Eldon hole ice

Toby.w

New member
Big chunk of ice in the bottom of Eldon hole at the moment, it would be interesting to see how late into the year it sticks around. I'd say it was probably 5 or 6m deep in parts. It's quite constricted around the ladder but definitely passable to the right.
The formations in the ice are pretty cool from dripping water.
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Interesting. First time I've heard of ice within a British cave. A photographic record of it decrease in size would be interesting. I am aware of ice formations in American Lava tubes and hope to visit the Guler Ice Caves in Washington State later this month if access is open.
 

Rob

Well-known member
Yer, happens most winters. A few topics on it here:

 

pwhole

Well-known member
I've always wanted to drop Eldon Hole on 21st June at 12.00, to see how far the sun gets down it, but it never quite seems to work out. Once when we were free, it was pissing it down :(
 
"Big chunk of ice in the bottom of Eldon hole at the moment, it would be interesting to see how late into the year it sticks around. I'd say it was probably 5 or 6m deep in parts. It's quite constricted around the ladder but definitely passable to the right.
The formations in the ice are pretty cool from dripping water
."

I never knew that, quite fascinating.

We went to the Jura some years ago and went to a show cave (steps down rather than SRT) the snow "plug" was less whelming and maintained by a snow blower, Gallic chicanery!!

Not sure Eldon Hole could be or wants to be a tourist attraction of that nature.

Jim
 

pwhole

Well-known member
Just found a trip report on the TSG forum from 21st April 2012, and there was definitely a snow plug then. Can't remember if it's the same one I saw in June of one year, but that was still several metres deep.
 

Goydenman

Well-known member
I once went down Eldon in late 70's with Murray Cooper on bright hot August day only to find the hole blocked by ice from the previous winter
 

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
I've always wanted to drop Eldon Hole on 21st June at 12.00, to see how far the sun gets down it, but it never quite seems to work out. Once when we were free, it was pissing it down :(
Shouldn't you do that about 13:00 (12:00 GMT) or you might have to go back and re-measure
 

mrodoc

Well-known member
I wonder if there are any other UK locations where snow plugs might develop. The requirements appear to be a large and deep enough open shaft that hasn't got water flowing down it and Eldon Hole cannot be the only one. Also come to think of it no airflow is another factor as an outward winter draught would melt snow unless it was a massive dump.
 

scratch

New member
In 1969 there was about 60/70 ft of snow, I was on a up / down, up / down, up / down trip with Paul Deakin training for the PSM
That was the way we trained but it made for an easy trip. I think it was there for a year.
 

andrewmcleod

Well-known member
When we were down at the TSG on 1st/2nd we were told that a week or so before another group had failed to get into the chamber beyond the arch (apologies for dodgy description; I've not actually been there) due to the snow although our group found it passable but snowy.
 

pwhole

Well-known member
This photo taken from the same spot as the middle photo above shows the depth of the plug over the access shaft into the inner chamber, which is just out of shot on the left.

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