Additional Cow Pot routes added to topo

[CNCC]

Additional routes for Cow Pot into Fall Pot added to our topo and description

For decades, our rigging topo for Cow Pot has omitted two additional routes, which were anchored (with resin bonded stainless steel P-hangers) decades ago in parallel with the usual Direct Route.

We don't know why these were previously omitted from the topo, but it seems a shame not to publicise them. Thanks to some great work by one of our volunteers, we have been able to update our rigging topo to include two new routes, listed in Northern Caves as Sneaky and Devious.

Sneaky route drops into Fall Pot via a parallel shaft, accessed beyond the usual Direct Route pitch, with a slightly narrow/awkward takeoff. Devious route follows the descending stream gully as you arrive at the start of the traverse, for a more staggered descent closer to the waterfall. Devious route relies on use of a few more natural belays to achieve safe rigging standards.

Devious route also allows an exchange with Lancaster Hole without descending to the bottom of Fall Pot.

Our topo and route descriptions have been updated to include these, including splitting Lancaster Hole and Cow Pot into two separate topos:

Cow Pot

Access information, rigging topo and route description for Cow Pot (Casterton Fell)

cncc.org.uk

The Direct Route arguably remains the most spectacular and traditional pitch. However, regular visitors to Cow Pot can now add a little variety and try Devious or Sneaky route instead, if you haven't already. Be aware that Devious will need even drier conditions than Direct Route, and Sneaky includes a narrow squeeze to get on/off the main hang (which is more awkward than the tube near the entrance), the latter which should be considered by any larger cavers.

Photo; Looking up from Fall Pot at a caver descending the Direct Route of Cow Pot, with the wide, free-hanging Y-hang rebelay visible above. Photo by Gary Douthwaite.

 

[wellyjen]

Are these updates of the old Dave Elliot red eye spit routes from the '80's? They and the names look familiar, but I don't have my copy of the book any more.

 

[Fjell]

Are these updates of the old Dave Elliot red eye spit routes from the '80's? They and the names look familiar, but I don't have my copy of the book any more.

 

[wellyjen]

Thanks! Very similar to the the old Elliot routes. Minus the Fall Pot ladder, of course.

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

I've not noticed the craptrap pitch before, where is that? Afaik the only way from fall pot to the main drain is scrambling through the boulders

 

[andrewmcleod]

Both the old and new Lancaster Hole topos show three routes to the main streamway - down the boulders, The Chasm and Crap Trap.

CNCC description doesn't give many details; just says "There are two other anchored routes down to the Main Drain bypassing Fall Pot in this vicinity; The Chasm, and The Crap Trap, both of which are shown to require a 40m rope in the rigging topo. These are not covered by this description and they are EXTREMELY slippery. Experienced cavers who have become familiar with the route here may enjoy starting to dabble with these alternatives."

Crap Trap is on the survey; The Chasm is not but according to Northern Caves (page 229) is the P30 just to the left of it (that you try to avoid falling into when heading to Montagu West).

Basically when on the last bit of passage between Lancaster Hole just before you get to Fall Pot there are two parallel passages - one big but with big holes in the floor (namely The Chasm and Crap Trap) on the left, and one narrow and wriggly on the right (which is where I normally go).

 

[langcliffe]

Both the old and new Lancaster Hole topos show three routes to the main streamway - down the boulders, The Chasm and Crap Trap.

CNCC description doesn't give many details; just says "There are two other anchored routes down to the Main Drain bypassing Fall Pot in this vicinity; The Chasm, and The Crap Trap, both of which are shown to require a 40m rope in the rigging topo. These are not covered by this description and they are EXTREMELY slippery. Experienced cavers who have become familiar with the route here may enjoy starting to dabble with these alternatives."

Crap Trap is on the survey; The Chasm is not but according to Northern Caves (page 229) is the P30 just to the left of it (that you try to avoid falling into when heading to Montagu West).

Basically when on the last bit of passage between Lancaster Hole just before you get to Fall Pot there are two parallel passages - one big but with big holes in the floor (namely The Chasm and Crap Trap) on the left, and one narrow and wriggly on the right (which is where I normally go).

I once did an exchange between the two with a caving colleague. Worth doing once, but we haven't been back since.

 

[Fjell]

The Chasm is OK, albeit it rubs a bit near the bottom, needs another bolt or deviation really, or maybe I just can’t find it. Just be sure to approach it carefully from the right direction, which is to the right of it, not the way to Wilf Taylors. The big hole in that direction really is a big hole, which is why we don’t go round the buttress in the mud steps, but up through the hole on the left.

Craptrap is what it says on the tin.

 

[Cavematt]

As the original author of CNCC's Ease Gill Caverns description (originally for Eurospeleo 2016), sadly, I just didn't have sufficient familiarity with The Chasm or Crap Trap to include them with sufficient confidence, other than the loose statement to encourage people to research and explore them. It has been on my list to give them a shot at some point to allow them to be added to the description, particularly as CNCC show a topo for these.

If anyone feels they can include some wording to describe these pitches better (including which is which), feel free to submit something:

Send Us a Route Description

If you've got a route description you'd like to share, please send it in and we'll get it onto the site.

cncc.org.uk

Saying that, from what I understand, they are muddy, slippery holes, and whether anyone would actually want to descend these when there is a nice and relatively clean climb down to the streamway at Fall Pot, I'm not sure... Maybe the CNCC guide is best left deliberately vague

 

[langcliffe]

They're not that bad!

In my very humble opinion, routes like that really don't need descriptions. I think that they should be left for people to find for themselves.

 

[Fjell]

I assumed the routes exist to avoid the icky mud in Fall Pot. We often use Wilf Taylors or Waterfall for instance if we are going to WR or County. The last time we came from Link we climbed up WT to bypass the yucky stuff.

Keeping it clean.

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

They're not that bad!

In my very humble opinion, routes like that really don't need descriptions. I think that they should be left for people to find for themselves.

Idk, a mention is nice. I've been past those holes many times and never thought anything was at the bottom of them.

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

I assumed the routes exist to avoid the icky mud in Fall Pot. We often use Wilf Taylors or Waterfall for instance if we are going to WR or County. The last time we came from Link we climbed up WT to bypass the yucky stuff.

Keeping it clean.

But you still have to climb up at Fall Pot to get to high level anyway. Or do you follow the main drain to Oxbow Corner? It's a fun alternative, but I do recall spending a considerable amount of time squeezing in the stream to try and find a way through the chokes!

 

[langcliffe]

But you still have to climb up at Fall Pot to get to high level anyway. Or do you follow the main drain to Oxbow Corner? It's a fun alternative, but I do recall spending a considerable amount of time squeezing in the stream to try and find a way through the chokes!

It's not necessary to do any squeezing through the stream at the Oxbow Corner boulder choke.

One can also climb back up to the High Level route from the stream way using the via ferrata at Stake Pot, or, which is more fun, from a route 30 metres up Brass Monkey Passage which emerges near Bob's Boss.

 

[Fulk]

In fact, hungrytroglobite, you don't have to squeeze in the stream in any of the chokes between the downstream sump and Oxbow Corner . . . you've just got to find (or know) the right route, and you shouldn't get wet above your knees.

 

[langcliffe]

In fact, hungrytroglobite, you don't have to squeeze in the stream in any of the chokes between the downstream sump and Oxbow Corner . . . you've just got to find (or know) the right route, and you shouldn't get wet above your knees.

Thank you, Fulk! I had assumed that it was the top one he was referring to. I guess that it is possible to go wrong in the Stake Pot one.

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

via ferrata at Stake Pot

there's via ferrata at stake pot?

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

In fact, hungrytroglobite, you don't have to squeeze in the stream in any of the chokes between the downstream sump and Oxbow Corner . . . you've just got to find (or know) the right route, and you shouldn't get wet above your knees.

yup, that's what I meant - I haven't managed to find the right way yet, so have always ended up squeezing in the water!

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

a route 30 metres up Brass Monkey Passage

not heard of this one either, will have to try it sometime!

 

[langcliffe]

there's via ferrata at stake pot?

It's a flood escape route that takes you up to the Stake Pot col on the true right. It has three or four metal holds. It's useful to know about, as downstream can rapidly become impassable.