russporter
New member
I thought that as this trip was my longest and most memorable, I should be able to write something about it so here goes.
Our party was made up of Myself, Paul L, Brain S and Karen. We got to the blockhouse and met a group of cavers who had just let go the ashes of a friend and put a plaque up on the entrance in his memory (nice way to go!)
We descended at 10.40am making our way down the wet way to Water rift and on to the Twenty. Another caver joined our party (Richard C) at the Double Pots, we made our way up to Trapmans Temple and into St Paul's Series passing what I can only call a "magnificent bailing invention". Mud Sump needed about 30-45 minutes bailing between the five of us which seemed like about 10 Min's when your full of excitement, having been talked through the now duck by Brain and Richard we made our way past Shatter Pot and on to Greasy Chimney, after giving Karen a few human foot holds it was my turn which was made easy by Paul's shoulders and head (thanks mate!), onwards through Paradise Regained we came to Blue Pencil Passage which I've read about in Mendip Underground and the new Swildons book being tight and awkward, even so I knew it would be a long time until I would attempt S2 & S3 so made the decision to have a go anyway, Brain and Karen made their way to the first Trouble to get the syphon going.
Paul made his way through Blue Pencil with myself and Richard behind and told me that I was going to have trouble with the 90 degree bend near the bottom which I can safely say I DID, after having a go for 15 minutes to get around the bend I decided to call it a day and let Richard carry on with Paul down to Swildons 4, I lay there for a minute and thought about what I was missing out on and decided to make another attempt this time facing away from the bend feet first, SUCCESS! I started shouting to the others that I was through but it was to late they had already dropped down the chain and disappeared. I shuffled my way down to the chain and made the descent into Swildons Four, I found it a bit eerie to be there on my own but started to make may way down to S4, having had a look at the sump I made my way back to the chain meeting up with Paul and Richard on the way. Richard climbed the chain first next was myself then Paul, I had great difficulty on the return trip through Blue Pencil Passage wishing I wasn't so big and had a hairy moment back at the 90 degree bend, anyway cant dwell on these things can we.....
By the time Richard, Paul and myself met back up with Brain and Karen they had bailed a good air space so we didn't hang about and made our way through the very enjoyable Double Troubles, all was going really well until I got to Birthday Squeeze, this for a person of my size is a very serious obstacle and I did nearly panic when wedged tight, Paul pulled my arms which must of lowered my chest plate and Richard pushed my feet, to my relief I popped out and was able to continue the trip in the correct direction.
We made our my to the landing and onwards to Sump 1, back at the Twenty there was a bit of a wait but before long we were un-rigging our kit and making our way back to the surface.
We made our exit at 5.15pm.
I really recommend this trip and even with the tight and awkward squeezes (for a person of my size) would do it again!
Thanks Russ P
Our party was made up of Myself, Paul L, Brain S and Karen. We got to the blockhouse and met a group of cavers who had just let go the ashes of a friend and put a plaque up on the entrance in his memory (nice way to go!)
We descended at 10.40am making our way down the wet way to Water rift and on to the Twenty. Another caver joined our party (Richard C) at the Double Pots, we made our way up to Trapmans Temple and into St Paul's Series passing what I can only call a "magnificent bailing invention". Mud Sump needed about 30-45 minutes bailing between the five of us which seemed like about 10 Min's when your full of excitement, having been talked through the now duck by Brain and Richard we made our way past Shatter Pot and on to Greasy Chimney, after giving Karen a few human foot holds it was my turn which was made easy by Paul's shoulders and head (thanks mate!), onwards through Paradise Regained we came to Blue Pencil Passage which I've read about in Mendip Underground and the new Swildons book being tight and awkward, even so I knew it would be a long time until I would attempt S2 & S3 so made the decision to have a go anyway, Brain and Karen made their way to the first Trouble to get the syphon going.
Paul made his way through Blue Pencil with myself and Richard behind and told me that I was going to have trouble with the 90 degree bend near the bottom which I can safely say I DID, after having a go for 15 minutes to get around the bend I decided to call it a day and let Richard carry on with Paul down to Swildons 4, I lay there for a minute and thought about what I was missing out on and decided to make another attempt this time facing away from the bend feet first, SUCCESS! I started shouting to the others that I was through but it was to late they had already dropped down the chain and disappeared. I shuffled my way down to the chain and made the descent into Swildons Four, I found it a bit eerie to be there on my own but started to make may way down to S4, having had a look at the sump I made my way back to the chain meeting up with Paul and Richard on the way. Richard climbed the chain first next was myself then Paul, I had great difficulty on the return trip through Blue Pencil Passage wishing I wasn't so big and had a hairy moment back at the 90 degree bend, anyway cant dwell on these things can we.....
By the time Richard, Paul and myself met back up with Brain and Karen they had bailed a good air space so we didn't hang about and made our way through the very enjoyable Double Troubles, all was going really well until I got to Birthday Squeeze, this for a person of my size is a very serious obstacle and I did nearly panic when wedged tight, Paul pulled my arms which must of lowered my chest plate and Richard pushed my feet, to my relief I popped out and was able to continue the trip in the correct direction.
We made our my to the landing and onwards to Sump 1, back at the Twenty there was a bit of a wait but before long we were un-rigging our kit and making our way back to the surface.
We made our exit at 5.15pm.
I really recommend this trip and even with the tight and awkward squeezes (for a person of my size) would do it again!
Thanks Russ P
