D
darkplaces
Guest
Ok, so I'v been mine exploring for a few years and done a few dry caves but untill this weekend havent really done anything wet above the head. Normally the wet mines are just wading though. Also this weekend saw my first wet SRT practice..... AND I loved it 
Saterday
Met up with jasonbirder to take a peek down a few mine shafts, 100ft and 200ft, didnt really take to them so off we went to look at Giants Hole. Amazing, waterborn passages, tight and winding, all the way to a wet 25/30ft pitch. I had no problems abbing down Garlands Pot but coming backup I didnt tighten my chest strap and was leaning back too far while taking in gobfulls of water. the rope wasnt moving though the chest acender so in the end I gathered the rope up and coiled it to add some weight. The pictures are here; (guests can only see mid side images but you can see bigger ones by clicking on resize for 1024..)
http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/album_cat.php?cat_id=335
Stayed over in Pindale Farm Bunkhouse for only £8 stunning value;
http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4276
Sunday
Decided to visit P8 which was scribed as 'sporting' and not camera friendly so no pictures I am afrade. Jasonbirder was right, I havent done many wet caves, cant swim and could vary well drown in a paddling pool but I loved this one. The entrance was a hole in the ground with a stream roaring down it. being a little short and unsure of getting in the hole jason rigged a rope for me to decend on in the water. BRILL!. A low crawl then into the stream way down to a 2 meter mini waterfall again a short peace of rope to abb down. Further tight but high passages, water roaring around our feet. Another proper short decent, pre bolted for a Y hang but with water cascading over making for a very wet decent very fun though. More tight passages I had to climb up to get over tight bits or get down low in the water were the passage was wider. A bit of climbing up bolders then finally to the 1st 20ft pitch with multiple bolts. The water smashing off a flat ledge to project itself out into the void which looked 15ft wide. We rigged a rope and cliped on with cows tails to get a good look but it looked far too wet with my inexperiance to drop down, I also feared my glasses would not survive (damm crappy eyes!). We spent a while at this point looking about watching the water. The roar was incredible and I didnt fancy drowning on a rope so we finally decided to head back, of course up the 3 meter pitch with water roaring off, I got soaked, (might as well of done the big one I was thinking while trying not to take in gobfulls of water) - Then on up though twisty tight turns soaked. used a hand hold to get up the short waterfall then finally another short haul up the exit for the final soaking. A very sporting trip which has actually fueled my interest in wet(ish) caves. I'm not one for swimming or drowning but a spot of roaring water and I dont mind a soaking. I did enjoy that one.
Cracking!
Note to self: Keep mouth shut while in water...
Saterday
Met up with jasonbirder to take a peek down a few mine shafts, 100ft and 200ft, didnt really take to them so off we went to look at Giants Hole. Amazing, waterborn passages, tight and winding, all the way to a wet 25/30ft pitch. I had no problems abbing down Garlands Pot but coming backup I didnt tighten my chest strap and was leaning back too far while taking in gobfulls of water. the rope wasnt moving though the chest acender so in the end I gathered the rope up and coiled it to add some weight. The pictures are here; (guests can only see mid side images but you can see bigger ones by clicking on resize for 1024..)
http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/album_cat.php?cat_id=335
Stayed over in Pindale Farm Bunkhouse for only £8 stunning value;
http://www.c**tplaces.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4276
Sunday
Decided to visit P8 which was scribed as 'sporting' and not camera friendly so no pictures I am afrade. Jasonbirder was right, I havent done many wet caves, cant swim and could vary well drown in a paddling pool but I loved this one. The entrance was a hole in the ground with a stream roaring down it. being a little short and unsure of getting in the hole jason rigged a rope for me to decend on in the water. BRILL!. A low crawl then into the stream way down to a 2 meter mini waterfall again a short peace of rope to abb down. Further tight but high passages, water roaring around our feet. Another proper short decent, pre bolted for a Y hang but with water cascading over making for a very wet decent very fun though. More tight passages I had to climb up to get over tight bits or get down low in the water were the passage was wider. A bit of climbing up bolders then finally to the 1st 20ft pitch with multiple bolts. The water smashing off a flat ledge to project itself out into the void which looked 15ft wide. We rigged a rope and cliped on with cows tails to get a good look but it looked far too wet with my inexperiance to drop down, I also feared my glasses would not survive (damm crappy eyes!). We spent a while at this point looking about watching the water. The roar was incredible and I didnt fancy drowning on a rope so we finally decided to head back, of course up the 3 meter pitch with water roaring off, I got soaked, (might as well of done the big one I was thinking while trying not to take in gobfulls of water) - Then on up though twisty tight turns soaked. used a hand hold to get up the short waterfall then finally another short haul up the exit for the final soaking. A very sporting trip which has actually fueled my interest in wet(ish) caves. I'm not one for swimming or drowning but a spot of roaring water and I dont mind a soaking. I did enjoy that one.
Cracking!
Note to self: Keep mouth shut while in water...
