Blue Pencil passage and Swildons 4

[Dingley Dell]

Just after any info weekend - anyone fancyabout the chain climb down from the end of Blue Pencil passage in to Swildons 4. Is the chain still there and is it a relatively straightforward climb into/out of Swildons 4? Once down there are there any particular passages off the main streamway that are worth a look? Bagpuss (regular poster on here) and I are hoping to do it this Friday afternoon/evening or weekend. Anyone suitably capable fancy joining us? Would prefer not to cave as a two

 

[Dingley Dell]

Oh dear, that was supposed to say...
Just after any info about the chain climb down from the end of Blue Pencil passage in to Swildons 4. Is the chain still there and is it a relatively straightforward climb into/out of Swildons 4? Once down there are there any particular passages off the main streamway that are worth a look? Bagpuss (regular poster on here) and I are hoping to do it this Friday afternoon/evening or weekend. Anyone suitably capable fancy joining us? Would prefer not to cave as a two

 

[tim.rose2]

I've been in touch with Bagpuss by DM, so a bit of a duplication here...

I'd be confident the chain is still there - it's permanently fixed and stainless. The drop down is a bit holdless, but simply a case of lowering yourself on the chain (good grip needed) - the first person can always spot others. There is also the option of taking 10 m of rope and using an italian hitch, though I would suggest this is unnecessary for most people. Going back up is just a case of hand over hand pulling on the chain with your feet against the wall. Again all but the last can always be assisted. I've been down BP with quite a few people and no one has ever had a problem with the chain. There is a pot mid way which is quite an exposed 4m climb - this has caused more problems on the trips I've done. I generally take a short rope for this to help anyone struggling.

Swildons 4 is a brilliant bit of streamway. Well worth the effort to get to and I would say will probably make the trip long enough by the time you've been both up and down stream and negotiated BP. Expect it to add 60 to 90 mins to a short round trip.

 

[Dingley Dell]

Ah yes Tim, i think i literally posted shortly before she came and told me about your message. Hopefully we can hook up to do it

 

[David Rose]

The crawl leading to the chain should be tackled backwards. Face the lefthand wall as this makes it much easier to negotiate the right angled bend. If you're feeling brave you could always free dive sump 4 and continue on down to sump 9. Swildon's 7 is well worth seeing, although the sump 6 bypass can be awkward, and may require a little digging.

 

[Dingley Dell]

The crawl leading to the chain should be tackled backwards. Face the lefthand wall as this makes it much easier to negotiate the right angled bend. If you're feeling brave you could always free dive sump 4 and continue on down to sump 9. Swildon's 7 is well worth seeing, although the sump 6 bypass can be awkward, and may require a little digging.

Thanks for the tip David. Neither of us are water babies, so definitely not going to be doing Sump 4

 

[mrodoc]

David's tip is good for the approach as one naturally thinks lie on your right side and curl round but it does not work! Last time I was there (a few years ago now) I found the trench in the floor coming back can be an obstacle if you drop into it. It is interesting how some routes are easier one way than the other. I did my first reverse Round Trip on the 50th anniversary of it being created and found one of the squeezes coming up from the landing quite tricky with not memory of having any problem on the times I descended. Not Birthday Squeeze is similarly hard going uphill!

 

[tony from suffolk]

I can remember when we first did Blue Pencil; it had such a bad reputation that we approached it with great caution, and when we were all safely ensconced in Swindon's 4, decided it was all a fuss about nothing!

Next time, we didn't think twice about going down Blue Pencil, & got into one hell of a pickle. Treat with respect…

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Pete at Blue Pencil c 1967.

 

[Dingley Dell]

Thanks all. We had a great trip and did indeed wonder why we'd put if off for so long! Swildons 4 is grand!

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I remember one trip, being led down crawling along Blue Pencil when there was a roaring sound and what sounded like a tsunami of water rushing down the passage towards us. We sped up but the water soon reached us, thankfully just a trickle from another party siphoning the some ducks, but the sound had been amplified in the passage!!!

 

[mrodoc]

Descending on the chain.

 

[David Rose]

David's tip is good for the approach as one naturally thinks lie on your right side and curl round but it does not work! Last time I was there (a few years ago now) I found the trench in the floor coming back can be an obstacle if you drop into it. It is interesting how some routes are easier one way than the other. I did my first reverse Round Trip on the 50th anniversary of it being created and found one of the squeezes coming up from the landing quite tricky with not memory of having any problem on the times I descended. Not Birthday Squeeze is similarly hard going uphill!

I know that squeeze. Going down is a cinch: you just put your arms above your head and slip down. Upwards... not so much.

 

[wormster]

Aha flying angels into Swildons 4, done once and NEVER again!!

 

[JohnMCooper]

Descending on the chain.

Must be an old photo as it's showing the old rusty chain. The new one is all shiny BUT that means it's also slippery!

 

[mrodoc]

Must be an old photo as it's showing the old rusty chain. The new one is all shiny BUT that means it's also slippery!

Your are right there as I have done it since with the new chain!

 

[bagpuss]

Must be an old photo as it's showing the old rusty chain. The new one is all shiny BUT that means it's also slippery!

Feel like gloves would give it the best friction, forgot my gloves when we did it last week!