Coal Cellar Passage

[David Rose]

How grim is Coal Cellar Passage? How would it compare to, say, Daren entrance crawl or Southern Stream? Would an old fart with a big chest such as me have trouble with it? Thinking of doing it soon. Are there any nasty squeezes elsewhere on the Inner and Outer circle route?

 

[Cavematt]

Hi David, it's been a few years but it sticks in my memory. A snippet from my blog below where we did the circle anticlockwise...

YCC Blog: Agen Allwedd outer circle via Coal Cellar passage

After two previous trips to Aggie (Agen Allwedd) we were finally ready to tackle one of the caves classic round trips. We initially set off to do the Inner Circle...

yorkcavingclub.org.uk

"We instead continued right, up the main Coal Cellar Passage. This soon narrowed and became increasing more awkward. Sideways walking was often necessary, and then even this became impossible as the passage pinched in at the floor level with several jammed blocks, requiring frequent chimneying and traversing. This continued for an eternity - too long - before the passage changed character again and lowered, to a further eternity of thrutching over slabs and blocks at stream level. This passage was much more arduous that we'd anticipated! After some time following the small stream, with the passage showing no mercy and our energy draining, we were beginning to wonder if we had missed the climb up into the large passages of the Inner Circle. However, following the passage to the end, we eventually found ourselves in small chamber, which initially looked like a dead end, but with a tiny chute going upwards at the back, with clear signs of being well worn. Gary went first up this, soon discovering why most people choose to do the round trip in the opposite direction! After 10 minutes of shoving and grunting he was up and we all followed in our own time. The decision was now made to complete the Outer Circle to avoid a return via Coal Cellar Passage!"

For reference, I am 6ft, 12 stone, 40" chest and average build.

The only actual proper squeeze is the one connecting to Midsummer Passage... and we made life hard by doing it upwards (i.e. doing the loop anticlockwise). I reckon there was probably room for someone a little larger than me to fit but not massively larger.

The rest of Coal Cellar is just hard work, but nothing tighter.

So, doing the loop clockwise (i.e. tackling that squeeze downwards rather than upwards) is probably best, and avoids having to do Coal Cellar twice if you don't fit. If you get through that squeeze, the rest of it should be fine.

 

[Aggybat]

That is a good description. My only comment would be that if you do the loop clockwise and are going down through the squeeze, it would be extremely difficult to reverse out. If you are going up, gravity would get back down.

 

[caving_fox]

I 6'2 but thin, did this in the normal clockwise direction, and had no trouble. My mate a bit shorter and stouter (no idea of chest but otherwise much fitter than me) found the drop into coal cellar very tricky. It's one of those annoying angled squeeze that if you fit, you hardly notice, and if you don't it's really challenging.

The rest I don't recall as being anything other than tiring mostly standing nothing like daren - you can bypass some by climbing up into the chamber - No other significant physical challenges, but some confusing passages if you've not been in that area before.

 

[Huge]

Coal Cellar is like someone has taken all of the worst bits of Southern Stream and put them together in a shorter passage, for a more intense experience!

Only done the Outer Circle once(!) in a clockwise direction, meaning we dropped down through the squeeze. It was the 90° bend at the bottom that I thought was the worst bit. Felt like my legs were on the point of breaking.

 

[David Rose]

How long is a slow to average time for Coal Cellar? Can anyone offer a comparator for the squeeze? I'm thinking - 90 degree bend - worse than Blue Pencil? The actual squeeze - as tight as... ?

 

[skippy]

By way of comparison, below are some fuzzy shots from the coal chute squeeze.
I have a 41in chest and did not have to take owt off. The caver in the shot had to remove her oversuit.
Heading into the squeeze from the top, you post through horizontally, head first, then swing your legs under to drop down the slot.
The rest of the passage is just continual awkward caving but nothing horrendous.

 

[skippy]

How long is a slow to average time for Coal Cellar? Can anyone offer a comparator for the squeeze? I'm thinking - 90 degree bend - worse than Blue Pencil? The actual squeeze - as tight as... ?

I don't remember the bend being an issue. Its just quite tight but gravity is on your side and its smooth.
If I recall, it took us about 40mins to get through the passage but last time I was there was 7 years ago.
@Maj can you offer a comparison.. You were on the above trip.

 

[tim.rose2]

Did the Outer Circle for the first time over Christmas. Two of us dropped through the squeeze without issue (we are both good with squeezes) the other in the group had to be disrobed and encouraged through. My assessment is that it's reasonably tight and one to be wary of (i.e. choose a different trip) if contemplating it with bigger cavers or those who don't like squeezes. Once through there's loads of room at the bottom. The first 50 m of Coal Cellar Passage is a bit annoying / slow, then after that it's straight forward. End to end took us about 45mins. If you're used to caving on Mendip (or other, worse places) then it's nothing to worry about. If you're happy and like caves such as Eastwater and Lionel's and fit through the squeezes in these you'll have no issues and might even enjoy it.

 

[darren]

I would say the squeeze is comparable with Not the Birthday Squeeze on the Swildons short round trip. Then again I can occasionally be pulled/pushed through not the birthday squeeze (it does hurt ) but didn't manage to get up the coal chute squeeze. The Rift is slightly bigger 5m up but traversing is hard work. Crawling back out (due to not fitting up the squeeze) most of the way with the water backing up in places is interesting. I have a 48 inch round chest. By round I mean the same front to back as side to side.

 

[cseal]

From recollection (but it's been a while) the main difficulty I've had is when attempted in the upward direction (anticlockwise). Not so much the tightness of the squeeze, but its awkwardness and the lack suitable footholds to push myself up and through it. The caving buddy with me at the time is of a slighter build and helped me by securing my foot so I could push and then in turn I helped him with a hand (might have been via a sling or belt) so he could pull himself up. This was quite some time back and I was slimmer (and fitter) but my chest would have still been at least 43" (but more flexible). Shorter legs may help if that means you can find more footholds (I'm 6ft 1"). I don't remember the rest of Coal Cellar Passage having anything too difficult - it just takes a while and effort to navigate.

 

[chunky]

I would say the squeeze is comparable with Not the Birthday Squeeze on the Swildons short round trip. Then again I can occasionally be pulled/pushed through not the birthday squeeze (it does hurt ) but didn't manage to get up the coal chute squeeze. The Rift is slightly bigger 5m up but traversing is hard work. Crawling back out (due to not fitting up the squeeze) most of the way with the water backing up in places is interesting. I have a 48 inch round chest. By round I mean the same front to back as side to side.

I'd say this is a pretty good description for you David. I've done the 'Not the Birthday Squeeze' on Swindon's Round Trip a few times (Likely not doing it any time soon at my current size!) but I've not managed to get through the coal cellar passage one yet, though have visited each side and could likely get through the first rift part, but was told the slot down was slightly tighter and wouldn't want to be stuck between them.

I would recommend going up Coal Cellar and trying the squeeze from below. If you don't have any trouble going up through the slot then I think you'd be fine with the rest.

 

[David Rose]

Do others agree that the vertical bit is tighter - so there is a risk of being stuck between two squeezes if you tackle it downhill?

 

[Jester]

Do others agree that the vertical bit is tighter - so there is a risk of being stuck between two squeezes if you tackle it downhill?

The vertical bit at the bottom is tightest, I'd do it uphill if you're in doubt.

 

[Badlad]

Sounds like you've got a long slog in and out of Coal Cellar passage to me, Dave

 

[GRJ]

I don’t have a huge amount of experience with the squeeze - I’ve been through twice, once in each direction.
Going up it was many years ago and my memory of it was that it was a real effort and quite a struggle physically. I remember thinking I’ll only go down it in future. The squeeze itself was not an issue more the effort to get up it in the constricted space. More recently, I went through downhill, physically this was easy but mentally I very much felt I was at the mercy of gravity and wasn’t entirely sure I was in the correct place and wasn’t about to slip into a squeeze from which I couldn’t pass… It felt somewhat committing. I didn’t feel entirely in control. It was not a pleasant experience! Others in the group (smaller than me) had no real issues.
If I was to go there again, on balance I’d probably want to try to go up it. This may or may not be sensible advice!