Jug Holes lower none surveyed section

[Abc]

Was in Jug Holes recently in the lower series going from the entrance pitch and exiting through the adit entrance.

In the third water cavern I took a wrong turn, missed the entrance for the traverse and ended up in a series of mining passageways.

I quickly realised my mistake and turned around to find the traverse, but interested if anyone has explored the unsurveyed section here?

Interested to explore it but I’ve heard sections of Jug Holes can be very complicated and hard to navigate so interested to get information from anyone who has been down there.

Photo shows approx location where I found the entrance.

 

[mch]

The same thing happened to me and a friend some years ago, except that we were going in the opposite direction, from the adit through to exit up the entrance pitch. We only had a quick look at these passages and I intended to come back end explore them fully when I had more time. Of course, as is usual with these things, I've never got round to it. As far as I know they don't appear on any published survey. I shall be interested to see the replies to your post.

 

[phizz4]

There is a report here that seems to be about the same area.

Report - - Jug Holes Cave/Mine Part II - Derbyshire - Sept 2021 | Underground Sites

Jug Holes Cave/Mine Part II - Derbyshire - Sept 2021 I did say we would be back... This report is mainly aimed at people who want to explore the undocumented parts... If you have not intention of doing so, just stay for the photos. Background/History The Jug Holes system comprises an upper...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

 

[Brains]

That section has a number of "interesting" features including highly suspect timbering and pack walls. Definitely not suitable for the usual clientele on the through trip. For the more experienced explorer a number of small passages and drops may be examined. A rope could be useful for some places, but suitable belays can be hard to locate. Please take great care if you decide on a rummage

 

[Boy Engineer]

Anything in the Op Mole records? That’s the first place I’d check.

 

[owd git]

Anything in the Op Mole records? That’s the first place I’d check.

Take care anyone venturing in t' owd mans area of jug holes. many unstable 'bits' one of which is blocked since a few years back now when I had to hold the roof in place and call our party back from a long stay!!.make sure of informed call out if you proceed. and take care. dont prod owt and you will possibly be ok.. O.G.

 

[Abc]

Thanks all for the information, I was aware of this section having read the mentioned trip report before going to Jug Holes, but actually thought I’d entered a different section of cave due to the slight differences between the two surveys I’ve seen of Jug Holes. Appreciate the clarification and advice around the stability also, will factor this into my decision around weather to proceed further into this section.

 

[speleokitty3]

These mine workings have been explored by different generations of OP Mole.

If you dig back through OP Mole records from 1949-1955 then you might find some references to the "Chain Pitch" at the entrance to this series. There was a chain there for many years and I placed a spit in the early 1980's.

Some of the workings are quite loose as others have mentioned but they are really quite interesting. I once wormed my way through the pack roof in one section to find myself in a cavity above the "roof" this cavity had a boulder and clay roof, and I could see the remains of other walled passages that had either been backfilled or collapsed. I suspect this area was worked out in the heavy sediments at the bottom of one of the 3rd Water Cavern?

If you cross the hole in the floor and work your way down, then you will come to a relatively solid bit of passage that looks more modern. I suspect that this once connected to the "Continuation Level" (the main passage that extends into the hillside beyond the adit) but that it is blocked by a fall where you climb up into the 4th Water Cavern.

If you drop down the pit that you come to after 5th Water Cavern (an old OP Mole Dig) then this leads to another section of passage that heads out under the floor of the 4th water Cavern but ends in a collapse - I wonder how many workings were under there?

I keep meaning to resurvey the whole of Jug Holes, but I need to find some work free time and find someone equally mad to help with the survey.