Which (Mendip) cave have you visited this week?

[bagpuss]

Not quite sure about caving, but Ikea bags make excellent rope bags for crag climbing

Indeed, partners a climber so have a variety of them at home. Need to buy an extra tackle bag when funds permit.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

As ever lunch underground. Fernhill yesterday.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

The impressive Fernhill dig seeking the Ducks Pot streamway that runs below.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Then onward to QWUH where these two formally in the roof were given a poke. Crash, bang, wallop.

 

[bagpuss]

Thrupe Lane Swallet last night. Dry going down Perseverance Pot, wet in Bridge Rift, very wet (according to those that went down) in Avalanche Pot. Some head scratching over the rigging from those sorting the rope work, I think new bolts were approved by CSCC in Feb, but currently still spits, not sure how dry it needs to bolt them but wouldn't be much fun doing Avalanche Pot at the moment! Came out via Hobnail Hole.

This is why I like to be behind the camera

 

[tim.rose2]

Avalanche pot is always wet (often too wet). Great fun though - done it a couple of times. I've never looked for spits and rigged both bridge rift and Avalanche pot off naturals. Is a bit contrived. I've found taking a couple of nuts / hex's and quickdraws very useful at the top of Avalanche. Then a 5m rope to create a 'sling' around the wedged boulder as a rebelay and a final deviation to a flake approx. 6 m down to keep most of the ascent out of the water.

 

[bagpuss]

Swildons Hole upper series, some fairly new to caving visiting American cavers wanted an easy ish trip, along with a new member to the club. Nice to see people so impressed with the cave. In via the long dry way, down to the top of the 20, @Dingley Dell and I briefly deviated to the top of the old 40. Our American visitors decided they weren't wet enough and enjoyed an excursion up Rolling Thunder which still has quite a lot of flow
Back out via the wet way (barely a trickle now) and a deviation through the upper oxbow. Had a nice chat with Bath Speleo who we bumped into in the old grotto who'd been to Sump1 & Tratmans.

 

[bagpuss]

Stood at the entrance to Sandford Levy on a hike today with the draft feeling like air conditioning! Also visited Lyncombe Mine entrance to take a photo for the MCRA.