Unexpected sounds in caves

[mrodoc]

Over the years I have heard sounds where I didn't expect to. Usually it is flowing water but sometimes more interesting sounds. I think the first time was hearing a stream flowing in the roof of a passage leading to Crystal Corridor in Baker's Pit in Devon - water was jetting out of a crack too. Never heard it since or any reference to it. In Holwell Cave near a location called the S bend I heard a stream flowing at the base of a rift that would need enlarging to descend. Only once though! The sound of stream in the entrance of Shatter Cave a few years ago got us into a fragment of immature streamway. Over the 50 years I have visited the cave never heard it before or since Once in Doolin system a long long way back from the sump - more Echo Pot area we heard some strange glooping sounds like a sump draining. Never heard those reported before or since. In Dog Hole in Devon cavers once reported hearing another party in the cave - but there wasn't one! These occurrences came to mind hearing about a strange sound heard in the Elephant's Trunk area of Withyhill Cave recently and some people are wondering if it is related to the pulsing draught encountered at the entrance. I have heard a stream flowing in the floor of the entrance passage of Hillwithy Cave as well.

One sound that we did finally account for was one heard when we were digging in Reservoir Hole - sort of booming rumble in the distance. We thought we must be heading for an unstable boulder chamber but then we heard it on reaching the Frozen Deep. We are now fairly sure it was transmitted sound from blasting in a quarry some way away as they always blasted around the same time on the same day of the week. I thought it might prompt others to share their experiences of odd noises underground.

 

[tim.rose2]

Persil Rift (Portland, obviously)...
A cave which before being connected to Ariel Cave was rarely visited, even for Portland. We were digging and had a breakthrough into the next section of rift which included a sizeable rift chamber requiring a 5 m climb down to reach the floor. Whilst we were stood at the top contemplating how we were going to do this with no kit (ultimately Richard just climbed down and declared it was ok) we started to hear a banging noise, like somebody was digging, followed by faint voices. Was there another group digging in Persil behind us, if so why bother, we'd already dug it? Or perhaps someone else was attempting to dig in Ariel which we thought highly unlikely as nobody bar the 3 of us knew how close the two caves now were and until we'd surveyed our find the following week no one would have known where to dig. In-fact we were unaware of any other group digging anywhere on Portland so the coincidence seemed highly unlikely. We obviously shouted but got no response. Upon returning to the surface we found the property directly above where we though we had been was having a new fence installed. The survey the following week placed our rift chamber more of less directly under the new fence. We've never heard anything in this location since, but fairly confident we were hearing people in their garden and the thumping of fence posts being installed. Probably not a lot of roof then!!!

 

[Lankyman]

In my early days of caving I found the 'normal' sounds of a cave to be a little unnerving at first. This was especially so if I was on a solo trip when there would be fewer distractions and your senses were more elevated than usual. Distant running water would sound like voices. I definitely remember feeling this in Valley Entrance and Ibbeth Peril (there's a witch who lives in there ... ). I'd imagine that a lot of the tales of underground spirits and 'knockers' are down to this kind of aural pareidoilia.

 

[mrodoc]

Persil Rift (Portland, obviously)...
A cave which before being connected to Ariel Cave was rarely visited, even for Portland. We were digging and had a breakthrough into the next section of rift which included a sizeable rift chamber requiring a 5 m climb down to reach the floor. Whilst we were stood at the top contemplating how we were going to do this with no kit (ultimately Richard just climbed down and declared it was ok) we started to hear a banging noise, like somebody was digging, followed by faint voices. Was there another group digging in Persil behind us, if so why bother, we'd already dug it? Or perhaps someone else was attempting to dig in Ariel which we thought highly unlikely as nobody bar the 3 of us knew how close the two caves now were and until we'd surveyed our find the following week no one would have known where to dig. In-fact we were unaware of any other group digging anywhere on Portland so the coincidence seemed highly unlikely. We obviously shouted but got no response. Upon returning to the surface we found the property directly above where we though we had been was having a new fence installed. The survey the following week placed our rift chamber more of less directly under the new fence. We've never heard anything in this location since, but fairly confident we were hearing people in their garden and the thumping of fence posts being installed. Probably not a lot of roof then!!!

Reminds of the noises heard in Thrupe Lane Swallet when a digging team was there. Turned out to noises from the farmyard above!

 

[Maj]

Reminds of the noises heard in Thrupe Lane Swallet when a digging team was there. Turned out to noises from the farmyard above!

For further details have a read of Richard Witcombes's book 'Who was Aveline anyway'

 

[kay]

Les Hewitt used to talk about the loud bangs as air was forced out of the passages under Sleets Gill. No use as a warning - the main passage was already sumped.

Lorries on the road above Smeltmill Beck.

 

[Maj]

These occurrences came to mind hearing about a strange sound heard in the Elephant's Trunk area of Withyhill Cave recently and some people are wondering if it is related to the pulsing draught encountered at the entrance.

The strange sound was a high pitch whistle. It sounded just like the whistle that hearing aids can sometimes emit. I removed my hearing aids thinking it was them and since I can't hear high frequency sounds without them, I could no longer hear the noise although the other two on the trip could. I then removed the batteries from my hearing aids and the other two could still hear the high pitch whistle, confirming that it was definitely not emanating from my hearing aids. We then heard the noise of flowing water that we couldn't hear before. This only lasted for a minute or so before stopping, but the whistling continued. Si did manage to record an audio track of the whistle.
On our return past Elephant's Trunk Chamber, again we could hear the whistle, but unable to identify from exactly where it was coming from.

 

[Maj]

For further details have a read of Richard Witcombe's book 'Who was Aveline anyway'

Oops! Too many 's' in my original reply.

 

[bagpuss]

Have been convinced of voices in lower reaches of Hilliers cave (possibly water noises?) and in Hillwithy (climbers on the surface?)

 

[Goydenman]

Once digging solo in Goyden pot heard a noise hadn't heard before then saw red eyes. Froze in fear then heard light from cavers to see a dog going ahead of them looking at me

 

[Goydenman]

Heard cavers and then saw their light i meant

 

[LadyMud]

Sometimes in the Dales, if you're really lucky, you might hear a lovely Irish voice singing folk songs

 

[mrodoc]

the reference to lorries reminds me of the rumble I heard in Lanzarote's Cueva Naturalista. First reaction was that it was seismic activity but on reflection realized it was far more likely it was a heavy vehicle driving over the cave that goes under a particularly bumpy road!

 

[mrodoc]

Once digging solo in Goyden pot heard a noise hadn't heard before then saw red eyes. Froze in fear then heard light from cavers to see a dog going ahead of them looking at me

It wasn't Snowy then!

 

[semiretiredcaver]

Gunnerfleet cave has some interesting rumbles when trains pass overhead across the viaduct

 

[JustinG]

Fascinating stuff, caves can carry sound in really strange ways. I have only ever noticed the odd rumble or draught change, nothing as unusual as what you’ve heard...

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Not caving, but in Snape Mine (East Sussex) when the trains go past it overhead you can really hear them, especially when near the entrance shaft

 

[JustinG]

Not caving, but in Snape Mine (East Sussex) when the trains go past it overhead you can really hear them, especially when near the entrance shaft

Yeah, it’s surprising how much noise carries underground when you’re near a shaft.

 

[Lankyman]

It wasn't Snowy then!

What's Snowy's story then?

 

[Lankyman]

Not caving, but in Snape Mine (East Sussex) when the trains go past it overhead you can really hear them, especially when near the entrance shaft

I've walked over Blea Moor a few times past the air shafts for the tunnel but never when a train was passing far below. It must be interesting when a steam train is going through. It must also have been a hellish scary job sinking them down to the tunnel. Some of the navvies who did this are probably buried in St Leonard's Chapel a few miles away.