Pitlamp
Yes, we did have fun up at the Gill yesterday. The thunder rumbled around the top of Ingleborough for a while and then a grey curtain came slowly down the Fell Beck valley. We headed under cover when it hit - it sounded like someone outside lobbing buckets of gravel over the tent. Could hear the hailstones pinging off the exterior aluminium poles, and a brief peer out saw they were as big as peas. On top of this there was a tremendous amount of rain. Lightning flashes & thunder cracks were down to two or three seconds apart.The storm lasted without any real rest for about half and hour.
Then, when it stopped, we emerged to find the grass pretty much white over, with the beck already on the rise and looking like chocolate.
Within a few minutes it was up and pouring over the dam to a depth of around nine inches (at a guess). It thundered past (and into) Jib, and also washed over the winch platform. Here the water power was sufficient to physically move the fuel tank and diesel engine - which two people can just about lift. But fortunately the engine didn't go over the edge and down the hole. The torrent also nearly swept away ammo boxes full of scaff clamps and other assorted ironmongery, but these got rescued.
The flood debris washed down by the stream caught on the safety netting leading to the gantry, causing blockage/ back up of the water flow - debris afterwards being evident on the first four or five feet on the gantry plank/ grid itself.
In addition to our chums the Ratbags down Pay Sank (which remained basically dry), three of the club were down Bar Pot. They heard running water under the boulders near the top of the big pitch and headed out to find the greasy slab a bit wet and sporting. But they got out okay.
Within a short while it was hot sunshine again, and a leisurely walk down past the showcave showed Beck Head in spate by 1740hrs.
Dave Ryall managed to capture a few video clips, and he has posted five of these on Youtube with the keywords "Gaping Gill Flood".
Makes you realise the power of nature and how fortunate that no-one was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Scoff
BPC/ CDG