If i go through, will i get back??

[cap n chris]

Hmm, well to be honest I've never been there and, given descriptions, never intend to go there either. I enjoy caving and wish it to remain that way. I seem to recall you can only do it upwards i.e. from sump 5 towards Shatter Pot since some ducks require bailing and can only be done from the downslope side - hope this makes sense. Given that Blue Pencil is "do-able" for pie-eaters I wouldn't care to do this other route just for the sake of it.

 

[Stupot]

You are probably right, i mean it really does look evil and at just under
100m long i am sure it is no walk in the park.

I will need to get through Sump 4 first, and that does'nt look easy, i have been told that it's quite tight and regs are a must have, and apparently Sump 5 is three air spaces in low water. :roll:

I may just have to go to "Swyne Puke Passage", what a great name!!!!

Stu

 

[SamT]

http://www.grantham.karoo.net/paul/graves/neilmoss.htm

Reasonable account of the tale.

Im sure I read a much more in depth account recently somewhere - cant find it though.

Moss chamber is a really nice part of peak. Has a certain atmosphere that is in no way morbid or spooky.

 

[Stu]

It's only a game by Jim Eyre has quite a detailed account.

 

[Stupot]

A truely sad story, and it's diificult to imagine what must of being through his mind in those final minutes, but the fact he died doing something he was obviously passionate about must of given his family and friends some
comfort.

I think the mind would just run wild, and when they say your life flashes before you in these situations.... i think they are right.

Even when i get slightly stuck, thoughts of missing Emerdale is terrifiying!!

Stu.

 

[Dave H]

thoughts of missing Emerdale is terrifiying

The last time I saw it, the opening credits had a ewe with a tupping harness on it (the holder for the crayon worn by the ram, so that you can see which ewe's the ram has visited)

through his mind in those final minutes

I think that like drowning, the oxygen starved brain starts to hallucinate, so slipping into unconsciousness shouldn't be too stressful. But unlike MP's with prostitutes and plastic bags, I won't be trying it!

 

[cap n chris]

There's a 60 foot free hang abseil from the top of Swyne Puke down into Shatter Pot (new p-hangers fitted recently apparently) but you can lock off half way down and pendulum across to the top of Shatter Pot instead if you prefer - apparently it's one of Sparrow's favourite trips. I haven't done it yet. The way up to Swyne Puke is another slightly dodgy route according to the guide - try to send a silly person first.

 

[Rob]

but my advice is wachout if the water is flowing

a) you get cold as dose your mate bhined you waitting to have a go at tight bit.

Oh yes, i seem to remember this bit Hoorah. I think my advice if you're caving in small wet bits with a friend a little bigger than you is to go first.

 

[Stupot]

But what if your mate who is larger than you gets stuck in a squeeze you have just been through, and you are now presented with an impassable squeeze in front of you, water rising around your head and pie features acting as a large neoprene clad plug behind you :shock:

I am a caver get me out of here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stu.

 

[Rob]

I guess at least you can kick him in the right direction!

 

[angelmaz11]

Interesting thoughts. I thought I'd share my experience.

I am still a novice I know and have yet lots to learn.
Last March I was in Tyning's Barrows Swallet, Mendips and found myself going uphill into the very tight Velcro Passage. My more experienced caving mates and I thought that we could make a through trip into Hare's Chamber (not having read the description properly and only looked at survey - v misleading). Little did we know that it was impassable. Anyway as we went through the slightly ascending 120m of the passage, which was very narrow and sharp, we ended up into a dead-end VERY UNSTABLE boulder choke.
Much to our disappointment we headed back out the way we came in. This time of course sloping slightly downhill! As inexperienced as I was I went head first and so gravity (god damn it) dragged me down and got me stuck. It took me around 45min go get out. The problem was that my foot was stuck in an awkward position in which I could not twist it. Also, due to the passage being so tight, my friends could not get to me to help me out or get passed me to get help from outside. Finally somehow -after some rocks nearly fell onto me as it was so unstable - I got out.

If you want an experience, think about how u are going to attempt it first before actually attempting it!

I have learned a lot since then. I try to remember where my arms are and which way I can or cannot bend.

They say a caver becomes experienced as you go along. There is no way someone can explain how to get through until u've actually done it yourself. It's an interesting experience to get stuck and to have to worry about how to get out.

Try it, let me know if anyone's been down Tyning's Barrows Swallett.

xxx

 

[Sewer Rat]

Did you manage to keep your cool,
or did you loose it and ask sombody to sort out the arrangments,

Do you think you would not have got stuck coming out backwards.
I only ask because my second caving trip is This Saturday, South wales :shock:

 

[paul]

Did you manage to keep your cool,
or did you loose it and ask sombody to sort out the arrangments,

Do you think you would not have got stuck coming out backwards.
I only ask because my second caving trip is This Saturday, South wales :shock:

I had a nice experience in South Wales (I'm not trying to put you off- you just reminded me!)

Many years ago when I was a beginner, we were poking around in Eglwys Faen (I think - anyway it was on the Llangattock escarpment) and I followed a guy called Dave. Dave found a tube about 4 feet or so off the ground and headed in. I followed. There was a tight right-angle bend which we both passed - he easily as he was 5 foot 4 or so and skinny, me with more difficulty being 6 foot 4. Anyway, we continued for a short distance and Dave announced it was a dead end. Luckily for him there was a local widening in which he could turn around. I couldn't make use of this as I was too long plus Dave was in the way.

We decided to retrace out steps and I had to head out backwards. No problems until that right-angle bend! I poked my legs through but somehow could not get any further as my thighs were jamming completely on both sides of the passage.

I tried and tried different combinations, laying on my right, laying on my left, legs high, legs low, for over 45 minutes but no luck. The only consolation was the miserable look on Dave's face as he realised he to was stuck in that passage if I couldn't get out as he could not pass me!

Anyway, with one more effort, laying on my right-hand side, with the right-angle bend going behind me to the right, I pushed like hell with my hands against the left-hand wall and forced my legs through. It got to the stage where I was sure my back would break as I tried to make progress as my thighs jammed once more.

Then suddenly my left leg found a widening around the bend and I popped through easily. It was a bit like a key in a lock - if you were in exactly the right position it was easier.

Anyway - the look on Dave's face as he realised he, too, was free was worth it all!

 

[Stupot]

Hey Paul, that sounds exactly like the right angle in Blue Pencil Passage, if you approach it on your right hand side going down your legs just won't bend the other way, no matter how much you wriggle, although i find cursing everything thats near me at the time including my mate usally helps a little.

I recently found another horrible tight muddy tube off the beaten track, but this time it decended quite steeply with many sharp bends, now the width wasnt an issue probably around 3ft wide but the hieght was very low, this proved a problem as due to it's steepness i had to go down feet first with no helmet etc, and due to the low cieling my head was just forced to one side and everything was done by feeling with my feet, now as this was a muddy tube i was sliding down with little effort untill my left leg down into a tighter section and forcing it to bend the other way :shock:

That was it fun over i'am getting out, but as this was a decending muddy tube with very little room for movement and bloody slippery could i get my leg out ........
could i hell is like, i wiggled and wiggled until i felt SICK.
Eventually i freed my leg (how i dont know!!), and shot out of that hole
feeling slighlty shaken to say the least

And yet again i find out that it's an unsurveyed passage with know name and probably goes NOWHERE.

Stu.

 

[Wolfart]

I don't think there are many cavers that have not had a sticky moment in there caving life ,one i remember well was my first trip into little Neath river cave when someone well in front of me blocked of the stream passage in the entrance passage thus causing the water to rise visibly in front of me, it nearly turned the water brown. Also in Goatchurch in the drainpie when others followed me in cuttng off the air supply,many thought's went through my head. All in all its a big learning curve.

 

[angelmaz11]

Did you manage to keep your cool,
or did you loose it and ask sombody to sort out the arrangments,

Do you think you would not have got stuck coming out backwards.
I only ask because my second caving trip is This Saturday, South wales :shock:

Hi Sewer Rat.
Yes I did keep my cool, tho I did swear quite a bit for the first 15minutes. I then realised I couldnt do much so just layed there for a while, resting. I guess u have to try and relax otherwise u'll use up all ur excess energy. I would most defnitely not have got stuck going through backwards legs first. My friends keep taking the piss, so I will lead them down there and show them the place (maybe they'll take the piss even more, or maybe they'll struggle, will be interesting to see).

Did u enjoy South Wales? Where did u stay and which caves did u visit? Im going this weekend for 3 days. Can't wait!!!!!

xxx Marion

 

[caverholic]

Anyone been through Helish Tight in goatchurch in Mendip?
Was quite a squeeze but manage to pop out the otherside which unfortuneatly was a drop down.

If anyone wants to give it a try, you can prove your worth by telling me the make of the chocolate bar that fell out of my helmet and into the pot in the floor half way along . Bring it out and i'll be amazed.

:shock:

 

[pisshead]

I'm pretty sure I went through - you were there I recall...2 years ago there's lots of fun stuff's fallen out of people's pockets etc.

 

[Sewer Rat]

Angelmaz11
As ever wales was excellent
3 trips over 2 days.
But i had best be a good boy and
post the trip in trip reports

 

[cap n chris]

I know where there's a camera in a tight bit in Hilliers. All you need is a length of bamboo, some sticky tape and extra sensory perception and it's yours!