Which (Mendip) cave have you visited this week?

[bagpuss]

There seems to be less trip reports about these days and it's always interesting to see where people have been caving on Mendip. Wondered if there might be interest in having an ongoing thread where we log where we've caved in the week with a bit of info about the trip and cave conditions? Handy for trip ideas and it's always interesting to read and talk about caves!

This week's trip for us was Manor Farm, touch and go whether we were going to be able to locate the farmer, but they were found and we descended the cave using a mix of some abseiling & some on the ladders. September rift was more awkward than I remembered it &regretted choice to descend on a ladder/ lifeline. The rocks were stained brown and the cave smelled pretty bad. The cave was still pretty dry with only a few puddles/ trickles of water. We took the bypass from the 3rd pitch. Easy going from there onwards with the smell getting worse and leaches getting more extensive. I turned around just before the climb up into the NHASA gallery and we got a head start in getting up the pitches whilst the rest of the club continued on up in NHASA. They declared the smell/air to be better in that part of the cave. A cave with some pretty formations, impressive curtain & interesting rock features, not sure I'll be returning until there's a lot more rain on Mendip!

 

[The Old Ruminator]

As ever QWUH. Fancy a visit Bagpuss ?

 

[bagpuss]

Looks like there may not be any interest but will make a start.
Visited a very dry Swildons this week, climbed the old 40 on a top rope, think I could probably climb it without if the need ever arose (hopefully it won't!) All the upper parts of the cave are still dry at the moment. Did get a wet welly taking a look into the Cistern (?) a part I've not looked into before above the wet way. Cave sounds eiree without any water!

 

[bagpuss]

A second trip this week, Axbridge Ochre Cavern. Took our own step ladder as didn't fancy trusting the old rope & the initial way up is a blank wall.. A small mine/ cave with an impressive rift and interesting formations.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I was one of three to be the last to see an intact 40 in 1968.

 

[tony from suffolk]

I was one of three to be the last to see an intact 40 in 1968.

...and I think I'm one of the first to see it unintact! (Is that a word? It is now!)

 

[rm128]

...and I think I'm one of the first to see it unintact! (Is that a word? It is now!)

Extact?

 

[PeteHall]

Went digging at Rickford Rising on Thursday night.

Game keeper stopped by for a chat as we were kitting up and is arranging for the estate to clear all the fallen trees from around/ over the entrance (we did offer to do this, but they'd rather do it themselves as we're not insured!).

Not the most efficient session, as it was the first time digging underwater for James, but we managed to fill and remove 6 bags from the end.

Current flow levels are pretty low, so taking a while for visibility to clear. Looking forward to a a bit of rain to make it easier to see!

Photo at the entrance from last week, but you get the idea!

 

[mikem]

Not quite sure what the correct term would be as the passage that was blasted open already existed, but had been backfilled naturally, to create the 40...

 

[bagpuss]

Hunters Lodge Inn Sink, a short trip, a look into Rocking Rudolph rift (lots of interesting fossils), couldn't get into Hangover Hall due to the volume of backed up silt. Had a look into the 'seasonal' sump and as far as barmaids bedrooms before the temptation of a pint was calling & we headed out. Air was gloriously fresh compared to the last time we visited in the summer.

Seasonal sump

 

[bagpuss]

Lionel's hole round trip this evening, successfully made it around (using duck 2 bypass) Small stream running at the bottom with an air gap in duck 2. Can't take the credit for the navigation. Saw where the boulders had collapsed and the strike marks, must have been very frightening for those involved. Didn't linger..

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Looks like lithostrotion fossils in HLIS. A superb bed of them in Balch Aven Chamber.
Says Wiki-
Lithostrotion is a genus of rugose coral which is commonly found as a fossil within Carboniferous Limestone. Lithostrotion is a member of the family Lithostrotionidae. The genus Lithostrotion, a common and readily recognised group of fossils, became extinct by the end of the Palaeozoic era.
We have Devonian Porifera in the mine.

 

[bagpuss]

Looks like lithostrotion fossils in HLIS. A superb bed of them in Balch Aven Chamber.
Says Wiki-
Lithostrotion is a genus of rugose coral which is commonly found as a fossil within Carboniferous Limestone. Lithostrotion is a member of the family Lithostrotionidae. The genus Lithostrotion, a common and readily recognised group of fossils, became extinct by the end of the Palaeozoic era.
We have Devonian Porifera in the mine.

This section of Balch Aven chamber? Not the best photo but extremely impressive when seen in person.

Looks like lithostrotion fossils in HLIS. A superb bed of them in Balch Aven Chamber.
Says Wiki-
Lithostrotion is a genus of rugose coral which is commonly found as a fossil within Carboniferous Limestone. Lithostrotion is a member of the family Lithostrotionidae. The genus Lithostrotion, a common and readily recognised group of fossils, became extinct by the end of the Palaeozoic era.
We have Devonian Porifera in the mine.

Think these are the ones in Balch Aven chamber? Not the best photo but they are really impressive.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Does anybody know if the stream is flowing in Swildons Upper Series at the moment?????

 

[JohnMCooper]

Does anybody know if the stream is flowing in Swildons Upper Series at the moment?????

On Friday there was a small flow into the bottom pipe but today there was not. However the water entering from the streambed is now present and makes a nice splashing sound all the way. On Friday there was about a 1cm gap through Sump I. Today the Mud Sump is full as is the Moles' Dig, and the passage leading to the final dam before the Mud Sump has about 15cm of water in it.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

For Bagpuss. Balch with a better looking model than I usually get.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

On Friday there was a small flow into the bottom pipe but today there was not. However the water entering from the streambed is now present and makes a nice splashing sound all the way. On Friday there was about a 1cm gap through Sump I. Today the Mud Sump is full as is the Moles' Dig, and the passage leading to the final dam before the Mud Sump has about 15cm of water in it.

Many thanks for that

 

[bagpuss]

GB
First chilly changing experience of the autumn, blowing a gale on Mendip. Went in via the usual route (not devils elbow) Took the waterfall bypass route to ladder dig. Up the pitch to the duck, didn't need to bail it and my ears stayed dry. We intended to find Great Chamber but initially only found what I think was Disapointment chamber. On the way back out we found the more exposed climb up into the Great Chamber but ran out of time to look for the less exposed way. Exited via the waterfall climb. Last time I was in GB in the summer there was no water at all, a small stream was running yesterday evening. Only just made it to the Hunters.

 

[bagpuss]

GB
First chilly changing experience of the autumn, blowing a gale on Mendip. Went in via the usual route (not devils elbow) Took the waterfall bypass route to ladder dig. Up the pitch to the duck, didn't need to bail it and my ears stayed dry. We intended to find Great Chamber but initially only found what I think was Disapointment chamber. On the way back out we found the more exposed climb up into the Great Chamber but ran out of time to look for the less exposed way. Exited via the waterfall climb. Last time I was in GB in the summer there was no water at all, a small stream was running yesterday evening. Only just made it to the Hunters.
View attachment 24214
View attachment 24215

Edit, having seen this excellent video we didn't make it into disapointment chamber! It's strange that Mendip Underground doesn't mention the chamber being really well decorated in the description. Will have to return with more time to visit both.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

A family trip down Swildons, great fun had by all