goatchurch drainpipe

[stealth]

Does the rift actually go no where?

I ll soon find out, taking my tribe up there on  December 2 for a look.


One question i have to ask how do you encourage my 16yr old lad to try the drainpipe, Ive tried persuading, and bribing him, hes ok in small places like the rift that goes down under coffin lid, hes not claustophobic, so thats not the problem,  its not very pleasant for him and us if we all leave him alone at the beginning of the drainpipe. Im not sure he would do it even if i left a trail of fivers  any advice.

 

[ian.p]

tell him theres a rift at the end which leads to the most amazing cave formations youve ever seen in youre life?
the rift actualy ends as far as can tell in small circular space (more of a sort of rounded end of the beding plane then a chamber) with a pebeld flooor and its just big enogh to turn round in which is handy. mind you there could be an extension i didnt notice. enjoy youre trip

 

[andymorgan]

Amazing formations in Goatchurch  :-\ more chance of finding a small leprechaun with a pot of gold me thinks!

I tried a few times to get in the rift and it was very tight, and i am pretty thin. As far as I'm aware it is the only bit of Goatchurch I have never entered.

 

[Clarie]

One question i have to ask how do you encourage my 16yr old lad to try the drainpipe, Ive tried persuading, and bribing him,

Depends on why he doesn't want to go, I guess. If it's the idea of long flat out crawls (which don't appeal to many) then maybe it's worth telling him that for a pixie like me, the reality is it's short distance on hands and knees and then a short distance on feet and stooping - nothing like the name tells you!
Or you could take him down the smartie tube first, after which the drainpipe is a whole lot better - 1) it's larger and 2) it goes somewhere (and the Dexian is worth it, imo)
Or then there's the tale I was told as a newbie caver - that the drainpipe is like all caves - dry, easy, and there are naked dancing girls at the bottom.

Or maybe just leave him to play in the little passages on the right hand side of the water chamber between drainpipe and smartie tube, and ask him to let me know if they are worth exploring? They are on my to-do list for Goatchurch...

 

[stealth]

Depends on why he doesn't want to go, I guess.

He wont say just "i dont want to"

Or maybe just leave him to play in the little passages on the right hand side of the water chamber between drainpipe and smartie tube,

He has explored just about every other crevis there is in GC, but just doesnt want to do Drainpipe. Strange  :-\

Hes not a small lad,but if a fat one like me can get in the DP then he should have no trouble.

 

[ian.p]

more chance of finding a small leprechaun with a pot of gold me thinks!

fraid not i lost me pot of gold ages ago

is it just that the drainpipe gives him the hibie jibes? if thats the case than you could try reminding him that its been there for thousends of years and its distinctly unlikley that its going to colapse whilst hes inside it.
how much does he want to see whats on the other side if suitably motivated then try geting him to count to 5 and then going into the drain pipe once hes in you can crawl in behind him so the only way he can go is forwards!

 

[ian.p]

not sure why my post turned into a qote :-\

 

[ttxela]

I didn't do the drainpipe either, on my first and so far only visit to Mendip, not sure why, I think I was just feeling a bit crap on the day generally. Soon perked up later on though and really enjoyed Swildons . I'll have to go back and do it soon..... 

 

[Walrus]

I did the drainpipe on my first visit (first visit to a 'proper' cave infact) and I'm not a skinny chap - its the only time I've felt claustraphobic but that passed after a few mins. Now I'm reasonably happy with tight holes. Hint: wear elbow pads - my arms were covered in bruises afterwards! My big fear now is heights/drops - even getting close enough to the edge to look!

 

[whitelackington]

Walrus, dont bother to go to Spain then as most caves i have been in there Cueto, Carlista have quite big drops.

Try laddering Coral Cave , it is near Axbridge, it is about 55 feet deep, if u could manage that, suitably life lined, u might start to enjoy drops, it does not actually seem exposed in Coral, although for Mendip, it is a fair drop. :icon_321:

 

[Walrus]

I did Hanover mine - that is a fixed ladder down a 50 foot shaft (lifelined) - I felt safer on the rope round a belay belt than I did on the ladder (probably because it was tied to somthing sturdy!) so as and when I'm ready (and budget allows) I'll go for SRT.

Its not the height that bothers me exactly (I've been up plenty of ladders & done a parachute jump), its the fear of falling. I think its a lack of control thing. If I'm tied to somthing I can control if I'm going to plummet or not! 

 

[tony from suffolk]

It's not the falling, it's the landing I'm afraid of.

 

[stealths son]

what's the name of that passage that is just under the coffin lid(a hole in the floor before you get to the coffin lid with a rift that leads to the water chamber,but you turn right as you reach the rift)because that is tight enough so is the drain pipe any tighter than that(if you know where im on about)?

 

[Walrus]

The drainpipe is more awkward than tight - its oval shaped with the 'pointy' bits top and botom, so you go thru on your side - its too narrow to crawl so you have to drag yourself along - hence the bruised arms!

 

[cap n chris]

The drainpipe is more awkward than tight - its oval shaped with the 'pointy' bits top and botom, so you go thru on your side - its too narrow to crawl so you have to drag yourself along - hence the bruised arms!

Use your toes and rest on your forearms, moving like you're doing forward press-ups and it's easy. IIRC the "record" for an adult (set by a woman BTW) to get through the drainpipe was just under 10 seconds.

Here's a pic I took which should give you an idea of what the drainpipe's like:

 

[cap n chris]

what's the name of that passage that is just under the coffin lid(a hole in the floor before you get to the coffin lid with a rift that leads to the water chamber,but you turn right as you reach the rift)because that is tight enough so is the drain pipe any tighter than that(if you know where im on about)?

I think you may be referring to a feature known as "The Vee".

 

[stealth]

I think we are winning, it  seems he is getting more interested in the DP a few more posts and hell be chompin at the bit 

 

[cap n chris]

what's the name of that passage that is just under the coffin lid(a hole in the floor before you get to the coffin lid with a rift that leads to the water chamber,but you turn right as you reach the rift)because that is tight enough so is the drain pipe any tighter than that(if you know where im on about)?

I think you may be referring to a feature known as "The Vee".

No, it's not The Vee - I think you are referring to the Coffin Lid bypass which is the right turn, a crawl, at the top of the rift which drops into Water Chamber; it links mid-way down the Coffin Lid slide, adjacent to the entrance to the Old Grotto. I don't believe it has a name, as such. Perhaps you'd care to give it a descriptive name?.... oh, and by the way, it is tighter than the Drainpipe (the Drainpipe isn't tight: it's just arduous and gives claustrophobic people something to think about!).

 

[stealths son]

No, it's not The Vee - I think you are referring to the Coffin Lid bypass which is the right turn, a crawl, at the top of the rift which drops into Water Chamber; it links mid-way down the Coffin Lid slide, adjacent to the entrance to the Old Grotto. I don't believe it has a name, as such. Perhaps you'd care to give it a descriptive name?.... oh, and by the way, it is tighter than the Drainpipe (the Drainpipe isn't tight: it's just arduous and gives claustrophobic people something to think about!).

yes that sounds like the one! i wouldn't know what to call it!!!

where abouts is "the vee"?

 

[Elaine]

I have never heard of 'the vee'. The rift at the bottom (of the 'non-coffin-lid' route) that you can slide down to get to the water chamber is called Jacob's Ladder. That is always a good challenge for enthusiastic beginners, get them to climb out that way.