Derbyshire Names

[Groundhog]

"Joint Effort" in Cliffhanger passage was first explored by Frank Brown. Anyone who knew Frank will understand the choice of name.

 

[kay]

yes, but those of us who didn't, don't. Care to elaborate?

 

[SamT]

Im guessing its all centered on the word 'joint' and its various uses.

 

[Pitlamp]

Actually Joint Effort was called as such for two reasons. One was that Frank and Pete wanted to bolt Cliff Cavern but could only get to it via Colostomy Crawl (which in those days still had it's thixotropic mud). So some of us divers did the bulk of the sherpa work via Treasury Sump over several trips, which is far easier than Colostomy in low water. It was an unusual case of the divers carrying for the non divers. When the end of the long traverse was reached and the short pitch was finally rigged at the start of a gigantic passage, those at the front patiently waited for the rest of the team to prussik up and join them before setting off to explore.

I have never forgotten this superb gesture and it is how I like to remember Frank in particular (as opposed to other things alluded to above). For me this is the main reason that Joint Effort was named as such.

Full marks to Mr.Seddon regarding Bog Pipe Rift - obvious really to an experienced diver like your good self.

Only Donatella's Aven and Balcombe's Way to work out, then that list is sorted.

 

[Pitlamp]

Give up then?

OK, Donatella is the wife of Alessio Fabbricatore, an Italian cave diver. We went cave diving over there years ago and she looked after us marvellously, so that aven was named after her.

Balcombe's Way is indeed named after Graham Balcombe of the CDG. Many years ago when battery drills were just a glint in cavers' eyes we were hand bolting up the massive avens in Peak's Far Sump Extension. I happened to be talking to him about this and how we wished we had a battery drill. Graham calmly produced a cheque and said OK, go and buy yourselves one then! It was an incredibly generous gesture and we felt we had to give the above name to the passage in question. So you see, this was before Graham died.

Here's another one - why was The Total Perspective Vortex so named?

 

[graham]

Here's another one - why was The Total Perspective Vortex so named?

because the namer was a Douglas Adams fan

 

[Pitlamp]

Partly right Graham - but that's not the complete story.

 

[graham]

'course not, but anyone who has read the book should be able to guess the impression that the place had on its discoverer.

 

[Cookie]

Here's another one - why was The Total Perspective Vortex so named?

Did they find a cup cake?

I've told you a million times, get a sense of proportion.

 

[Pitlamp]

Nice one Cookie (grins).

You're getting nearer Graham . . . .

 

[AndyF]

Inferno Chamber in Hangover Hole Stoney was so called because on entering it Nick Hadlands pipe came off his carbide generator and a his generator set on fire....

Pizzaland in the same cave because of large blocks in roof having the ability to turn you into "cave pizza"

The "Tourist Trap" in waterways was named after a guest digger get wedged trying to get through it the first time. Others are likely ti get stuck in the future...

The "Doghouse" in the same cave was named as the discovery trip overran making one caver late for dinner. he was thus "in the Doghouse"

 

[Groundhog]

You are right Pitlamp, Frank Brown is better remembered for his heroic caving exploits than for some other recreational activities he was known for. So sorry Kay I will not elaborate, you will just have to use your imagination. Thanks also Pitlamp for that little story about the climbing of Cliff Cavern. Filled in a few holes in my knowledge, but shouldn't we point out that Frank and Pete also had to pass through the windtunnel on their way to colostomy. Men were men in those days.

 

[graham]

Nice one Cookie (grins).

You're getting nearer Graham . . . .

Right, got it ... the first person in was rewarded by finding a complete set of the works of Proust. 

 

[fi]

'Morning Elaine,

Mendip Beer Monster's Secret Tap Room... Don't think it was Mr F who found it but believe it was named in his honour (possibly by RC and friends?).

I'm told by him indoors who was there that it was a CDG rather than Wessex trip that weekend (with of course Pete H included) and that Mr F was a very poorly boy that weekend and also ended up with rather a lot of furniture on top of him (him indoors has never known him to be that poorly before or since).

 

[nickwilliams]

No, it was definitely a Wessex trip 'cos I was there too and I've never been a CDG member. IIRC it was the weekend we carried (well, dragged) the ladders for Egnaro Aven through Colostomy Crawl for Ben Bentham.

There was a lot of diving going on in Peak at the time so there were always some CDG people about in the Chapel and there may well have been a formal CDG event going on at the same time.

Nick.

 

[Rob]

...why was The Total Perspective Vortex so named?

Still no answer, care to elaborate Pitlamp?

 

[Pitlamp]

Sorry Rob - completely forgot about this one. The Total Perspective Vortex was climbed into on a 15 hour climbing trip via Far Sump. We were ridiculously dehydrated when we finally got to it (at the top of Balcombe's Way Aven) and knackered to the point of being a bit incoherent. The state we were in reminded us of the condition of anyone who had braved the Total Perspactive Vortex in Douglas Adams' classic book (so you were right about that one Graham).

OK then, for Peak system buffs, here's one or two more, from different eras:

SEP Sump
Coal Axe Chamber
Surprise View
Seebackroscope Aven

Most of these are pretty easy actually . . . .

 

[Brendan]

Suprise view - CDG passing Buxton Water Sump for the first time, and 'dry' cavers passing Mucky Ducks for the first time, leading to surprise when they met each other unaware what the others had been doing.

 

[Cookie]

SEP Sump

Will be another one from Hitch Hiker's.

Paint it pink, set up a SEP field and hope someone else deals with the problem. 

 

[Pitlamp]

Well done Brendan - though not a difficult one that. The detail of the history surrounding the name Surprise View is fascinating. There is a "joint statement" which was put out by the CDG / BSA / SUMC about it at the time. One can only speculate at the vitriolic ramifications which led to the need for this!

Well done Cookie - SEP Sump is unpleasant (as is the approach) to the extent that the discoverers immediately decided it would henceforth be "somebody else's problem".

OK, thats the easy two sorted . . . .