pitch, a brief carbide charging lesson, and Harry was well away. Rock flew from his fingertips as he masterly bolted in a short traverse, and then... he was gone... a scrambling 120foot pitch quenched in one go. (well, almost - there was a re-belay but that's a good bit and I'm saving it til the end - Ed.). Pete followed with alarming speed - is there no stopping this man? - and then we were all down.

Harry rigged the second pitch, with Chris's help - a warning of his impending assault on the tackle bag - and once again we were all down. Pete's cry of "that looks familiar" as he viewed a long rope suspended from the lip of another, higher passage, caused a sudden realisation that we'd cocked it up.

As Harry returned to de-rig and make his way through the correct route - a fairly short, twisting crawl - Chris made his long overdue challenge for rigging supremacy. We were left to wonder why he'd bothered as he constructed a devilish traverse before the next pitch could be ascended. But no-one complained (we were all too knackered - Ed.). Who could when faced with that wondrous sink? Ninety feet seemed like eternity in paradise, as an amazing kaleidoscope of cave wall decorations slipped gently (?) by. Wondrious, exhilarating, breathtaking and exciting - what more can one say. (In case you haven't guessed I enjoyed that bit - Ed.)

[Norbert Casteret has nothing on this verbal diorrhea - Harry]

A short crawl and down the final pitch to a small, wet chamber, from which a narrow tube led down to the sump.

Quote: "I don't think I'll bother to go to the bottom today..." - obviously our honorary President knows something us newcomers don't. - Ed.

After that there was only one place to go... up. And up the dirty (1/2) dozen went. Chris, obviously with much less enthusiasm for derigging than he'd earlier shown when the thoughts of little orange sacks flowed fiercely in eyes, led the way, leading my poor inexperienced soul on up.

By the time I'd prussicked up the 90foot shaft I was well knackered, but there was more to come... (dare you read on? - Ed.). many, many thanks to Chris who came to the aid when this wretched creature attempted to bypass a re-belay near the entrance using only a long cowstail, a ledge in the wall and his left and right arms (plus 60,000 million buckets of sweat). On the third attempt, a rather shaky transfer was made although it was several minutes before the said person could find the voice to shout 'rope free'! The welcome smile of Chris face and the proferred Mars bar was all I needed to reassure me I'd reached safety. Pete and Mark made neat work of everything leaving Harry and Clive to derig.

We walked back slowly - trudging through the soggy Yorkshire soil in the sleet and dark - with Chris telling cheerful tales of how a group of IC cavers had once spent hours wandering about on a nearby fell.

After six and a half hours underground and feeling well knackered the safety and comfort of the (by now very smelly) van was soon reached. For my first SRT and first Yorkshire cave it was marvellous.

Only one question remains unanswered... who DID boil the eggs??

Paul

Saturday night - Quiet night in Marton - left fairly early because we were tired.

HEL

Sunday

Lancaster Hole -> ?: Chris Birkhead, Harry Lock, Clive Orrock, Mark Turnbull, Mark, Peter

Paul went climbing with Roger, the rest of us abbed down Lancaster Hole - belay off sandstone boulder! USeful rebelay ~6m down, gives freehang to bottom. Quick look at Colonnades, then down Kaths Way. Followed high level route to Fall Pot - climb down the iron ladders, then back up steep boulder slope on opposite side. Continued along wide muddy upper level passage to Stake Pot, climbed down and set off up ?Rabbit Warren in an attempt to find Link Pot. Got rather confused and decided to turn back to Stake Pot. Followed stream passage upstream til the water went over Chris's wellies, then downstream til the Cresta Run - which was taking too much water for our liking. Back to Stake Pot and quickly out by same route. Had to wait ~45 minutes at Bull Pot Farm for van (+ clothes) to arrive.

Back via chippy to NPC, tidied up and set off back to London, arriving c. 12.30! A Good weekend.

HEL

Christmas Tour 1985

Yorkshire Dales (surprise surprise)

Saturday 14th December

Rowten Pot: Tim Flack, Jennie Gilbert, Steve Lane

A good trip with plenty of water and even more noise. Sat at the top of the Main Shaft for about half an hour on the way out waiting for Tim to appear. -- However, he hadn't heard my plaintive whistle. When he got cool enough he surfaced.

Rowten Pot NGR SD 698780 Alt 1190ft (363m) length 850' (259m) depth 345' Details given for those who haven't been down this tremendous chasm before, which was bottomed in 1897 by YRC.

Jennie

Christmas Pot: Jim Briggs, Harry Lock, Kath Bonnick

Walked up the scenic route (Long Lane) to cave entrance. Entrance is muddy shakehole with oil drum. Cave is best laddered due to shattered, broken pitches. Some fine formations once Grange Rigg Pot is reached. Drain pipe is constricted wet crawl and was missed out - but we still got to the bottom! Return journey fairly quick, lifelining most pitches, then walked back down Trow Gill talking about reservoir engineering. A good pot, if somewhat reminiscent of Mendips. 4 hrs approx.

unknown

Flood entrance? Well Wade's actually: Dave Wilson, Simon Seward, Dave Warrington, Sarah-Jane Hunt

Simon's route (as above) to wrong entance, OBJ, eventually finding Wade's entrance. 1st pitch 2 bolts at top with immediate rebelay over lump of rock, rebelay/deviation half way down next to ledge (Elliott or flake) 30m rope ideally required. Crawl, widening out through avens to wet climb down, soon followed by 60m pitch, 2 red bolts. More passage/clmbs to top of Final Pitch, natural backup, Elliott bolt on ledge, normal bolt 10m down with immediate narrow deviation to avoid rubbing when next deviation placed ~100ft down on large thread to avoid water and land on ledge. Crawl to GG Main Chamber, fairly wet then quick exit. V misty walk back to Jim's car + New Inn for good session and weird bunkroom antics. Good trip, well rigged by yours truly (and Simon for once)

Dave Wilson

Bull Pot: Richard Collcott, Neill Pattinson, Natascha Wiesenthal, Andrew Pugh

Can I remember this cave? ... No, but I'll try to recall some significant bits. Firstly the lid was removed and contents carefully inspected. A preliminary rigging which turned out to be permanent was done by Richard - well done, until we got to the fifth[?] pitch where Neill took over, spending an extremely long time. Andrew patiently waiting at the top but to no avail - it was TOO WET. So back up we went, [] all the way (certainly not nothing at 90 degrees to the wall). After a hard day a well deserved trip to the Marton was undertaken - certainly more epic than the preceeding ? hours.

unknown

Sunday 15th December

The Notts Epic Club-Trip: Richard Collcott, Dave Wilson, Tim Flack, Jim Briggs, Simon Seward, Harry Lock, Jennie Gilbert, Steve Lane, Dave Warrington, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Kath Bonnick, Andrew Pugh

So as to be well separated in the cave divided up into three groups: The Superfast team (jim, Harry Sarah); the mainbody (Steve, Dave, Jen, Kath, Dave) and the Alternative (okay) Boys (Simon, Rich, Tim + Andy).

Simon

Superfast team: Very fast and straightforward trip down the central route.

unknown

Alternative route: ie the Left Hand Route. 2 NPC ladder pitches and through totally unimpressive (NOT) cave !!

unknown

Monday

Lost Johns I: Dave Wilson, Harry Lock, Dewi Lloyd, Jennie Gilbert, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Kath Bonnick, Natascha Wiesenthal

Natascha, Jennie, Sarah, Kath - Nattersoc

DW

What a cheek! Actually Dave, I went down with Nastascha, joined up with the A team and came out 'solo'! am NOT in nattersoc........

Anon

indeed, well I say, I never, blah blah....

Dewi

'solo' - with 3 others!

DW

The entrance passage to this cave is one of the best parts of it. Followed previously rigged (by Jim and Dave) ropes to pitch above Shale Caverns, rigged this and next pitch to bottom of Old Roof Traverse route before deciding this was not the way. Derigged 2 pitches, found way on in hole in wall ~15ft up from floor on upstream side of base of Dome? pitch. Short 8mm climbs down to lead party, then waited for rigging to bottom to be completed. Quickish trip down, walked down Master Cave for 20mins, got bored, came back and met others. 'freshers' went out with Dewi etc, chattering away with cold while Jim, Harry and I explored Upper Lyle Cavern Series, 80ft pitch up muddy rope then calcite all the way. Great formations, esp Crystal White stal in middle of passage - lovely. Back down to see last of others climbing the 'big' pitch at end of long Battleaxe Traverse. I derigged whole cave, with Jim helping. Dumped bags on Harry, who eventually met up with a bored Welshman who thought it was so good he'd come down a second time. I got out with Jim to find all others gone. V misty - just found car and drive back was slow until fog/cloud lifted. A good trip - with lots of derigging practice (I love 8mm tied thru naturals) - must get freshers and pseudo-freshers doing the work soon. Meanwhile in Meregill....

DW

I wish coarse Northeners could write legibly like us Southeners.

anon

Meregill: Richard Collcott, Simon Seward, Mark Turnbull, John Peacock, Mark Turnbull

Ace trip, got to bottom (well as far as I'm concerned we did) John had a bit of hassle on last pitch and dipped out. Rest of club seemed to resent our trip well sounds like they had fun down good old Lost Johns? The best cave of the week for me, and you boring bastards can piss off.

RJC

No, we resented your attitude to our trip AND your attitude to your trip. Comprendez-vous?

unknown

NB despite heavy rain this cave is now red bolted for a dry trip all the way to the second free climb. In semi-flood conditions the exhileration is tremendous.

SMS

But in flood it's fucking impossible.

Dewi

Tuesday

King Pot: Richard Collcott, Dewi Lloyd

After getting thoroughly pissed off with the club expedition down Lost John's I managed to persuade Richard to go on a quiet jaunt down King Pot. Steve offered to take us over to Kingsdale, while the rest of the club argued about this and that. Richard found entrance fairly quickly and we set off down, the entrance to below first pitch was fairly wet; rapid descents being made by the both of us. Richard rigged the traverse across the pit, while I climbed up and down. We had been surprised to find the first pitch rigged with a ladder, and even more surprised to find the 2nd pitch in a similar condition, who in their right mind would be down King on a day like today? Rapid progress was made to the start of the 'T' shaped passage, which we both managed to get through, despite Richard's attempts to block the passage with the [illegible]. Continued to third pitch, Emma's, the water in Canutes Crawl being around a foot deep (sorry 30cms!) and fairly fast flowing. We decided to call it a day at the head of the pitch, neither of us being optimistic about getting to the bottom. On emerging, the mist had come down and it was dark, consequently we spent a couple of hours wandering in circles on E. Kingsdale (wot no compass?) before we found Braida Garth. Walked to Marton and (thankfully) Simon and Co. were there.

Dewi

11/10 for content 3/10 for handwriting

RJC

Thursday

Vesper Pot: Tim Flack, Harry Lock, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Andrew Pugh (first three proto East Kingsdale cavers, Harry neo E Kingsdale caver)

Sarah had been wanting to do this trip all week, and Tim and Andrew were the only other 2 who didn't "dip out" of caving that day. Found entrance with no problems. Entrance crawl OK, first pitch has a tight take off (3 bolts). Second pitch is through a window with 2 bolts, and a bolt deviation or rebelay (fairly accurate, as Andrew will testify). From the base, an optional traverse line leads to the Dry Alternative with nice take off from ledge (2 bolts). 4th pitch has 1 hanger in place as a back up for a tight take off from 1 bolt. Rebelay or deviate from dodgy bolt on 1st ledge down. This pitch was slightly damp. Final pitch is apparently boltless - take 2 slings for natural flake and stal column. Deviate over lip of pitch off chossy rock which should be treated with care on way down. Approx 10m down at small ledgte, bolt rebelay gives free hang to foot of rubble heap. Sarah and Tim both insisted on doing the tight final pitch, and both got rather stuck, Tim requiring an extra jammer to be sent down. Tim's dodgy bulb was replaced - we headed out more slowly than expected, with Andrew getting rather stuck in the entrance rift. Got back to Braida Garth to be informed by Dewi that the van had, one again, "dipped" back to London, but John's rally car was on hand to speed us back to the hut.

not sure (maybe Harry with Andrew scribing? nice handwriting)

Good spelethems down this cave

unknown

Mendips - where's that?

For RCC Records: Kath, Rich, Simon, Harry

Actually: Kath, Chris, Malc

-- was it really that interesting?

unknown

Yorks 24-26/1/86

Friday

Left at ~7pm when Malcolm, Chris and Clive turned up. V good progress thru London and up M1. Even made the Fenton at 10.55! for a pint of Tetleys. Arrived at the NPC. Saturday morning we got all the gear from the caravan, paid the new rent 1986-187, and went to Inglesport. Trips sorted themselves out (ACAS not brought in).

Saturday

King Pot: Richard Collcott, Dewi Lloyd, Dave Warrington, Mark Turnbull

"Best trip for a long time" Dewi

"Best trip since my last joint" Big Dave

"Best trip ever" Mark

"OK I suppose" Rich

Fabulous walk to cave in fantastic weather for the time of year. A good time was had by all in this varied cave. The T shaped passage seemed much easier this time (especially after my last experience) and the whole trip took less time than my last trip to the bottom and the cave was relatively dry. Played football at the bottom of Elizabeth's pitch and were down to the downstream sump in 4 1/2 hours. The derig took about 4 1/4 hours with Dave going for "the most awkward position humanly possible" award crushing his chest in the process. The weather on exiting was absolutely amazing, the moon being so bright it looked like day. Got down to the road by 9.30 and managed to get four rounds in at the Marton (surely a first for King Pot). Altogether excellent trip.

RJC

Ireby Fell Cavern: Harry Lock, Clive Orrock, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Natascha Wiesenthal, Andrew Pugh

Arrived at Masongill Lane to find no other cavers, so we had the cave to ourselves. Entrance was very icy with ice stalactites etc. Decided to rig an "Elliott" route down the cave - this took quite a long time but was probably worthwhile.

[sketch of rigging]

No-one had any problems on this route. Carried on down the classic twisting stream passage to head of Well Pitch. 1st bit is free-climbable, but we didn't know this, so were consequently approx 5m short on rope.

[sketch of rigging Well Pitch]

Carried on to Rope Pitch - which was pasable - or would have been if we had had a rope for it. Since we had taken our time so far, turned round and exited. Clive derigged the entrance series and encountered multiple alpine butterlies (NOT a medical condition). Changed in the cold - with hair sticking to helmets, hands to krabs etc. Malcolm arrived just on time, and we set off to Marton/Chippy. A good trip.

HEL (written up by Andrew)

Nick Pot (Thornber's Entrance: Dave Wilson, Malcolm Barr, Chris Birkhead

Van to Crummock, bit of snow in valley, but after ascending first bit of hill ground virtually all white - great. Found entrance without problems, v short passage (tight) to top of first pitch. Free hang from red bolts (but can get snagged behind flakes on ascent). Cross dams to join traverse on left of big pitch, first part pre-rigged traverse line with home-made hangers and 10mm Superstatic - good condition. Rigged over traverse line shortly after end of other one. Rigging big pitch took some time, giving me a chance to fall asleep and nearly roll of ledge (no cowstail) tut tut. Free hang all way, with 1 deviation about 50m down, to avoid landing on big platform on top of large flakes. Fairly new 100m 10mmm used, so good quick descent. V little water on pitch. About 2 hours down, 2- 2 1/2 out. Got out around 5, after dark, but full moon and snow meant lights little needed for beautiful return journey, with ski-boys Barr and Birkhead dreaming of Scottish/French snow. V still, no wind, so changing ok even in cold. Good trip, fantastic weather. Be nice when wet (bet bloody cold at bottom of 80m pit).

Dave

Sunday

Up not TOO late. Breakfast. Bought lots of lovely new club (?) gear from Inglesport. Mass wimp out byt A-team when we got to Bull Pot Farm.

(Pippikin, Link, Cow Pot, County Pot - all booked on Saturday. BUT... we turned up on... Sunday. A - "who's head will roll THIS time?" A coarse northerner said it was OK to do Cow Pot anyway, since it was unbooked on that day.)

HEL

Cow Pot: Harry Lock, Dewi Lloyd, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Natascha Wiesenthal, Andrew Pugh Malcolm Barr, Mark Turnbull

After mass dip out by rest of team ("but we've been caving... yesterday" (see above)) we set across the fell to Cow Pot. Entrance shaft rigged fairly quickly. Up a boulder slope then into a narrow twisting passage. Vol 4B described, "flat out crawl... several acute bends... long deep pool" -- none of these were present. Reached head of main pitch. Back up to shale column (!) then nice take off into the vastness of Fall Pot... blah blah blah. Malcolm followed, then Andrew and Mark. Dewi went out with Natascha and Sarah. Mark and Malcolm derigged while Andrew and Harry went to Lancaster Hole and exited rapidly up a variety of ropes, tat etc. Everyone got out fairly quickly, changed, back to hut. A good pothole.

HEL (transcribed by Andrew)

and a good write up!

anon

Ta.

HEL

very cosy mutual appreciation society?

unknown

Wales (Southern Section)

Harry, Kath, Simon, Chris, Clive, Paul, Tim

Friday

We left ~7.30 and entered Wales via a series of B roads. En route we picked up a Matress from Tim's pad and a couple from a dodgey warehouse somewhere near Taunton. Stopped in a Bath at 'The Curfew' mega pub looked like Woodstock well no Chris and Clive told us all those beach and ride barns - we left pretty quickly despite Chris's "Well you like Jethro Tull". Got to Caerllwyn about midnight, got inside the gate about 1.00pm.

SMS

Saturday

We did this really interesting cave called Ogod Fedup Again.

The New Top Dig - Cwm Dwr: Tim Flack, Simon Seward, Harry Lock, Clive Orrock

Usual swift trip with no navigational problems. Went on Harry's round trip (down to confluence to Piccadilly, up to Heol Eira (quite nice but I don't think I'll bother again) and back at higher level to Big Shacks area). Speedy exit out to surface only slowed by large chunks of snow falling/or being thrown down entrance.

All this preceded by abortive digging in snow to try and find top ent, snow ball fights and jumping through cornices. Despite contingents of experts from Mendip (where's that) and SWCC were unable to locate ent so went down Cwm Dwr as above. Top Ent eventually dug out from about 9' under drift after many hours work.

CMO

Cwm Dwr: Chris Birkhead, Kath Bonnick, Paul

Steady trip apart from a little difficulty in initial route finding, OK once we got into the crawls though! (I must remember to follow the stream into the low slot next time.) Down to boulder chke then out to meet unsuccessful digging party on their way in, with Harry describing the 'perfect Alpine conditions' on the surface, blah blah!

CSB

Red Lion - it serves ESB the beer that likes to say yes.

SMS

Very pleasant evening in Red Lion sampling a wide range of beers and drinking them out of Green Chartreuse. I think I collapsed in a snow drift.

CMO

Sunday

Pen y Fan (Granny route) - Tim, Kath, Harry

Decided to forego the many pleasures of S Wales caving. Up Pen y Fan in snow then Gribin and round the horseshoe walk back down...

Tim

accompanied by two wheel-chairs, a man with a wooden leg, four grannies, three sunday school outings, St Mary's Convent Male Voice choir, Sunshine Coaches, seventy-two...

CMO

Top entrance - Maypole Inlet: Simon Seward, Chris Birkhead, Clive Orrock, Paul

Once again a little uncertain of route but soon stumbled across the usual 'signposts' and got on with it. Soon to streamway and up and down, traversing potholes. Paul enjoyed climbing up into Maypole inlet so much he did it twice!

CSB - 'too old to rock & roll, too young to die' Birkhead

"Not at any stage was I worried or disconcerted by any of the traversing or pool crossing moves. Any 'worried gestures' were entirely misinterpreted, any utterances such as 'can we go back' either out of context or non-attributable

S. Seward (Joe Fresher)

ICCC write off ice climbing as a sport

[sketch of a pointy mountain representing Clogwyn-ar-Garnedd and adventures upon it]

next week Harry and Simon will be looking at hang-gliding - super! But now how to make from 6 matchboxes...

Yorkshire 7-9 March

Harry, Rich, Sarah, Kath, Tim, Malcolm, Chris, Chris, Jim

Left union at 6.45, arrived in Leeds 10.20 - 2 pints ni 3 Horseshoes and chips from Bryans. Got to hut ~12.30.

Saturday

Newby Moss Hurnel Moss Pot: Malcolm Barr, Harry Lock

To 'keep our options open', we struggled up from Newby with 7 ladders AND 100m rope. After some difficulty, located Newby Moss Pot shakehole - snow filled! Spent about an hour digging with no luck, so wandered over to Hurnel Moss Pot instead. 1st pitch 1 ladder, immediately followed by Poseidon Pitch - 61m with a very broad ledge halfway down (rebelay). An impressive large shaft. Searched around for a suitable belay for 3rd pitch, eventually used wedged boulders. Short length of passage to terminal muddy sump. Reasonably quick exit made - another Grade III.

HEL

Spectacle Pot - A return to Victorian Melodramas: Richard Collcott, Tim Flack, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Kath Bonnick

'A tense thrilling account of caving at its best' Times Lit. Supplement

Arrived at cave entance ~12.30pm after no navigation problems, and meeting Chris Back trying to find the entrance to Growling. Richard 'dodgy riggsinc.' rigged the entrance pitch - the backup being a piece of deviation cord tied to the rope and then around a metal bar preventing mass wastage down the slope. Quickly descended down the pitch and controlled slide down the free climbs trying not to use the hand holds with sheep remains on. After this came letterbox and Splutter crawl, which our leader advised to tackle feet first on our backs. The water level was fairly high here, higher than Richard had seen before, and cooled us off as we waited for those ahead to climb down the Swaying ladder to the pitch head. The pitch head was tight but caused no problems (see later)

At this point Richard bombed off with Kath, and tim waited for me at the bottom of the pitch. After the short stoop came the long(!) crawl and ducks. I decided to go first on my back feet first and pull the tackle bag and Tim push. Tim occasionaly moving too near to me and causing tidal waves of water. At one point the crawl branched with a side passage on the left. The route we were on seemed to be getting very low, muddy and much wetter so I assumed I was going wrong. We shouted ourselves hoarse for Richard as to which way on it was, but no reply. What could he be doing we thought?- but I could see a light so we moved on. Eventually found the others and Richard went on the rig the third pitch. Through a small traverse and down onto a ledge (the piton and tape sling ultra dodgy are still here) and then down a rebelay suspended from a rope sling wrapped around a boulder. Big pitch just after small climb is rigged off natural rope bridge to enter Dodd's.

As our leader and (token) expert caver descended down Dodd's pitch a large crash was heard and a body swung on the rope below. We shouted but there was no reply - had he been killed? how will we get him out? - he purposely (I think) did not reply, but fortunately he had only intentionally kicked down loose boulders. No one descended down the tight pitch to the sump pool. Tim and I had found it a slog before when we went down Vesper, so didn't bother; straightforward return with Sarah derigging, until she derigged the third pitch. Richard's bombproof rebelay was reduced to a ropesling of 2mm (sorry outer sheath and few threads worn through!!).

Having suffered one near-miss I was nearly killed a few minutes later. Kath jigged about on the rope a lot as she passed the deviation, which Rich had put in on the way up so as to stop the rope rubbing. The rope got caught behind a flake of rock and when Tim passed it the rope suddenly tightened and the flake broke away. Rich and Tim shouted at me on the ledge below, but where could I move? Instinctively I crouched down with my hands on my helmet and waited for the rocks to hit me. Something hit the edge of the ledge fairly near me and I sensed the grit in the air. I shouted back that I was ok but it wasn't for a while that I realised the true extent of the event (re B Dave sump, A Pugh - Nottss pot, J Peacock Bull + Mere Ghyll) (?????)

Rest of the cave was uneventful apart from Kath getting wedged at the top of the second pitch for ~ 1hour. When Tim and I arrived Rich rigged up another rope off the choc stone and Tim helped to free her. Meanwhile muggins froze 'quietly' at the base of the pitch IN SILENCE trying to avoid abuse (why?) thrown at me (from unmentionable people). Out at 8.30pm met Chris and Jim on way down and had to help push van out of mud with Harry. [why not use your hands - poor old Harry] Excellent trip and I know you'll all hate me for mentioning it but I'm looking forward to the Vesper-Spectacle exchange!

Sarah

King Pot: Jim Briggs, Chris Birkhead

In true Collcott style I'll write up their trip. They used the fixed ladders on the first two pitches and then continued lugging the far too long Growling rope with them. They bottomed the cave and derigged in 7 1/2 hours, and then on to Marton for a few pints.

Sarah

BUT WERE THEY NEARLY KILLED TOO?

unknown

Used 18m on 3rd, 4th pitch rigged with 40m rope, last pitch with 30m

Chris?

Sunday

Rift Pot (Masongill): Tim Flack, Harry Lock, Kath Bonnick

Harry, Tim, Kath, Andrew Backhouse and 8 'members' of White Rose Pothole Club - Nuff said - to be spoken in a coarse northern accent --

Brian, is the rope long enough?......

...... No, Brian's gone out...... Why?...... He's dropped 'is Mars Bar down't pitch...... If the ladder doesn't reach, I'll blow twice on this whistle, and shout "OK"...... "OK"...... Right...... Who's bloody rigging this?...... I've reached the bottom of t'ladders but not of t'pitch John?...... Pardon!!...... I say ladders too short...... No its not you daft bugger...... Yes it is...... 20' and 20' and 30' equals 100' dun't it...... No it bloody doesn't...... Well where's Steve then...... He's on't'ledge 20' above me...... Well send Steve back up to Fred on't ledge above, then tell Fred to climb up alongside Bill and get t'ladder untangled...... I dint catch all that Brian...... NO, Brian's gone out, it's me, Fred...... No I'm Fred, and I've bloody steel toe cap stuck in t'ladder...... oh no! me beards stuck int Figure of Eight...... Right, I'm going t'climb down last 15' wiout ladder, OK...... well watch theeself John...... No, I'm not John, John's dropped is ammo box on Bill's Mars Bar...... well look at the BLOODY guide book, then...... Mi carbide's gone out, and John's got his head trapped between his Troll legloops...... Right, I'm going off out,...... well I'm carrying on...... Well sithee seth. Aaaaahhhh! ...... CALL T'BLOODY CRO.

HEL

Rowten (Cave): Richard Collcott, Sarah-Jane Hunt

I don't really know whether it is worth mentioning this trip because I was disappointed with not doing what I had set out to do - a rigging trip. After the walk up to Rowten and Sarah telling Richard the cave was miles in the wrong direction we found Rowten. To our surprise it was triple rigged - the 'Forder' entrance pitch; a rope to the left of it; and a Y-hang on the other side of the entrance. The group from L.U.S.S had driven up in a Land Rover and were on their way down. We trugged over to Jingling but as people were coming back we assumed that it was full (like Bull as well). By this time I had 1 1/2 hours in which to do a rigging trip and as it was too far to Yordas we explored Rowten cave. Free climbed down wandered up to the resurgence and then explored the other entrance which leads into Rowten Pot. Free climbed out and as Richard had lugged the 100m tackle bag plus rigging gear up the hill I decided to rig the entrance to Rowten Cave. Very doggy rigging, though going on Spectacle pitch 3 it's not surprising considering who was teaching me!!! Richard kicked the belay point and it moved violently. I rerigged the rope around a larger area of rock and then very gingerly abbed down. Free climbed out and 2 mars's later met Chris Back and over to Masongill to meet the others. A great pain as it was an ideal time for a rigging practise and to use my spanner.

[something impressively tipex-ed to erasure]

Sarah

To all it may concern. I did not write the filthy comments concerning the use of spanners outside their basic field or have anything to do [with] the aforementioned digusting proze, except the fact it was I who TippexedTM over it and then blocked over it as to render it unreadable.

Yours sincerely,

Richard "Jimbo" Collcott

Yorkshire 21 to 29?/3/86

Newby Moss Pot: Richard Collcott, Chris Birkhead, Harry Lock

Found cave entrance without too many problems. Snow still in shakehole and mudslump. Tightish entrance passage to head of first pitch - belay off small flake. From base of pitch, through water to Guillotine Chamber (dry). Continue to follow stream down to Stream Chamber, then short pitches (free climbable) to Rebound Chamber. Spent about 15 mins excavating low crawl, until it eventually flooded and the surrounding walls collapsed - decided this wasn't the way, so pulled out boulder blocking fissure to Rakes Progress - very low crawl, silted up and wet - we all took a look and turned round. Excited in about 15 mins! Walked back down to Newby in rain. Changed at NPC -> Ingleton -> Clapham cafe -> NPC -> Marton Arms -> New Inn - > NPC. Quiet evening was had by all. However, over in Langstroth Pot, the REAL caving was taking place...

HEL

Langstoff Langstrough Langstroth: Malcolm Barr, Simon Seward, Clive Orrock

Entrance as per book description, at the tree line, past the right of the road. Entrance crawl - v easy and first pitch free climbable. Short climbs down tightish rift to first duck which is short, and just bypassable through rift squeeze above (duck is easier way - CMO). Second duck - no bypass but straightforward. No route problems - but tedious section (with bags) till slot - which is also bypassed. The second pitch is tight at head and the only bolt of the cave features after the initial squeeze, back up to flake up on left and some tiny stal (before squeeze). Fractured rock stump high on right round corner takes a rebelay to keep out of the water. Third pitch follows fairly shortly - we rigged rope direct round two naturals. Then follows fast meandres. Fourth pitch has big slab across head we belayed round thread underneath. Fifth has one flake with minimum back up. Sixth has rock bridge with fine hang down water-plume this was not attempted. By this time the stream was brown and swirling, carrying pieces of turf - we term this phenomena flooding. The return was exciting (cf. Otter Hole - Phil Swartz et al bo-dump bo-dump). The pitches taking much more water and the ducks were pretty interesting. The canal section had also converted to duck mode. Exited to find Wharfe flowing down the road and car 6" under. Given a cup of coffee by friendly campers. Returned via the George and flooded roads.

SMS

Everyone we've spoken to about Langstroth since has asked if we came out at the top or bottom. It seems that abbing thru and diving out at the bottom is the usual route. This would be a classic through trip.

CMO

Are you serious

Anon

A typical Wharfedale grade IV!!! ≡ grade V +

CMO

≡ misguided due to close brush with Death

Anon

But they didn't get to the bottom

Anon (guess who)

What did I do on Saturday?

DW (+ A Pugh, Steve C?)

Sunday 23/3/86

Official wimp out non caving day.

Went to Sedbergh (copper kettle - sticky toffee cake) then went for walk over Cautley Spout; weather got bad but carried on to complete walk (apart from Simon (Canada here I come), Chris, Clive who went over to Bluewater looking but not finding a new mega system.)

Rich

Dave's birthday mini-sess

Horse & Farrier / New Inn

Malc, Harry, Rich, Simon and DAVE

All got pissed, especially Dave - ho-ho-ho aren't we very clever, and haven't we got large grants/sponsorships to spend. Note - green chartreuse, double vodka, and orange can be lethal. Dave celebrated his 21st in style with 10 hours spent trying to get rid of his stomach lining. But getting pissed is traditional lads, isn't it? A good time was had by most.

HEL

Monday

Notts Pot: Malcolm Barr, Simon Seward, Harry Lock

Woke up to blizzard conditions - high winds and snow. Went to Settle, then finally decided to go down Notts with Pete, Dani, Rick (NPC). But Malcolm's car still had one surprise for us - it wouldn't start[]. ... Eventually push started it. Trip down notts was very quick to sump. Turned round and hauled bottles and maypole pieces out of cave - 8 bags / 6 people, fairly efficient work. Got back to hut for vegetable curry (?).

HEL

[] Next time we will try turning the key.

Curry delicious mmm mmm

SMS

Rich and Dave stayed at hut Dave throwing up, and Rich trying too.

Tuesday

Simon wimped out - a grey day for Simon Presidential Campaign.

Penyghent Pot: Richard Collcott, Dave Wilson, Malcolm Barr, Harry Lock

Weather seemed fine and got to third pitch with the only difficulty being "bloody wetsuits". Rigged wrong pitch, which came evident only when Rich and Dave told Harry that the pitch should be a rift and not what Malc had actually rigged and descended - The Wet Alternative. Harry derigged pitch and rigged proper "Dry Route" which by this time wasn't very dry? All this took a considerable time and Dave still feeling under the weather decided to head on out. Malc at bottom of pitch which now had a much greater volume of water flowing down it was now very cold and surprised to find the rope gone (well who wouldn't be). Due to increase in water and cold state of our cavers mutual decision to withdraw (wimp out). On way out noticed the water had risen considerably and at surface found that much of the snow had melted causing the problem.

Rich

Wednesday

Bottom bit of Short Drop / most of Gavel: Richard Collcott, Dave Wilson, Malcolm Barr, Harry Lock

Not an inspiring day's caving. Mistook the way into Short Drop as Gavel Pot. Bottomed Short Drop and walked back up to its first ladder pitch, Where we meet some Army guys training for Java? Found Gavel got to "big" pitch which Dave did and Malc decided was too wet so exited cave. Dave went back up to car, leaving Rich, Malc and Harry to do Death's Head Hole, which due to deteriorating weather conditions was wimped out of.

Rich

Thursday

Lost Johns Cave: Richard Collcott, Malcolm Barr, Harry Lock

After some reluctance to get changed, Rich and Harry set off down to rig cave. Dave forgot his oversuit by complete mistake. Rigged Hammer, Mud, Centipede pitches - simple rigging, adequate bolts, all pitches dry. Reached Dome Junction, then on to Candle and Shistol pitches, finally to head of Battleaxe Traverse. Rich took over the rigging, and rigged traverse big pitch and last pitch. Got to master Cave quite quickly. Malcolm and Richard had a look at Lyle Caverns, while Harry started out. Fairly quick on way out, reached surface at 7:30pm, thence to Marton. Dewi and 3 NWCC turned up later on. Quiet night, back to hut at about 11:30om. Lost Johns is an 'ace' cave.

HEL

Friday

What did happen on Friday....

unknown

I (Clive) came up by bus + train and after playing trivial pursuit with NPC was met by t'others at about 8.30 when went to pub in Bentham.

Clive

[sketch of nameless speech bubbles discussing who Clive is]

Saturday

Weather forecast still gloomy. Donald wanted to go walking, so we drove over to Clapham to deposit Donald in New Inn for pre-walkies drinkies. Malc, Clive and Andrew set off for Flood Entrance. Descended to the admiring gaze of passing grockles. Route finding straight-forward - 1st pitch: belay to flake and large boulder - pitch is constricted and rope is little more than a handline (not really necessary at all). 2nd pitch - no shortage of anchors - backup to stal boss. 3rd pitch - plenty of bosses / flakes / threads for back up plus bolts well round to right of stream. Over lip; two rebelays at anchors give free hang at side of water. Further deviation of rope would be nice but all flakes etc on wall were VERY loose. Finally rebelayed at large flake/rock to give hang down final 15m or so to ledge (on Bar Pot level).

[sketch of loose wall]

Continued to main chamber which was very impressive with considerable amounts of water coming down shaft. Noticed that water was sinking in 3 different places.

a) against South wall at SE end of chamber

b) against South wall at NEW end of chamber

c) Against North wall towards NW end.

Straightforward exit and return to Clapham for pints in New Inn, which seemed to be host to just about everyone who is anyone in the caving world this evening and after chips at Inglenook - fairly disgusting - we returned to NPC. Talked to Clive Westlake for a bit. -- he insisted on reading this log book and took particular interest in the first page (re "Big Dave I have come for you...."). Retired to bed before NPC/CUCC etc returned and the water fights. Tempers became frayed and Barry got hit in the face with a saucepan (by accident) requiring the attentions of Dr Dave Can't-remember-his-surname (NPC). Eventually in small hours of morning the place quietened down.

CMO

Sunday

Some snow overnight. Miraculously our food had survived. After breakfast (late as usual) we set out for Horton intending to go walking, largely cos Malc was complaining that he'd virtually worn his body out. Walked up Penyghent from Brackenbottom - many people, weather cloudly - no visibility at top and then returned via Hunt and Hull Pot. -- now, excellent sunny weather, and so many photos taken. Hull Pot was taking a large stream over lip plus a second large inlet at bottom - half floor of shaft flooded. Back at Penyghent cafe met Simon's parents up for a couple of days and learnt the truth about Simon's revision program: TV, TV, party, TV, party, etc...

Shifted last of gear over to caravan, loaded up and returned to London where stayed at Malc's.

CMO

Luckily my father did not insist on a 'measuring contest' or other such sport but you were lucky Clive, next time I let them out...

Mrs Seward's comment on the encounter (limestone hills 25-56 caving club party) - apparently they rolled a 43 - "and they all spoke SO nicely". If only she knew...

Simon

I don't understand this.

Clive

The 1986 Dinner Meet

[Fiona's editorial note: I entered an initial date for these trips in cavepeeps based on basically nothing at all. These trips actually happened in May 1986 and I may be able to figure out the date at a later time based on the sad incident at Dale Head Pot, which occurred on the same day.]

Guest appearance/disappearance - Mark 'Beelzebub' Bown and his views on Spain/Austria/life/death/France/etc....

Meregill: Richard Collcott, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Andrew Pugh

Pitch lengths: 1st 20m, 2nd 40m, 3rd 50m, 4th 50m (+ if roof traverse used?), 7th handline necessary.

Andrew's write up later (note rope was too short on the 3rd not 2nd pitch as write up seems to show).

Rich

Meregill, or ten men went a-caving

RJ "SRT maestro" (see later) Collcott, S-J Hunt, AC Pugh + some others with SRT gears + randoms from Westminster in wetsuits!

The antecedent trio eventually arrived at the Hill Inn after some driver problems (see above) and proceeded to get changed. Surprise no 1, we did not become the slightest bit cryogenic, in fact no sign of hypothermia was to be found, this meant that we look rather longer to get changed than in winter, when real men go caving. Caving in summer is definitely for wimps I decided.

Eventually we set off to the cave where the aforementioned Miss Hunt rigged the first pitch. It was found that the cave was already rigged but the ingenuity of the rigger was up to the situation and a natural was used instead of the Red Bolts.

Arriving at the head of the next pitch Mr Collcott took over the rigging due to the complexities of double rigging. Halfway down or perhaps further our leader decided that the rope was of insufficient length (hang on and see) and so told Miss Hunt and I to descend on the rope of our fellow troglodites. This proved to be a damp, nay deliquescent experience (of which more anon).

The next pitch was rigged as one drop, les randomis had rigged it as two wet ones (this could be the fourth asterisk). On the fourth pitch Miss Hunt again descended on the random rope, and heinous crime, DETACHED THEIR DEVIATION (???!?!!!!).

We eventually arrived at the top of the next pitch after Miss Hunt had walked into 4' deep pool and I had collapsed trying to bridge a similar, but much, much harder to keep out of pool.

As our illustrious leader was rigging la next pitch, the randoms came up and he talked us out of going down, pointing out that if we went down it would be Midnight before we got out, and so we decided not to. (A Good Move in the light of future events).

We set off back, with RJC falling into the pool into which I had fallen. One of the randoms spent a lot of time at our rebelay having gone up our rope instead of theirs which was in the water. He spent around 20 minutes with his cowstails jammed in his chest ascender below the [] (how? you ask dear reader, answer, he was a nerd) with his weight on his cowstails (strange). Eventually he was free and A.Random Esq and me set off up, me up ours, him up the waterfall in an attempt to replace their deviation.

At the top I waited around and suddenly heard the noise of the waterfall cahnge, from the tinkling of a crystal brook to the sound of a tacklebag under Niagara (poetic license). I carried on out with little trouble despite the huge quantity of water descending the cave. I then waited for 1hr40minutes talking to another A.Random Esq while the rest got out.

Les randoms were very glad of our rigging however and one came out with the classic quote "we've learnt more about SRT caving today than in the last 9 months."

[some Elvish]

Andrew

For plebs who don't read Tolkien this translates to Mr A Pugh Esq (well not quite)

Rich

Disappointment Pot: Dave Wilson, Harry Lock, Kathy James, Spike, Katy Lock

[Kath and Spike marked as "I still think hods belay's better than Italian Hitch" soc]

After John's abortive Land Rover trip to the Gill, terminated by a less than helpful Dales farmer, Spike was added to the original merry crew when his original Bar Pot trip fell through when J+J went walking, so he was used to carry up some of the gear, although he went up Long Lane, all the rest of us going up past LUSS's place. Fine sunny weather and relatively dry ground conditions - we finally got underground around 12:45. Quick jog down sloping classic Yorks vadose stream canyon to wet bit - first crawl passable on front, led by Lock+Lock, explorers extraordinaire. Harry managed to 'lose' the portcullis as it was intially underwater, until some quick Civ Eng by Spike saw a passable ~5" triangular airspace. All got through, although I got slightly edgy at this point and took a bit of time to psych myself up - minus many points in Kath's (and Kate's?) eyes. Quickish jaunt down in usual ICCC ladder style with lifelines on way down and me following, lining Kate down then self-lining/free climbing ladder down with bag containing all rigging gear - this cave certainly needs a few 8mil holes in its walls - lifelining stances are atrocious. Dried out by the time we got to bottom and got nice and warm again. Turned round ~5/6pm (not too sure). Kate's light (FX2 no.1) FAILED!! by discharging about bottom of cave - so she borrowed Zoom off Kath.

Way out ok but slowish, Kate having first experience of non-ideal wet ladder hangs, me having experience of trying to haul through Italian hitch - not easy. Note: bottom pitch best rigged to left on flakes, using tape & crab for running belay after traverse out - need to untie knot in bottom of rope to enable it to be pulled through krab at ladder hanging point for next person down. 4th pitch ok - jsut slope with ladder as handline. 3rd rigged tight in rift - not ideal - but can't lifeline further out - 2nd OK but ideally fixed line here as well. At 2nd pitch realised large water increase but not too bad. 1st pitch bit of epic - Katy getting bit tired combined with really crap belays/lifeline stance took some time here. Kath/Spike used lifelines occasionally on way out - minus many Mendip points for that.

Annnnyway - the big one cometh - the duck - gullp. Previous 5" airspace now about 1-2" triangular - absolutely useless even after re-engineering stream bed. Anxious to unblot my copy book I DIVED out first, succeeding in getting partly jammed underwater - (who was it said they thought drowning was a good way to die) - for subjective minutes but actual seconds, bobbing up in an endless sea of foam covered water blah blah (continued on page 91) -- went to crawl out, ducked under lip (2" airspace) and saw nice long duck awaiting. Eventually lay on my back in water (previously the only dry part of my anatomy) with my Damart balaclava on, helmet between legs and floated out into the high blackness of the pre-water chamber, all alone etc. I shouted back to Harry, still on the other side of the sump and made my way out as agreed. Got out around 8:55, waited on miserable cold surface for half an hour, then redescended to be met a few yards down the main passage by the fair warm smile of Katy 'you must be awfully brave diving through first' Lock - what could I say. Gave her my balaclava and went down to meet Harry; Kath and the Phantom Hummer followed soonish (the fab four following me had at least followed my advice and towed gear through the desperate duck with one of the ropes). Climbed out of entrance (again) tube to be met by disappearing clouds at arund 10:35 (once the clouds had dropped their rain they may as well move to allow a quick cold night to take hold). Walked down Trow Gill, speculating on chances of Ingleton Chippy. Got to Clapha, told others we were alright and then found police had removed Kath's car keys and seemingly disappeared. After half hour of freezing outside eventually got van ride back to hut, spare clothes, food and bed. A good trip enjoyed by all? (but need 1 more lifeline 4 total and more time next time if there is a next time). (Cheers to Big Dave and Julie for driving around all night.) The ultimate compliment for me from Harry Hero Lock - I'm glad you dived out first cos I wouldn't have liked to - but I think the KL "aren't you brave" was still better.

Yours wetly

Dave

Who can actually read this - is it an eye test!!

anon

Pen-y-ghent Pot Sat/Sun: Malcolm Barr, Chris Backhouse, Simon Seward, Chris Birkhead

The day dawned bright and cheerful, with a forecast of 'rain with thunder'. Progressed rapidly through cave with only some delay, rigging and rerigging big pitch. Free-climbed all rift sections except one. Used fixed rope on part of Niagara, and bypassed the eleventh going through a hole in the left-hand side of the passage - however this will fill up during flood conditions. Reached the bottom and was returning in good time when encountered flood pulse before last free climb in rifts, just after low section. The climb was impassable and water was rising rapidly. The earthy smell was extremely noticeable, of the brown frothy water. No choice but to wait below the fifth pitch. Luckily there was a small 'dryish' ledge and the party had two survival bags and a space blanket. The bodily warmth was very much appreciated. Chris Birk is more cuddly than Malcolm. To pass the time we discussed whether women are more imaginative than men (SJH: I think we are!); fizz buzz becomes very boring after 6 hours with only two people. Waited a long time after the waters started to recede as we were reluctant to leave this dry spot - one of the few in the cave - as we didn't want to have to rerigg the pitches down to it if the upper sections were found to be flooded. The fifth pitch, which we easily freeclimbed down on the way in, looked extremely difficult to free climb out with all the water. Our token hero, Malcolm Barr, free-climbed a very difficult route and dropped a rope down to his less able colleages. Big pitch was EXTREMELY wet even though rigged bone dry on descent. Remaining two pitches were no problem even though they were taking a lot of water. Met the rescue at the top of the first pitch who returned to the surface after they established that we were in control of the situation. Met four land rovers-worth of CRO in the entrance shakehole with some very welcome hot coffee and unwelcome Mark Bowen. Time: 15 hours underground.

Gear required (absolute minimum):

A sober time was had by all.

dictated by Simon + Chris Back, written by SJH, additional material by MB

Saturday Night out in Clapham! (at the C.R.O.)

After realising at midday that the trips had been organised in such a way that nobody was around to drive the van except me, we set off to the Hill Inn to drop the parties ay Meregill and Roaring. After spending a couple of hours in Ingleton until it started raining I returned to the Hill Inn and picked up Claire, Kath and Neil who'd been caught in the first of the thunderstorms. For the rest of the afternoon it rained heavily non-stop. Whilst in Ingleton about 7 o'clock we met John and Jane and after a brief return to the N.P.C we went back to the Hill Inn. The rest of the night was spent driving between the Hill Inn, Brackenbottom and Clapham car-park waiting for anybody to reappear. At half past 11 with the water levels having risen dramatically it was decided to inform the N.P.C that 3 parties were overdue however as nobody was in at Greenclose we went straight to Clapham where the C.R.O were already in full swing attending 3 incidents. Just after parking Harry and Little Dave appeared so the C.R.O decided to send 2 blokes to investigate both PenyGhent and Meregill. At this time a lot of the local rescuers were already out so Neil, Clive, Kath and Big Dave kitted up ready to help out if needed. Very soon it was radioed back that the Meregill party were out and had been picked up but no message from Penyghent.

At intervals messages were relayed to the gathering groups of rescuers appearing from all over the Dales about the incidents 'on the go' - one person washed away in Gingling, a party of 7 sumped up in Hammer Pot, a guy in a bad way in Dale Head, plus still no message from Penyghent. By this time Neil and Kath had returned to Greenclose. At about 2 o'clock it was announced that a body had been brought out of Dale Head dead and the guy assumed washed away in Gingling was in fact OK. A party of rescuers and some members of the NPC decided to set off for Penyghent and find out what was going on. My nerves at this time were getting a bit frayed and I didn't have much in the way of fingernails left either, but coffee supplied by the C.R.O helped sedation.

At around 3 o'clock a message came through that a tackle bag had been found in the entrance to Pen-y-ghent with a set of alfasud keys in and that a rescue party was going in. So then we just waited for news. There was so much activity and discussion of the various 'rescues'. Comments were made that as Hammer Pot was sumped up not much could be done in the way of a Rescue and that thin, fit people who knew Hammer well would be needed later to go in - looking at all these heavily built blokes ther weren't many who fitted the bill. The question arose as to why the Pen-y-Ghent group hadn't appeared when the water level had dropped - were there going to be some injured people? At 4 o'clock, relief at last. A message that they were OK and on their way out.

Julie B

Sunday

Bar Pot: Jane Enderby, John Harrison

Beachy Head Cave - Eastbourne, Sussex

29th June 1986

Continuing my investigation of all speleological sites in Sussex, Sunday 29th saw me down amongst the kiss-me-quick hats and ices at Eastbourne. Having learnt from the Coastguard that I had but a few hours until high tide I legged it westward along the base of the cliffs towards the lighthouse. I nearly didn't make it, being much distracted by the numerous naked lovelies sunbathing on the rocks but being made of stronger stuff I declined and so made it to the cave. The tricky 15' climb mentioned in the CSS report no longer existed, the ledge having partially collapsed and rock-fall from above providing an easy scramble up rubble. Kitting up with oversuit, helmet and headtorch I boldly set off into the unknown. Basically cave is a single phreatic crawling tube all the way and hadn't changed from CSS times (though I wimped out of the wet bit). Returned to surface without incident and examined other holes along cliff but all partially blocked with rubble (including the LH entrance). Noticed one other perfectly round phreatic tube entrance about 20m up cliff and to East of entrance.

WARNING

Folk in these parts ain't used to seeing cavers. I emerged to find one old geezer who'd been sitting by the entrance for 45 mins. "I saw you go in and thought you might get into trouble so I thought I'd better hang around." Can't think what he was going to do if I didn't return for a few hours! He couldn't seem to understand that with the constant rain of stones down the very unstable cliffs he was in far greater danger than me in a solid cave, whose roof hasn't so much as dropped a pebble in many, many years.

Next project? to investigate the sinks of the R.Mole at Dorking.

C.M.O

Yorkshire 18th to 20th of July

"The Renault 12 Goes North"

Steve, Clive, Rich

Had an ace w/e in the Dales, the weather not too bad and quite dry.

Saturday - Langstroth: Richard Collcott, Clive Orrock, Steve Lane

Fairly dirty/grueling entrance followed by good series of SRT pitches including the SLOT. Sump pool not hard to reach. Got out in under seven hours and I think it will be less next time (especially if the preceding team dive thru the lined sumps). Not the mega-cave I'd expected.

Sunday

After a good veg curry the night before got up late wallied around and then went to Steve's parents' place for a good SUnday meal. Got back to London at a reasonable hour. All in all an ace w/e just great to get up to the Dales from horrible depressive London (though it's not as bad as Sheffield looks).

Richard?

Yorkshire 1st to 3rd of August

"The Renault 12 Goes North Again"

Steve, Clive, Rich + Jim + Malc

Unfortunately tragedy struck on the way up to the Dales and Steve's windscreen smashed just after leaving Steve's parents house in Derbyshire, which meant that the Renault 12 didn't get to Yorkshire till past 4pm on Saturday so only Jim and Malc went caving.

Juniper Gulf: Malcolm Barr, Jim Briggs

Had a small session in the Marton Arms on Saturday night - Malc had his car door kicked in by a drunk.

Sunday

All went climbing at Twistleton Scar, did four routes in total hardest was a HS 5a which Malc did first and only Rich managed to complete also. (Jim had a valiant go but Clive and Steve didn't bother - in fact Clive didn't even complete (/start) the Severe 5c before - tut tut too much playing with Rodney I bet.) All departed for our various homes by 3.00pm.

Richard?

Raasay - A Speleological "Paradise" (5th to 10th of August)

Thursday 7th

After I'd lugged up 50m of rope, my helmet and assorted SRT gear I was determined to get underground, and this was achieved amongst the loose and fearsome fissure of Beinn na Leac (a slight exaggeration). Found a suitable 100ft+ fissure and super-rigger yours truly rigged it (with both main belay and "bomb-proof" backup off the same rock boulder - Sorry Mr Elliot I'll try harder next time). Straight forward descent to fake floor but to our disappointment only a small mansize chamber was below the floor. On way up Sarah took a few shots of "interesting" geological features while I "sun-bathed".

Friday 8th

Took this day as an opportunity to increase our climbing skills when Chimney Pot David from Raasay Outdoor Centre took us on a climbing course on some sea cliffs. The weather was brilliant and a great time was had by all. The gruesome climbing twosome put paid to David's attempts to find a climb too hard even the "geologist's grave yard" proved easy, especially for me in EB's. Eventually David found a climb on a "blank" wall where Sarah failed due to the fact she was climbing in walking boots. Yours truly eventually got up after lobbing off once and my hand hold deciding to take a dive (me with it - luckily roped). David reckoned it was E2 but HVS seems more likely (at most).

Saturday 9th

Saw our intrepid duo in the blazing heat searching in rain as it turned out for the "fabled" sea caves (Uamh Mhor) of Northern Raasay. But they remain elusive, though a good walk was had (with the midges really having a feast as dusk approached). Luckily our promised lift back materialised before we were eaten alive.

Sunday 10th

Saw the last whole day on the Island spent carefully planning a caving expedition down the maze of passages that make up Raasay's disused and decaying ironstone mine (the planning mostly took the form of sun basking). Mine entrance passage didn't seem too bad but after a hundred metres or so the passage branched, the right apparently blocked; the left in an appalling dangerous state with the ceiling caving in (a loose shale series) and rotten pit props all over the place threatening to provide a ready built tomb for the carelessness. Since neither of us had had the sense to bring our helmets and with only one good bright light between us we decided to admit defeat in the face of dangerous odds and retreated.

Richard