St Valentines Sump- Survex information

alastairgott

Well-known member
I'll cut to the chase, I've been looking at the excellent Giants-Oxlow Survey on the https://peakdistrictcaving.info/home/the-caves/castleton webpage.

I need information on the Altitude of St valentines sump and the base of Corkscrew aven (or the plug hole).
Effectively I'm trying to work out how far you would have to ascend corkscrew aven if you were looking for an outlet from St Valentines sump.

It came to my attention as I'd never heard of corkscrew aven so googled "corkscrew aven" "giants hole".
This threw up only one internet page. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/uk.rec.caving/c5DA1KeepHI
Particularly of Interest was Matthew Ryan's post on 28/06/2001

I'd be keen to relocate this potential drainage. Therefore I'd need to quite accurately know how far up someone would need to climb to search for a blocked inlet/outlet.
 

Rob

Well-known member
The data for St Valentines isn't on the survex file yet, so we can't do a direct elevation query.

What i can say is the bottom of the Plug Hole climb is 45m lower than the turn off to St Valentines (just passed the Eating House). I'd expect the sump surface to be ~5m lower than Eating House, based on the dip of the beds there, so roughly 40m above the bottom of Plug Hole.

Also, the bottom of Plug Hole climb is ~124m below the surface, so there's plenty of space up there...

And I agree, Angus has done a smashing job on the peakdistrictcaving website!
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Thanks Rob! Might have to take a look and see if I can spot anything. I'll keep you posted if I go and visit.
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
I'm tapped up for a course up in yorkshire in march, april and may; by the CNCC (/black sheep).

They say we might need to practice between sessions, i might need to procure a disto and PDA from somewhere.

I have the entrance in the trees to hillocks as my first "objective". As i think it would be a great one to tie in and has many ways to close the loop.

What exercises and assignments were you thinking of setting me :)
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Ok, I'll accept. If I have not managed to survey it by Summer or if I get beaten to it, then it'll be fair game.
 

2xw

Active member
alastairgott said:
They say we might need to practice between sessions, i might need to procure a disto and PDA from somewhere.

Some of your compatriots are part of another club so they have access to a disto and an android phone ;)

Besides which it should be on the TSG wishlist, you lot are loaded aren't ye :p
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Yep, I'm sure it should be on the wish list, I'll think about it.
Clearly I personally want it, but whether I can persuade the Treasurer it's a good idea is another matter, he likes to save and scrimp!

I took a call from Tpot just now at lunch, he has informed me that all of the Avens around there have been searched and there is no sign of any horizontal. He recounted that he had spent 6 years digging in Corkscrew/Plughole, all to no avail.

A radiolocation has been carried out on Corkscrew aven by Ron Hammond and Surveying was carried out in that area by Dave Archewong (spelling?) I think Dave's last name is on the Peak Survey.
The radiolocation resulted in a peg being placed on the Surface "on oxlow land", Tpot believes this is still there. Clearly this is on the opposite side of the road to the Oxlow farm, but if tpot says it's oxlows, it probably is!

I remain uncertain as to whether the bailing hole comes out here, but suitably intrigued to go and take a look at some time.
 

Rob

Well-known member
alastairgott said:
I took a call from Tpot just now at lunch, he has informed me that all of the Avens around there have been searched and there is no sign of any horizontal. He recounted that he had spent 6 years digging in Corkscrew/Plughole, all to no avail.
If he spent 6 years digging there, then you'd hope he thought the potential is very high.

alastairgott said:
A radiolocation has been carried out on Corkscrew aven by Ron Hammond and Surveying was carried out in that area by Dave Archewong (spelling?) I think Dave's last name is on the Peak Survey.
I've just dug through some old archives and have found some of Paul Deakin's original data for St Valentines  :D. Whilst i'd prefer "new" data, i'll have a go at putting this into the Master sometime soon.

alastairgott said:
The radiolocation resulted in a peg being placed on the Surface "on oxlow land", Tpot believes this is still there. Clearly this is on the opposite side of the road to the Oxlow farm, but if tpot says it's oxlows, it probably is!
The loop closure errors in Giants are now suitably low that a ~100m error putting the Plug Hole climb to the south of the road would be very surprising. However i have no idea if Oxlow Farm's land goes to the north of the road...

alastairgott said:
I remain uncertain as to whether the bailing hole comes out here, but suitably intrigued to go and take a look at some time.
To be honest it is more interesting if it doesn't come from St Valentines. There should be a bedding plane ~30m above St Valentines which would be good to reach...
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Rob said:
The loop closure errors in Giants are now suitably low that a ~100m error putting the Plug Hole climb to the south of the road would be very surprising. However i have no idea if Oxlow Farm's land goes to the north of the road...

Yes, I meant he must own land on the Giants/Windy Knoll side of the road.
 

Pete K

Well-known member
alastairgott said:
They say we might need to practice between sessions, i might need to procure a disto and PDA from somewhere.
I have a Dell PDA and waterproof case you could borrow. I used it for the Llanberis project and now it's a bit idle. No Disto though.
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
If i'm going to borrow it, would be useful to borrow march through to may, is that too cheeky pete?

I've been offered a set for the course itself, but if i'm going to borrow one might be useful to have continuity while i'm getting to grips. I'm sure you'll know what county to find me in at weekends. ;)
 

Pete K

Well-known member
alastairgott said:
If i'm going to borrow it, would be useful to borrow march through to may, is that too cheeky pete?

I've been offered a set for the course itself, but if i'm going to borrow one might be useful to have continuity while i'm getting to grips. I'm sure you'll know what county to find me in at weekends. ;)
You're welcome to use it as I doubt I'll have a need for it until next winter and the other side of the copper mine gets a visit. Has spare battery, desktop dock and waterproof case. You'll just need an SD card. Will get it to the usual spot next time I pass.
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Pete K said:
Will get it to the usual spot next time I pass.

Ok, don't be too fast! i'm up north at the old school this weekend. Collaborating with Suss, might involve some in the hellie  :beer:
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Swallowneck, good to see you at the weekend. I can't promise i'll put it to good use, depends on how good you are at teaching  :tease:


We'll see how i go with that one in howsteen you have planned.
 

Rob

Well-known member
Rob said:
...
I've just dug through some old archives and have found some of Paul Deakin's original data for St Valentines  :D. Whilst i'd prefer "new" data, i'll have a go at putting this into the Master sometime soon.
I was wrong, the data is incomplete and does not include anything new  :cautious:
 
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