Samouse1
Well-known member
Date:25/2/23
Cavers: Myself, Aila T, James W (AKA Hagrid), Charlie C
Trip: Gingling Hole, Big Rift route
A dry morning was a good sign for our second crack at this Fountains Fell classic. Aila and I managed to steal Charlie and Hagrid from their own trips, Charlie because he wanted to go somewhere fun, and Hagrid because he wanted to cave hard on his birthday. We faffed at the hut, then headed to mine to faff some more, packing some ropes. Then on to the Dump to faff even more. It’s not a proper caving trip without at least an hours faff.
It was noon by the time we parked up, and got ready to head over. A quick stomp over the cold fell found is at the entrance, where I rigged away while some snow started to fall on us. It was far drier than last time, and the Letterbox was so much nicer when there isn’t a waterfall going down it. Charlie disappeared ahead while Hagrid and I waited for aila to descend. I caught Charlie up in the canals and pressed on to the second pitch. It didn’t take me long to rig and fly down, crawling on into the winding rift towards the small chamber before the third pitch. Charlie and I waited till we heard the others, then I moved to the pitch. Dropping it quickly, we were at the “tight” climb Aila and I turned around at last time. I was first down, and guided Hagrid down. Aila came down next, saying it was far easier when you’re not freezing. It wasn’t far to the next pitch down into Stalagmite Chamber.
I descended then climbed up a free climb to a traverse, which bypassed the pitch entirely. Excellent. We paused to read the description and have a snack, then Hagrid led the way down the climb. I was last down into Fools Paradise, an absolutely stunning section. Aila took some pictures of me, and the formations. Then it was on to the fifth pitch. From here a squeeze through black calcite and a few boulders to the head of the sixth pitch. After this rebelayed pitch the cave went into a narrow rift, and it got fun. Worming our way through, we reached the Ammered Ole pitch. We traversed over, heading to the Big Rift route. An eyehole in the calcite led to me dangling headfirst by my foot loop which of course decided it didn’t want to go further, and clung to the rock for dear life. Eventually it was “persuaded” to come, and we went through a few more “tight” climbs. Then it came. The Thrutch.
4m down, in a smooth body width rift. Hagrid was down, Charlie was looking at it apprehensively, and I was too. Charlie wiggled down, and Hagrid disappeared onwards. He reported that it was wet. I slid down, after shedding my SRT kit. Charlie and I were increasingly worried about the return journey, so a vote was held. Charlie didn’t want to get wet, so he and I voted to turn around now. Aila was happy either way, and Hagrid was out of earshot. I headed into the canal, chest deep in places, but with some squeezes through calcite. I hollered loudly and eventually he responded. I told him we were aborting and he told me he had started rigging the next pitch. He went back to derig and I headed back to the Thrutch.
Here Charlie was wedged halfway up, with Aila trying to help from above. Some slings were dangled, and a full team effort was involved with shoving Charlie up it. Hagrid went next and I was used as a springboard. Specifically my face. Thanks Hagrid! He finally popped out, and it was my turn. I didn’t have the luxury of a foothold, but Charlie looped a sling around my foot, and Aila looped one under my arm, and with some wriggling and pulling, I was out. I have no idea how I would have managed it if they hadn’t been there.
From here the long slog to the surface began. We were pushing along, and Hagrid and Aila took over the derigging. Charlie decided to just press on out, but I caught him up at Stalactite Chamber. He knocked a rock down the climb, to add more excitement. We stopped there for around ten minutes.
Eventually we stirred and pressed on. I could hear the others below us, and I helped Charlie to get his tacklesack through the tight climb. Here I saw him underground for the last time. I waited to help the others with their tackle sacks, and Aila made it up with seemingly no trouble. I took a full tacklesack from them, and pressed on towards the surface. I had to take several stops to rest, and finally I was at the bottom of the entrance pitch. I waited until I could hear the other two and then started the last prussik. It was cold on the surface, and once Hagrid was up I was close to shivering. So I headed across the fell to the relative warmth of the car. Here I found Charlie, bundled up and reciting poetry about being cold. All in all, a very good trip.
The stunning Fools Paradise (photo by Aila T)
The cavers favourite pastime, FAFF (photo by Aila T)
Cavers: Myself, Aila T, James W (AKA Hagrid), Charlie C
Trip: Gingling Hole, Big Rift route
A dry morning was a good sign for our second crack at this Fountains Fell classic. Aila and I managed to steal Charlie and Hagrid from their own trips, Charlie because he wanted to go somewhere fun, and Hagrid because he wanted to cave hard on his birthday. We faffed at the hut, then headed to mine to faff some more, packing some ropes. Then on to the Dump to faff even more. It’s not a proper caving trip without at least an hours faff.
It was noon by the time we parked up, and got ready to head over. A quick stomp over the cold fell found is at the entrance, where I rigged away while some snow started to fall on us. It was far drier than last time, and the Letterbox was so much nicer when there isn’t a waterfall going down it. Charlie disappeared ahead while Hagrid and I waited for aila to descend. I caught Charlie up in the canals and pressed on to the second pitch. It didn’t take me long to rig and fly down, crawling on into the winding rift towards the small chamber before the third pitch. Charlie and I waited till we heard the others, then I moved to the pitch. Dropping it quickly, we were at the “tight” climb Aila and I turned around at last time. I was first down, and guided Hagrid down. Aila came down next, saying it was far easier when you’re not freezing. It wasn’t far to the next pitch down into Stalagmite Chamber.
I descended then climbed up a free climb to a traverse, which bypassed the pitch entirely. Excellent. We paused to read the description and have a snack, then Hagrid led the way down the climb. I was last down into Fools Paradise, an absolutely stunning section. Aila took some pictures of me, and the formations. Then it was on to the fifth pitch. From here a squeeze through black calcite and a few boulders to the head of the sixth pitch. After this rebelayed pitch the cave went into a narrow rift, and it got fun. Worming our way through, we reached the Ammered Ole pitch. We traversed over, heading to the Big Rift route. An eyehole in the calcite led to me dangling headfirst by my foot loop which of course decided it didn’t want to go further, and clung to the rock for dear life. Eventually it was “persuaded” to come, and we went through a few more “tight” climbs. Then it came. The Thrutch.
4m down, in a smooth body width rift. Hagrid was down, Charlie was looking at it apprehensively, and I was too. Charlie wiggled down, and Hagrid disappeared onwards. He reported that it was wet. I slid down, after shedding my SRT kit. Charlie and I were increasingly worried about the return journey, so a vote was held. Charlie didn’t want to get wet, so he and I voted to turn around now. Aila was happy either way, and Hagrid was out of earshot. I headed into the canal, chest deep in places, but with some squeezes through calcite. I hollered loudly and eventually he responded. I told him we were aborting and he told me he had started rigging the next pitch. He went back to derig and I headed back to the Thrutch.
Here Charlie was wedged halfway up, with Aila trying to help from above. Some slings were dangled, and a full team effort was involved with shoving Charlie up it. Hagrid went next and I was used as a springboard. Specifically my face. Thanks Hagrid! He finally popped out, and it was my turn. I didn’t have the luxury of a foothold, but Charlie looped a sling around my foot, and Aila looped one under my arm, and with some wriggling and pulling, I was out. I have no idea how I would have managed it if they hadn’t been there.
From here the long slog to the surface began. We were pushing along, and Hagrid and Aila took over the derigging. Charlie decided to just press on out, but I caught him up at Stalactite Chamber. He knocked a rock down the climb, to add more excitement. We stopped there for around ten minutes.
Eventually we stirred and pressed on. I could hear the others below us, and I helped Charlie to get his tacklesack through the tight climb. Here I saw him underground for the last time. I waited to help the others with their tackle sacks, and Aila made it up with seemingly no trouble. I took a full tacklesack from them, and pressed on towards the surface. I had to take several stops to rest, and finally I was at the bottom of the entrance pitch. I waited until I could hear the other two and then started the last prussik. It was cold on the surface, and once Hagrid was up I was close to shivering. So I headed across the fell to the relative warmth of the car. Here I found Charlie, bundled up and reciting poetry about being cold. All in all, a very good trip.
The stunning Fools Paradise (photo by Aila T)
The cavers favourite pastime, FAFF (photo by Aila T)