Sleets Gill Cave flooding details
- Thread starter Jon
- Start date
Cave Mapper
Member
I suspect there are no simple formulas. I expect that if the ground and the percolation zone are already waterlogged then it could flood very quickly.
Here's my suggestion:
- Don't go in if it's raining
- Don't go in if it's forecast to rain
- Don't go in if it's rained significantly in the last week.
Here's my suggestion:
- Don't go in if it's raining
- Don't go in if it's forecast to rain
- Don't go in if it's rained significantly in the last week.
langcliffe
Well-known member
Jon said:
Hypothermia and Hydrophobia require VERY dry conditions.
The entrance series (pre-1968 Sleets Gill) is accessible under normal conditions. I suggest that you keep your eye on Visbot, and if there hasn't been more than 2 or 3 mm of rain per day in the previous few days, you'll be fine (the Helwith Bridge and Hebden readings are probably the best indicators). If there's been any heavy rain in the past few days, I would personally give the place a miss.
barrabus
New member
Sleets Gill is an amazing cave, and the passages past Hydrophobia are well worth a visit, but its one of those caves you really dont mess with. In 1992, 2 people were flooded in and were dived out - they (and their rescuers) were very lucky to survive and that was only from the main gallery. Hyperthermia and hydrophobia are already very wet in low water conditions and will sump without much effort - I'd suggest very settled weather to attempt them, after a period of dry weather.
Just to echo all the above, I wouldn't try to guess (work out) how, why and when it might flood - far too many factors to take into consideration and more than one source of water just complicates matters further.
I waited until there had been a reasonable dry spell before I ventured further in and even then Hydrophobia was still quite damp!
I waited until there had been a reasonable dry spell before I ventured further in and even then Hydrophobia was still quite damp!
langcliffe says:
As I understand it, the two guys who got trapped there in 1992 found that the passage at (or near to) the entrance passage had sumped off when they got back there, and they were unable to get out, so they retreated back into the cave. So just because the pre-1968 extent of the cave is accessible, does not mean that it is safe to be there.
Incidentally, if you're unfamiliar with the cave, the entrance is at the top of a ramp that covers a vertical height of some 20+ m; so the water in the video above is being forced uphill in that passage, from the main railway-tunnel-sized passage some 20+ m below under hydrostatic pressure.
As I understand it, the two guys who got trapped there in 1992 found that the passage at (or near to) the entrance passage had sumped off when they got back there, and they were unable to get out, so they retreated back into the cave. So just because the pre-1968 extent of the cave is accessible, does not mean that it is safe to be there.
Incidentally, if you're unfamiliar with the cave, the entrance is at the top of a ramp that covers a vertical height of some 20+ m; so the water in the video above is being forced uphill in that passage, from the main railway-tunnel-sized passage some 20+ m below under hydrostatic pressure.
langcliffe
Well-known member
Fulk said:
You're absolutely right, Fulk - I remember the occasion of the rescue well. But they weren't normal conditions. There had been a lot of rain in the previous few days, there had been rain that day, and there was more rain on the way.
My post did go on to say: "I suggest that you keep your eye on Visbot, and if there hasn't been more than 2 or 3 mm of rain per day in the previous few days, you'll be fine"
Pitlamp
Well-known member
I was on that rescue - I have vivid memories of being between 2 sumped sections in the main gallery and dekitting during a wait. Then there was a gurgling and booming noise as the water suddenly started rising. You've never seen anyone throw their diving gear back on as fast!
Don't mess with Sleets Gill. About the only thing which can be predicted with certainty is that it's extremely unpredictable. Yes - even the "easy" entrance area.
Don't mess with Sleets Gill. About the only thing which can be predicted with certainty is that it's extremely unpredictable. Yes - even the "easy" entrance area.
