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Redhouse Lane Swallet Update
- Thread starter Tritim230
- Start date
danthecavingman
Active member
Photos / video please, or it didn't happen! 
Good work!
Good work!
Dan S
Member
The video will be delayed this week, as the lead director/producer/cameraman & editor (all one person), has inconsiderately gone on holiday for a week. The stand in assistant cameraman did take some footage, so hopefully something can be put together soon, but it might not be up to the normal quality! Various photos were taken and I'm sure some will be posted here in due course.Photos / video please, or it didn't happen!
Good work!
Tritim230
Well-known member
It's the survey that counts, which has been (mostly) done. We are saving some photos for Descent, but just one to prove the formations do exist!Photos / video please, or it didn't happen!
Good work!
Jon_M
New member
Absolutely, to have video footage of virgin exploration is priceless!
Tritim230
Well-known member
Exploration Update: 12th April 2025
We were joined by Bartek and his team of 3 for a photo trip into Mindless Optimism, Cryogenic Causeway and We're Off to See the Wizard. I'm not sure all of them enjoyed the entrance series, but I hope that they will be back for more soon
Meanwhile, 4 set-off to try to finish survey of the side passages off the White Forest - 3 surveyed and 1 (Pete Hall) set about enlarging the previous limit (Howling Hole). So strong was the draught that the drill dust formed a line shooting in the passage. With perfect timing after the surveyors completed their task, Pete was done and together we went forward.
I'll save all the full details for Descent, but in summary, we entered a large passage with dried gour pools. An inlet was found which we suspect is either Symonds Yat Swallet or a depression nearby that the Forestry Commission filled in years ago. A passage looks passage after a climb of ~7m. Ahead the large passage continued in fine style with the stream meandering between steep sided boulders to drop down a pitch! A somewhat frightening but impressive hole in the passage that was traversed after careful step making (again by Pete) to more fine passage and another pitch, even prettier.
The passage ended in a low crawl with dead insects and a snail! We must be close to the surface. Pete thought he heard a crow, so it's now named The Call of the Crow.
Two other side passages partially explored but unsurveyed. Another long slog out. I calculated that Dan and I have spent over 3 full days (over 72 hours) down there in the past 6 trips.
Total surveyed 347m.
BTW, I forgot to mention we have passed under Symonds Yat Swallet and less than 120m from the Wye....
We were joined by Bartek and his team of 3 for a photo trip into Mindless Optimism, Cryogenic Causeway and We're Off to See the Wizard. I'm not sure all of them enjoyed the entrance series, but I hope that they will be back for more soon
Meanwhile, 4 set-off to try to finish survey of the side passages off the White Forest - 3 surveyed and 1 (Pete Hall) set about enlarging the previous limit (Howling Hole). So strong was the draught that the drill dust formed a line shooting in the passage. With perfect timing after the surveyors completed their task, Pete was done and together we went forward.
I'll save all the full details for Descent, but in summary, we entered a large passage with dried gour pools. An inlet was found which we suspect is either Symonds Yat Swallet or a depression nearby that the Forestry Commission filled in years ago. A passage looks passage after a climb of ~7m. Ahead the large passage continued in fine style with the stream meandering between steep sided boulders to drop down a pitch! A somewhat frightening but impressive hole in the passage that was traversed after careful step making (again by Pete) to more fine passage and another pitch, even prettier.
The passage ended in a low crawl with dead insects and a snail! We must be close to the surface. Pete thought he heard a crow, so it's now named The Call of the Crow.
Two other side passages partially explored but unsurveyed. Another long slog out. I calculated that Dan and I have spent over 3 full days (over 72 hours) down there in the past 6 trips.
Total surveyed 347m.
BTW, I forgot to mention we have passed under Symonds Yat Swallet and less than 120m from the Wye....
PeteHall
Moderator
What Tim didn't mention, is that from the current end, back to last year's limit of exploration took us 3 hours on the return, and less than an hour and a half to get the rest of the way out.
The inevitable Wye Valley exit is not going to be a shortcut and it's not going to be an easy trip. However, it should give an all-weather entrance and it will make further exploration/future digging in the northern extensions much easier.
Currently, with 4-5 hours commute each way, there isn't much time left for exploration, digging and surveying!
The inevitable Wye Valley exit is not going to be a shortcut and it's not going to be an easy trip. However, it should give an all-weather entrance and it will make further exploration/future digging in the northern extensions much easier.
Currently, with 4-5 hours commute each way, there isn't much time left for exploration, digging and surveying!
Cavematt
Well-known member
Had the chance last week while a group of us were staying at SWCC to have a large screening of all the recent Redhouse videos and properly catch up on the progress. I was absolutely blown away – by the standard of the footage and the editing (all done very quickly in between visits) – by the quality and length of cave being discovered – and by the determination of the team despite such a grueling entrance series.
It’s great seeing the work done in such a methodical way, with exploration, surveying and conservation in parallel, while capturing great footage, and publishing in Descent. How do you have the time? Moreover, the openness of this work is an inspiration, with sharing of surveys and reports, and the group spirit to save open leads for team members who are not able to join, and to welcome others keen to help.
Proper inspirational stuff and can't wait to hear how the story unfolds this spring and summer.
It’s great seeing the work done in such a methodical way, with exploration, surveying and conservation in parallel, while capturing great footage, and publishing in Descent. How do you have the time? Moreover, the openness of this work is an inspiration, with sharing of surveys and reports, and the group spirit to save open leads for team members who are not able to join, and to welcome others keen to help.
Proper inspirational stuff and can't wait to hear how the story unfolds this spring and summer.
Mrs Trellis
Well-known member
So.......this new passage is the big one discovered right at the end of the Ghar Parau type disappointment trip - reached by climbing down?
Btw - are you on commission from Descent? - if you aren't you should be
Btw - are you on commission from Descent? - if you aren't you should be
Tritim230
Well-known member
Answer to first question: Yes
Answer to 2nd question: No. However, what we hope will be published are the trip write ups by the different team members that are both exciting and amusing with different writing styles.
Spot the current of the cave and the River Wye. SYS = Symonds Yat Swallet.
Answer to 2nd question: No. However, what we hope will be published are the trip write ups by the different team members that are both exciting and amusing with different writing styles.
Spot the current of the cave and the River Wye. SYS = Symonds Yat Swallet.
danthecavingman
Active member
Has Three J's Grotto been scoped out as a potential connection? Sounds like you need a surface team to help you locate the end of the crawl from the outside.
Dan S
Member
We've been busy for the last few months revisiting all the existing caves along the Symonds Yat Cliffs (Cliff line shown in red) and any other vaguely cave related feature. Made progress in Yat Grotto (SYC5) and reopening SYS - but, no big surface leads yet. Hoping to take radio location equipment with us this weekend, to get a better idea for potential surface dig sites.
Adventure Traveller
Member
The latest film premieres tonight at 7pm!
It's from the trip on 6 April when what some of the team are calling 'one of the most beautifully decorated passages in the Country' is discovered! - 'The White Forest'.
Unfortunately I didn't get to film this trip underground myself, but have included footage taken by Dan on one of my cameras. I filmed them coming out and telling their story after another 12 hour gruelling but exhilarating trip.
Enjoy...
It's from the trip on 6 April when what some of the team are calling 'one of the most beautifully decorated passages in the Country' is discovered! - 'The White Forest'.
Unfortunately I didn't get to film this trip underground myself, but have included footage taken by Dan on one of my cameras. I filmed them coming out and telling their story after another 12 hour gruelling but exhilarating trip.
Enjoy...
Peter Ryder
New member
Just to say you have no idea how happy your reports and videos are making one geriatric caver up here in rain-sodden Fife, the stuff of fantasies….thank you
Peter Ryder
Peter Ryder
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