Speleodroid
Member
Last Sunday (13th) during a trip down Meregill Hole, i had a wander down to where the water sinks in the massive rift at the bottom of the entrance pitch (going in via Mere entrance). Where there is often a lake, there was now only a small puddle, which was the driest i've seen it there although i'm aware others have seen it in similar condition in recent years.
What caught my eye was a body sized crawl leading off about 2m above a mud bank on the left, which led for around 4m to a descending slot through which black space could be seen and the sound of falling water heard.
Steph Dwyer, Dave Ottewell and I returned on the monday evening to have another look at the passage during which a lot of mud was excavated from the bedding and a couple of bolts put in to make an attempt on the slot, but some enlargement was going to be required to get through. What was exciting was that rocks dropped down through the slot took several seconds to reach the bottom, clattering down what sounded like a large rift!!!
I returned on the following evening to start enlarging the slot, and then again with Dave on the thursday evening. Yesterday, Dave, Steph, Helen Blyth and i returned and after enlarging the slot sufficiently, i rigged up a ladder and managed to pass the awkward construction to reach a 1m climb down into a narrow rift. A further climb down and squeeze gained a very narrow rift leading off towards another black space but more work will be required to get to it and the sound of the water.
What cannot be ignored is the fact that it sounds like there is a 20-30m+ deep rift, possibly much deeper, somewhere below which we must now attempt to get to. There doesn't appear to be a draught, and it got a bit steamy in there, but maybe this is related to the weather and pressure this last week? Or that it's choked below, which wouldn't be unreasonable to think. However, at least we now have some insight into what could be going on at this end of the cave and hopefully there will be more to report in the near future.
Work continues, assuming the Mere doesn't appear again when the rains arrive....!?
Mike B
What caught my eye was a body sized crawl leading off about 2m above a mud bank on the left, which led for around 4m to a descending slot through which black space could be seen and the sound of falling water heard.
Steph Dwyer, Dave Ottewell and I returned on the monday evening to have another look at the passage during which a lot of mud was excavated from the bedding and a couple of bolts put in to make an attempt on the slot, but some enlargement was going to be required to get through. What was exciting was that rocks dropped down through the slot took several seconds to reach the bottom, clattering down what sounded like a large rift!!!
I returned on the following evening to start enlarging the slot, and then again with Dave on the thursday evening. Yesterday, Dave, Steph, Helen Blyth and i returned and after enlarging the slot sufficiently, i rigged up a ladder and managed to pass the awkward construction to reach a 1m climb down into a narrow rift. A further climb down and squeeze gained a very narrow rift leading off towards another black space but more work will be required to get to it and the sound of the water.
What cannot be ignored is the fact that it sounds like there is a 20-30m+ deep rift, possibly much deeper, somewhere below which we must now attempt to get to. There doesn't appear to be a draught, and it got a bit steamy in there, but maybe this is related to the weather and pressure this last week? Or that it's choked below, which wouldn't be unreasonable to think. However, at least we now have some insight into what could be going on at this end of the cave and hopefully there will be more to report in the near future.
Work continues, assuming the Mere doesn't appear again when the rains arrive....!?
Mike B
Will post up more info as I have it. Hope you're keeping well?