Stupid Swildon's questions

[Cantclimbtom]

Hi, I might or might not be in the area of Swildon's on a weekend (no idea of specific date yet) as I hear Vobster is warm and delightful at this time of year If I was there on a weekend, with my son, and had a Sat evening to spare, is Swildon's to/through 1 realistic for someone who's never been there before? Or is this pure delusional?

The entrance series looks complex, is the way more obvious than the survey makes it look? (looks a maze).

Also I realise how long would it take is a "how long's a piece of string" question but is 2 hours there and 2 back plausible, or is that time only realistic for fast travelling for the already familiar?

 

[Oceanrower]

I’m not sure If be confident finding my way through the entrance series on my own for the first time but the rest is pretty straightforward. It looks like a maze mainly because it is…

Two hours through sump one to sump two is generous, even leisurely, if you know where you’re going. I believe the record is measured in minutes rather than hours…

It’s a great trip but, personally, I’d want a guide the first time. The good news is that there is ALWAYS someone knocking around in one of the huts happy to do an impromptu trip.

Might involve a beer or two though…

 

[wormster]

Not many will want to waste valuable drinking time at the Hunters on a Saturday night, 4 hours is plenty of time in Swildons but the Entrance to sump 1 and back on a first trip is ambitious to say the least, can your lad cope with the 20 ladder?? Better off staying above the 20 for the first few trips and learn the different ways in and out.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Thanks wormster and Ocean. This is where my ignorance gets showcased?

I've never actually seen a caving ladder outside of photos let alone used one, they sound too complex for a simple use bits of string man like myself.

I'd just thought I'd need a couple of short bits of rope for the pots. Munter/Italians as our "descenders", footloop/hand jammer on a sturdy tether (maybe no cows tails at all) a chest ascender on a harness each and a loop of bungee cord as chest harness - all to be left at the bottom of the last pot. I hadn't really given thought about the pots being an issue beyond take 2 very short bits of string and 2 sit harness in a small bag. Are there complications such as extra hazardous access top/bottom, awkward "pitfalls" of difficult natural anchor setup, or unavoidable waterfalls that literally drown the unwary on ascent/descent?

I may be completely misjudging this as the pots hadn't even occured to me as a factor. What am I missing?

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Starting to get the impression that there's a cultural misunderstanding that might mean some bits less usual in "Dips" won't necessarily be a concern to me. But more worryingly and unpredictably... some things locals may take completely for granted, might trip me up.

That with the maze comments and the ambitious nature ---> I think I'll have to open a tab behind the bar of the hunters and repay a local "guide/guides"

 

[me]

What am I missing?

Water, The stream could be very low but you will get wet. The 20 ft is a free hanging waterfall after you have got over the bulging top.

What am I missing?

Lots of people, so other peoples equipment you may have to use or they may use yours. You are also expected to put their equipment (normally left in a bag at the top) in place of yours when you take your away. I have also got very cold below the climb (after getting soaked in the sump) waiting for groups going up/ down the climb in front of our group. The stream can create quite a cold draft in the passage below.

Your comment has just overtaken mine. Good idea, " I think I'll have to open a tab behind the bar of the hunters and repay a local "guide/guides"" Just remember The Hunters is cash only 😁

 

[Oceanrower]

As me said (that just looks wrong!) you do go down an active waterfall. I’m sure you could do it on SRT if you wanted but a ladder is much easier! There is often a wait, especially at weekends.

How old is your son? Unless he’s very young I disagree that Sump 1 and back is ambitious. I’ve taken many, many people to Sump 2 for their first trip without any problems. FWIW my first trip ever was a reverse Short Round followed by Eastwater the next day and, for some reason, I still came back…

As long as it’s not middle of winter (i.e. now!) feel free to drop me a PM and I’d be happy to lead a trip for you. Beer not compulsory but gratefully received…

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Water, The stream could be very low but you will get wet. The 20 ft is a free hanging waterfall after you have got over the bulging top.


Lots of people, so other peoples equipment you may have to use or they may use yours. You are also expected to put their equipment (normally left in a bag at the top) in place of yours when you take your away. I have also got very cold below the climb (after getting soaked in the sump) waiting for groups going up/ down the climb in front of our group. The stream can create quite a cold draft in the passage below.

Your comment has just overtaken mine. Good idea, " I think I'll have to open a tab behind the bar of the hunters and repay a local "guide/guides"" Just remember The Hunters is cash only 😁

I'm "oldskool", cash is king. I still think of a tab as a pint glass behind the bar with a bunch of notes in it. I certainly won't be asking "I say my my good man... do you chaps accept Amex?" 🤣

As a serious question... what was meant by people in one of the huts? I'm aware of a changing barn and the fabled Hunters, but not of huts, are there one or more caving huts in Priddy?

I think I'll need to find out my dates and if doable return to these parts closer to that time, asking if anyone is feeling thirsty 😄

 

[Cantclimbtom]

....

Thank you!

(He's 16 and won't be that long until he's 17. He's not super enthusiastic for going underground, I've herded him through crtt and Parc and so forth in the past and he's not scared of water so it should work?)

 

[Oceanrower]

There are many, many huts on Mendips. The Wessex is the nearest to Swildons but there’s also the BEC, MNRC, UBSS, Shepton and others. The Wessex is, obviously, the far superior one…

There are changing ‘facilities’ in the barn at Priddy but, if you’re making a weekend of it, I’d suggest the five quid or so (can’t remember!) a night well worth it. Plus the barn doesn’t have showers and you WILL get cold and wet.

 

[Oceanrower]

Thank you!

(He's 16 and won't be that long until he's 17. He's not super enthusiastic for going underground, I've herded him through crtt and Parc and so forth in the past and he's not scared of water so it should work?)

Sump one won’t be a problem then, depending on not super enthusiastic levels…

It’s a great cave for mostly horizontal caving with a bit of everything.

 

[mrodoc]

I first did Sump One aged 16 in 1967 with my father and another physician from Exeter. The trip to Sump 2 and back took 4 hours but bear in mind one of the party had never been in the cave, none of us had dived the sump and the Forty Pot had to be negotiated then. I have found that wearing a lightweight neoprene hood and swimming goggles is psychologically quite comforting. Route finding no problem - just follow the stream! Using a ladder is a lot less complex than SRT - you just climb it - it's a flexible ladder!

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Thanks, was thinking a diving hood and mask would be useful, although good point on swimming goggles as they're smaller, lighter, cheaper and less likely damaged in transit.

Actually the idea of a ladder being significantly flexible is my greatest concern of such a trip (such flexibility is unnatural for a ladder! 😉).

Is there a bypass for the 40 now? I'd assumed from surveys online that both 40 and 20 were unavoidable

 

[Oceanrower]

The pot bit of the 40’ pot disappeared somewhat in 1968. You now enter from the bottom of it rather than the top…

By Rolling Thunder if you’ve got a survey handy.

 

[tim.rose2]

To add to what others have said...
Sump 1 and back (or even sump 2 for the keen) is a great first trip for fit & active individuals used to the outdoors (i.e. climbers, hill walkers, etc.). I've done this as a novice trip many times. For those not 'outdoorsy' then I'd suggest somewhere a bit tamer like Goatchurch. Irrespective of the time of year it is a wet trip, if the water is high in the winter then it can be sporting. Only a monsoon will flood the cave (though in high water you'd probably choose the dry way over the wet way through the upper part of cave).
You do need to know what you're doing at the 20ft pot - you'll need a 6 m ladder and lifeline. The pitch head bulges and soon becomes an overhang plus you have water pouring on your head. It's not the friendliest and not somewhere I'd suggest as a first ladder (though it does often end up being many peoples first ladder). You also need to be able to use other peoples kit / check for and rig someone else's if you leave and find their kit left at the top. As others have said a ladder is easier on the 20 anyway, but the main problem with trying to SRT it is that the bolts are in completely the wrong place.
Route finding... The immediate entrance area is a little complex but rummage around and you'll soon find either the short dry way or the wet way (both of which are obvious stream passages (approx. 2/3rds of the water goes down the wet, 1/3rd down the dry). Basically just follow the water. If you've not found one of those two within 30m of the entrance you're definitely in the wrong place! Beyond both meet at water chamber and then simply follow the water.
If you're not sure where you're going & likely to faff around at the 20 / take photos etc. best allow 2h30. Obviously it can be done a lot quicker than this and you can also turn around sooner if time is pressing.
And don't underestimate the amount of other groups you might find and have to wait for. It's a popular place, queuing at the 20 isn't uncommon, but it very cold and boring.

 

[complex]

There are 6 caving clubs with huts on Mendip - the 3 in Priddy (in order of distance from Swildons) are:
Wessex - https://wessex-cave-club.org/
BEC - https://bec-cave.org.uk/
Shepton - https://shepton.org.uk/

(for completeness, the others are the MCG, MNRC and Cerberus - all have websites).
Each club has an online calendar showing hut bookings - if you time your visit with a "home meet" there are likely to be a number of members around who may be tempted to come along with you in return for a pint.

Swildons is fairly easy to navigate through if you havent been before - the most complicated bits are the first 50 yards! In general, follow the well worn passage or the water. If you follow the water all the way from the entrance you'll follow the "wet way" to water chamber, but it is more usual to follow the "short dry way" - from the first chamber (with daylight from a skylight above you) don't follow the water down in the floor but go straight on, up a short climb into a well worn rift for a few meters and then down an obvious climb and then follow the route past the old grotto to the water chamber. From the water chamber onwards just follow the water There is a short 8 foot drop (which is the bottom of the old 40) (handline useful in high water), then the 20 (ladder and lifeline strongly recommended), and then a few short climbs (all free climbable) as you follow the water down to the sump.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Thank You everyone!

A huge amount of useful info

 

[badger]

I would say if your son is not over keen on caving, then the ladder at the twenty is the best way to put him of for ever. As said bolts are not best placed for srt, ie you will be prussicing through the water. Other than a ladder and lifeline and I always have enough for a z rig, you don't need any other ropes or ladders for the a sump 1/2 trip.
You could also try someone local to advise on water levels before your trip, high water for someone not who is not a keen caver maybe not the best idea.
A possible alternative is a GB trip, easy route finding. And want to make it a bit more challenging then take the devil's elbow route.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Thanks, if I've any concerns in the back of my head I'll habitually pack a micro traction, a petzl fixe pulley and 2 completely oval krabs, which enables Z rigs or whatnot. Oddly he's not super sure about being underground but I don't think water makes the situation better or worse

 

[mrodoc]

If he doesn't like caving why is he doing it?