dow cave; complete novice.

[damian]

Well done on your trip ... you seem to have had a really good look around and are obviously becoming reasonably competent. I'm impressed.

SRT: can someone tell me about it as I don’t really know anything, and what kind of cost is involved in purchasing one? I'm guessing you need a harness, a few carabineers, an ascender/descender/both? And countless other things I don’t know about.

Stands for "Single Rope Technique" and, as its name implies, allows you to go up and down pitches using just one thin (usually 9-11mm) rope. Basically you abseil down (not like you see idiots doing on television!) and when going back up you use metal clamps called jammers which move freely up the rope but won't move back down. Used in a pair, this allows you to alternate between them and move up the rope. Of course, it's not as simple as this and you could really do with some help from someone who knows what they are doing. The most cost-effective way of doing this is to join a caving club and they'll almost certainly show you the ropes (literally!) An SRT kit is about £150, the rope to go up and down pitches is about 90p per metre, a tackle sack to protect it is about £30, a few slings and 20 maillon rapides will set you back another £60. Personally, I'd join a club ... and the best way to do this might well be to take the BRCC up on their offer of Sunset Hole. Of course, you'd be better off joining Hades, but we won't go into that 

Finally, I'd go to Old Ing, Birkwith and Browgill next. Browgill is the bottom entrance to Calf Holes (which has a 10m entrance pitch needing ladders or SRT kits) but you can go in from the bottom and see how far you get going upwards.

 

[Skyrmy]

We're (BRCC) giving one of our new members his first SRT lesson on Saturday (16th) in Sunset Hole.  You're quite welcome to tag along as far as the pitch head if you want and watch the proceedings!!!

sounds good,
Where is sunset hole and how far in is the pitch head?
I’ll run it by my friend, thank you for the invitation.

Rob.

We will be meeting in Inglesport for a brew around 9.30-10ish saturday morning.  You can contact me via here or our site www.brcc.org.uk
Cave is around 900m I think with the pitch at the end.  As Dunc says - there are a couple of climbs as well but nothing too serious!

 

[kay]

we climbed up the waterfall and emerged from the cave in a little stream, we followed the stream until we found where it came from but it didn't look as though it went anywhere

As Dunc says, Borrins Moor "a major and underrated system with 6 tributaries" (Northern Caves). Total length 1.4km. If you enjoyed exploring in Upper Long Churn, you'd enjoy exploring this. The crawls aren't desperate, and it's fun fitting everything together. Main entrance and the passages thereabouts are quite sizeable. Grid ref for main entrance SD 770752 "Trench in blind valley below marked ridge on plateau" - about 200m from the Dr Bannisters handbasin waterfall exit on more or less a straight line from the Diccans pot enclosure. Saves you having to wallow in through the Resurgance Entrance.

We found a small passageway off to our right which we explored, this finally emerged back in a main cave system which we did not think was the one we had just come from,

Baptistry crawl.

so we decided to head back as we were tired, hungry, wet and cold by that point.

Sensible. Knowing when to stop is good.

I was thinking about doing gaping gill next but am I right in thinking that there is no “easy” way into it (that's free)?

Winch meet is under £10 per head, and it gives you access to the heck of a lot of cave without need for ropes. Find a survey (think there's one on the net) and try Sand Cavern, skirt around Mud Pot, and along Stream Passage - huge underground spaces and a lot of variety.

Browgill - big stream passage with waterfall at end. Before waterfall is knotted rope with easy climb to above waterfall area. You can then go upsttream and find way through small passage to the parallel Calf Holes passage (make sure you look back as you pop out so you can find your way out again!)

Glad you enjoyed the trip. Came past Selside on our way back from Smeltmill Beck, saw car, and wondered if it was you.

 

[ditzy 24//7]

yes staci brains does seem to know his way about quiet well.
if your to do it again though may i suggest you wear some neoprine socks this time so you dont get too cold again.
i have a nice pair now and they keep my feet warm so when doing a wet trip with you i will be nice and warm and you wont 
unless you get soiome of corse.

yeh i think i will at some point but i cant just yet! lol

ok if you need help in finding some then let me know and i will see if i can get some to pass on for you.

 

[ditzy 24//7]

just thought id name a few places you may be able to get some wilst im at it.

1. bat products
2. inglesports
3. there may be some in bch camping but the two above are more likely
4. hitch and hike sell them. thats were i got mine from.

 

[rob_]

Skyrmy:

Will sunset hole still be on due to the rain? (it’s been raining constantly all day here) and how many people will be there?
Rob.

 

[Skyrmy]

Rob

Sunset should be ok saturday - last time down there it rained heavily and was only just noticable.

There will be 3 of us on saturday - you want a run out with us?

Skyrmy

Just checked BBC forecast for saturday and it looks good

 

[Skyrmy]

Rob

Due to the weather of last night  and today  (and more of the same expected in the dales tonight) we have decided to pull the plug on our novice trip to sunset tomorrow.  Will most likely try for another opportunity next month sometime - keep an eye on our website!!

 

[rob_]

Oh cr*p!
Thanks for letting me know
Rob.

 

[rob_]

Wet weather caves: I got all exited about sunset hole and now I really want to go caving tomorrow. If this is not possible with the current weather conditions (been raining constantly day and night for the past two days and is still raining now and is forecast to continue over the weekend (I'm in leeds)) then so be it, but is there such a thing as a wet weather cave? Preferably not too far away from Leeds - ingleborough distance is ok.

I've heard of caves involving old mine workings; any suggestions?

Radon? What is it and is it worth worrying about?

Warm caves; I've been doing a bit of searching around this forum and came across something like “such and such a cave is really hot/warm” again any suggestions for a cave like this? And why is it hot?

Rob xx

 

[ditzy 24//7]

there does seem to be a lot af rain around these areas lately. although maybe swildons would be good for you to do if theres a lot of water but then again it would depend on who is going.

 

[Les W]

Except that Swildons is actually quite a long walk from Leeds 

 

[ditzy 24//7]

that is a good point. maybe the person/people going have a car or could get a buss or something?

 

[cap n chris]

Or maybe they might care to visit a cave closer to where they live? Just a thought.

 

[dunc]

maybe the person/people going have a car or could get a buss or something?

At a guess a 4hour drive (just to get there) for a short day trip.. And I wouldn't even like to think how long it would take by bus.. :blink:

but is there such a thing as a wet weather cave? Preferably not too far away from Leeds - ingleborough distance is ok.

There are a number of 'wet weather caves' around, some do require SRT/ladder knowledge though. Non-srt; I think Dowkabottom Cave would be ok but its only a short trip, some bits of big passage though.. Further over beyond Ingleton is Mistral (back door into Pippikin) with some big chambers interspersed with plenty of crawling. Victoria and Attermire Caves (and others nearby) makes for a pottering days caving when its too wet for owt else. Theres probably more that my head can't think of right now..

I've heard of caves involving old mine workings; any suggestions?

In the Dales there are two notable ones that I can think of off the top of my head; Devis Hole Mine Cave and Windegg Mine Caverns - both further north and both start with a mine level which eventually intersects some natural 'maze' passages. I'm sure one has got a warning about water (don't have book to hand to check) - but other might be ok when wet.. (someone will no doubt be able to check or know!)

Radon? What is it and is it worth worrying about?

http://www.aala.org/guidance_details.php/pArticleHeadingID=31

 

[gus horsley]

Radon? What is it and is it worth worrying about?
Rob xx

It's a radioactive gas released by the breakdown of uranium minerals in certain types of rocks.  It collects in caves, mines, cellars, etc.  You won't have a problem with caves if you are only doing sporadic trips.  There can be problems if you have a house built over a source of radon (as here in Cornwall), the problem mostly being financial as it costs an arm and a leg to get it remedied.

 

[dunc]

I'm sure one has got a warning about water (don't have book to hand to check) - but other might be ok when wet.. (someone will no doubt be able to check or know!)

Now I've had chance to check the book it's Devis that has the warning about surface stream flowing into the mine in flood conditions and filling the first section..

 

[rob_]

Can someone tell me about Thistle and Runscar Caves please
Thanks.
Rob xx

P.S. i'm considering caving books, what book have you got?

 

[damian]

Can someone tell me about Thistle and Runscar Caves please
Thanks.
Rob xx

P.S. i'm considering caving books, what book have you got?

Someone else is probably better giving you a description of these two because I've only been to them once and can't remember which is which! They're really nice, easy caves, though, and fine in most weather.

As for caving books, I assume you mean guidebooks. If not, there's another thread somewhere about recommended caving story books! The only Dales guidebook that is currently available is "Selected Caves of Great Britain and Ireland" which describes what the authors feel are the best trips in each region of the UK. The descriptions are generally good and clear ... but you won't find many of the caves you want to do at the moment in there. However, it's well worth getting because you will doubtless be wanting to do them soon.

It is possible that Northern Caves 2: The Three Peaks" is still available in Inglesport and Bernie's, in which case I'd strongly recommend buying it. It is one of 3 books that make up the defiintive guide to Dales' caves. Unfortunately 1 & 3 are definitely out of print and 2 is probably out of print, but possibly still in stock in places. It'll cost you as much as the whole "Selected Caves" book but really does list everything.

Has anyone suggested Valley Entrance to you yet? Park by the road at the entrance to Braida Garth Farm in the Kingsdale valley, go through the gate and there's an oil-drum lid. Follow your nose and see what happens!

 

[dunc]

Can someone tell me about Thistle and Runscar Caves please

I'm sure someone will give a better description and directions but both are nice and easy and both are split into short sections - some of which can be done as a through trip, not too far to walk from the road and right next to the Station Inn for an after cave drink..
Runscar is marked on OS maps and shouldn't be too hard to find, entrances to Thistle are ~100m west of Runscar.

P.S. i'm considering caving books, what book have you got?

Northern Caves - 3 books covering the erm, north.. Hard to come by these days, unless you are willing to pay a price! There is meant to be an update to these books on its way - according to the website book 3 is due end of this year..