Cartwright26
New member
This is my trip report that is also on the devon speleological society site;
This evening saw us have a trip into dog hole the old cave prospecting for potential dig sites and a general look around after there not being enough for our "planned events" for the evening. Simon mentioned that there was a site lower in the cave where water flows through when soggy.
With that being enough encouragement we made our way down into the old cave to the rift at the bottom looking at potential areas, i found rather strange speleothem a big shiny pearl with a metal protrusion on its side, on close inspection i could not identify said object however Glenn identified this as an ear ring, which he identified very quickly indeed! Possibly he left it there? Back to man things we made our way into the rift when i mentioned i had not ventured into the very end chamber as the "squeeze" looked abit sketchy when i looked last year however i have recently pushed some relatively tight bits (tight for me as i of a some what "larger" build) i decided to go feet first to test the waters feeling if it opened up which it did, so going on my back i slid down and committed to it my arms above my head i turned to my side and bent my legs which draged me through in a bottle opener on a wine cork fashion.
i had a good look around this dainty but rather pretty little chamber with a lovely curtain and some little helectites after a couple of minutes of looking (no photos as i didn't have my camera, to those of you that have caved with me that will come as a surprise) i decided to return to Simon and Glenn who were prospecting an area of sticky mud. I presented myself to the tube arms above my head shoulders and chest into the tightest part and through i found i could not get sufficient traction on my feet and was unable to progress. i laid there for a minute or so thinking i make a great human plug and also to gain my breath and relax before my next push however this proved futile and after some polite descriptive expletives about myself i backed up so i could study the "squeeze" (not so much a rib cracking squeeze as a tight U bend uphill tube that once in you cant move your arms or legs) a second attempt also returned the same results so after about five minutes of trying to force my way through i back out and tried going through on my back and use my hands on the roof again no joy.
Still nice and calm and knelt there scratching my head (or my arse) not sure which one but either way probably with a confused look on my face i heard the distant thrutching of a fellow caver heading my way, probably wondering if i got lost in the small chamber of a few meters by a few meters. A voice shouted down "you alright in there" to which i reply somewhere along the lines of "no" i wondered if it would help if Simon came down to the chamber and helped push my feet so i could get through? The reply came with a slight chuckle of "no" i have a feeling i may not be the first to suffer this plight. However Simon explained to me that it would be better to come through feet first. With this in mind i decided to try this rather unnatural position going feet first uphill? This proved, well bloody difficult too! but i trusted Simons advice and proceeded with this method after getting myself firmly into this hole Simon offered to heave my wellies to give me some extra help this proved useful and gradually with much uterings and polite persuasion to myself (particularly congratulating myself for listening to Simons "its not to bad and its very pretty in there" im a sucker for the prettys) really i should of just admired glens pearl ear ring any way I digress. After Simon offering help by pulling my wellies and me wriggling like a slug thats been doused in salt Simon then tugged it off (the wellie that is) there was not room for that kind of commodity (unfortunately?) i managed to free myself from this lovely little phreatic tube i immediately turned around to Simon and said "thank you" or at least something that ended with "you" shortly followed by im going to need to get my camera in there. there was a bit of bad air as i had a bad head ache felt sick and dizzy which went as soon as i was higher in the cave. A great fun little trip all in all!
This evening saw us have a trip into dog hole the old cave prospecting for potential dig sites and a general look around after there not being enough for our "planned events" for the evening. Simon mentioned that there was a site lower in the cave where water flows through when soggy.
With that being enough encouragement we made our way down into the old cave to the rift at the bottom looking at potential areas, i found rather strange speleothem a big shiny pearl with a metal protrusion on its side, on close inspection i could not identify said object however Glenn identified this as an ear ring, which he identified very quickly indeed! Possibly he left it there? Back to man things we made our way into the rift when i mentioned i had not ventured into the very end chamber as the "squeeze" looked abit sketchy when i looked last year however i have recently pushed some relatively tight bits (tight for me as i of a some what "larger" build) i decided to go feet first to test the waters feeling if it opened up which it did, so going on my back i slid down and committed to it my arms above my head i turned to my side and bent my legs which draged me through in a bottle opener on a wine cork fashion.
i had a good look around this dainty but rather pretty little chamber with a lovely curtain and some little helectites after a couple of minutes of looking (no photos as i didn't have my camera, to those of you that have caved with me that will come as a surprise) i decided to return to Simon and Glenn who were prospecting an area of sticky mud. I presented myself to the tube arms above my head shoulders and chest into the tightest part and through i found i could not get sufficient traction on my feet and was unable to progress. i laid there for a minute or so thinking i make a great human plug and also to gain my breath and relax before my next push however this proved futile and after some polite descriptive expletives about myself i backed up so i could study the "squeeze" (not so much a rib cracking squeeze as a tight U bend uphill tube that once in you cant move your arms or legs) a second attempt also returned the same results so after about five minutes of trying to force my way through i back out and tried going through on my back and use my hands on the roof again no joy.
Still nice and calm and knelt there scratching my head (or my arse) not sure which one but either way probably with a confused look on my face i heard the distant thrutching of a fellow caver heading my way, probably wondering if i got lost in the small chamber of a few meters by a few meters. A voice shouted down "you alright in there" to which i reply somewhere along the lines of "no" i wondered if it would help if Simon came down to the chamber and helped push my feet so i could get through? The reply came with a slight chuckle of "no" i have a feeling i may not be the first to suffer this plight. However Simon explained to me that it would be better to come through feet first. With this in mind i decided to try this rather unnatural position going feet first uphill? This proved, well bloody difficult too! but i trusted Simons advice and proceeded with this method after getting myself firmly into this hole Simon offered to heave my wellies to give me some extra help this proved useful and gradually with much uterings and polite persuasion to myself (particularly congratulating myself for listening to Simons "its not to bad and its very pretty in there" im a sucker for the prettys) really i should of just admired glens pearl ear ring any way I digress. After Simon offering help by pulling my wellies and me wriggling like a slug thats been doused in salt Simon then tugged it off (the wellie that is) there was not room for that kind of commodity (unfortunately?) i managed to free myself from this lovely little phreatic tube i immediately turned around to Simon and said "thank you" or at least something that ended with "you" shortly followed by im going to need to get my camera in there. there was a bit of bad air as i had a bad head ache felt sick and dizzy which went as soon as i was higher in the cave. A great fun little trip all in all!
So glad my instincts have kept me out of there but maybe keeping good haulers on the top side is the way to go :-\