Most challenging cave in the Peaks.

[Max bowen]

I’m gonna carry on calling it the peaks now I know it bugs people

 

[alastairgott]

Merry christmas, I mixed them knowingly so that everyone didn't think I had only walked into jugholes and decided it's easy, the peaks (always peaks) is just easier a commute than Yorkshire. To put your minds at ease I'm not just jumping in with trainers and a climbing harness, I just enjoy more sporting trips and am looking at potentially doing the LCMLA next year. We are also in the final stages of setting up our caving club with the BCA and there are a few members that are more experienced and want to try more sporting trips having done the freeze squeeze and getting to the bottom of the bell chamber in Odin's.

Where the photo in your profile pic HSI? Looks cool! I’d be keen to go on that trip.

Maybe not a hard trip but one of our silliest was going to the calver crossroads and loading up on a load of sweets before having a swing at the playground at the bottom end of coomes dale. Then dropping down flower pot to come out of gin in carlswark, but instead crossing over into Merlin’s and free climbing out - and getting the sugar crash around the time to free climb out.

Thinking about coomes dale have a crack at fatigue pot, not well travelled and one for a strong nose. Depends on what challenge you want - if you want the challenge of strong smells in the entrance and a chance of meeting an animal badger (as apposed to the buttered ones) then fatigue may make your list.

 

[tdobson]

I always find "challenge" a fun one to quantify.

I know
strong cavers who tend to find spiders or bugs their weak point.
Cavers who love heights but hates ducks.
Cavers who hate heights but love squeezes.
Cavers who love water but won't climb.
Cavers who love SRT but struggle with unroped traverses. etc etc.

What kind of caving do you actually want to do? I started writing a list of the most unappealing pieces of cave I know, and if you want test pieces - that's chill - there's plenty available, and plenty that will hand you your arse back (potentially with DCRO's intervention).

But if you're looking for trips you regard as fun - what are the trips you personally are finding fun at the moment? What bits do you like/dislike/find challenging?

In the event you don't get round to replying, go do Sidetrack and let us know what you thought of it. [p.s. before someone kicks off, it's not remotely the most challenging cave in the peak district, but OP might enjoy it]

 

[alastairgott]

I’m gonna carry on calling it the peaks now I know it bugs people

Read your name too quickly just then, thought it was “max brown”. Thought that would be a good caving nickname.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

I’m gonna carry on calling it the peaks now I know it bugs people

To be extra irritating... If someone corrects you and starts explaining the origin of the name and the Anglo Saxon tribe of the Pecsætan "Peaklanders" (yawn!), you put them to rights saying "yes the tribe were named after the Peaks so it is the Peaks then isn't it" - which will immensely frustrate and annoy your historian and they probably give up speaking to you ever again in contempt. That actually proves Peak in the singular but the conversation will have been killed by that point

 

[JonP]

Hi all, looking for the best/most challenging srt, squeezes, ducks. Crossed off nettle pot to Derbyshire Hall, Odin's mine, Giants hole (need to return for the chamber of horrors) , alumn pot etc. Looking to do Maskhill mine and gaping gill next year but want to find some other gems to put ourselves too the test. Thankyou in advance

Cussey Pot provides all that you desire. A trip through to the Master Cave, including a tour de doom and exit in Stoney should kill you off.