D
Dep
Guest
Up reasonably early the next morning at 8:00. By 10:00 we were all on Priddy Green except Cassie who stayed in bed, as she really didn't fancy caving that day. We were all changed and ready to go by 10:30 and I arranged a call-out with Una who was going to enjoy the sunshine walking around Priddy. Luckily for Tony I spotted him wrapping his camera in a plastic bag and putting it in a belt pouch; that probably wouldn't have lasted more than 100m into the system!
We walked round to pay our money and discovered that the door has gone. The wall has been patched so well it's hard to even see any trace of the door, there is now a sign on another door on the building frontage for the money. Off across the fields, pretty warm in my wetsuit. A final check of kit and time check with Una and we started dropping into the entrance. Tony used to cave before he joined us and has done Swildon's many times before, but a while back. He went in first followed by Chris, then me then Emma. Just before the bit where the water runs under the rocks and you slide down there is another apparent route over the rocks which ends at a drop of about 8ft to the stream. I had come to this last time I was in Swildon's and considered hopping down; however I chose not too because of the large and loose rocks in the streambed and thought I might turn my ankle. I had turned around to help Emma down the slippery bit by the entrance and was slow to realise that Tony and Chris had gone that way; as I drew breath to call out to Tony, I heard a thud and a grunt. Too late, Tony had decided to lower himself off and jump the rest; and nearly turned his ankle. Fortunately no serious harm done (cold water keeps the swelling down) and a lesson learnt by both of us!
We started in, avoiding the hole in the floor on the right where most of the water goes and carried on to the more direct Jacob's Ladder where I found Andy Sparrow at the top doing some rigging practice with another chap. We said hello and he recognised a few of us as they had hired gear from his shop or been on a training weekend with him. We carried on down the easy inclined rift and followed the water. Compared to the last time I was in here the water levels were way down and it was all quite civilised. Again we organised ourselves so each novice would have both a familiar person with them as well an experienced person to help them out. But no one really needed any great amount of help and we made good progress down the stream and arrived almost unexpectedly at the Forty. This is the first 'daunting' climb, but with so little water it proved no problem at all for anyone and so we reached the Twenty.
There were two or three sets of kit on the ledge and a ladder and line already rigged so we stowed all our gear (bar a couple of slings) on the ledge and used what was there, we had everyone down without incident and carried on. The Double Pots were the first entertainment, one person fell in but I am damned if I can remember who it was! We were in no rush so I led up into Barne's Loop. This was very pretty and I think all those new to caving were impressed by it. The climb down the other end was tricky; actually a very easy climb down but it looks intimidating if you are not used to jamming your body into the cleft.
The next detour was Tratman's Temple, I took everyone up the slippery wall and across the bold step up through the slot into the formations above., the 4ft sling came in handy; we clipped Emma to it and Chris and I had a solid grip from the top just to be on the safe side as she stepped across. The same sling also provided a good psychological hand-grip for any others who wanted it. Everyone was suitably awed by this very pretty place. Then it was time to move on, and to psych myself up for the climb down. I have to say I don't like the step down from there above the streamway. It is high enough to be exposed, slightly overhanging, and gives the impression of being glass smooth and slippery. Actually it's quite easy if you know where to put your feet and have confidence; but you have to come down backwards, and at the point of maximum step you have to trust to friction and move your centre of gravity away from the protection of the cleft at the top. It was up to me to go down first, and do it in such a way as to inspire confidence; that meant taking a deep breath and getting on with it. I managed to do it without embarrassing myself, and quickly went on to learn that it is far more frightening helping other people across these sorts of obstacles with the responsibility of getting them down safely than doing it yourself, I was glad when everyone was safely down.
The streamway is very impressive down here, everyone was really enjoying the stroll down it, we came to the short section where the stream runs beneath boulders and pretty soon we were at Sump 1. As the first of us arrived we saw a Hollywood-like spooky fluorescence through the sump, this was indistinct at first but soon resolved itself into an emerging caver with twin lights on either side of his head; the whole thing looked pretty surreal. By the time his companion had emerged too the rest of our party had arrived at the sump and were looking at it. After exchanging pleasantries he discovered that this was Emma's first trip in here, and after ascertaining that she had on suitable kit encouraged her to go through the sump; saying "there are two things on the other side - can you tell me what they are"? And then he was on his way.
We didn't really have time to go any further, any trip through the sump would be just to see the other side and return, I didn't fancy a ducking and nor did many of the party. Tony was the first to have a go, with a brief preparation he was through, and returned a short while later. Debbie was really keen to see Emma go through, but she wanted someone to be the other side for her. Poor Angus couldn't say no and was sent through first, then after a thorough briefing Emma followed him; no trouble. Asking me to push her legs Debbie went for it herself. They were in there for a little while, I sat back and ate my Mars bar, this was its second trip into Swildon's and I couldn't get all the paper off, but ate it anyway. Then we saw the glow in the water, and watched each of the three surface. Watching their faces we could see that the water was as cold as we had anticipated, and were perfectly happy to have waited.
Once they were sorted we started back at a brisk pace to get everyone warm again, navigation is simple; follow the stream, so Tony, Chris and Andy went on ahead to warm up whilst the rest of us carried on out. We passed up the rift underneath Barne's Loop, this seems to mark the point at which you realise that a trip to Sump 1 is actually quite tiring, especially if you've never done this before. The Double Pots were fun, Emma got her battery cable snagged in the first climb up and almost entered the upper pool face-first; but Debbie outdid her in the graceful stakes when she got her hips jammed in the same slot. It looked quite amusing from where I was standing. At some point along the way we caught up with Chris who had sat down to wait for us. Tony and Andy had gone on ahead, we thought they'd be at the twenty but had lined themselves up and gone.
Our ascent went like clockwork and we were soon packed up and on our way. The rest of the way out was pretty easy, first up the Forty and a chance to play with the water. There's something immensely satisfying (and no doubt deeply Freudian) about stopping the water and letting it all go at once. And finally out to the entrance series. A voice called me from above, it was AndyL calling down through the hollow tree, I hadn't realised this connected through. One by one we all popped out, brilliant warm sunshine just added to the moment. A really great trip, it was clear that everyone had enjoyed it, including and especially all the novices.
A quick change at the barn and back to the cabin for a slow lunch and an extended clear-up and move out. A very pleasant drive back with light traffic, home by 19:00. This has probably been one of the best cabin weekends to date, everything went as it was meant to, all due to the good efforts of those who took part; thanks especially to Angus, Debbie and Una for leading, tailending, catering and callouts.
We walked round to pay our money and discovered that the door has gone. The wall has been patched so well it's hard to even see any trace of the door, there is now a sign on another door on the building frontage for the money. Off across the fields, pretty warm in my wetsuit. A final check of kit and time check with Una and we started dropping into the entrance. Tony used to cave before he joined us and has done Swildon's many times before, but a while back. He went in first followed by Chris, then me then Emma. Just before the bit where the water runs under the rocks and you slide down there is another apparent route over the rocks which ends at a drop of about 8ft to the stream. I had come to this last time I was in Swildon's and considered hopping down; however I chose not too because of the large and loose rocks in the streambed and thought I might turn my ankle. I had turned around to help Emma down the slippery bit by the entrance and was slow to realise that Tony and Chris had gone that way; as I drew breath to call out to Tony, I heard a thud and a grunt. Too late, Tony had decided to lower himself off and jump the rest; and nearly turned his ankle. Fortunately no serious harm done (cold water keeps the swelling down) and a lesson learnt by both of us!
We started in, avoiding the hole in the floor on the right where most of the water goes and carried on to the more direct Jacob's Ladder where I found Andy Sparrow at the top doing some rigging practice with another chap. We said hello and he recognised a few of us as they had hired gear from his shop or been on a training weekend with him. We carried on down the easy inclined rift and followed the water. Compared to the last time I was in here the water levels were way down and it was all quite civilised. Again we organised ourselves so each novice would have both a familiar person with them as well an experienced person to help them out. But no one really needed any great amount of help and we made good progress down the stream and arrived almost unexpectedly at the Forty. This is the first 'daunting' climb, but with so little water it proved no problem at all for anyone and so we reached the Twenty.
There were two or three sets of kit on the ledge and a ladder and line already rigged so we stowed all our gear (bar a couple of slings) on the ledge and used what was there, we had everyone down without incident and carried on. The Double Pots were the first entertainment, one person fell in but I am damned if I can remember who it was! We were in no rush so I led up into Barne's Loop. This was very pretty and I think all those new to caving were impressed by it. The climb down the other end was tricky; actually a very easy climb down but it looks intimidating if you are not used to jamming your body into the cleft.
The next detour was Tratman's Temple, I took everyone up the slippery wall and across the bold step up through the slot into the formations above., the 4ft sling came in handy; we clipped Emma to it and Chris and I had a solid grip from the top just to be on the safe side as she stepped across. The same sling also provided a good psychological hand-grip for any others who wanted it. Everyone was suitably awed by this very pretty place. Then it was time to move on, and to psych myself up for the climb down. I have to say I don't like the step down from there above the streamway. It is high enough to be exposed, slightly overhanging, and gives the impression of being glass smooth and slippery. Actually it's quite easy if you know where to put your feet and have confidence; but you have to come down backwards, and at the point of maximum step you have to trust to friction and move your centre of gravity away from the protection of the cleft at the top. It was up to me to go down first, and do it in such a way as to inspire confidence; that meant taking a deep breath and getting on with it. I managed to do it without embarrassing myself, and quickly went on to learn that it is far more frightening helping other people across these sorts of obstacles with the responsibility of getting them down safely than doing it yourself, I was glad when everyone was safely down.
The streamway is very impressive down here, everyone was really enjoying the stroll down it, we came to the short section where the stream runs beneath boulders and pretty soon we were at Sump 1. As the first of us arrived we saw a Hollywood-like spooky fluorescence through the sump, this was indistinct at first but soon resolved itself into an emerging caver with twin lights on either side of his head; the whole thing looked pretty surreal. By the time his companion had emerged too the rest of our party had arrived at the sump and were looking at it. After exchanging pleasantries he discovered that this was Emma's first trip in here, and after ascertaining that she had on suitable kit encouraged her to go through the sump; saying "there are two things on the other side - can you tell me what they are"? And then he was on his way.
We didn't really have time to go any further, any trip through the sump would be just to see the other side and return, I didn't fancy a ducking and nor did many of the party. Tony was the first to have a go, with a brief preparation he was through, and returned a short while later. Debbie was really keen to see Emma go through, but she wanted someone to be the other side for her. Poor Angus couldn't say no and was sent through first, then after a thorough briefing Emma followed him; no trouble. Asking me to push her legs Debbie went for it herself. They were in there for a little while, I sat back and ate my Mars bar, this was its second trip into Swildon's and I couldn't get all the paper off, but ate it anyway. Then we saw the glow in the water, and watched each of the three surface. Watching their faces we could see that the water was as cold as we had anticipated, and were perfectly happy to have waited.
Once they were sorted we started back at a brisk pace to get everyone warm again, navigation is simple; follow the stream, so Tony, Chris and Andy went on ahead to warm up whilst the rest of us carried on out. We passed up the rift underneath Barne's Loop, this seems to mark the point at which you realise that a trip to Sump 1 is actually quite tiring, especially if you've never done this before. The Double Pots were fun, Emma got her battery cable snagged in the first climb up and almost entered the upper pool face-first; but Debbie outdid her in the graceful stakes when she got her hips jammed in the same slot. It looked quite amusing from where I was standing. At some point along the way we caught up with Chris who had sat down to wait for us. Tony and Andy had gone on ahead, we thought they'd be at the twenty but had lined themselves up and gone.
Our ascent went like clockwork and we were soon packed up and on our way. The rest of the way out was pretty easy, first up the Forty and a chance to play with the water. There's something immensely satisfying (and no doubt deeply Freudian) about stopping the water and letting it all go at once. And finally out to the entrance series. A voice called me from above, it was AndyL calling down through the hollow tree, I hadn't realised this connected through. One by one we all popped out, brilliant warm sunshine just added to the moment. A really great trip, it was clear that everyone had enjoyed it, including and especially all the novices.
A quick change at the barn and back to the cabin for a slow lunch and an extended clear-up and move out. A very pleasant drive back with light traffic, home by 19:00. This has probably been one of the best cabin weekends to date, everything went as it was meant to, all due to the good efforts of those who took part; thanks especially to Angus, Debbie and Una for leading, tailending, catering and callouts.
