Missing handline in Bull Pot of the Witches

[JoshW]

Am I going mental or did there used to be an in situ knotted handline in place on the little climb down just after the second pitch in BPOTW?

It wasn’t there today 🤔

 

[langcliffe]

I don't remember one, but I haven't been up those climbs for a year or two.

 

[Samouse1]

There was one there when I went in summer!

 

[langcliffe]

It's quite an elegant move on the bottom climb, but not as elegant as the start of the top climb!

 

[JoshW]

Yeah I think it’s the bottom climb I’m referencing. Generally I’ll ab all the way to the bottom of the first climb (I think - it’s got a single bolt on the right hand wall as you look down it).

The climb below this (in the narrow rift) I’m sure had a rope, just means carrying a rope with me next time I do it as a backup 🤔

 

[IanWalker]

Am I going mental or did there used to be an in situ knotted handline in place on the little climb down just after the second pitch in BPOTW?

If we are thinking of the same place:- we found a rope there on our visit a few weeks ago. It was hogging the bolts and looked like it had been there some time and was not in a good condition. It was cut off and taken out.

...just means carrying a rope with me next time I do it as a backup

I concur - if you want a rope, take a rope (i.e. like all the other pitches/climbs).

Anyway, for others maybe reading this - I think SRT tackle for this climb is included in the CNCC topo, the written CNCC description, and the latest Northern Caves guidebook.

CNCC:

The pitch descends in two drops, via a deviation near the top and a large ledge part way down. There is a rebelay on the right for the final short descent. The rope can be continued down the next climb a short distance ahead, if required to provide assistance.

 

[JoshW]

Ah cool cheers Ian 👍🏼

 

[IanWalker]

I was interested in what the early explorers made of this but couldn't find a written account. If anyone know of one please let me know

I was thinking it might be in the (fabulous) early YRC journals on their website but despite using NC I couldnt find a description

YRC Journal – The Yorkshire Ramblers' Club

www.yrc.org.uk

Northern Caves - Bull Pot of the Witches

Bull Pot of the Witches, Ease Gill - details, exploration history and references.

northerncaves.co.uk

*Braemoor gives a route description for avoiding these pitches that I havent tried but am now minded to investigate.

Ease Gill: Bull Pot of Witches Route Description

Description of a caving route through Bull Pot of Witches, Ease Gill

braemoor.co.uk

 

[Beardy]

I was interested in what the early explorers made of this but couldn't find a written account. If anyone know of one please let me know

I was thinking it might be in the (fabulous) early YRC journals on their website but despite using NC I couldnt find a description

YRC Journal – The Yorkshire Ramblers' Club

www.yrc.org.uk

Northern Caves - Bull Pot of the Witches

Bull Pot of the Witches, Ease Gill - details, exploration history and references.

northerncaves.co.uk

*Braemoor gives a route description for avoiding these pitches that I havent tried but am now minded to investigate.

Ease Gill: Bull Pot of Witches Route Description

Description of a caving route through Bull Pot of Witches, Ease Gill

braemoor.co.uk

Northern Caves - Bull Pot of the Witches

Bull Pot of the Witches, Ease Gill - details, exploration history and references.

northerncaves.co.uk

 

[langcliffe]

I was interested in what the early explorers made of this but couldn't find a written account. If anyone know of one please let me know

I was thinking it might be in the (fabulous) early YRC journals on their website but despite using NC I couldnt find a description

YRC Journal – The Yorkshire Ramblers' Club

www.yrc.org.uk

Northern Caves - Bull Pot of the Witches

Bull Pot of the Witches, Ease Gill - details, exploration history and references.

northerncaves.co.uk

*Braemoor gives a route description for avoiding these pitches that I havent tried but am now minded to investigate.

Ease Gill: Bull Pot of Witches Route Description

Description of a caving route through Bull Pot of Witches, Ease Gill

braemoor.co.uk

Try here and the following pages for details about the explorations. It includes an interesting exchange of letters between Eli Simpson of the B.S.A. and E.E. Roberts of the Y.R.C. about who discovered what!

The Braemoor route describes a tackle-free trip to the sump and back, which involves some interesting climbing on the return trip.

 

[IanWalker]

Try here and the following pages for details about the explorations.

Bingo! Thanks for the link, I had a quick look but will need to revisit when i have more time - E Simpson certainly was thorough. The survey, which seems to be separate from the text, is a work of art. What a great resource the BCRA online archives are.


high res at source https://archives.bcra.org.uk/test.php?level=image&collection=bsa&document=ES100&item=69&zoom=2

Regarding the climbs, I definitely get the impression the early visitors did more climbing of pitches than most current visitors do:
"[Bull Pot of the Witches] ... is rather unique as a pot-hole for with care it can be descended to the bottom, two hundred feet below the surface without the use of any tackle whatever..."

The Braemoor route describes a tackle-free trip to the sump and back, which involves some interesting climbing on the return trip.

I would be interested to try the trip without tackle using the Braemoor guide. Thanks

 

[langcliffe]

What I don't understand about BPoW is what happens to the main surface stream. I've been all along the aqueous parts of the lower stream passage in draught conditions, and there is nowhere obvious that it enters.

 

[langcliffe]

Bingo! Thanks for the link, I had a quick look but will need to revisit when i have more time - E Simpson certainly was thorough. The survey, which seems to be separate from the text, is a work of art. What a great resource the BCRA online archives are.

View attachment 16761
high res at source https://archives.bcra.org.uk/test.php?level=image&collection=bsa&document=ES100&item=69&zoom=2

Incidentally, these images are served from the Cloud, and you may be invited to click on a blank image if the image is not in the archive web server's cache. This is one of the mechanisms used to stop rogue bots from stealing bandwidth.