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Swildons in the wet, any rules of thumb?

Cantclimbtom

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
Hi all, are there any good rules of thumb as early warning for Swildons? Peak cavern has a step in the river outside that if covered then don't go caving.

Any Swildons equivalent to estimate spicyness, like if xyz is happening at the entrance then it will be vindaloo and if ABC is happening there then turn back or it's death by phaal.

I'm hoping by Sat evening water will have started to go down and it might be a mere Rogan Josh.

Asking with an abundance of caution as I'm not familiar with Swildons only having been lead to the 20 and back once some time ago. If dry I would've gone for a walk to sump 1 and back but with storms that may be unwise to attempt?

Any helpful suggestions for early warning signs?
Thanks all
 
Cantclimbtom said:
Hi all, are there any good rules of thumb as early warning for Swildons? Peak cavern has a step in the river outside that if covered then don't go caving.

Any Swildons equivalent to estimate spicyness, like if xyz is happening at the entrance then it will be vindaloo and if ABC is happening there then turn back or it's death by phaal.

I'm hoping by Sat evening water will have started to go down and it might be a mere Rogan Josh.

Asking with an abundance of caution as I'm not familiar with Swildons only having been lead to the 20 and back once some time ago. If dry I would've gone for a walk to sump 1 and back but with storms that may be unwise to attempt?

Any helpful suggestions for early warning signs?
Thanks all
Click to expand...
If water is entering the top pipe in the wall it will be very sporty. If it's going in the blockhouse be VERY careful. Sump I was back to being a sump again yesterday. Exit via the tree is the last resort.
 
If it is decidedly damp care of storm Claudia, please anyone can recommend a non gated, non srt cave, suitable for a slightly nervous novice (but he's also been to 20 and back, round giants windpipe so can cave a bit) in nearby area to divert to, that could be used as a plan B
 
(video has unusually good lighting)
Wow, at first it looked sporting but fun, a bit worrying at 2:50 and again at 4:50 but I'm concerned that if you only knew one route... the way you came in and water rose like that then not knowing the layout and alternatives would be dangerous.
Is that video ending as exit by the tree?
 
Cantclimbtom said:
(video has unusually good lighting)
Wow, at first it looked sporting but fun, a bit worrying at 2:50 and again at 4:50 but I'm concerned that if you only knew one route... the way you came in and water rose like that then not knowing the layout and alternatives would be dangerous.
Is that video ending as exit by the tree?
Click to expand...
Yes, climbing the rift to exit through the tree.
 
As mentioned above, Burrington Combe would be a good plan B. Goatchurch is the classic there, but there's also Sidcot (take a rope for the lobster pot), Avelines hole if only for the big entrance, East Twin to see an impressive digging project and lots more.
 
We've had nowhere near enough rain to flood swildon's (11mm in last 24 hours, with only another 12mm forecast)
 
As the person who made the film I have some comments. I wasn't anxious going in as I think the exit by the tree would be doable unless water was flowing through the grating next to it which would be a whole new level up. You would not take a novice in there - the noise itself can be intensely off putting. The flow was intense enough for water to flow across the Old Grotto and roll rocks along the streamway. On the film you can see a couple coming up out of the Water Rift. Now that was a step too far really as one of the cavers in that party had not taken into account all the constrictions in the streamway where back up can occur particularly when you are trying to go against the stream. Pinch points are the eyehole at the 40, the narrows just after the Twenty, and another prior to Trat's Temple. I also think the Double Pots would be challenging. I have left the cave because of the risk of flooding. It was the afternoon of July 10th 1968. Glad I did!
 
mrodoc said:
As the person who made the film I have some comments. I wasn't anxious going in as I think the exit by the tree would be doable unless water was flowing through the grating next to it which would be a whole new level up. You would not take a novice in there - the noise itself can be intensely off putting. The flow was intense enough for water to flow across the Old Grotto and roll rocks along the streamway. On the film you can see a couple coming up out of the Water Rift. Now that was a step too far really as one of the cavers in that party had not taken into account all the constrictions in the streamway where back up can occur particularly when you are trying to go against the stream. Pinch points are the eyehole at the 40, the narrows just after the Twenty, and another prior to Trat's Temple. I also think the Double Pots would be challenging. I have left the cave because of the risk of flooding. It was the afternoon of July 10th 1968. Glad I did!
Click to expand...
Thanks, at least the novice issue is "solved" :cry: as my son isn't up for any caving as he thinks the weekend is busy enough already (Sat and Sun at Vobster Quay) so it may be a quick solo trip, water levels permitting. I'll follow comments in these posts and if water is substantial filling the top pipe I'll give it a miss (and check forecasts obviously). Unfortunatley not already knowing Swildons and finding the online survey info a little sparse I'm not able to link all the advice above to locations, apart from the 40 eyehole (a concern in my head already is there a short climb bypass that doesn't involve soloing the 40?) and the flow over the 20. Definitley I'll have an abundance of caution and if in doubt reroute to admire the decorations in Queen Victoria chamber

I remember you describing your July '68 trip on here before 🤯 But on the principle of "last one to touch it", I'm astonished you're still allowed around Mendip caves after having broken the 40! :ROFLMAO:

Thanks all - for a wealth of good advice!
 
You can probably find a survey on line. Queen Victoroia is in Stoke Lane Slocker! Best formations are below the 40 in Barnes Loop and Tratman's Temple.
 
mrodoc said:
I have left the cave because of the risk of flooding. It was the afternoon of July 10th 1968. Glad I did!
Click to expand...
A wise decision! We went down Swildon's a couple of days later, & it was sobering to see bits of straw & grass clinging to the roof in the Old Grotto & down the streamway. The cave streamway at least down to sump one must have been completely underwater.
 
The Swildon's stream was over the top pipe tonight, but was not flowing into the blockhouse when we walked the dog at about 5.30pm. Things are starting to get pretty damp on Mendip.
 
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