PeteHall
Moderator
Various comments on the Twll du Thread relate to access at Charterhouse cave, so I've decided to post this in a new thread to avoid getting too sidetracked!
Acess Generally:
With the exception of a few blind and fragile passages that are taped off, access to the whole cave is permitted by the Charterhouse Caving Company, subject to following the rules on their webpage. Of note, access is only permitted with an authorised leader (each member club having two leaders and there being two geust leaders).
Some other areas are not recommended for frequent/ routine visits by groups due to their delicate or muddy nature, but are not "off limits" as such.
If you want to visit, it really shouldn't be any problem to organise However the online logbook suggests there are shockingly few trips considering what a great cave it is (and Mendips Deepest too!)
The usual setback for a trip to the end is water.
- Portal Pool can be syphoned and while it does refill, there is generally time for a decent trip beyond.
- Diesel Duck is normally just that, a duck. So provided you don't mind getting your ears wet, it's no problem to pass. There is plenty of evidence that it does sump (and a long way too ), but those kind of weather conditions are likely to cause other problems before you get that far.
- The real trip killer is a short section of un-named muddy passage, away from all active streamways that seems to flood with the water table and it can take months to drain away again. We have dived this once (with diving gear) to test its viability as a free-dive; with a decent rope on it would present a similar free-dive to Swildons Sump 3. For now though, this is unfortunately not an option.
Access for Digging:
Any dig in the cave must be approved by the Charterhouse Caving Company. An extract from the 2017 AGM minutes sums this up:
As maxf suggests, it would be nice if those "original diggers" or others who are no longer actively pursuing these going leads in Mendip's deepest cave would hand on the gauntlet to those who are ready to take up the challenge.
Ship-badger said:...I have a similar the people who control the access into the extensions of Charterhouse Cave. In March 2008 we were told that the extension would remain off limits to anyone nut the diggers for a "period of time". AFAIAA access is still difficult.
maxf said:mrodoc said:That's because it is flooded much of the time ATAIAA!
I'm sure Pete will put us right but access to the bottom is allowed if conditions are right, it's the the passing along of projects that's aren't likely to be ever tackled by the aging (no offence meant on age terms it comes to us all) diggers that is the issue in Charterhouse.
Acess Generally:
With the exception of a few blind and fragile passages that are taped off, access to the whole cave is permitted by the Charterhouse Caving Company, subject to following the rules on their webpage. Of note, access is only permitted with an authorised leader (each member club having two leaders and there being two geust leaders).
Some other areas are not recommended for frequent/ routine visits by groups due to their delicate or muddy nature, but are not "off limits" as such.
If you want to visit, it really shouldn't be any problem to organise However the online logbook suggests there are shockingly few trips considering what a great cave it is (and Mendips Deepest too!)
The usual setback for a trip to the end is water.
- Portal Pool can be syphoned and while it does refill, there is generally time for a decent trip beyond.
- Diesel Duck is normally just that, a duck. So provided you don't mind getting your ears wet, it's no problem to pass. There is plenty of evidence that it does sump (and a long way too ), but those kind of weather conditions are likely to cause other problems before you get that far.
- The real trip killer is a short section of un-named muddy passage, away from all active streamways that seems to flood with the water table and it can take months to drain away again. We have dived this once (with diving gear) to test its viability as a free-dive; with a decent rope on it would present a similar free-dive to Swildons Sump 3. For now though, this is unfortunately not an option.
Access for Digging:
Any dig in the cave must be approved by the Charterhouse Caving Company. An extract from the 2017 AGM minutes sums this up:
Peter Hall (ChCC leader) has requested permission to dig in various parts of Charterhouse. It was noted that all the sites already have existing permissions for them so the requests were declined. For clarification the list of active permissions is included here as well as in the leaders? meeting notes:
- Puff Pant Rift ? Andrew Atkinson (Peter Hall has permission to work on this with him)
- Roof of the Confluence ? Pete Hann
- Stone Roses ? Original diggers
- Rhino passage ? Original diggers
- Inlet in Hippo Passage ? Ali and Andrew
- Passage beyond Skeleton Sump ? Duncan Price
- Squiffy Inlet ? Ali and Andrew
As maxf suggests, it would be nice if those "original diggers" or others who are no longer actively pursuing these going leads in Mendip's deepest cave would hand on the gauntlet to those who are ready to take up the challenge.