1991-1992
Jim Evans, Pam Murphy, Rob Knell, Pete Hambly, Tim Palmer, Phil Hay, Rob Chaddock, Mark Evans, Harry Lock, Alva Gosson, Tim Rogers, Jo Wright, Dave Vickers, Frank Cooke, Richard Chaddock, Monaghan Tindale, Simon Lawes, Caroline Fletcher, Glenn Rogers
I typed these reports up in 2025, and sometimes I chose to leave out sentences or words I deemed offensive. I usually thought these were sexist or racist. These decisions were entirely my own. Typos, incorrect attempts at transcribing handwriting, and misattributing trips to cavers who share names are also my mistakes.
Fiona Hartley
Dallimore's Cave: Alva Gosson, Jo Wright, Dave Vickers
We were very surprised Bron actually let this trip go ahead with Alva leading but we set off not actually expecting to come out alive. We found the cave without too much trouble and it's got to be the simplest rigging I've ever seen. One strop around a tree and a ladder. The entrance pitch is about 20ft with the first two or three metres a concrete pipe - the rest of it is really easy to free climb.
The cave was VERY muddy and the only place you couldn actually stand up apart from the entrance pitch was the rift passage - all the rest was squeezes, crawling, flat out crawls and wriggles. My kind of cave!
Basically we had a really leisurely trip, taking our time and exploring - both unaccustomed luxuries. We explored that cave from top to bottom and side to side. There was nothing very difficult but constant flat out crawls and squeezes are a bit tiring.
It's not very big at all, this cave, but it's quite good fun and it's possible to explore everywhere without any chance of getting lost.
I liked this cave a lot, mud and crawls and squeezes. A really good way to start the caving year.
Jo
Stoke Lane Slocker: Rob Chaddock, Harry Lock, Richard Chaddock, Caroline Fletcher, Glenn Rogers
Glenn wrote this trip report in a fucking spiral. I admire the committment but it was very annoying to type up.
Fiona Hartley, 2025 editor
After a lovely drive through the countryside and via a farm to pay 20p each to kill ourselves down a cave, we eventually got to Stoke Lane at mid-morning-ish (I've forgotten the time) - and with only one breakdown on the way (after driving off in the wrong direction for about 100m). There didn't seem to be as much water entering the cave as this time last year, but it seemed about the same amount when down the cave - although it wasn't as cold. Richard led off and we all promptly followed - what a lovely crawl through muddy water filled passages, etc (especially when your wetsuit fills up with water for the first time). Fairly uneventful to start with - we just crawled down the river, negotiating boulders and getting lots of grit in our wetsuits and sore knees, elbows etc. After a while we arrived at a lovely watery thing called a sump, immediately before which we had to remove our helmets to get our heads through - and I lost my snickers bar - Aaargh! Got through the sump no probs, then after a short crawl the passage widened and we could stand up and walk along the cave. A bit of time and climbing and mud later we arrived at a chamber and started to explore. We found lots of mud and more mud and a bit more mud and sump 2 (not freedivable) and some more mud and some water (with mud in). The chamber led to a number of other chamber-ish objects with a bit less mud and a number of nice formations, including Queen Vic, something else that I can't remember the name of, the carrot (that I named but was apparently already called that), and a number of other formations that we named ourselves (the jellyfish, the sharksteeth, the devil's penis - blame Harry for that one - I think it was him anyway). We even found some clean water. After a while we returned to the river and started making our way back, but soon found another chamber where we talked for a while about various subjects like teaching little kids. We also found a sign for a VD climb in this chamber. After around quarter of an while we decided we'd better leave, and made our way back to the sump - THE SUMP - nobody wanted to go back through it (I think), but decided we'd rather not spend the rest of our lives down the Slocker. Richard first, then Caroline, then Rob, then me, then, err, what happened to Harry? Oh, he's underwater and he's gone too far. Deary me. Rob tried to pull him up from one direction while I tried to pull his arm up from a different direction, but after a while his head emerged next to Rob - and he didn't even swallow any water. Next we had a rest and ate lots of muddy chocolate bars, including one of my ones that someone had found floating around earlier and had stuffed down their wetsuit - yummy. Nothing much happened after this, and we got out the cave after about 3 or 4 hours. Quite a nice journey back, especially the detour up a grass bank around a signpost. Well, I've now run out of space and things to say, so goodbye!
Glenn
Swildon's Hole:
Went to sump 2 and back via short dry way, Barnes Loop, returning by wet way, which wasn't. A little water flowing in, still not much excitement. The abused plastic duck is now augmented by two furry mice and three sweets. Team then proceeded to Wells, decided not to have a curry, so went to pub.
Pete
Mendips 18-10-91-20-10-91
Swildons - Short Round Trip:
This was a good length trip not a bimble but not anything really horrible and scary.
Swildons apparently was lots drier than usual - partly because of the lack of rain. There were a couple of pools we leapt into (under duress from our esteemed leader). It was quite nice to do a round trip - you have to repeat the entrance series but you get to see more that way.
One of the sumps was a suck but all the sumps and ducks were still cold and horrible (ugh! cold water going down your neck (just as you've warmed up again) and then migrating down your wetsuit as you stand up to continue). For shorties like me apart from the flat out crawls there were very few crawling hands and knees passages.
Apart from the massive queues of people at various points - boy scouts & jeans & sweatshirt cavers - this is a really good cave lots of fun - as long as you keep moving. You could do this cave in a drysuit - just about - Alva did. I like this cave lots.
Jo
But you won't like it, unless your tougher than me.
Alva
November, December etc
The general consensus I presume is that there are not words to describe the extatic and orgasmic time had by our current members during the two and a half months following the Mendips trip on the [] page and preceeding the first trip of the new year - I am also in no doubt that the alcohol induced haze clouding our memories in the build up to the New year celebrations has also played a part in the lack of trip recirds not filling this page. As a substitute I will say on behalf of the club that everyone present on our numerous trips to South Wales, the Mendip hills and Yorkshire during this unrecorded period experienced caving trips that expanded their minds, developed their competance, increased their experience by untold magnitude Oh and of course made them improved cavers. I understand also that beer sales have never been higher in South Wales, Mendips, Yorkshire and London but I am sure that this is purely coincidental. My Word is final and this is the truth Amen.
Alva (vice president)
Mendips 17th-19th January 1992
Saturday 18th January 1992
Thrupe Lane Swallet: Pam Murphy, Rob Knell, Harry Lock, Jo Wright
An early wakening and breakfast at the cave followed by rather a lot of pfaffing around eventually resulted, after a trip to Bat Products to get Pam some wellies (Oh Dear), in a trip to Thrupe Lane for Pam to get some rigging practice.
Jo
Pam doens't need frigging practice, she's brilliant at it already
Pam
We were propositioned by a farmer's wife to buy some cider, she was obviously watching out for cavers, she'd already caught two.
First pitch on 8ml rope - my Stop - Chris Birkhead's - was the only one which actually stopped on this rope! (which I was glad of) - but a nice smooth descent. The second pitch was longer - slit pitch I think - and trying to find the best route I was fairly slow - surprise, surprise. Then there was a nice - crawl for most people but not for me - hee hee - stream passage ending in the third pitch which; Harry Frigged Pam, and the first two - and very well too (ooer) - some cursing from Rob about how wet they had to get on this pitch [Not surprising under the circumstances - Rob] - I decided that as I was completely dry so far I wouldn't go down there and I went to explore a side passage which was crawly dry and fun and much better than getting very wet and cold on a rope only to get to a ledge - not the bottom. They didn't have enough rope for the traverse and the pitch and so I felt even better.
We got out quite quickly - Pam and I inched our way up "slit pitch" - then before I'd got very far from that pitchhead Harry was at the top of the pitch - I'm sure it was jet propulsion! Up the third pitch pulling the rope through myself - good practise but annoying - and then we went to taste the farmhouse cider AND buy a gallon - while Rob who was derigging and temporarily injured - changed. Good trip - by next time hope fully through trip will be open.
Jo
Had a good time then - a nice cave
Anon
Pam had to fight very hard to get Rob and Harry to let her put into practice the rigging expertise learnt from Dave Eliot before Christmas. Thing is, when you're learning, there's quicker or better. So I told them to sod off and they eventually gave in. Ha!
Pam
Swildons: Pete Hambly, Chris, Sven, Helen
Good trip to sump 1 and back via Barnes loop. Loads of water and people, mainly adventure scouts and other random types giving an excellent demonstration of the [] future of British caving. Good bolt on 20' is fucked, so hang has to be by ring which is horrid.
Pete
And now the Exec can reveal the winner of our competition for the best contributor to the Caving Club Log Book:
.... Jo Wright
She will be recieving a free, FREE, print and an honery membership of the Posse for 1 week - good huh!!! So come on potential star caving authors and take part in our second running of the competition, by popular demand, closing date - 20th March 1992 all entries to be submitted and written in the pages of this prestigious annual.
Exec
1-2-92 Yorkshire
Simpsons Pot: Jim Evans, Mark Evans, Dave Vickers, Andy, Rob J
After having to take Rob Knell and this random NPC guy to various places we eventually got to the cave @ 1200hrs. Andy the LUCC member was rigging and we got off to a fairly swift start along a crawly entrance series in pretty warm water, eventually reaching the first pitch (c. 15'). Andy rigged very well and quickly and we all went down the next few small pitches with speed and gusto! Rob seemed to be coping very well considering it was his first SRT trip (let alone normal caving trip). Eventually got to Slip Pot (the biggie) and proceeded on thru a decaying, shitty smelling passage (worse than Jim's farts and that's saying something). Got to the end of the cave and saw the fixed ladder that allows you to get out of the cave (via Yordas) in 10 mins. Thing is we weren't abbing thru so it was back the way we came - oh dear! I decided to derig but had second thoughts by the time I was lugging two tackle bags up Slip Pot - fuckin heavy as well - anyway I decided to carry on and finally got out of the cave at about 10ish - all being most miffed to have missed the piss up in the New Inn. Instead we went to a pub just up the road from Inglethief - can't remember the name - but we stocked up on crisps and shit before closing time.
Dave
Mongo Gill: Pete Hambly, Phil Hay, Tim Rogers, Jo Wright
[] had the permit so why not get lost down there. Went up lots of shitty passages each in turn managing to get wet and dirty. We must have missed one though dince we did not find the way on, but a pleasant time was had by most of the party and some pretty formations the stall forrest [sic] in particular.
Phil
Growling: Rob Chaddock, Harry Lock
Great cave - short, tight, with a nice big pitch at the end. 4hrs 20
Harry
Sunday 02/01/1992
Rumbling: Rob Knell, Tim Rogers, Jo Wright, Monaghan Tindale
Leck Fell - I hate it - nasty, freezing cold, wet and visibility 0. Tim, Mon and Rob were in such a hurry to find the cave that they forgot about me (I wonder why?) and then Tim and Rob had to come back and find me lost and forlorn on the mist ridden desolate bleak fell with the wind keening... enough of that. We subsequently failed to find the cave for a while despite the fact that originally they found it really quickly - apparently.
Horrible open hole in the ground - you can see down the pitch even with your light off. and it's really big! Lots of rebelays so I was fairly slow and Tim sat at the top of the pitch worrying about me burning the rope with my (or rather Mark's) carbide - first time caving on carbide - absolutely brilliant on way down but on the way back it started playing up.
We seemed to be using more rope than we had, to rig the pitches so Rob did his yoyo act quite a lot rerigging pitches. We got down to the third pitch - I think - befpre going back because Rob was worried about Harry and his lift leaving (bastard!) so we had to get back - which was probably a good thing as we had a long drive back and I didn't get back 'till the small hours anyway.
Despite the fact that the first pitch is open and light and completely scary - if rather impressive - I'd quite like to try to bottom this cave - I'm impressed with the lack of climbing.
P.S. is it ever warm on Leck Fell?
Jo
Derbyshire 15/16 February 1992
Saturday
Nettle Pot: Jim Evans, Mark Evans, Alva Gosson, Jo Wright, Dave Vickers, Andy
Nice cave - 4 pitches.
First ~49m 4 or 5 rebelays so we were a little slow in all getting down the cave. Alva rigged.
Second fairly short free hang followed by third - 52m free hang - longest pitch I've done
Then a short pitch followed by a short climb and another short pitch (that makes 5 pitches). Below this is apparently a crawl - well possibly - but this wasn't investigated due to the large number in the party with weak bladders who couldn't wait any longer.
I derigged -all except one deviation only which Alva very kindly did. Tackle bag only got stuck twice which was rather good, I thought, and not incredibly stuck - I didn't actually ever have to go down and free it. Derigging's really good cos it meants you have an excuse to be slow and can rest a lot while hauling the rope up. We'll go the other bottom shaft next time.
Jo
Yorkshire Feb 28th-March 1st NPC
Saturday
Penyghent Pot: Jim Evans, Pam Murphy, Rob Knell, Pete Hambly, Alva Gosson, Andy
Totally brilliant wow fab knackered. Best trip since Otter Hole.
(But lack of lines on ladders was very silly therefore I wouldn't go down. Apart from that it's brilliant. Lovely coral.)
PLUS I had another opportunity to wear my amazingly sexy girlie shaped wetsuit!
Pam
Quite definitely the best stream cave in the world. Having been assured by a bunch of ULSA dudes that it was now rigged WELL we ditched all the rope and charged down - crawl crawl crawl crawl pitch (rigged OKish) trog trog pitch (rigged off 1 bolt so we backed it up onto another bolt ~ 1 foot away) crawl crawl the big pitch. We all like traversing over 45m pitches without a traverse line abseil rebelay abseil rebelay into the rift - what a most excellently sportif spot. Those pitches that were rigged had ladders and no lifelines, causing more consternation and silly dangerous activities by all but Pam 'sensible' Murphy who wouldn't. Went down, looked at Hunt Pot Inlet - turned round, picked up Pam, who'd peed in her wetsuit and now had nappy rash (snigger) [LIES! - Pam] prussick prussick crawl crawl and out. Five and a quarter hours fun for Rob and Pete, ~6 for the rest. God I'm so hard. Pam says I'm not. Oh well. Then to the PUB via the chippy [had to go to the crap chippy in Settle, only bad point - Pam], and drank beer until total carnage occurred.
By far the best trip I've done all year. Why does anyone ever go caving anywhere but Yorkshire?
Rob K
A: there are believed to be caves elsewhere in the world...
Pam
Would have been quicker if Rob had smaller limbs. Suggest Operating.
Pete
Spectacle Pot: Mark Evans, Monaghan Tindale, Simon Lawes
Horrible cave throughout. Got to splutter crawl to discover that mass apathy was leading to a bottle out. However, man of the match Mark, plunged onwards and downwards headfirst so a quick exit to the pub was out of the question. As the cave progressed, we discovered that the infamous splutter crawl was without doubt the most comfortable part of the cave. Got to the top of Dodds pitch before coming out. If anyone wants to do this cave (I recommend not) then a bolting kit is necessary as the existing botls are shit (c. 1970).
unknown
Dinner Meet
[I made up the date - Fiona 2025]
Jim Evans, Mark Evans, Alva Gosson, Dave Vickers (date: about 6 weeks ago)
After a mega-wind up by some of the senior members of the caving club including such quotes as "Id you don't come out by 12 shall we come and look for you" and "All you do crawl for 3 miles then come out", "freking [] hard tough cave, man". The trip got off to an early start, well early for the poss anyway, (ie before 12) and after about half an hours traipsing around we finally found the entrance shakehole.
The cave started off with a few tightish bits including probably the tightest bit in the whole cave within 2 mins of entrance bit (if you can do this bit then the whole cave is a doss).
Next, a couple of pitches next and an awkwardly tighty bit but not as tight as the tightest bit at the beginning. I think it was a tightish push off (c. 15m we reckon) pitch and and then 1 little bit of a walk with a tighty bit I think and a traverse in there somewhere. And then there was a bit of walking and a pitch in there somewhere I think anyway. Then there the T-shape was I think which is mega-exaggerated by any cunt that goes down it so I'm not going to continue in that trend however I imagine it would be quite difficult carrying a tackle bag. but I wouldn't know (the 2 authors snaked out of that one - both ways too hee hee). After that there is a lot of walking developing into a lot of crawling with an occasional flat out bit with a few pitches thrown in. I can't remember the next bit but I go know that we got to last pitch and rigged it but discovered we didn't have enough rope to get to bottom of last pitch so we were forced to go back. So we went back to the last chamber and ate our Mars Bars. After that the way out was fairly like the way in, but backwards. The trip overall took about 12 hours, taken at a reasonably comfy pace and were not knackered but tired. An enjoyable trip all round.
Beautiful stall at last pitch, also got lost (would you believe it), interestng extension! If you need to crap