Cheers guys,
That's pretty much what I thought people would say, I guess the post was more about stating my intentions than anything else. The only thing about coming clean is I'm not sure exactly how straightforward access is. Pitlamp knows where I'm digging, it's in an old disused quarry immediately south of Dirtlow Rake at the bottom of a dale.
I can't believe we left this one be. After ten years it looks as good as I remember it - straighforward digging in what appears to be the roof of a big (Peak Style) passage. Digging involves removal of mud and breakdown boulders and is basically easy. The conveyer belting we put in previously is still fully functional and makes dragging buckets out very easy. The passage is heading north west towards Dirtlow Rake and Peak, my interest was rekindled by the fact that JNC is pushing an active inlet to Peak that seems to be coming from the Dirtlow Rake area, not a million miles from where we were last night. At the depth we are currently I don't think the far end of Dirtlow Rake will have been worked so we might not hit mine workings when we get there but hopefully big natural stuff.....
I had this message from JNC a little while back:
Dan - your message the other day prompted me to have a little delve into the literature. If you look at "Limestones And Caves Of The Peak District" (1977, Ed. T.D.Ford) page 305, it says (of the main streamway in Peak Cavern):
"Further up the Main Passage a major inlet enters from the south, from the Ink and Lake Sump passage. The trend of the passage is back down dip, almost in alignment with the upper end of Main Passage, and it is tempting to deduce that the fore-runner of the present main stream once went this way. If so, it might have resurged somewhere near the foot of Pindale."
Makes you think, don't it?!
Have a good Christmas.
John C
Dan.