Goydenman
Well-known member
ahh sounds interesting watch this space eh...... or dig it!
Redhouse Lane Swallet Update
- Thread starter Tritim230
- Start date
jonnybellman
Active member
Just noticed the latest update 
Dan S
Active member
Redhouse trip report: 8/6/25: Two teams: First team: Ian and Dan – Rigging over Wicked Pitch of the North to open passage beyond. Second team: Tiff, Mark and Falky – Mopping up the surveying in Pissimism area.
Team 1: Ian made excellent progress drilling and bolting over the Wicked pitch to the other side, where a large void can be seen. He shouted back ‘It goes – in more than one direction!’ He explored back towards the pitch head and soon his head popped out of a previously missed rift. We discovered a rift bypass to the pitch traverse, down beneath some very loose and dicey looking boulders.
Into the new passage, a left crawl came to a mud floor squeeze – Looking at it, I was sure it was the other side a diggable crawl previously seen near the pitch head. This needs to be dug out to provide a safe route to the new series, avoiding both the pitch traverse and the loose boulders. We then proceeded down a series of mainly rifty passages, some nice walking size, with lots of promising looking passages that unfortunately all shut down. We reckon about 150M, so not bad for a day's work! There were a few dig sites, but I don’t think it will be the ‘next big thing’.
As we made our way out, we had little dig in the Wicked North passages and opened up a connection to the Lhasa rifts. Loads of close passages in this area. I’m sure it wouldn't take much to open up a few more connections.
Both knackered at this point, so we headed out and surfaced around 7ish. Trip time 10 hours.
Team 2) Pissimism survey objectives all completed. Moria upstream went South with 93m surveyed and stopping just below one of the boulder chambers. Secondly, a northward rift passage surveyed for 53m that joins to Low Stoop.
Then around last bend before Marble River, we mopped up all the loose bits and pieces, nothing going very far, some big avens here. 82m added in this area.
So, 93+53+82=228M added in total. Cave total before was from memory 9890m, so now 10,118M! (TBC) Great effort from Tiff and Falkland, especially since we had to replace Distox batteries and recalibrate part way through.
Out 9.30pm. Trip was 11.45 hrs duration.
Video to follow soon!
Team 1: Ian made excellent progress drilling and bolting over the Wicked pitch to the other side, where a large void can be seen. He shouted back ‘It goes – in more than one direction!’ He explored back towards the pitch head and soon his head popped out of a previously missed rift. We discovered a rift bypass to the pitch traverse, down beneath some very loose and dicey looking boulders.
Into the new passage, a left crawl came to a mud floor squeeze – Looking at it, I was sure it was the other side a diggable crawl previously seen near the pitch head. This needs to be dug out to provide a safe route to the new series, avoiding both the pitch traverse and the loose boulders. We then proceeded down a series of mainly rifty passages, some nice walking size, with lots of promising looking passages that unfortunately all shut down. We reckon about 150M, so not bad for a day's work! There were a few dig sites, but I don’t think it will be the ‘next big thing’.
As we made our way out, we had little dig in the Wicked North passages and opened up a connection to the Lhasa rifts. Loads of close passages in this area. I’m sure it wouldn't take much to open up a few more connections.
Both knackered at this point, so we headed out and surfaced around 7ish. Trip time 10 hours.
Team 2) Pissimism survey objectives all completed. Moria upstream went South with 93m surveyed and stopping just below one of the boulder chambers. Secondly, a northward rift passage surveyed for 53m that joins to Low Stoop.
Then around last bend before Marble River, we mopped up all the loose bits and pieces, nothing going very far, some big avens here. 82m added in this area.
So, 93+53+82=228M added in total. Cave total before was from memory 9890m, so now 10,118M! (TBC) Great effort from Tiff and Falkland, especially since we had to replace Distox batteries and recalibrate part way through.
Out 9.30pm. Trip was 11.45 hrs duration.
Video to follow soon!
PeteHall
Moderator
This is the other side of the bit described here:
The final squeeze connection is yet to be passed, so still time for a first trip around the new loop at some point, though I don't think I'll be first in line to try it!
Cantclimbtom
Well-known member
Don't dream small dreams. We all know it's not about Km greatness is measured in counties. Once it spans Worcestershire, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, it'll be the undisputed winner as the 4 counties system.
PeteHall
Moderator
No need to be greedy. We'll settle with the "Two Countries System"Don't dream small dreams. We all know it's not about Km greatness is measured in counties. Once it spans Worcestershire, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, it'll be the undisputed winner as the 4 counties system.
Samouse1
Well-known member
Congrats on hitting 10km! It's been amazing watching all the updates coming out of there.
When all the surveying is complete and the compilers are happy with it, will the data be added to the data archive? I'm mostly curious to see how other people manage a large survey project like this!
When all the surveying is complete and the compilers are happy with it, will the data be added to the data archive? I'm mostly curious to see how other people manage a large survey project like this!
Tritim230
Well-known member
Thank you. With the new bits found yesterday and the remaining bits in Lhasa rifts still to survey, we estimate another 300m to 400m to add of known passage.
I understand that the survey data is/has been added to data archive (Mark Tringham is in charge of it). I can assure you that the data is stored in more than one location and I understand will be available to all at some point. The reason the main survey hasn't been published further is:
1. It keeps being added to each week!
2. Mark wants to resurvey the Entrance Series (first surveyed in 1991)
3. We still haven't decided on all the naming. There are whole sections of 100's metres with no name
Sadly, I'm out of action for awhile due to an unforeseen (literally) eye problem. Operation is tomorrow and the recovery time before hard exercise again is probably weeks. No caving, no swimming, no running, no cycling, no nothing
. If bad things have to happen, why does it have to be in summer when it's fine and dry and we are in the middle of exploring, conserving and surveying a mega-system?
Rest assured that 'Deputy' Dan S will keep UKC updated and our Adventure Traveller (Ian), will continue to video the exploits. He is already working on the results of the trip yesterday...
I understand that the survey data is/has been added to data archive (Mark Tringham is in charge of it). I can assure you that the data is stored in more than one location and I understand will be available to all at some point. The reason the main survey hasn't been published further is:
1. It keeps being added to each week!
2. Mark wants to resurvey the Entrance Series (first surveyed in 1991)
3. We still haven't decided on all the naming. There are whole sections of 100's metres with no name
Sadly, I'm out of action for awhile due to an unforeseen (literally) eye problem. Operation is tomorrow and the recovery time before hard exercise again is probably weeks. No caving, no swimming, no running, no cycling, no nothing
. If bad things have to happen, why does it have to be in summer when it's fine and dry and we are in the middle of exploring, conserving and surveying a mega-system?Rest assured that 'Deputy' Dan S will keep UKC updated and our Adventure Traveller (Ian), will continue to video the exploits. He is already working on the results of the trip yesterday...
tdobson
Active member
> Operation is tomorrow
Thinking of you. Hope it went as well as it can.
> No caving, no swimming, no running, no cycling, no nothing
So sorry to hear of your illnesses apparent lack of foresight to know when to crop up. Will you be able to be on Hot Chocolate duty, or are you strictly on homebound duties?
Thanks for all wonderful updates you've shared with us.
Thinking of you. Hope it went as well as it can.
> No caving, no swimming, no running, no cycling, no nothing
So sorry to hear of your illnesses apparent lack of foresight to know when to crop up. Will you be able to be on Hot Chocolate duty, or are you strictly on homebound duties?
Thanks for all wonderful updates you've shared with us.
Dan S
Active member
Latest Redhouse video is out: The High North & 10+Km!
langcliffe
Well-known member
You need a new script writer... Your audience expects at least 500 metres of new explorations, a new well-decorated large chamber, and a near-death experience every week.
Seriously, these films are fantastic. Well done to all concerned.
PeteHall
Moderator
For various reasons, there has not been much activity in Redhouse for a few weeks. In the meantime, progress has been made elsewhere in the wider system, that will doubtless connect one day. More on that later but we're hopefully close to another big breakthrough (but certainly not one for big cavers!).
Yesterday, however, was possibly the busiest day in history at Redhouse with a multi-team rescue planning exercise. I've got no idea how many people there were, but it was a very productive day with four underground teams and one surface team. We also had the fire service along to look at how they could pump water away in the event of a prolonged rescue.
Lots was learnt and achieved and I think everyone had a great time too.
Yesterday, however, was possibly the busiest day in history at Redhouse with a multi-team rescue planning exercise. I've got no idea how many people there were, but it was a very productive day with four underground teams and one surface team. We also had the fire service along to look at how they could pump water away in the event of a prolonged rescue.
Lots was learnt and achieved and I think everyone had a great time too.
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PeteHall
Moderator
If only!
But unfortunately not yet. I'm convinced that the Wye Valley Exit will happen one day, but despite being close, I think it's going to be a fairly long-term project.
Tritim230
Well-known member
One discussion is to reopen Symonds Yat Swallet. This is extremely close verticality and horizontally at the bottom to Redhouse.
However, the site, dug in the '60's has collapsed about 8m down the entrance shaft. And we know beyond is hanging death as the cave passes through the Whitehead layer. Nobody has been down for ~4 decades.
Thoughts are to open an adjacent shaft between the current one and the sinks.
We just need some concrete rings at a reasonable cost. It won't be a short project.
Tritim230
Well-known member
I would like to thank the farmer and FE who have been absolutely fabulous in allowing vehicular access to a revived dig site (that Pete alluded to). It would have been very arduous to have lugged 100kg of concrete, generator, pump and goodness knows what else by foot.
Have you compared survey to the dowsing maps?
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