Too much of a noob for Longwood/August hole?

[kilamanjaro]

'Afternoon

Ive got a potential trip to longwood swallet / August hole next month im just looking to get input from someone more experienced. Im new to caving and this seems like the most challenging trip id have done.

All ive really done in the past is the beginner pots around burrington and goatchurch, thrupe lane swallet (the non-SRT route) and a small section of swildons hole (to muddy sump and back), and hilliers/fairy cave. Ive done the big limestone mines around bath but that's not exactly caving

Turns out im a massive wuss with bad air, I was nearly spewing with the higher co2 in swildons while everyone else was mostly ok.

The longest ive been underground at one time is 3 hours and some change, so itll probably be my longest trip too.

Was wondering if anyone has pictures or descriptions of the more challenging bits? Im fine with ladder pitches but if there's any free climbing id be a lot more hesitant

Cheers

 

[bagpuss]

'Afternoon

Ive got a potential trip to longwood swallet / August hole next month im just looking to get input from someone more experienced. Im new to caving and this seems like the most challenging trip id have done.

All ive really done in the past is the beginner pots around burrington and goatchurch, thrupe lane swallet (the non-SRT route) and a small section of swildons hole (to muddy sump and back), and hilliers/fairy cave. Ive done the big limestone mines around bath but that's not exactly caving

Turns out im a massive wuss with bad air, I was nearly spewing with the higher co2 in swildons while everyone else was mostly ok.

The longest ive been underground at one time is 3 hours and some change, so itll probably be my longest trip too.

Was wondering if anyone has pictures or descriptions of the more challenging bits? Im fine with ladder pitches but if there's any free climbing id be a lot more hesitant

Cheers

We've been there quite a few times in various conditions. If it stays dry the entrance climb down will be dry, we use a hand line for this, it's pretty straight forward, just a case of taking your time. If it's wet it's more challenging, especially on the way up & if carrying tackle bags. Once down at the bottom there's an awkward squeeze which is fine unless you are larger than average size, you can sort of reverse your legs into a gap to bend around. After that there's an awkward short pitch which is a pain to rig as there's not much space.
Great chamber we have rigged off naturals to descend down rather than traversing across. August is a bit awkward and can feel a bit much if it's very wet, it should be pretty dry at the moment.
If you've been to Swildons to the mud sump you should be fine in terms of energy levels. A trip there always seems to take longer than we anticipate due to the awkward rigging, make sure you allow plenty of time and take a chocolate bar in case your energy levels dip.

 

[bagpuss]

We've been there quite a few times in various conditions. If it stays dry the entrance climb down will be dry, we use a hand line for this, it's pretty straight forward, just a case of taking your time. If it's wet it's more challenging, especially on the way up & if carrying tackle bags. Once down at the bottom there's an awkward squeeze which is fine unless you are larger than average size, you can sort of reverse your legs into a gap to bend around. After that there's an awkward short pitch which is a pain to rig as there's not much space.
Great chamber we have rigged off naturals to descend down rather than traversing across. August is a bit awkward and can feel a bit much if it's very wet, it should be pretty dry at the moment.
If you've been to Swildons to the mud sump you should be fine in terms of energy levels. A trip there always seems to take longer than we anticipate due to the awkward rigging, make sure you allow plenty of time and take a chocolate bar in case your energy levels dip.

PS I'm also pretty sensitive to bad air and have had no issues in Longwood.

 

[kilamanjaro]

We've been there quite a few times in various conditions. If it stays dry the entrance climb down will be dry, we use a hand line for this, it's pretty straight forward, just a case of taking your time. If it's wet it's more challenging, especially on the way up & if carrying tackle bags. Once down at the bottom there's an awkward squeeze which is fine unless you are larger than average size, you can sort of reverse your legs into a gap to bend around. After that there's an awkward short pitch which is a pain to rig as there's not much space.
Great chamber we have rigged off naturals to descend down rather than traversing across. August is a bit awkward and can feel a bit much if it's very wet, it should be pretty dry at the moment.
If you've been to Swildons to the mud sump you should be fine in terms of energy levels. A trip there always seems to take longer than we anticipate due to the awkward rigging, make sure you allow plenty of time and take a chocolate bar in case your energy levels dip.

Nice one, thanks for the reply I think the plan from the group leader is to traverse across (swing pitch?) Rather than going down. Ive managed to find some pictures of it though and doesnt look too bad.

Ill give it a go, its reassuring about the bad air too

Cheers

 

[bagpuss]

Nice one, thanks for the reply I think the plan from the group leader is to traverse across (swing pitch?) Rather than going down. Ive managed to find some pictures of it though and doesnt look too bad.

Ill give it a go, its reassuring about the bad air too

Cheers

If you're doing the circuit of August/ Longwood you'd still usually do a descent into Great Chamber, the stepping over swing pitch is avoiding the descent into thy lower series which is a different climb (hope that makes sense)

 

[bagpuss]

@Caver Keith has a video also

Let me know if you need a copy of the survey/ description

 

[cap n chris]

'Afternoon

Ive got a potential trip to longwood swallet / August hole next month im just looking to get input from someone more experienced. Im new to caving and this seems like the most challenging trip id have done.

All ive really done in the past is the beginner pots around burrington and goatchurch, thrupe lane swallet (the non-SRT route) and a small section of swildons hole (to muddy sump and back), and hilliers/fairy cave. Ive done the big limestone mines around bath but that's not exactly caving

Turns out im a massive wuss with bad air, I was nearly spewing with the higher co2 in swildons while everyone else was mostly ok.

The longest ive been underground at one time is 3 hours and some change, so itll probably be my longest trip too.

Was wondering if anyone has pictures or descriptions of the more challenging bits? Im fine with ladder pitches but if there's any free climbing id be a lot more hesitant

Cheers

If you're relatively slender and actually quite a fit person and you have a leader that doesn't rely on a lucky rabbit's foot then Longwood/August probably isn't going to kill you. It's been described in the past as "Like Swildon's on steroids" (not really the case, but not massively far off) so if you've been to Swildon's Hole at Priddy and enjoyed the fcuk out of that then Longwood could be right up your street. The 'sorter' is the beginning section so you can quit early if you like. If you enjoy the first climb down and the squeezyziggyzaggy/climby then all is well, provided you are a good climber (or have a great leader who can rig the exposed traverse from the available naturals) then all might be well. If you survive, let us know how you got on. And, yes, people have died down there. Just so you know.

 

[bagpuss]

If you're relatively slender and actually quite a fit person and you have a leader that doesn't rely on a lucky rabbit's foot then Longwood/August probably isn't going to kill you. It's been described in the past as "Like Swildon's on steroids" (not really the case, but not massively far off) so if you've been to Swildon's Hole at Priddy and enjoyed the fcuk out of that then Longwood could be right up your street. The 'sorter' is the beginning section so you can quit early if you like. If you enjoy the first climb down and the squeezyziggyzaggy/climby then all is well, provided you are a good climber (or have a great leader who can rig the exposed traverse from the available naturals) then all might be well. If you survive, let us know how you got on. And, yes, people have died down there. Just so you know.

Never attempted the traverse, if it's dry the climb down on a life line into Great Chamber feels a bit easier to figure out? I know some will do it without a rope, but consequences of a slip wouldn't be good. Wish it was bolted..

 

[Dingley Dell]

Hard to know how it will be next month, but the entrance rift will be nice and dry right now. Bagpuss and I went there a few weeks ago and it was dry then. The entrance rift becomes intimidating and serious when there's more than a fair amount of water going down it. As long as your leader can give you encouragement on the best way to do the letterbox squeeze and tight section and short 'pitch' things improve shortly after. After the second short climb down you can nip into the upper end of August series to check the water levels there, before continuing down towards Great Chamber. We always climb down the dry waterfall in Great Chamber on a lifeline and then the last person abs down.There's some straightforward down climbing in Great Chamber and then clamber up again. A slight bold step over the top of Swing Pitch and then you're into the crawling squeezy snaggy August series. It's a fun round trip. Definitely take your choice of chocolate/cereal bar or other energy for the return.

 

[kilamanjaro]

If you're relatively slender and actually quite a fit person and you have a leader that doesn't rely on a lucky rabbit's foot then Longwood/August probably isn't going to kill you. It's been described in the past as "Like Swildon's on steroids" (not really the case, but not massively far off) so if you've been to Swildon's Hole at Priddy and enjoyed the fcuk out of that then Longwood could be right up your street. The 'sorter' is the beginning section so you can quit early if you like. If you enjoy the first climb down and the squeezyziggyzaggy/climby then all is well, provided you are a good climber (or have a great leader who can rig the exposed traverse from the available naturals) then all might be well. If you survive, let us know how you got on. And, yes, people have died down there. Just so you know.

No deaths for about 40 years according to mcra so ill try to keep the streak going cheers. I am quite small so not too bothered about the squeezes, I just haven't done anything with ropes other than just having a lifeline for long ladder pitches so I wasnt sure about that traverse

 

[kilamanjaro]

If you're doing the circuit of August/ Longwood you'd still usually do a descent into Great Chamber, the stepping over swing pitch is avoiding the descent into thy lower series which is a different climb (hope that makes sense)

Ahhh ok that makes sense. maybe ive just misunderstood the trip description. Cheers