Top

[mudmonkey]

Top Sink

RM, Caverholic and me....

Never been there before so it was with some trepidation that the green peril was abandoned at Bull Pot Farm. The moor was frozen solid so the walk over was pretty pleasant, I always forget how beautiful this part of the Dales is. Found the cave without great difficulty and RM headed in to rig the first pitch while we faffed. So it was with some consternation minutes later that we heard the unmistakable sound of RM beating the passage **behind** us into submission. Turns out he'd decided to explore one of the inlets. This did not bode well....

Anyway, down through Top proceeded uneventfully, nothing like as tight as we'd been led to expect. Minor error as muggins forgot to do up a maillon on the y-hang for the first pitch but at least the others spotted it before they came down! Found the way to Nagasaki and then Easter Grotto without too many problems, on to Gypsum Caverns, Eureka Junction and out by Thackray's Passage. It's a great trip, very varied and wih some superb scenery. Huge chambers littered with straws, short crawls, streamways and fun climbs. None of us had been in Top before, and we found the description on www.braemoor.co.uk extremely helpful - clear and easy to follow.

Slightly chilly walk back with wet gear (belts froze...) - just glad it wasn't windy (and glad of a brew at the Farm - cheers guys!)

 

[susie]

I'm impressed that you managed to find your way round the top end of Easegill without difficulty, first time in. Route finding can be a little disconcerting when you don't know the area.

 

[RM]

Yeah was a great trip mate. Will have to have a go at the Lancs connection next time :wink:

 

[mudmonkey]

I'm impressed that you managed to find your way round the top end of Easegill without difficulty, first time in. Route finding can be a little disconcerting when you don't know the area.

That's a large part of why I posted. The Braemoor description is superb and I wanted to acknowledge that. The RRCPC and NC guides record almost every passage which is useful for exploration and historical purposes etc., but rather confusing if you're trying to follow a route. However Braemoor has focussed on a few specific routes and described them clearly and in detail.

The amount of wear on the route also helps - lose the way, lose the polish.....

 

[caverholic]

It's definitely worth freezing on the long walk across the fell. Fortunately mudmonkey and I weren't living up to our usual reputation.