Mossdale solo.

[Jenbob83]

Right im quite a experience mine explorer. Done loads of lovely tight twisty very iffy mines. Inclyding a few that you can get very very lost in, used to using map etc. Feel i know wat im doing etc. Do most of my tips solo etc. Do lots of srt etc
Any way just been watching caving videos on youtube and it looks like fun. Looks lots safer as well tbh as half of it isnt held up with rotten wood and good will. Having completed the most extream mines in Cornwall im looking for a new challenge. Wanted to know just how hard it is. As intended to do it this summer and want to know what to expect, and if any one has any tips etc
I know people will say dont do it etc but im the kind if person that taught them selves to absail of a viaduct one afternoon. Thanks

 

[Pitlamp]

Erm, I'm not going to say don't do it - but Mossdale has many hazards of its own, which are different from those in rickety mines. The worst accident ever in British caving took place there in 1967. Six blokes, all very experienced, sadly drowned.

My advice would be to get at least a few warm up caving trips (of a similar nature) under your belt before going to Mossdale. When you do, I'd also strongly advise finding someone to go with who knows the cave well (particularly the flooding characteristics). It's not a place to take on lightly. In some ways summer may be the most dangerous time of all, depending what the weather's done in the weeks leading up to the planned trip day.

A companion who does know the cave well will also be familiar with the access situation (i.e. what to do and especially what not to do).

Take care . . .

 

[Roger W]

Mossdale? Simon Beck on this forum could be the man to talk to.

 

[Simon Beck]

I couldn't have said it better myself Pitlamp.

Of late i'm not the only regular visitor at Mossdale, so far from the only person who can help but, after a break from activity this past twelve months, I am planning on a return to sone extent his coming Spring. If you're serious and haven't found others I would suggest getting in touch nearer the time.

Si

 

[Jenbob83]

Hi thanks the the nice messages. Im going to do a few littel caves first lol.

I couldn't have said it better myself Pitlamp.

Of late i'm not the only regular visitor at Mossdale, so far from the only person who can help but, after a break from activity this past twelve months, I am planning on a return to sone extent his coming Spring. If you're serious and haven't found others I would suggest getting in touch nearer the time.

Si

Thanks ill pm you. Happy to give you the locations of some super secret Cornish mines in exchange. Xx

 

[me]

Jenbob83, if you are "going to do a few little caves first." you can't go very wrong by going into all corners and levels of Pridhamsleigh which is slightly closer to Cornwall & has quite a few 'challenges' in it's depths.
You could then work up to going into Otter Hole. Next years calendar isn't up yet but when it is , see if one of your local clubs are going and have a space.
Happy Caving

 

[The Old Ruminator]

An odd one and usually the other way around. Many caves are on private land and its at least good manners to be aware of things. Pridhamsleigh was noted but there you have to cross private land to get to it and leave a fee. I have been caving for 60 years and still get into the odd difficulty. Hopefully you are aware of conservation issues and have proper kit. You do sound a bit gung ho. Solo diving and caving requires proper thought and risk awareness. Kit redundancy etc. I am mindful of the club member who fell down the short waterfall climb in Swildons and broke his leg whilst on a solo trip. He had to crawl out of the cave and across several fields to get help. I always thought caving centred around being with like minded people and having fun. I am not sure what the lure of going alone is.

 

[Tangent_tracker]

Right im quite a experience mine explorer. Done loads of lovely tight twisty very iffy mines. Inclyding a few that you can get very very lost in, used to using map etc. Feel i know wat im doing etc. Do most of my tips solo etc. Do lots of srt etc
Any way just been watching caving videos on youtube and it looks like fun. Looks lots safer as well tbh as half of it isnt held up with rotten wood and good will. Having completed the most extream mines in Cornwall im looking for a new challenge. Wanted to know just how hard it is. As intended to do it this summer and want to know what to expect, and if any one has any tips etc
I know people will say dont do it etc but im the kind if person that taught them selves to absail of a viaduct one afternoon. Thanks

Can I recomend you consider joining a club? Cavers are good folks and you will get valuable information, along with new skills to better your ability to explore - A good example would be requiring ropes for pitches that you cannot carry on your own...
Regards Mossdale, I always thought parts were considered a grave site and so trips are generally not the top of everyone's list, or at least are not pubicilly discussed but I might be wrong here....

But clubs are a fantastic place to learn about the "do's and don'ts", and you also learn to respect a community that puts huge resorces into keeping places safe and open to all, which a lot of none-club explorers tend not to know, and hence you get future problems with access when lots of videos and access details appear all over the place.

Respect for coming on here and asking though. Just don't underestimate cave systems as while they appear safer than mines, in some cases they can catch even the most experienced out, and Mossdale, along with the local climate is one I would not want to do without the most experienced of cavers!

 

[ChrisJC]

Right im quite a experience mine explorer. Done loads of lovely tight twisty very iffy mines. Inclyding a few that you can get very very lost in, used to using map etc. Feel i know wat im doing etc. Do most of my tips solo etc. Do lots of srt etc

I also consider myself an experienced mine explorer, and I have done quite a bit of caving as well.
I make the point that although caves and mines are underground, there are a lot of differences, e.g.:
- Caves have a tendency to flood, on account of being either current or old watercourses. Mines usually have static water levels in them, with little variation with rainfall.
- Mines are loose / sketchy etc, whereas caves tend to be quite stable.
- Mines were made to be 'human' sized, caves weren't
- Permission to access caves is generally pretty good. Mines are generally accessed without permission!
- Fixed rigging in caves is usually maintained, and could be relied upon, e.g. P-bolts. In mines however, there is a lot of really dodgy old tat around, which only a fool would rely on!

I have never visited Mossdale, but I have this idea that it's a flood prone death trap. That's probably why I've never been in!

Chris.

 

[mossdale_enthusiast]

I'm also quite an experienced mine explorer and I've done Mossdale three times. Just don't forget to take a first aid kit.

 

[IanWalker]

im looking for a new challenge. Wanted to know just how hard it is.

Hard is so subjective - what challenges one person can be easy for another. But having a Grade V and inclusion in Not For the Faint Hearted should be a clue that it traditionally it is a trip deserving respect. Like others above, I would suggest this is a trip for experienced cavers. I would suggest getting some other caving trips under your belt before tackling Mossdale solo.

As intended to do it this summer and want to know what to expect, and if any one has any tips etc

Expect flood prone passages, expect to get wet, expect crawling, expect to be many hours from the entrance. Be super aware of the weather forecast and recent weather conditions, snowmelt, thunderstorms. Recommend setting a short turnaround time or location limit on your first forays (eg 1 hour, 2 hours, Bouder Hall, Rough Chamber). Suggest taking a waterproof (laminated) description and survey, possibly with a backup of each stored in a different pocket or pouch. Recommend buying Not For The Faint Hearted guidebook for the description, and studying the surveys on CaveMaps.

Good luck!

https://starlessriver.com/shop/not-for-the-faint-hearted/
http://www.cavemaps.org/cavesnc1.htm

 

[psychocrawler]

Mossdale solo -
pros: no tackle to carry, great varied Yoredale experience, huge potential for extension
cons: flood liability, overhyped reputation for difficulty due to a general aversion to crawling
If you do, rule 1 is don’t f*** up (meteorologically or physically) and rule 2 is be prepared to turn back at any point (there is always a next time).

 

[Jenbob83]

Hi again and thanks for all the Replies it’s so nice to get some sane answers. I’m going up to Devon next week because I want to go to a couple of mines but I’m going to go to the cave mentioned as well just for a bit of extra practice.
I chose the cave because it’s got a spectacular reputation but still looks doable and my mine exploring friends all know what it is
My main concern is getting too cold as if your lost you can just wondering to find the right way if you get too cold you can be in real trouble.
I’m going to attempt it in three days to the first third first and the second third together with the first third and finaly the whole thing.
This is an approach I have applied to other adventures that I’ve been and it seems to work quite well

I have never visited Mossdale, but I have this idea that it's a flood prone death trap. That's probably why I've never been in!

This sums up why I want to do it 🙂
Jen 🙂🙂🙂

 

[Pitlamp]

There's a lot to be said for your cautious, incremental approach.

Hypothermia is one of the potential hazards in Mossdale, as in many other caves. I'm sure you'll be very aware of what follows from your mine exploring but regularly looking back on the way in so you recognise things on the way out helps avoid confusion (and resulting delays which can bring on hypothermia). Perhaps creating small, temporary cairns periodically as well would help - but take them apart on the way out and don't mark a cave in any permanent way, for conservation reasons.

 

[Alex]

Attempt it in 3 days, do you mean Mossdale I hope you are not serious? In this weather is a no go, don't bother mate, you won't even get in. At-least wait until stable weather (spring is the best time). At best you will just have a wasted drive, at worse you will end up seeing my ugly mush underground as me and the rest of UWFRA come to try and get you out, and you don't want to see my ugly mush!

In all seriousness though, don't, not right now. You should avoid Mossdale until A) Weather has been dry for a while and B) You can be 100% certain it won't rain as your life really does depend on it. At the moment everywhere is very saturated up here, it might not be like that down in Devon, but trust me is bloody wet because of this, the slightest amount of rain will run off and fill the cave with you in it!

 

[Pitlamp]

I think he was referring to three progressively longer trips, to learn the place and go further each time.

But I still think the OP would be safer and get more from the experience by arranging a visit with someone very familiar with the system.

 

[Alex]

You just need to look at what the rivers are like, this is yesterday, and it's due to rain quite a bit on Saturday.

https://webcam.io/webcams/zKaEg9/2023-01-04

 

[Alex]

But I still think the OP would be safer and get more from the experience by arranging a visit with someone very familiar with the system.

Very true, although I have done a bit of solo caving in there it was not until I had been in there probably at least 5 times with others, before I attempted it on my own.

One tip if you do it, with others or not in the Spring is a Neo-fleece is a must as they keep you warm and more importantly have built in knee pads!

I think he was referring to three progressively longer trips, to learn the place and go further each time.

Ahh, phew! (also I think he's a she, but in these modern times one does not want to presume)

 

[Pitlamp]

My apologies to the OP if Alex is right!

 

[David Rose]

Late spring/early summer in a period of stable dry weather has another advantage over the obvious reduction in flood potential. The water will be warmer.