New Route Guide on the Braemoor Website

[langcliffe]

There is a new route guide for Goyden Pot on the Braemoor website, which provides an alternative to the figure-of-eight route already there. It's a round trip particularly suitable for the old and infirm, who like me, who have difficulty in progressing along the river passage. It is also a route suitable for those who familiar with what the figure-of-eight has to offer, and would like to get to know a little about the more esoteric parts of this complex system.

As always, feedback welcomed.

 

[JasonC]

I'm a big fan of the figure-of-eight route, and look forward to trying this. Cheers!

 

[langcliffe]

Does anyone own up to trying this little gem?

 

[JasonC]

I meant to put it on the club meets list, but forgot due being old and infirm of mind, no doubt. Next time...

 

[langcliffe]

I meant to put it on the club meets list, but forgot due being old and infirm of mind, no doubt. Next time...

It's designed for the old and infirm who, like me, are unable to walk without holding onto something making the main river passage a little too challenging

 

[JasonC]

@langcliffe - having tried out this route today, I must say that your knees, at least, must be extremely firm! I rather unkindly suggested the route to my companion who had never visited Goyden before. In the part where "Enter this with difficulty, and traverse over a hole into a continuation of the passage" - I climbed with great difficulty; he followed more easily, but didn't fancy the traverse over the hole, so we didn't sample the full delights of the route.
As usual, it was extremely clearly documented, but if I may suggest a tiny improvement - after "an elegant step-up on the left", could be added "just before a T-junction" - as we unaccountably managed to pass the elegant step twice without noticing it.
Anyway, many thanks, I can recommend this to Nidderdale aficionados!

 

[langcliffe]

Thank you for your feedback! It's a fun route, and certainly adds a new dimension to the Goyden experience. Fortunately, it's one I no longer need now that I have a brand new ankle and can get along the main river passage again.

I can't remember a T-Junction where one leaves Carbide Tin Passage to emerge at the base of the 20' climb, and there isn't one marked on the survey. It gets low and aqueous after the step-up for a few metres, and there is an obscure connection with a pit descending from the Worm Drive after about five metres on the left (not marked on the survey), so maybe it's that you're referring to.

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However, I will try to make it clearer that one should be specifically looking for a "hole up to the right before the passage degenerates, marked by a pile of shingle at the base".

It's a pity that your mate didn't fancy the step across, as once in the continuing passage and through a wriggle, the way eases, and only three minutes to New Stream Passage.

I'm pleased that you seem to have found the route back to Five Ways Chamber, because that connecting passage is a little intimidating if you don't know where you're going. When I first did it, I had a colleague guiding me from the far end!

 

[Ian Ball]

New ankle, nice

 

[JasonC]

The "T-junction" was very soon after the "elegant step". You're probably right about the obscure unsurveyed connection - we didn't investigate further as it was obvious that we'd gone wrong. Tbf, the step was fairly obvious if you keep your eyes open!
To return, we went up the 20'pitch to get back to 5-ways - although not directly - I'd got a bit disoriented and confidently led us in the wrong direction before my mate deduced the correct passage. By which time, we'd had enough and went straight to main chamber and out.