I have listened to the Mike Melvin recordings and it might need some more ear time to take in some of the comments but there is one description that needs clarification, and that is the section relating to the Kingsdale Master Cave.
When we did the dive from Rowton to the KMC, Kenny Taylor and I climbed into the high level passage above the sump. Contrary to the description given in the ULSA Newsletter No 9, I did the first free climb up into the passage, Kenny followed a few minutes later.
This led to a passage about 4 to 5 ft high with a built up soft calcite floor which meant to progress along the passage a bent stooping walk had to be used. Unlike today where the floor has eroded away and one can walk upright. The passage continued, generally in the same manner to its end at a small pool.
The pool was very beautiful and was filled with crystal clear turquoise coloured water. The underwater floor and sides of the pool were pure white laced with calcite crystals which gave reflections like hundreds of tiny sparkling stars in a night sky. The cave wall above the pool was a pure white calcite, the whole having the resemblance of a beautiful shrine.
To the left, below and partly above the water line was a very interesting small passage which needed investigating. I looked at Kenny and he looked at me and I said "I think we should forget the passage for now and leave the pool as it is" Kenny said " I think so too" So we both turned round and made our way back to the climb. On the way back we investigated all side passages but only for a short distance in each
DB had made plans to photograph the pool on the Mikes trip but that was overtaken by the HW Melvin team disturbing it when investigating the small, now, entrance passage.
The only other time I have experienced anything like that, was when four of us, all HW, broke into Gour Hall in Pippikin for the first time. The descending chamber floor consisted of pure white Gour pools, filled with Turquoise coloured water. The chamber roof was full with thousands of unpolluted sparkling crystals twinkling like stars in the night sky under the spanning caving headlamp. The whole scene was stunning. Regrettably not like that now.
Mikes description of his unexplored section of the roof passage is over exaggerated. In the ULSA newsletter, it was claimed that 300 ft of passage was found as an extension to that passage. In real terms it amounted to only about 20 Metres which as we all know from visiting the valley entrance, is the distance from the drum, through the low passage to the pool.
It was also stated that they explored all the side passages, and that they all ended in a choke. We now know the latter is not the case.
DB is in agreement with all of the above comments.
