Sleets Gill Cave flooding details

[damian]

Photos here:

and

 

[Alex]

Was tempted to drive up there to see it for my self, but I doubt I would get there with all the flooding on the roads. I would already have to take a 5 mile diversion just to get to the A59. All roads in that direction are underwater.

 

[Pitlamp]

Cheers Grahams - that's actually extremely useful. You may have heard of a newish site west of Wild Boar Fell called Preacher's Cave. It's at the head of a dry gully and when it was being dug open people often commented on how similar the situation was to Sleets Gill. In fact the entrance was resurging strongly today and I photographed it; your images of Sleets Gill allow us to make a direct comparison. So many, many thanks!

 

[dunc]

I nearly started a new post asking how things were up in the Dales. I've seen a picture of a stream at BPF and now this, which confirms what I thought might be the case - it's bloody wet!!

 

[Pitlamp]

Agreed Dunc - but not as wet as it can be. Hurtle Pot is only half full and it hasn't resurged. If you're especially interested in more detail it's perhaps worth looking at some of the comments on the bottom of the VisBot page of the CDG website.

 

[grahams]

Pitlamp: Ah Wild Boar Fell West, a place of great potential. Clouds Gill and the limestone plateau above are well worth exploring if only for a good walk. Good luck with Preachers Cave.
The other Dales cave that is a bit 'Sleets Gilly' in its layout is Pate Hole, another location where there's not much known cave but plenty of limestone and plenty of water.
As for Sleets Gill, I've been down when the downstream sump had backed up to within about 3 feet of the roof at the lower end of the Main Gallery. We were young (about 15), stupid and were not going to let a bit of damp put us off after a 35 mile bike ride to get there. Forty odd  years on, I break out in a cold sweat when I think about that, especially after the amazing rescue a few years ago. I've a bit more sense now, honest.

 

[Pitlamp]

I agree about Pate Hole - another place not to be if there's any doubt about the weather - and with loads of potential for new stuff.

 

[langcliffe]

I agree about Pate Hole - another place not to be if there's any doubt about the weather - and with loads of potential for new stuff.

A fantastic place - it was one of my first cave dives. I lost a brand new bread knife in there.

 

[Speleotron]

What was the bread knife for?

 

[Fulk]

What was the bread knife for?

'Appen he thought that Pate Hole was Pat? Hole.

 

[langcliffe]

It was actually smaller than a bread knife. I couldn't find my diving knife so I pinched one from the kitchen drawer.

 

[OldTrog]

I lost a crowbar at the end of Boireau's Passage back in the day.  It flash flooded and we had to crawl out with our noses on the roof.  Never went back to get it.  But blows a gale through the choke.