goatchurch drainpipe

[cap n chris]

While on the topic of named sections of the Cave, here's a load:

Tradesman's Entrance = new : Back Door = original
Dining Chamber = originally a nameless chamber.
The original Dining Chamber is the sloping approach towards the Back Door.
Drainpipe = one of the early names.
Coal Chute = ditto.
Bloody Tight = ditto.
Midget's Steps = a new(er) name.
Giants' Steps = one of the early names.
Terrace = ditto.
Coffin Lid = ditto.

 

[ian.p]

Where did you get that name from?
Did you make it up?
If not, who did?
Where it is written/documented as being a passage name in the cave?

i don't know who came up with the name (presumably somone from FSC) its the only name ive ever heard used for that part of the cave i always asumed it was the oficial name of the squeze serves me right for not looking at a survey

 

[cap n chris]

Aha, fair enough.

 

[andymorgan]

The picture of the 'Vee' actually looks like one of the passages parallel to the Terrace between the new Dining Room and the boulder chamber. However I haven't actually done this route between the Boulder Chamber and Water Chamber (another bit of Goatchurch I haven't done), so I may be wrong.

Stealth and Gang have you had a good look at the Water Chmaber in Goatchurch? There is lots more to see that isn't obvious at first. There is the small Chamber in the floor with a small waterfall in it, a longish phreatic tube to nowhere in the bottom left hand corner, and the chamber itself extends a long way if you climb up to the roof.

 

[stealth]

Hi Andy
      Yes we have been down in the little chamber with the waterfall, we've been way up to the roof, and under the slabs that go up on the right side of the chamber, down near the smartie tube (or whatever its called )near the way down to the drainpipe, haven't been down that tube you mention tho, will have a look at that this saturday. Will be getting up there for about 10 ish as it takes over an 1 hour to get there,Spongebob is hoping to get me in the orange peel pasage, but i think im too big, still will have ago. Last time we spent over 5 hours down there. Surprising how time flies when you are having fun.
Whats down by the iron ladders? haven't been down that bit either, so i will be taking a look.
The kids like going through the maze up near the backdoor. They spend ages in there.

 

[cap n chris]

Andymorgan's guess about the location of the Vee is spot on and is another way of locating it, possibly a better verbal description than my attempt!

Stealth: the tube you haven't visited yet can occasionally collect poor air so let us know whether or not you get a bit of a headache when you visit the bottom, please!

The iron ladder(s) - there's only one that I know of - leads...... well, you'll just have to find out, won't you?...  :tease:

 

[stealth]

capn chris thanks for the warning we wil certainly check it out and post back to you. Just as a cautionary thing do think it wise i let my kids down there or check it out myself first. does it take long to be affected by bad air, ive never experienced it ( Lucky me)

 

[kay]

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! 

I understand you perfectly there. I find it so difficult to explain to people who don't have any such fears why the winch down Gaping Gill is OK whereas a free climb down about 12 ft into Mistral is a definite no-no.

 

[cap n chris]

capn chris thanks for the warning we wil certainly check it out and post back to you. Just as a cautionary thing do think it wise i let my kids down there or check it out myself first. does it take long to be affected by bad air, ive never experienced it ( Lucky me)

No problemo with whoever goes as it's quite short. I've only been down there a couple of times and got a tight headache which cleared instantly when I got back into Water Chamber; being the lowest part of the cave (as the air flows) it seems to act as a heavy gas trap (i.e. CO2). Since it's pretty nearly horizontal there's no great hazard posed by it.

 

[stealths son]

yep went down goat church yesterday and i didn't do the drainpipe i only went to the water chamber and waited above the bit that leads to the drainpipe  for the rest of the gang to come back up! a group went down just after the other 4 (my group)they had gone down from the water chamber and toward the D/P  (any one on the forum go down goat church yesterday?i saw 2 groups and three people  without any gear  but just hand torches)

 

[ditzy 24//7]

went through the drainpipe yesterday feet first on my back found it very hard to do it that way i think next time i will crawl instead its a lot easier that way! 

 

[stealth]

Hows this for flexibility Spongebob can actually turn round in the drainpipe. In he went feet first then after a  couple of grunts he turned completely over mid way and came out the other end head first. how many other cavers are that flexy?

 

[ditzy 24//7]

i was behind spongebob when he done that i couldnt beleve he actually managed to turn around in such a small space

 

[Judi Durber]

I had been told there are 2 long tight tube crawls in Goatchurch.  The Drainpipe & Ratrun.

The Drainpipe a long tube you can crawl down with nice black shiny walls and room to turn round in at the end (or 3 small people to sit in)
The Ratrun being a similar long tube but tighter with gravel bottom & no nice shiny walls.

Is this true as you all seem to be only talking about one tube?   

I also know the 'Vee' as the 'jack knife' (if it is the same place) and it is possibly easier up from water chamber as long as you enter it on the the correct side, left, (correct me if I am wrong Ian) and I won't be doing it again unless I have to.  :yucky:

I also thought there was a 'Bloody tight II' (and possibly III)  is this correct?  :-\

Oh Chris i am so looking forward to your book coming out. 

 

[andymorgan]

I've never heard of the Ratrun. The Drainpipe has smooth walls AND a gravel floor though. You could probably get more than 3 people into the chamber at the end though!
    T have never heard of Bloody Tight II and III, although there is a Hellish tight: the tight tube from the bottom of the water chamber to the small chamber with the fixed ladder down. I have heard rumours of a F***ing Tight, but my sources are a little unreliable.

 

[ditzy 24//7]

i have never heard of thr ratrun can anybody tell me what that is?

 

[whitelackington]

I have never heard of goatchurch, is it in Yorkshire?

 

[ditzy 24//7]

goatchurch cavern is in the mendips i think thats in summerset im not positive though

 

[stealth]

I have never heard of goatchurch, is it in Yorkshire?

poor ditzy  she trusts everyone   

 

[andymorgan]

I don't think the Ratrun exists at least in terms as an official name.

What was the name Balch called the Drainpipe? I recall him telling a story of his friend getting stuck in it as he had an apple in his pocket...