Hey Mr Dinwiddy, haven't visited the site much recently, so apologies for late response.
There are three to write up, but nothing of significance, will summarise here.
Sessions 76-77 were both productive. Scattered excavations were made at the 'Notch', vicinity of during session 76. This area was found to link with the lowest chamber, 'Last Resort'. Bits of surveying were done on both visits. The Boiler Room (aka Early Starter) was quickly surveyed first thing Sesh76, and long overdue having only been entered a few times prior. This chamber was the first discovery early on in the project, entered via a tiered rift climb above the scaffold/choked rift. A section of passage previously missed, heading northwards, formed between blocks, was investigated to a squeeze over pointed boulder, and appearing blind ahead, though I couldn't be 100%, the righthand ?, beyond squeeze was out of view. I was eager to continue work at the notch after a long lay-off, session 75 Nov18, so left the partially attempted gendarme for another day.
The 'North East Branch' from Featherstone Ch' was surveyed and probed session 77, and tough going with abundant seepage & morale sapping mud. Looking back I was far from 100% health but got stuck in as usual. Trial holes were made in the false mud/boulder floor, and a small passage noted to one side. The outlet of Last Resort was surmised to link with this, and the better of the two sites to push. Headed out a shivering wreck with some I-phone photography in Boulder Hall to warm back up, before the Swims back out.
Both the above were around the 4.5/5hr mark.
Invigorating they both certainly were, and even after the lay off, relaxed as if going for the milk.
Alex Ritchie visited and filmed the journey to the choke in March, after a monster flood, but failed to find the way on via the squeeze to the White Hotel.
Although sceptical, I knew there was a possibility the capped boulder, key to the original breakthrough and abandoned to one side, had shifted allowing debris build up to occur.
Under considerably poor health, compared to usual, a quick visit several days later (78) was made with the way on found to be still open. I could see how easy it would be to miss.
An inspection was made of the lower choke to assess whether flooding had opened anything up. A few close calls were had with some large loose boulders.
Any visitors here should be on their guard. Flooding will no doubt have a significant effect on this area, with the opening of something that was a debris choked bottle neck before.
I will try get the survey complete over coming days.
Had I known Session 78 would be my last trip, I'd have at least tidied up, and said goodbye to something that's been my primary motivation for a long time, and stretches back to a promise made during those early visits to the site. Caving for sport and conditioning etc... diverted me, then I burnt out and lost the direction necessary for a good number of years.
Interest was rekindled at the site late 2015, and aside from the odd break, I haven't stopped since then. Around 90+ visits since 2015, for Sport, Mossdale Telecom and the Sessions.
In the end it wasn't Mossdale that got me, but myself. I self medicated with outdoor sports for the most part, but got greedy etc...
I flipped my future the bird in my late teens and it finally caught up with me. I saw it coming way back but always had enough stability to just keep my head above water.
I had the opportunity of a bright(er) future, new career, when the sessions were beginning to gather pace, and purposely sabotaged it, choosing Mossdale instead. A last ditch attempt to make the most of all those years, living and preparing in the present, not giving a damn about the future. I can't complain, was a full time job throughout spring/Summer 2018!
Go forth and thrash!
