Giant's Hole water levels (and possible alternatives)

[DaveB]

Hi all,

A group of us had planned to go into Giant's Hole this weekend to visit East Canal. We are looking for an easy-SRT trip (we have x1 highly experienced with SRT, and x3 SRT novices), but I'm not sure if Giant's will be suitable given the weather forecast.

Can anyone who knows the cave give an opinion of whether they think the trip suitable, given the forecast? Any suggestions of easy SRT trips in Derbyshire which we could do instead (no re-belays) would be greatly appreciated too.

Many thanks,

Dave

 

[LarryFatcat]

Nickergrove, Merlins, Hope Shaft -all can be done in one day-
Odin Mine
Giants is pretty resilient to weather but a notoriously dangerous place for newbs below Garlands (especially when wet and if you're making them drag SRT kit down and back beyond Geology) and plenty of weather proof SRT to do in Giants for newbs without descending Garlands.

 

[Brains]

I would suggest Knotlow climbing shafts, with a crossover with the 210 for those feeling fit to climb out. A rebelay can be taken at the Meccano passage horizon, and also at the chain shaft entry. Options in Hillocks nearby give plenty of things to dangle and spin in, with both having a minimum of mine specific surprises.

I would imagine the amount of SRT in Odin and it's general nature would make it more suitable for experienced groups familiar with mine hazards...

Oxlow can be quite wet, and the hillside is very exposed. Nettle Pot is full on to the bottom of the various shafts and can get squeezy and technical if heading to the up and down to Derbyshire Hall...

 

[mikem]

This gives some idea of expected levels in Derwent over next couple of days (it is not totally foolproof as depends on rain forecasts & water releases from Ladybower Reservoir). Wye at Buxton is also available:

RiverPredictor

riverpredictor.uk

 

[alastairgott]

I did giants on the Saturday a week after the recent castleton flood with James, George and Alasdair!!?!! From the BEC. Thank you to all three of you for coming with me/being dragged on this trip to watch me shiver and to join in on the shiverfest.

A good trip down to the east canal with some results obtained for Dr Gunn. It was a calculated trip, it had flooded the week before, but had a solid day or two to die down with no rain at all.
Needless to say the inlets were still pouring after a calmer week.

As a personal trip with experienced people, I wouldn’t discount an east canal trip this weekend. but as with all trips, on the day, if you don’t think it’s right then don’t go!

For your trip DaveB I’m not certain I would be taking newbies there, if you want them to suffer, then by all means. But then again some new cavers would relish the challenge. You have termed them novices, which I’m taking to be within their first 5-10 trips, as Larry has said I’m sure there are other caves/trips you could go to/on.

Many thanks to the kind soul who tied on a bit of lost equipment onto the double line down the pitch between geology and the duck to spout hall, this was picked up on the above trip and returned to its rightful place. Had they not done this, it would have come out of the devils arse with burnt edges.

 

[DaveB]

LarryFatcat, Brains, mikem and alastairgott, thanks for the advice - much appreciated.

I probably wasn't clear, I'm one of the newbies! We're all fairly experienced cavers, it's the SRT some (most) of us are new to. All us newbies have been down to the head of Geology Pot before, when we did the round trip. I think the trip will be ok fitness-wise; it's the weather I was more uncertain about. Given the advice, river levels and weather forecast, it's looking good though.

Thanks again, Dave.

 

[Alex]

Thanks, sorry I did not expect someone else to be asking the same thhing about this weekend. All useful info.

 

[Fulk]

So – can we look forward to a trip report from Giant's this weekend?

 

[mikem]

Water levels on Dartmoor were lower than expected yesterday, as rain mostly hit Wales instead - on links I posted above the Derwent rose 40cm & Wye almost 50 (but much more abruptly & shorter lived)

 

[DaveB]

Hi Fulk,

I wrote a short report for the club's blog; you can find it here:

Wet, wet, and more wet: a trip to Giant's Hole

Mel, Dave and I had planned an easy trip down Giant’s Hole to the East Canal, so the SRT newbies amongst us could practice abseiling and cli...

blog.dudleycavingclub.org.uk

There are far better reports, but I enjoyed writing it. I also enjoyed the trip: fantastic fun due to the water levels!

Cheers,

Dave

 

[Pete K]

Absolutely hammering it down on Rushop Edge 15 minutes ago. At least 1 vehicle in the car park, so I guess we might get some details about how wet it was from them today later.

 

[Fulk]

Thanks, DaveB – sounds exciting!