Sylvester Pot 2nd Pitch

[IeatMud]

Slightly confused. The black book describes it as free climbable but when we got there earlier today it was overhanging for over 5 meters and not suitable to even handline. Has it been like that for a while?

 

[Al S]

Slightly confused. The black book describes it as free climbable but when we got there earlier today it was overhanging for over 5 meters and not suitable to even handline. Has it been like that for a while?

Sorry I don't have my copy of NFTFH with me, but looking back at my notes I've the following for the second pitch,

"The "small spike at the pitchead", looked awfully like a little nubbin of rock, but a barrel knotted loop seemed to grip it sufficiently to allow a protected descent, though I did try and keep my weight on the rock rather than on the rope."

Where we really did struggle (we were repulsed on our first trip) was the climb up into the crawl after you've dropped down from the main chamber.

 

[IeatMud]

Must have gone past it then, there was a hole just before where we went down but it did not seem to fit the description.

 

[Alex]

Yep never found the way up there to the crawl if that's what you mean, tried it twice was never able to get up it. So if you do find where to go please share!

 

[IeatMud]

Yep never found the way up there to the crawl if that's what you mean, tried it twice was never able to get up it. So if you do find where to go please share!

Should have been more clear, I was talking about the 2nd pitch.

 

[Al S]

Must have gone past it then, there was a hole just before where we went down but it did not seem to fit the description.

I've never been past the hole so don't know what lies beyond, but it sounds like you've gone past the pitch. It's quite a small nubbin of a stalagmite to attach your rope to!

 

[Al S]

Yep never found the way up there to the crawl if that's what you mean, tried it twice was never able to get up it. So if you do find where to go please share!

Having dropped down the second pitch, as referred to above, you end up in a big chamber. At the bottom of chamber are a couple of ways on. It's the left hand one you want, into a fairly unpleasant, damp rift. Just after getting a slight wetting from some water coming in from the roof, the rift widens and up on your left is the "climb". The slot at the top of it is fairly obvious. The way up (for us) not so. In the end we resorted to combined tactics to get one person up and then they secured a rope for the rest of us - it may still be there! Usual caveat about bits of rope you find applies.
It was a great trip though still not quite sure how I got up the waterfalls in Upper Clough's passage.

 

[Alex]

Thanks, looks like it was where we thought it was up there, just could not figure out how to get up there!

 

[IeatMud]

I've never been past the hole so don't know what lies beyond, but it sounds like you've gone past the pitch. It's quite a small nubbin of a stalagmite to attach your rope to!

It dropped in the same chamber so does not really make any difference (excluding the fact it can't be handlined).

 

[IeatMud]

Having dropped down the second pitch, as referred to above, you end up in a big chamber. At the bottom of chamber are a couple of ways on. It's the left hand one you want, into a fairly unpleasant, damp rift. Just after getting a slight wetting from some water coming in from the roof, the rift widens and up on your left is the "climb". The slot at the top of it is fairly obvious. The way up (for us) not so. In the end we resorted to combined tactics to get one person up and then they secured a rope for the rest of us - it may still be there! Usual caveat about bits of rope you find applies.
It was a great trip though still not quite sure how I got up the waterfalls in Upper Clough's passage.

I can confirm there is still a rope there.