Ireby Fell

[Samouse1]

Hello wonderful folk, I’ve been chatting with the wonderful David Ramsay at work, and have gotten my heart set on a couple of trips down Ireby. Couple of questions about the conditions.

1) Cripple Creek. Has anyone had a look at the ropes and hangers in here? Or the ones up to Jupiter? Dave wasn’t sure if the CC hangers were stainless, and wasn’t sure if the vintage of the rope into Jupiter.

2) The connection to Rift. Has this been done by anyone since the TCGT? What are the chances of it being passable(ish)? I’ve read some threads where they needed to dig it out again, but also one where it had been worked on to avoid it silting up.

If anyone has info on either of these, I’d be grateful!

 

[AlexR]

Can't tell you about the hangers into Jupiter, but the rope is very thick - I'd say 11mm, so I wouldn't be too concerned about their age. 2 years ago they were in perfectly good condition.
I was too concerned my child bearing hips wouldn't fit through the Rift connection, but I've heard it's wonderful - enjoy.

 

[georgenorth]

Hello wonderful folk, I’ve been chatting with the wonderful David Ramsay at work, and have gotten my heart set on a couple of trips down Ireby. Couple of questions about the conditions.

1) Cripple Creek. Has anyone had a look at the ropes and hangers in here? Or the ones up to Jupiter? Dave wasn’t sure if the CC hangers were stainless, and wasn’t sure if the vintage of the rope into Jupiter.

2) The connection to Rift. Has this been done by anyone since the TCGT? What are the chances of it being passable(ish)? I’ve read some threads where they needed to dig it out again, but also one where it had been worked on to avoid it silting up.

If anyone has info on either of these, I’d be grateful!

As I remember the bolts in Cripple Creek were Petzl stainless steel ones. I’ve not been through for at least 10 years though so could be remembering wrong! Even if they’re not SS, I wouldn’t be too concerned about them personally.

I’d be very surprised if much has changed in the Ireby - Rift connection - i.e. it will be wet and muddy! I’d recommend looking at the Ireby end first before committing to a through trip.

Hope that helps,

George.

 

[Alex]

It's all academic anyway as it's never going to be dry enough. I still want to do the through trip to Rift should such a rare thing happen, but it was almost completely blocked last time, I can't recall how long ago that was so it won't help you that much.

 

[Loki]

Which bit is maybe getting blocked? The initial low cobbly bit at the ireby end, the next low bit after 100m or so, or the squalid wallow/duck before popping up into rift prior to the triangular squeeze? If it’s the last one that ought to be easily dug from the ireby side with tools and a baler. We did it from the rift side originally using rubblesacks full of gloop to make a dam then bailing it out behind the makeshift dam. The cobbly one has been bypassed but I’ve not been since that was done, or since George and Neil lowered the floor prior to the middle bit (where we made the connection).
It’d be a shame to let this thru trip get blocked again, it’s a real gem with duck, gloop, testing squeezes, dodgy boulder chokes, crawling, crawling, pitches, crawling. Did I mention crawling?

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

TCGT

What is that?

 

[Ian P]

What is that?

Three Counties Great Traverse.

Some pictures here

3Cs Traverse – Google Drive

drive.google.com

 

[georgenorth]

Which bit is maybe getting blocked? The initial low cobbly bit at the ireby end, the next low bit after 100m or so, or the squalid wallow/duck before popping up into rift prior to the triangular squeeze? If it’s the last one that ought to be easily dug from the ireby side with tools and a baler. We did it from the rift side originally using rubblesacks full of gloop to make a dam then bailing it out behind the makeshift dam. The cobbly one has been bypassed but I’ve not been since that was done, or since George and Neil lowered the floor prior to the middle bit (where we made the connection).
It’d be a shame to let this thru trip get blocked again, it’s a real gem with duck, gloop, testing squeezes, dodgy boulder chokes, crawling, crawling, pitches, crawling. Did I mention crawling?

I’d imagine that Alex went prior to us lowering the floor in 2017?

As I said in my original post, I’d recommend looking from the Ireby end first - all of the mud traps are easier dug from this (downstream) side.

I’m planning on having another go at the dig in Slipstream this spring, so I’ll report back to confirm it’s open, if nobody else does in the meantime.

 

[Samouse1]

I’d imagine that Alex went prior to us lowering the floor in 2017?

As I said in my original post, I’d recommend looking from the Ireby end first - all of the mud traps are easier dug from this (downstream) side.

I’m planning on having another go at the dig in Slipstream this spring, so I’ll report back to confirm it’s open, if nobody else does in the meantime.

Planning to have a look from the ireby end next weekend, for a possible through trip weekend after, weather allowing. Will report back.

Did any work have to be done on it to reopen it prior to the TCGT?

 

[thehungrytroglobite]

I’d imagine that Alex went prior to us lowering the floor in 2017?

As I said in my original post, I’d recommend looking from the Ireby end first - all of the mud traps are easier dug from this (downstream) side.

I’m planning on having another go at the dig in Slipstream this spring, so I’ll report back to confirm it’s open, if nobody else does in the meantime.

What is a mud trap

 

[Loki]

Think sump but gloopy mud instead of water. We were very fortunate to start the project at the start of 6 months with no rain int dales which made digging out the middle bit easier than it could have been. 2 weeks after we made the connection it rained and filled to the roof with water.

 

[Samouse1]

Went for a little trip down Ireby today, to have a gander at the easier end of the connection. Got down Well pitch (rigged with two in situ ropes, I get one insitu if there’s a project down there, but 2??) and then headed into new ground (for me) at the Transpennine express.

I’m quite surprised I’ve not noticed it in previous trips, it’s a fairly obvious capped passage! Upon hitting the first junction, I was hit by the putrid stench of Death, and soon found the culprit, a poor frog who has decided to die in the middle of the narrow crawl. Once it was buried in the mud, I pressed on up, passing some pretty formations and the going got easier. Soon I found a digging bucket and a roll of tape, and thought I must be close. The passage gets smaller, narrower and muddier, making me question a) if I was in the right place, and b) my sanity for enjoying this hobby. A few corners and a fair amount of wriggling later, I popped into a bigger section again, and was climbing over Unadulterated passage to the duck beyond.

So to sum up, the connection point is open, draughting, and as muddy as described! Hopefully I’ll do a through trip soon.