A new round trip in Sludge Pit Hole

Andy Sparrow

Active member
After nearly two years work Cheddar Caving Club has completed three new connections in Sludge Pit Hole enabling a complex round trip with two pitches. We hope our fellow cavers will enjoy this trip so we’ve left it rigged and placed a series of laminated numbers to guide you round. The ropes and route-marking numbers will be in place until the end of this year. SRT proficiency is required but the pitches are technically simple and ideal for trainees. A good trip for student groups - especially if you're staying at the nearby Wessex CC. Enjoy!


Sludge Pit Round Trip.pub.jpg
 

Maj

Well-known member
Is it still rigged - not quite the end of the year yet :) ?
When is it likely to be de-rigged and numbers removed?
 

colinbrenton

New member
Would be interested to know this myself. Hoping it will still be rigged on the 1st Jan, as I've got a trip planned... Nothing like leaving it to the last minute 😂

If not, is there a list of which pitch needs what length rope etc?

Thanks in advance for any info, and happy new year everyone 🙂
 

Maj

Well-known member
Would be interested to know this myself. Hoping it will still be rigged on the 1st Jan, as I've got a trip planned... Nothing like leaving it to the last minute 😂

If not, is there a list of which pitch needs what length rope etc?

Thanks in advance for any info, and happy new year everyone 🙂
I have it on good authority that it is still currently rigged. I'm planning on a trip tomorrow. Whether I fit round the whole route is another matter. :ROFLMAO:
 

colinbrenton

New member
Yes, it was all rigged apart from the entrance pitch, which I did. It's a good trip, but lots of chances to get slightly lost :ROFLMAO:
 

Maj

Well-known member
Yes it was all still rigged as Colin said, apart from the entrance pitch.

Re getting lost, trying to find the next numbers, a few tips (well more a bit more than just a few tips really):-
But if you wish to route find it all yourself, read no further.

The first few numbers up to number 4 fairly straight forward, just follow the main passage and head into the direction of the Maze area (which is to the left of the main passage as you head down.
There are two number 4's very close together, the first one is the veiwing point for the dog/fox skeletal remains (do not crawl beyond the skeletal remains). The second number 4 indicating the way on is to the right as you're facing the first number 4.
As you go through the flat out crawl, you may notice passing number 8 facing in the opposite direction on your right, ignore it and continue through the flat out crawl.
Number 5 is quite a way on and route not so obvious. When you spot the bang wire go to the left (as an aside, if you go to the right at the bang wire you might spot Number 7 and view the narrow rift with a 90 deg bend to the right to the top or SRT pitch number 6), heading to the left at the bang wire over and down another flat out crawl where it will open out on a downward slope in a large chamber (can't recall its name) with digging skips and rope hanging down (ignore rope). Number 5 can be found without going down the slope but hands and knees crawl along the passage to your right when facing down the slope. This gets steeper and smaller so will need to go feet first at some point. It then drops down a knotted handline (awkward to climb back up this if you decide to back track) and will take you to an SRT rigged pitch. Down the rope drops you back into the main passage. Head up passage to find SRT up rope number 6.

Up SRT rope number 6 and it takes you to number seven that you may have spotted earlier between 4 and 5. Through the flat out crawl to pass number 8, back past number 4.

The next few numbers are fairly easy to spot and will lead you back out to the main passage.
Can't recall the number, possibly 11 or 12 is another SRT up rope that takes you to a traverse above the main passage and drops you back down in the main passage a little further up stream.

I think number 13 was back down stream, a climb up into the rift above the main passage where you go through a slot and the double back over yourself heading back in the direction of the entrance and Strike Chamber.

Number 14 is a reasonabe way on but route is obvious.
Can't remember where 15 is but pretty sure it's in Strike Chamber somewhere.

Note that Strike Chamber is a bit of a three dimensional maze and if you don't know the way out to the bottom of the entrance pitch it is well worth quick recce to find number 15 and 14 which are only a few minutes from the bottom of the entrance pitch. But be aware one of the routes into Strike Chamber is a tube with an 8ft drop at the end.

ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵐᵃˡˡ ᵖʳⁱⁿᵗ ⁻ ᵗʰⁱˢ ⁱˢ ᵃˡˡ ʳᵉᶜᵒᵘⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵐʸ ᶠᵃⁱˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵉᵐᵒʳʸ ˢᵒ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵃˢ ¹⁰⁰﹪ ᵃᶜᶜᵘʳᵃᵗᵉ :ROFLMAO:
 

Maj

Well-known member
But of course this may all be redundant now if Andy has been back and de-rigged.

To be honest you can get to the top and botom of all the pitches (bar the entrance pitch) without using any SRT kit.
Visit No's 1 to 5 and view top of pitch.
Back track and go to No.7, drop into rift and go to the 90 deg bend to the right (I think you can see the rope ie top of pitch from here).
Back track to No's 7 & 8.
Continue to No's 9, 10, 11.
Go down and up main passage to meet the bottom of the two pitches you've seen the top of. Also include walking beneath the up - traverse - down rope.
Climb up at No.13 (free climb, no rope).
Cave out towards entrance via Strike Chamber passing No's14 & 15 and back to entance pitch.
 

PeteHall

Moderator
Thanks for creating it, rigging it, and publicising it in the caving community. Much appreciated :)
I can take no credit, I'm afraid. I was a relatively regular digger down there with @Andy Sparrow and co about a decade ago, but I've not been once throughout all the recent work. The best I've managed is following the developments with interest on the club email!
 

me

Active member
Cheddar's de-rig trip was called off tonight due to the weather. Ropes are still in situ until next Wednesday 15th (unless the adverse weather continues)
 
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