What caving related thing did you do today?

PeteHall

Moderator
Washed my kit after the first Otter Hole trip of the season.

Logbook shows that we were the last people in there (on 25th September).
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
Went sump flopping. Laid more line. Looks good as always!

Fitted a P-zip in a one piece caving wetsuit (with thanks to Topcat on here for advice on how to do this, some time ago).
 

Speleofish

Active member
Awestruck! I used to take groups of young teenagers from my old school down various caves in Mendip. Little sister (blond, scarily pretty) used to come along too. Whenever we reached a troublesome piece of cave (hellish tight, drainpipe, narrow bits in Sidcot Swallet etc) where the male teenagers showed signs of uncertainty, a happy soprano piped up ' Yes, it's a little narrow, but I first went through it when I was ten". I've never met a better way of motivating peri-pubertal teenagers....
Even so, 36 seconds one way would have been good going...
 

alanw

Well-known member
Yesterday - went down Aygill, past the 1st pitch, into the stream passage until just before the water starts dropping, where I got both my shoulders and my left wellie stuck (I'm 6'2" and 50" around the shoulders, size 12 feet). There were only two of us, so retreat was the better part of valour: getting back up would have been even harder. Went home, got the tent and awning erected and sprayed with water/UV protector. Left to dry in the sun and then packed away ready for the Gaping Gill winch meet in 3 weeks time. Yay! Most excited at returning after missing two years.

Today. Went down our dig to try and pump the water out of the rift so we can keep digging on down. Not a lot of success, but, as usual, we learnt a few things.
 

PeteHall

Moderator
Sorted my kit after Otter, again...

At least this time, I made good use of the bathtub yesterday, so it wasn't too squalid today!
 

PeteHall

Moderator
Fixed some elbows and knees.
20220611_160820213.jpg


Thanks to Kermit for the offcuts of Warmtex (y)
 

PeteHall

Moderator
Last night, went for a swim in the River Wye to look for the new Slaughter Stream Resurgence, after the old resurgence stopped flowing a couple of years ago.

Didn't find any cold water entering the river, but did see lots of fish including one that was about 3-4 feet long that I disturbed in the weeds (assumed to be a Pike) and loads of eels, mostly 18-24 inches long, but one was a whopper at about 3 foot. All nicely silhouetted for Dave who was in a kayak above me, but unfortunately no camera to hand...

Might have to go back some time with the camera (and a fishing net 😋 )
 

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
Ermm.. it's a very easy cavern not a cave so not sure if this counts? But since I'm an intruder from mining not a caver - for me to do something vaguely cave related is (unfortunately.. ) a rarity so I'll stretch the facts a bit and claim it as a "cave" ;)

On Friday my son George and I went on a trip and explored the "Hole of Ha", freshwater at the surface couple of metres and at the back in air there was some flowstone and small stal. Absolutely lovely little mini trip and definitely advised if anyone is ever in that area (Palaiokastritsa, Corfu)
 

pwhole

Well-known member
Found yet another mine entrance above Middle Bank in Castleton - I'm losing count now, but it's almost certainly just another small scrin working, and I wasn't equipped to get in it being in my summer clothes. Finally photographed a possible old swallet I found years ago. And found this chisel, poking out of the dirt in an opencut lip - pretty much where the GPS unit is:

IMG_0466.jpg
 
Spent a significant amount of time scouring guide books and the CNCC website trying to find new training venues that have single pitch SRT and pitches of not more than 18m so I can use them in an upcoming course I’m running. Not having much luck other than the 3 already on my list (dollytubs, sunset, sell gill)
 

Ian P

Administrator
Staff member
Spent a significant amount of time scouring guide books and the CNCC website trying to find new training venues that have single pitch SRT and pitches of not more than 18m so I can use them in an upcoming course I’m running. Not having much luck other than the 3 already on my list (dollytubs, sunset, sell gill)
Yordas middle entrance can provide a variety of options in an easy to manage environment. Straight hangs, rebelays and deviations can all be achieved with a bit of creativity.
 

LadyMud

Active member
"What caving related thing did you do today?"
Scrubbed out my welly boot with hot soapy water, after it spent several weeks in Dr Bannister's Handbasin.
(Many thanks to the lads from BPC for retrieving it!)
 

Steve Clark

Well-known member
Spent a significant amount of time scouring guide books and the CNCC website trying to find new training venues that have single pitch SRT and pitches of not more than 18m so I can use them in an upcoming course I’m running. Not having much luck other than the 3 already on my list (dollytubs, sunset, sell gill)
Gavel - left hand option for the 1st pitch (short drop side), one in situ deviation. Much easier than the ladder pitch in the open pot.

2nd pitch with optional re-belay. Cncc rigging shows without.

3rd pitch is a hand line climb and then a lovely low streamway and you can go to Glasfurds with no more tackle

Pitches beyond are bigger
 
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