Not sure if this has been reported before but the entrance pitches of Ireby Fell Cavern are much wetter now than they have been for decades. A large volume of water now enters out of the roof above the climb down to the first pitch. This has been consistent on both my recent trips. Previously, this aven only used to dribble or occasionally spout water in extreme weather. I expect a new route has been opened up in the beck above.
This means that rigging Ding, Dong, Bell is much wetter than before. You climb down under the waterfall to the first pitch and you get a good soaking now in only moderate weather conditions. A large stream flows down the first pitch and on down the second but both can easily be rigged out of the water. However, this stream now lands on the pitch head of the third again making rigging through it, to get to the dry hang beyond, a wet affair.
Pussy pitch is harder to free climb with the full flow going down it and the in-situ ropes are fairly strenuous to use. Beyond here everything is much the same as normal.
Over all it makes Ireby entrance pitches a more serious undertaking and not as good for SRT rigging practice as it used to be.
This means that rigging Ding, Dong, Bell is much wetter than before. You climb down under the waterfall to the first pitch and you get a good soaking now in only moderate weather conditions. A large stream flows down the first pitch and on down the second but both can easily be rigged out of the water. However, this stream now lands on the pitch head of the third again making rigging through it, to get to the dry hang beyond, a wet affair.
Pussy pitch is harder to free climb with the full flow going down it and the in-situ ropes are fairly strenuous to use. Beyond here everything is much the same as normal.
Over all it makes Ireby entrance pitches a more serious undertaking and not as good for SRT rigging practice as it used to be.