Recommendations for squeezy trips in the Peak.

[T pot 2]

Was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for tight and squeezy trips anywhere in the Peak district - things that are esoteric and grim would also be appreciated

Many thanks - Oscar

Iron maiden in perryfoot cave, sheepwash to the sump, thistle pot, winnets head harper hill series, far flats oxlow mine, new oxlow and the giants oxlow connection, ghost rift giants hole, ivy green cave Stoney middleton, many more if you want
T pot

 

[pwhole]

I tried to get into Farnsley Lane Cave recently and gave up, it being something of a downhill toothpaste tube entrance. You guys must have been slimmer in those days, as I'm not that big. My friend Grace got in, who's tiny, so I just had to sit outside listening to her rustling about for a while. Massive outward draught though...would anyone object to knocking 10cm off one side of the entrance so us regular folks could get in?

 

[Rob]

I tried to get into Farnsley Lane Cave recently and gave up, it being something of a downhill toothpaste tube entrance. You guys must have been slimmer in those days, as I'm not that big. My friend Grace got in, who's tiny, so I just had to sit outside listening to her rustling about for a while. Massive outward draught though...would anyone object to knocking 10cm off one side of the entrance so us regular folks could get in?

Do you mean FL Swallet, which has the vertical entrance by the pond, or FL Cave, which is slightly further downdale and is a horizontal entrance at the base of a small cliff? Either way, i'm sure no-one will object to a little modification to allow entrance....

 

[pwhole]

Yeah, definitely FL Cave - below. It's got a small blasted entrance through what looked to be once a flowstone obstruction. There's also an interesting collapsed cave (fallen bedding over the way on) on the east side of the track higher up the hill almost opposite FL Swallet, and also a mine level near that which goes about 25m to a shaft upwards (capped) - both below.

 

[Rob]

Yer, that first image is FL Cave. TBH you're not missing much and it only gets smaller inside! It eventually hits a large choke which the draught rises up through, but with no staking space and the restricted entrance stopped us progressing the scaffold anymore that we did.

However on the surface directly above the choke is a depression which is only a few metres above, so emptying the whole thing out then continuing down would be an interesting project, especially as that draught is indeed enticing....

 

[Mr Budge]

sidetracks a good trip

 

[Brown]

I remember The Codeine Connection being tight and squirmy. Going in from the Stoney Flower Pot entrance it provides a shortcut to access Picnic Passage from Falls Chamber, you can then leave via Porth Crawl and the Dynamite Series.

 

[alastairgott]

+1 for crusader (oscar D, will and Mendip Andy), you should really properly try and get there. I’m sure you’ll find it great!

 

[pwhole]

We went in FLC today, after removing just a nub off the entrance that allowed my right shoulder and arm to go through properly (feet first) - what an interesting place, and definitely squeezy, though I wouldn't recommend most of it for Oscar. The ancient flowstone glueing all the rocks together was marvellous, and there's moonmilk in there too. However, I came a little unstuck (or rather, stuck) in the final vadose passage, which got progressively more awkward for me until I began to get nervous that I wouldn't get out again. I managed to get to a 90° left turn where I knew I could just turn around, though it was a lot more tricky than I expected. I then tried continuing feet first, but that was worse. I knew I wasn't far away, but it was getting increasingly difficult to move, so I gave up. The S-bend on the way back was especially interesting, and involved me almost losing my welly, having to do the entire S-bend in one move. I had to accept that I'm probably just a bit too big for digging this one, and agreed, there isn't really anywhere to put the spoil other than dragging it all back to the first chamber, or even outside. But what a draught.

There was a small vein on the last bend I got to, with galena in it. and it looked to me as though miners possibly got in via the small depression to the left of the entrance to have a look at least, as it appeared to have been backfilled when viewed from beneath. Unless that's the digging spoil?

 

[Oscar D]

+1 for crusader (oscar D, will and Mendip Andy), you should really properly try and get there. I’m sure you’ll find it great!

It’s about the Journey - Not the destination

 

[alastairgott]

True, I’m glad you sought it out and now have your sights on rowter ice cream trail and beyond as well. Both excellent trips, and well worth the effort to get there.

 

[Oscar D]

Third times the charm as they say - got into Knight’s Templar yesterday and it was certainly worth it to see the scale of the chamber. Sights now set on Rowter Ice cream trail.

 

[Rob]

Third times the charm as they say - got into Knight’s Templar yesterday and it was certainly worth it to see the scale of the chamber. Sights now set on Rowter Ice cream trail.

Congrats. Did you go up the ropes into the Priory? I'm interested in the state of the metalwork....

 

[Tangent_tracker]

Nettle - through Freeze Squeeze and also Dratsab is you really want awkward.

haha one that completely denies access to me Tried stripping off and everything lol

 

[caving_fox]

haha one that completely denies access to me Tried stripping off and everything lol

It really is a technique thing - assuming you're of moderately slim build. I went with a couple of our clubs weasels and none of us could get through even though they can manage some ridiculously thin places. A bit of online research and the approach is on your back face up (this feels the wrong way but it works!) and up slightly towards right hand wall - it's deceptive as to where the widest slot it. I went back with this knowledge and managed to get through ok (helmet off but oversuit still on). I'm slim but not tiny.

 

[Oscar D]

It really is a technique thing - assuming you're of moderately slim build. I went with a couple of our clubs weasels and none of us could get through even though they can manage some ridiculously thin places. A bit of online research and the approach is on your back face up (this feels the wrong way but it works!) and up slightly towards right hand wall - it's deceptive as to where the widest slot it. I went back with this knowledge and managed to get through ok (helmet off but oversuit still on). I'm slim but not tiny.

+1 for the on your back strategy - works both ways too.

 

[Oscar D]

Congrats. Did you go up the ropes into the Priory? I'm interested in the state of the metalwork....

Small amounts of greeny-white corrosion on a couple of the maillons on the first couple pitches up. Hanger at the top of the black rope to the top of Knights Templar was spinning a bit - would have tightened it but didn't have a spanner. Generally most of the anchors and ropes seemed fine.

 

[Tangent_tracker]

Third times the charm as they say - got into Knight’s Templar yesterday and it was certainly worth it to see the scale of the chamber. Sights now set on Rowter Ice cream trail.

Difficulties in ICT for me was getting off them damn electrons into the

It really is a technique thing - assuming you're of moderately slim build. I went with a couple of our clubs weasels and none of us could get through even though they can manage some ridiculously thin places. A bit of online research and the approach is on your back face up (this feels the wrong way but it works!) and up slightly towards right hand wall - it's deceptive as to where the widest slot it. I went back with this knowledge and managed to get through ok (helmet off but oversuit still on). I'm slim but not tiny.

Yeah, trouble is I am not really very slim, and I feel like it is my bones that are stopping me. Always happy to go with someone if they think they can get me through, but more importantly, get me back, as that seems to be the bit folks suggest is more difficult!