matty007d
New member
Last week, Chris Rich and I were invited by Carmen to tag along on a Wessex trip up to the Forest of Dean to Slaughter Stream cave. Being a biggun' and off Mendip we could hardly refuse.
The drive up was fine. Went through the Wye valley which was beautiful. Spotted cars at side of road next to field that descended into wood bottomed valley. This could be the place, we thought, so parked up and went for a search of the wood. We'd picked the wrong end so emerged from the wood unsuccessful, to be met by Les, Darren and Gnome. They said Carmen and the rest of the Wessex had been delayed, so were going to get some breakfast. We carried on looking for the cave. It didn't take long. Just follow the ground that sloped down to exposed rock. A good looking entrance.
Carmen et al were going to use ladders, but Les, Darren and Gnome were going to abseil down, using rope rigged by an earlier team, then ladder for the return, or SRT up if we were quick. Carmen suggested we 6 stay together, and so it was, our party descended.
It was my first cave with any sort of big drops at the entrance, so the few ladders and couple of pitches were fun to negotiate.
Not without excitement though, at the bottom of the 35 foot I heard a garbled 'ROCK/LOOK OUT!', right about the same time a fairly hefty chunk of rock landed on my right forearm. Rich's harness had caught a flake at the pitch head and sent it my way. Luckily, it was the rock that obliterated, not my arm.
Down the short climb and through the crawly bits, we emerged at the river junction. Les produced a map and description and began his intonement from these (plus bits of memory from 15 years ago). We decided to take the round trip route to the chunnel, follow this for a bit, then bear off at the 3 deserts and go and see the lost dog, possibly further, then back, joining the round trip again to the exit. Easy.
Following the stream up through nice open passageway with some twists and turns for good measure, we reached Zuree Aven. It was awesome. High and wide. Could fit a tennis match in there. I was drawn to the waterfall at the other side, and started climbing. A great climb, but wondered what was taking the rest so long. I went down again to find the others making the most of a photo opportunity.
At the top, followed passages to the right and came out into the Graveyard. Further on, the Gnome garden (Cheers echoed!) Up to here, tape had been laid, keeping people off the bones and gnomes, but after that, what it was protecting was anybody's guess. Reached the large right/left junction of the chunnel, went left, and kept an eye out for the second obvious right turn that led to the three deserts.
The chunnel carried on like some old railway tunnel filled by quarry spoil with its low arching side passages, one with a sandy wallow... We stopped in one of the deserts for a drink and a bite to eat. Then, the unthinkable happened, Chris asked a question about cave rocks. Gnome and Darren burst out laughing, and Les began the first of many limestone seminars... Aswell as this, there was a fair amount of grumbling, and I quickly decided the older you are, the less you tolerate a good crawl.
Quickly moving on, the way enlarged from a stooping crawl to a comfortable walking passage. This continued for some time, winding left and right, up and over, and led to the poor skeletal remains of some doofus dog, who'd probably never even heard of Warmbac.
Having snapped up the dog, we pressed on down the passageway heading towards the Snow Gardens, where Les had been before and informed us was worth the trip. An enjoyable bit of strolling/climbing and rift traversing followed for another 30 or so minutes. "I'm bored of this now", Les proclaimed.
Well. The "Snow Gardens". Quite truly a sight to behold. "Pristine" is not the word. We could barely find words to describe it. Admittedly, there is a case to argue that it isn't worth the arduousness of the journey there, but you'll only know if go there and see it for your self. Chris, Rich, Les, Darren, Gnome and myself were all in agreement that this is a place every caver should visit.
Reluctantly, we set back along the several thousand feet of passage to the chunnel, amid general grumbling from Darren and Les. "Up and down. Up and down. Grumble grumble."
"It's all about opposing forces" Gnome was telling Darren along the traversey rifty bits.
I had no real grumbles, except for my Petzl Duo seemed to be paling in comparison to the seemingly industrial strength Scurions Les and Gnome had. Maybe that extra light helped Les in setting such a blistering pace at times. I could keep up, just about, but this prolonged the wait for the others to catch up.
"Been doing it along time" he told us, and it sure bloody showed.
Back out through the deserts, had another stop, food and drink, another riveting limestone anecdote, out into the chunnel, and we were off. Eventually on the right track after I went right and followed the chunnel the wrong way for 50 metres as the roof got lower and lower...
Getting back on the round trip, we reached running water, and the cave rocks took on another look. The most interesting thing I noticed about this cave is not the formations it contains, but the rock forming the cave walls. Sculpture passage (I think) is the name of an awesome piece of passage with almost metallic looking, 'alien carvings' in the rocks. It was decided we'd missed a turning somewhere, so back up fantastic gnarliness, we let Les take the lead, and soon enough we were pushing up through some deep water. Following the streamway upstream for a while I was quite relieved to recognise the cross stream junction. All here, all with a sweat on, all dying for a pint.
All that remained was a gravelly crawl, then the ladder climbs out. Of course this wasn't going to be plain sailing. Darren was cream crackered. 3 or 4 times longer than anything he'd ever attempted before Gnome informed me, which put him in the running for the Wessex Tiger award. For pushing your boundaries, or yourself over the edge, could work out which. Either way Darren had pushed himself hard on the exit out, so much so that the second half of the ladder pitch, he needed a haul up.
Emerging from the entrance into darkness and drizzle, tired and weary, and now members of the Knock One Hundred Occasionals, which is nice. Les looked at his watch. It was nearly 10pm. A 6 and three quarter hour monster. The biggest one i've done yet. All there was to do was change as comfortably as possible and get to a pub!
Huddling round the less than adequate boot of Rich's car for shelter, changing was miserable, but done with an adequate amount of moaning.
There was a pub close by having a fancy dress night. Some very good efforts(ScoobyDoo). Pint of cider went down very well, keeping the ache at bay for a few hours yet.
In all, my best trip to date. Had great fun with Les Darren and Gnome. All great, friendly guys with a lot of experience to share. Looking forward to trips in the future.
Matt
ps Did Rods Pot/Bath Swallet connection last night. Rich and Chris are preparing report
The drive up was fine. Went through the Wye valley which was beautiful. Spotted cars at side of road next to field that descended into wood bottomed valley. This could be the place, we thought, so parked up and went for a search of the wood. We'd picked the wrong end so emerged from the wood unsuccessful, to be met by Les, Darren and Gnome. They said Carmen and the rest of the Wessex had been delayed, so were going to get some breakfast. We carried on looking for the cave. It didn't take long. Just follow the ground that sloped down to exposed rock. A good looking entrance.
Carmen et al were going to use ladders, but Les, Darren and Gnome were going to abseil down, using rope rigged by an earlier team, then ladder for the return, or SRT up if we were quick. Carmen suggested we 6 stay together, and so it was, our party descended.
It was my first cave with any sort of big drops at the entrance, so the few ladders and couple of pitches were fun to negotiate.
Not without excitement though, at the bottom of the 35 foot I heard a garbled 'ROCK/LOOK OUT!', right about the same time a fairly hefty chunk of rock landed on my right forearm. Rich's harness had caught a flake at the pitch head and sent it my way. Luckily, it was the rock that obliterated, not my arm.
Down the short climb and through the crawly bits, we emerged at the river junction. Les produced a map and description and began his intonement from these (plus bits of memory from 15 years ago). We decided to take the round trip route to the chunnel, follow this for a bit, then bear off at the 3 deserts and go and see the lost dog, possibly further, then back, joining the round trip again to the exit. Easy.
Following the stream up through nice open passageway with some twists and turns for good measure, we reached Zuree Aven. It was awesome. High and wide. Could fit a tennis match in there. I was drawn to the waterfall at the other side, and started climbing. A great climb, but wondered what was taking the rest so long. I went down again to find the others making the most of a photo opportunity.
At the top, followed passages to the right and came out into the Graveyard. Further on, the Gnome garden (Cheers echoed!) Up to here, tape had been laid, keeping people off the bones and gnomes, but after that, what it was protecting was anybody's guess. Reached the large right/left junction of the chunnel, went left, and kept an eye out for the second obvious right turn that led to the three deserts.
The chunnel carried on like some old railway tunnel filled by quarry spoil with its low arching side passages, one with a sandy wallow... We stopped in one of the deserts for a drink and a bite to eat. Then, the unthinkable happened, Chris asked a question about cave rocks. Gnome and Darren burst out laughing, and Les began the first of many limestone seminars... Aswell as this, there was a fair amount of grumbling, and I quickly decided the older you are, the less you tolerate a good crawl.
Quickly moving on, the way enlarged from a stooping crawl to a comfortable walking passage. This continued for some time, winding left and right, up and over, and led to the poor skeletal remains of some doofus dog, who'd probably never even heard of Warmbac.
Having snapped up the dog, we pressed on down the passageway heading towards the Snow Gardens, where Les had been before and informed us was worth the trip. An enjoyable bit of strolling/climbing and rift traversing followed for another 30 or so minutes. "I'm bored of this now", Les proclaimed.
Well. The "Snow Gardens". Quite truly a sight to behold. "Pristine" is not the word. We could barely find words to describe it. Admittedly, there is a case to argue that it isn't worth the arduousness of the journey there, but you'll only know if go there and see it for your self. Chris, Rich, Les, Darren, Gnome and myself were all in agreement that this is a place every caver should visit.
Reluctantly, we set back along the several thousand feet of passage to the chunnel, amid general grumbling from Darren and Les. "Up and down. Up and down. Grumble grumble."
"It's all about opposing forces" Gnome was telling Darren along the traversey rifty bits.
I had no real grumbles, except for my Petzl Duo seemed to be paling in comparison to the seemingly industrial strength Scurions Les and Gnome had. Maybe that extra light helped Les in setting such a blistering pace at times. I could keep up, just about, but this prolonged the wait for the others to catch up.
"Been doing it along time" he told us, and it sure bloody showed.
Back out through the deserts, had another stop, food and drink, another riveting limestone anecdote, out into the chunnel, and we were off. Eventually on the right track after I went right and followed the chunnel the wrong way for 50 metres as the roof got lower and lower...
Getting back on the round trip, we reached running water, and the cave rocks took on another look. The most interesting thing I noticed about this cave is not the formations it contains, but the rock forming the cave walls. Sculpture passage (I think) is the name of an awesome piece of passage with almost metallic looking, 'alien carvings' in the rocks. It was decided we'd missed a turning somewhere, so back up fantastic gnarliness, we let Les take the lead, and soon enough we were pushing up through some deep water. Following the streamway upstream for a while I was quite relieved to recognise the cross stream junction. All here, all with a sweat on, all dying for a pint.
All that remained was a gravelly crawl, then the ladder climbs out. Of course this wasn't going to be plain sailing. Darren was cream crackered. 3 or 4 times longer than anything he'd ever attempted before Gnome informed me, which put him in the running for the Wessex Tiger award. For pushing your boundaries, or yourself over the edge, could work out which. Either way Darren had pushed himself hard on the exit out, so much so that the second half of the ladder pitch, he needed a haul up.
Emerging from the entrance into darkness and drizzle, tired and weary, and now members of the Knock One Hundred Occasionals, which is nice. Les looked at his watch. It was nearly 10pm. A 6 and three quarter hour monster. The biggest one i've done yet. All there was to do was change as comfortably as possible and get to a pub!
Huddling round the less than adequate boot of Rich's car for shelter, changing was miserable, but done with an adequate amount of moaning.
There was a pub close by having a fancy dress night. Some very good efforts(ScoobyDoo). Pint of cider went down very well, keeping the ache at bay for a few hours yet.
In all, my best trip to date. Had great fun with Les Darren and Gnome. All great, friendly guys with a lot of experience to share. Looking forward to trips in the future.
Matt
ps Did Rods Pot/Bath Swallet connection last night. Rich and Chris are preparing report
