Mossdale - Ouroborous project

Speleotron

Member
That's exciting! If I understand correctly, there's a thick slab of limestone with the usual famous systems in it like GG and the 3 counties, but on great whernside this slab is underneath a gritstone band and then a layer of less 'cavey' limestone, so the hope is that mossdale or Langcliffe gets below the gritstone into the good stuff beneath?

I'm sure this is hugely simplified and will annoy a geologist but is that the gist of it?
 

Simon Beck

Member
Speleotron said:
That's exciting! If I understand correctly, there's a thick slab of limestone with the usual famous systems in it like GG and the 3 counties, but on great whernside this slab is underneath a gritstone band and then a layer of less 'cavey' limestone, so the hope is that mossdale or Langcliffe gets below the gritstone into the good stuff beneath?

I'm sure this is hugely simplified and will annoy a geologist but is that the gist of it?
Yeah you've got the gist.

The cause of all the breakdown - from where the choke begins (near the existing limit of Piston Chamber) to where I'm presently pushing - appears to be a fault formed along the NW/SE master joint. My guess is, it's still got some way to drop before it goes horizontal again. Work is to recommence over the coming days so watch this space. 
 

Simon Beck

Member
A couple of recent additions, which I've finally found the energy to complete. Two more to go and hopefully a visit this friday for another.

Mossdale Session 71 -  https://simonbeck.blogspot.com/2018/10/mossdale-session-71.html

Mossdale Session 72 - https://simonbeck.blogspot.com/2018/10/mossdale-session-72.html
 

Mr Dinwiddy

Member
Thanks for the updates Simon. I particularly liked the photos in session 71- the lowest chamber looks dark and oppressive.
Thanks also for the information about how active you think your extensions are in flood.  I was going to post to ask you but you covered this clearly in 72. Looking forward to more updates when you can. Your Legends Blog is an epic.
 

Simon Beck

Member
Mr Dinwiddy said:
Thanks for the updates Simon. I particularly liked the photos in session 71- the lowest chamber looks dark and oppressive.
Thanks also for the information about how active you think your extensions are in flood.  I was going to post to ask you but you covered this clearly in 72. Looking forward to more updates when you can. Your Legends Blog is an epic.
Speleotron said:
This is gripping stuff thanks for doing so much writing!

Thanks chaps..

The cave was subject to very severe flooding around the 12/13th Oct, far worse than the one I commented on Session 72. I managed to return the following weekend (session 74) and filmed the Swims in post flood condition. I posted the two segments on youtube a week or two ago, so will add the links below. A little further info on the effects of the flooding down Ouroborous will be included in 74. Cheers

Mossdale Swims part 1  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xjm1jLt3s8&t=159s

part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBylH_u2TJw
 

Alex

Well-known member
Underground for 1:15pm, with what my diary states as an uneventful descent, I'm not sure what I was expecting though with that statement. Considering I moved to Bradford about the same time I began the Mossdale Sessions, I've still visited Mossdale more than I have the local papershop, which should guarantee a Mossdale descent is less eventful than going for the Milk. At the right time of day the latter is probably more dangerous than the former as well.

I can certainly agree with you there, having once cycled through Bradford, well the out-skirts, I concluded it was far safer to go down Mossdale then spending any time in Bradford, and I wished i had spent that particular Sunday doing that instead.
 

Simon Beck

Member
Not many more of these left in the year.

Mossdale Session 73 - https://simonbeck.blogspot.com/2018/11/mossdale-session-73.html

Mossdale Session 74 - https://simonbeck.blogspot.com/2018/11/mossdale-session-74.html
 

Oscar D

Active member
As if the water wasn?t enough to worry about, you say there?s voices in there too?! I admire your determination  :bow:
 

Simon Beck

Member
Mr Dinwiddy said:
Really appreciate the survey at the end of session 75. Brings the previous posts into sharper focus.

It's a case of improving as I go with the surveying/drawing, albeit they will always be on the rough end of the spectrum. Articulating the experience is what's most important about all this for me, and takes most of my energy, nor do I have the need or desire to improve enough to compete with the very high common standard.

I would hope that the younger end of the spectrum, who appear very adept in the art, will take on the challenge of a complete re-survey of the cave.
 

Mr Dinwiddy

Member
Hello Simon
I have been checking your legends session blog now and again and I am delighted to see that you have some more Mossdale trips to report on. Trying not to apply pressure on you to write up, but just a comment that your blogs are appreciated when you do post. Would have commented direct on your legends blog but could not work out how. Regards, DW
 

Simon Beck

Member
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!

 
 

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Simon Beck

Member
The survey so far.

Any recommendations regarding what next would be appreciated. Far from versed with this side of things.

https://simonbeck.blogspot.com/2019/05/mossdale-sessions-survey.html
 

Mr Dinwiddy

Member
Thats a classy survey Mr Beck, especially as most or all of it was done alone and by the sound of the blog in challenging conditions. Thanks for taking the time to draw it up and share it with us. I have said before how it brings context to your commentary and the profile does just that. As for recommendations for whats next I can't offer any advice about the survey (or the project). Go where your will takes you! 
 
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