SRT trip ideas - extending experiance

[Geoff R]

Yorkshire Dales SRT trip - where  :-\

Could you kindly suggest where best to next SRT in the Yorkshire Dales for a small group that are beginning to extend their SRT rigging experience. 

Not too much fell walking as we are unfit (mature) southerners.     
Not too many passageways to get lost down

In June, on a first visit to Yorkshire over a long weekend, we did Bull Pot, Ireby Fell and in a short morning before the drive south, part of Alum, Dolly Tubs to the classic view point.

For another SRT trip to the same area what would you recommend for two whole days of a weekend, followed by a Monday morning quick trip before driving back south ?   

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[damian]

It's so difficult because it depends on the weather .... but we'll be positive and assume good weather!

I'd definitely go back to Long Churn and go to the bottom of Alum this time. For information there is an alternative pitch to the greasy slab on the other side (right as you come from long Churn) which I think is better than the greasy slab. The nicest hang beneath the bridge is the one furthest from the Alum Pot waterfall - deviation in situ.

You might consider Tatham Wife (but I hate the walk!).

Jingling Pot is good (if you don't mind the surface shaft start!) and you might consider doing both the Lateral Cleft route and the one on the opposite side. To get to this, walk around the shaft until opposite the tree and climb down the rift. The bolts start there. A 65m rope will definitely do it and there's a rebelay half way down the shaft. It's a lovely (and not too terrifying) way down the big shaft.

Heron has two nice pitches for rigging practice (maybe Monday morning?)

Sell Gill is excellent, especially the wet route, but the rigging is a bit more awkward here. The only awkward part really is the first pitch head, though. If you are happy rigging that, the rest will be fine.

Marble Steps is another possible .. but I find the "steps" route annoying and would recommend the other one. There are some slightly unusual bits about the rigging the other way though.

Bar Pot is a nice way to visit Gaping Gill Main Chamber .. but the walk's about an hour and you're supposed to get a permit.

Swinsto not as a pull-thru is also fantastic. The rigging's all reasonably easy and you'll find it really satisfying. Simpson's is the same .. although the rigging and the caving are less good, in my view.

That lot should keep you busy.

 

[Limestone_Cowboy]

I agree with damians choices but would also like to suggest the small mammal pot alternative to bar pot the entrance is dead close to bar pot and the rigging is good fun and quite easy, only downside is the long uphill walk to gaping gill.

 

[dunc]

Sell Gill - as suggested.. you could start with the dry route then do the wet route (or do an exchange if theres enough of you).. Good choice if weather is damp.

Jingling Pot as already suggested.

Lancaster Hole, theres a few different ways of rigging the entrance shaft, bit of passage at bottom but some other pitches to be found..

 

[Geoff R]

This is great - thank you

Ireby Fell and Alum to the bottom definitely look good.  Having got to that excellent view point of Alum we realized that the right and left routes were both well doable but were not sure which was best for a future visit when we had time and rope.

For the early morning of the Monday I need to research your good suggestions. Its possible that we could also squeeze in a half day on the Friday afternoon if we get no serious traffic on the way up. I guess these half days are now my immediate question mark and concern.

Also what about if its wet ?
Our June drive up was smack on "severe weather warning for ...."  - - - - yes you guessed it --- Yorkshire Dales     

thanks to you all

 

 

[Cavedrone]

A bit further out than three peaks region but Hagg Gill has a circa 45ft entrance pitch (easy bit of SRT if a slight tight at the very top), beautiful valley, not far from the road, cracking trip with nice pretties.
Still can't persuade any of my associates to get down there again. 

 

[ianball11]

West Kingsdale also has Bull pot with 5 pitches so lots of rigging but only shortish pitches.

Ian B.

 

[Geoff R]

This is great - thank you

Ireby Fell and Alum to the bottom definitely look good.  Having got to that excellent view point of Alum we realized that the right and left routes were both well doable but were not sure which was best for a future visit when we had time and rope.

For the early morning of the Monday I need to research your good suggestions. Its possible that we could also squeeze in a half day on the Friday afternoon if we get no serious traffic on the way up. I guess these half days are now my immediate question mark and concern.

Also what about if its wet ?
Our June drive up was smack on "severe weather warning for ...."  - - - - yes you guessed it --- Yorkshire Dales     

thanks to you all

 

Woops ... Correction, I should have said  " Jingling Pot and Alum to the bottom ....."  sorry;


(our June plan was to do Jingling immediately after Bull, but we would have run short on call-out time). 

 

[badger]

Pillar pots is also good for rigging and a choice of three routes. longish walk though

 

[langcliffe]

Pillar pots

Pillar Holes

 

[dunc]

Jingling is ok for when its wet - and shouldn't be too long a trip..
Another short trip on Kingsdale is Turbary Pot - two pitches, although a rope protector (or tackle bag) is handy for the first pitch due to the hanger locations providing rope rub..

If you want a really short day in Kingsdale (short trip and short walk), go to Yordas, rig the pot and then the Chapter House Waterfall direct, view the chamber and then head back up the pitches - very short and sweet. For an extra bit of fun go in the cave entrance and pull-thru down that pitch and again down the waterfall then exit through main chamber just for the hell of it! I believe there is a route on the CH-waterfall that needs 2-3 times as much rope and provides a lot more rigging, not done it so can't comment on what its like - someone on here might have done it though??

Sunset Hole isn't an overly long trip, although it only has one pitch that's easy to rig, it does have a couple of climbs that can be rigged with a bit of rope if you wished just for a bit of extra practice.
Nearby to Sunset is Hardrawkin Pot - short length of passage to two pitches (more involved rigging than Sunset), again a shorter trip.

 

[Stu]

Chapterhouse traverse is technically very satisfying. It's not straightforward though, somewhere you might go to extend yourself after doing normal pitch head type rigging.

 

[Geoff R]

Spent an evening hour reading up on the suggestions 

can anyone advise whether Little Hull Pot is worthy of inclusion, its distance from road and current access requirements ??
I see its not too suited for wet weather.

Turbary Pot and Yordas have so far eluded me in the rigging guides

Again my thanks to all.

 

[gus horsley]

I've done Little Hull on ladders but not SRT.  However, I'm not sure it would be suitable as a trip for the relatively inexperienced.  It can also flood quite badly.  Why not try Hunt Pot if you're thinking of going up to that area.  It doesn't really go anywhere but it's a very atmospheric shaft and shouldn't create any real problems, especially if the stream is low.

 

[dunc]

can anyone advise whether Little Hull Pot is worthy of inclusion, its distance from road and current access requirements ??

Little Hull is something in region of 1.5mile or so up the track, as is Hunt.. Permits are needed for both.

 

[Les W]

I can't believe that nobody mentioned Diccan 

This is, in my opinion, one of the finest SRT caves in the UK (even better than Rhino Rift )

It is not advisable if the weather is a bit iffy but if it's settled then it is superb. You can do an exchange with dolly tubs - greasy slab - Alum Pot as well if you are up for the challenge. As I already said a very fine trip, not overly technical and near the road  8)

 

[dunc]

I can't believe that nobody mentioned Diccan

Could say the same of Rowten another fine SRT trip! But are they suitable pots for their level of rigging - hard to gauge going on what little info we have to work off..

And to be honest (IMO) Diccan is not the best place to be learning rigging, it can be a very cold and draughty place, not ideal for waiting around when people are learning rigging.

 

[ianball11]

Turbury Pot and Yordas have so far eluded me in the rigging guides

Not been to turbury but Yordas pot is about a 30m drop with a back up from a fence post to a tree trunk lying over the hole then a y hang a few feet down.  There is a deviation somewhere but I think it's for water reasons not rope rub.  I don't think I'd like to do it as a pull through. Maybe 3 slings and 6 krabs?

The Chapterhouse can be rigged as a pull through which is again probable a 30m needed maybe 35m.

The traverse out above the pitch which is really maillon intensive is fun, right up in the rafters with a drop so pretty good and the water is loud so it's good. Probably 8 plus krabs for it.

There is also a middle entrance which has a pretty good pitch to rig in, brings you out between the bottom of the pot and the top of the chapterhouse pitch.

If I've forgotten anything I apologise.

You could if feeling brave do yordas and Bull Pot or Jingling Pot in the same afternoon walk up to Jingling, go through the lateral cleft route back up the main pitch, walk down to the top of Yordas and come out the bottom.

Ian B.

 

[Geoff R]

I can't believe that nobody mentioned Diccan

Could say the same of Rowten another fine SRT trip! But are they suitable pots for their level of rigging - hard to gauge going on what little info we have to work off..

Dont know if it helps with suggestions .... our little team is made up of people serious about SRT and ropework and doing it right. We dont have many useful shafts in the South but we make full use of what we have, get in regular SRT gym practice and occasional SECRO practices.

Over the last two years we have SRTed most of Mendips; we then followed excellent advise of a well respected Mendips caver who suggested we now need to go and SRT Yorkshire to gain further experience. Our first Yorkshire trip in June proved seriously fun caving; made specially useful by the fact one of our most experienced and professional club members decided to join us, kindly pass on invaluable tips. A further leap up in our experience and confidence...... 

So here we are today,  interested where to cave on our next Dales trip   


PS  we still love Mendips and will return shortly to repeat Rhino or somewhere. 

 

[paulf]

Yeah try Thrupe Lane lots of different routes but if you're going to Yorkshire Tatham Wife if you can stand the Walk