Giants Windpipe

[Groundhog]

Has anyone been through here recently? How is the water level? I may be taking some capable novices on a short round trip and don't want to freak them out too much.

 

[alastairgott]

I'll be able to tell you after Saturday, are you going before then?

Otherwise water levels have been quite low in Derbyshire.

 

[droid]

Been through the Windpipe when the streamway was in the process of flooding. No problems.

 

[Katie]

I imagine levels will be low - they are everywhere else in Derbyshire!

Although I have seen it sumped twice in the 14 years I have been caving, so not always open when the streamway is flooding!

 

[Groundhog]

Thanks. We will not be going till next week. As far as I know the Windpipe reacts very slowly to water levels. After a long wet spell it may fill up but also after a summer like the one we have had it should be quite dry. I just didn't want to have to coax novices through using their noses as snorkels!

 

[SamT]

It'll be fine, either normal level or quite low.  As you say, it reacts slowly.  Only time I've ever seen it sumped was in the the most horrendous flood conditions, and you'd not take novices past garlands in those conditions.

 

[alastairgott]

Went down yesterday, slightly wetter than normal conditions, I only say that as water was inputting in through some places that you see in wet conditions. In terms of water in the stream, enough for a bag to follow you downstream and a comfortable pass through the vice.

The windpipe was its usual ear wetter, I think I got my cheek wet as well, though I wasn't being careful yesterday. Water was inputting from the aven at the start, but shouldn't be enough to cause trouble.