Simpson Pot - tat

IanWalker

Active member
Hi all

On a trip through Simpson Pot at the weekend it saddened me to see just how much tat is accumulating in Simpson Pot.

Numerous traverses, short climbs and Swinsto Final pitch are all rigged. Mixture of ropes.

The ropes are not sufficient to complete a trip. And if taking your own rope they are superfluous (and occasionally in the way).

It looks a mess. I would like to undertake a cave cleanup. If you are the owner please get in touch.

Thanks,
Ian.
 

PeteHall

Moderator
Can't remember when I was last down there, but a lot of it seemed to be left over from EuroSpeleo.  :confused:

Personally, I find the pre-rigged traverse on Bob's Pit to be very convenient and I think it reduces the risk of slipping if you're rigging it yourself, so I would advocate leaving that in-situ (assuming the condition is ok).

The rest of it, as you say is mostly either superfluous or in the way.
 

langcliffe

Well-known member
We replaced the rope going up from the top of Aven Pot towards the Swinsto Great Aven descent three or four  years ago, as it is an exposed climb and hard to protect. I think that should stay there.

I personally find the rope one slithers down to the head of Shuffle Pot useful, and it doesn't get in the way of any rigging bolts.

I suspect that the Swinsto final pitch rigging is there for a reason, but I don't know what. That rope is independent and well away from the P-bolts.

I'm not bothered about any of the other bits of tat, including The Pit (Bob's Pit is in Lost Johns' Cave).

 

Loki

Active member
While on the subject can anyone shed any light on why there is a ladder of bolts with angers up the last pitch of swinsto? It?s free climbable on the other side!?
 

langcliffe

Well-known member
Loki said:
While on the subject can anyone shed any light on why there is a ladder of bolts with angers up the last pitch of swinsto? It?s free climbable on the other side!?

I don't know, but it is probably the only viable route when there is a lot of water around. The climbing route does get somewhat inundated when it's wet. Did the CRO put the hangers in?
 

PeteHall

Moderator
langcliffe said:
Loki said:
While on the subject can anyone shed any light on why there is a ladder of bolts with angers up the last pitch of swinsto? It?s free climbable on the other side!?

I don't know, but it is probably the only viable route when there is a lot of water around. The climbing route does get somewhat inundated when it's wet. Did the CRO put the hangers in?

From memory, there was a group (from the fire service I think) trapped by high water and I believe the bolts were installed by CRO for the rescue. Several years previously, we had rigged a similar route from naturals while self-rescuing one of our team who had dislocated his shoulder and become hypothermic in high water (CRO were called after this and took over the rescue from the Valley Entrance pitch); those bolts would have made life a hell of a lot easier had they been there at the time!
 

langcliffe

Well-known member
Incidentally, I don't think that the rope up to the Slit Pot bypass should be touched, nor the traverse line in the Crow's Nest at the top.
 

Fjell

Well-known member
I think the rope up at Slit should be replaced with a heavy rope and rigged free. You can rig the ledge yourself, and all the nasty non-free y-hang stuff can go - there are two bolts on the wall on the right which work fine and are usable as an up pitch.

The bolts on the last pitch on the right are what I now use to rig the pitch as an up pitch  -way more sane, and it might be better if that was the pull through too.

Most of the rest can go. It?s getting old and occupies the bolts.

 

Greybeard

Member
I've pulled through Simpsons a couple of times so far this year and haven't had any problems.  I wouldn't like to remove any of the traverse lines and then there be an accident! ( Ideally check & replace if necessary ) They do add an extra safety factor on a pull through.
Slit pot is fine but the mallion on one of the main bolts could be removed, and it may need a strong guy & more than a spanner.
I do agree that the stuff on the first & second pitches is not necessary and should go.
 

Brains

Well-known member
Just for clarity, is the "up" bit of Slit Pot, to the roof tube to avoid the fat filter of the traditional route still rigged?
 

Fjell

Well-known member
The route over slit pot turns a not very attractive pitch (if you want to rig it) into really one of the more interesting places to be in the Dales. It is quite surprisingly atmospheric and enhances what is already about the best stream cave up here all things considered. Also quite nice as a solo trip.
 

langcliffe

Well-known member
Fjell said:
The route over slit pot turns a not very attractive pitch (if you want to rig it) into really one of the more interesting places to be in the Dales. It is quite surprisingly atmospheric and enhances what is already about the best stream cave up here all things considered. Also quite nice as a solo trip.

I agree with the sentiments. I remember someone saying that all other caving trips in the Dales were just practice for Simpson Pot! Mind you, I also enjoy Swinsto when the water is warm and the water level is low, as it was on Wednesday morning.
 

Ian Ball

Well-known member
What are the pitches called in Simpson Pot?

Five Steps
Chandelier Pot
Camel Pot
Stake Pot
Storm Pot
Carol Pot
Shuffle Pot
Lake Pot
Aven Pot
Slit Pot

 

IanWalker

Active member
I did a little cave clean-up in Simpson Pot whilst there on the Easter weekend. This included removing lots of items of in-situ tat. I am confident this is the same rubbish that has been there since 2021.

I left the up-ropes at Aven Pot and Slit Pot. I spotted ropes above Slit Pot, and on the Swinsto Final pitch, which would be ripe for removal.
 

langcliffe

Well-known member
I thought it was found from Simpson Pot (by ULSA), so it's not directly a part of Swinsto Cave.
That post is going back a bit, Pitlamp. I thought I had got away with it! I misread your original post, and thought you were referring to the pitch into Swinsto Final Chamber. Mea culpa.
 
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