Crackpot (swaledale)

[simonsays]

Had another poke around crackpot with my speleo-kid today. It's my 'local' cave, being a mere hour and a halfs drive each way....

Weather fine and water levels very low. I decided to have a look around the (long abandoned?) Dig site. I'd not been down that way before having been assured that there wasn't much to see.

The first part if the dig has very carefully stacked boulders giving an almost dry stone wall effect. These soon give way to a looser packed area as the passage narrows. As the dig tightens further there is some very rusty scaffolding holding the walls/roof up. Passing this was some passage where the walls and ceiling were apparently held in place by the positive thinking of the caver. Feeling a little unnerved I decided not to push my luck any further and made an ofderly retreat whilst thinking 'light' thoughts. I soon rejoined my lad who being far more sensible than his old man had elected not to follow me...

On the way out we practiced moving through the cave on minimal light, sharing the output of one 10 lumen LED powered by a single AAA. More than enough for a couple of careful cavers and an interesting experience.

A nice Sunday afternoon out.

 

[NigR]

Simon,

That is an extremely promising digging site. However, as you discovered, it is also potentially very dangerous and would benefit from some serious shoring further in. I was very fortunate not to kill myself there in September 1975 and survived to tell the tale purely due to heroic efforts on the part of certain members of the CRO. Only went back there once after that! Would make a good long term club project, why not try to get other CPC members interested?

 

[Blakethwaite]

I can't figure out where you must live for Crackpot to be your local cave yet be an hour and a half drive away?

 

[Goydenman]

Had a few attempts at trying to persuade others to dig that with me when I lived in Masham - great potential and I have the 'technology' to deal with the big boulders without having to return another time to see what progress has been made. Even though now living further away happy to help out say once a month

 

[C.Raven]

Has anyone ever dug the sinks near Beezy hill which have been proved to feed Crackpot or are they complete no-hopers.

 

[RUSS B]

Which sinks do you mean? I've looked at a few potential sites in the last few weeks which have been tested to crackpot.

Russ

 

[dunc]

Has anyone ever dug the sinks near Beezy hill which have been proved to feed Crackpot or are they complete no-hopers.

I seem to recall reading about ULSA doing some work on Crackpot sinks (and possibly Cliff Force sinks at similar time) quite a few years back, not sure if it was on Beezy Hill or not and can't remember where I read it at the moment.

 

[Fulk]

I suggest that you 'Google' The Major Underground Drainage Systems in the 
Yoredale Limestones of the Askrigg Block for data on Crackpot Cave (amongst others).

 

[simonsays]

I can't figure out where you must live for Crackpot to be your local cave yet be an hour and a half drive away?

I live in Sunderland. If you know of any caves closer to home I'm all ears...

 

[Fulk]

Nigr:

I was very fortunate not to kill myself there in September 1975 and survived to tell the tale purely due to heroic efforts on the part of certain members of the CRO.

I remember that night and can confirm that there were heroic efforts put in. I can say that quite happily, because I was not one of the heroes, but one of the 'spear carriers', fetching and carrying in relative safety. I do remember, though, that at about 5 pm when we'd been underground a long time and were feeling pretty tired, there was a group of us sitting half asleep on a heap of boulders, when suddenly there was a loud roaring . . . you've never seen half-asleep folk move so quickly! Anyway, fortunately the trundle didn't seem to do too much harm.

 

[Andrew W]

I'll have a look in Northern Caves for some suggestions but you should probably try Smeltmill Beck cave. It's about the same distance from Sunderland but is just off the A66 at North Stainmore so is probably easier to get to. Probably worth a look in settled weather.

 

[scurve]

Marsden Grotto is near Sunderland.

 

[blackshiver]

I can't claim this is an MSG discovery, but Roker Park Caves NGR 406593 is the best place to get underground in Sunderland. Just so you don't get lost, here's the description.

Walled and gated entrances on either side of the ravine at foot of Roker Park, follow signs the the doggy toilet.

1) Spotty's hole.
Two entrances on S side of ravine, adjacent to the doggy toilet. Large phreatic tube, in 1987 contained tableau with polystyrene flowstone blocks, mushrooms, elves and unicorn. Ends in wall; another 20M of passage beyond infilled C1983 after collapse of footpath above. Spotty was a tramp who used to live in the cave.

2) Entrance on N side of ravine, single chamber containing a cardboard elf.

Enjoy.

P.S among us people in the know, there is a tale of a long lost connection with the passage beyond the choke in Crackpot. You might take an entrencher and have a poke about - its a bit far for us to drive too.

 

[simonsays]

Blackshiver.... Do you have a survey?


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[simonsays]

I'll have a look in Northern Caves for some suggestions but you should probably try Smeltmill Beck cave. It's about the same distance from Sunderland but is just off the A66 at North Stainmore so is probably easier to get to. Probably worth a look in settled weather.

I've read some of.the trip reports posted online Andrew. Sounds really interesting. My recent trips through Red Moss and Black Reef should prove adequate preparation for the neck deep wading. I might have to give the neoprene its first airing outside the house.

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[blackshiver]

Just after you get through the wet bit at the start and it starts to go vadose keep an eye up in the roof.
At one point you will see some concrete filled bags - thats where they broke into roof when they were sorting the foundations for dualing the A66 many years ago.
Not a lot of people know that.
P.S you need stable weather as the first bit floods to the roof very quickly and if it does you could be photographing the formations for a very long time.

 

[simonsays]

Thanks for the info, I'll watch out for them. Certainly sounds like a trip for a day of clear skies.