Which (Mendip) cave have you visited this week?

[bagpuss]

Mangle hole
Went there many years ago (on ladders) and said I wouldn't go back, but it had been long enough that I had forgotten what it was like. An easier time of it getting to the bottom on SRT (especially as others had kindly carried the ropes). The route to Aldermaston chamber was nowhere near as muddy than our previous visit, but still got pretty damp. Getting back out whilst slicked in mud was a new SRT experience and regretted using my chest jammer in the final rift. Probably don't need to go back for another ten years now! Is the sump still being dived?

 

[cap n chris]

Mangletastico! Actually, I reckon the name Mangle Hole is pretty shite; Mangle Rift, Mangle Dangle, Mangle Mudhole, Mangle Fandango or maybe, just maybe, Sandford Wood Rift would be better. But what do I know. Either way, it's definitely a Marmite Cave.

 

[mikem]

It's a hole with a mangle. Although, how was it not discovered sooner...

 

[bagpuss]

White Pit last night. A few weeks break from caving due to holiday, then illness. Beautiful formations. Commented that I felt that the air was pretty good at the bottom, till it came to coming back up Coffee Pot and exiting the cave. Definitely think there is a correlation between my iron levels being low, to being more sensitive to bad air, as this summer I've only noticed it once, but iron levels have felt more normal, to now when I'm getting symptoms of them being low again. 2 others on the trip felt the air wasn't particularly great at times.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Thanks to Bagpusses earlier post for letting me know that under 16s can visit GB, I put together a little family trip, which was a great excursion. Obligatory Bridge photo and some rather delightful helictites.

 

[bagpuss]

Swildons Hole yesterday, busiest I've seen the cave in a long while! No delay at the pitch as most parties were going around the upper series. We went as far as sump 1, I had another practice at the sump to try and get over my fear.. Water levels still very low, the wet way was dry, no water coming down the 8ft drop and an air gap in sump one (not enough to be useful though).

 

[martinr]

....busiest I've seen the cave in a long while! ......

Freshers?

 

[bagpuss]

Freshers?

Not entirely, 3 different groups. Only 1 was students. Nice to see a family group having a lovely time

 

[bagpuss]

Lionel's Hole round trip last night, 6 of us opted for the duck 2 bypass, but one went through but had some difficulty reconnecting with us, lots of voice connections/ light connection but not a straight forward way through, they found a way on in the end thanks to guidance from one of our party. We successfully made our way around with everyone fitting through the squeezes @Dingley Dell did an excellent job of navigating. For info both the ducks were nearly dry last night, so now if the time to go if you want to do the route via duck 2.

Can you guess which forum member this arm belongs to, the only photo of the trip

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Seeing as you mentioned them, Dingley Dell?? Or how about Tim Rose???

 

[mikem]

Unlikely to be Tim midweek

 

[cap n chris]

Does digging count?

 

[bagpuss]

Does digging count?

View attachment 28484

Indeed, Grebe?

 

[bagpuss]

Seeing as you mentioned them, Dingley Dell?? Or how about Tim Rose???

Nope.
A clue

 

[cap n chris]

Indeed, Grebe?

Lol. Where else do I go? Eat, Sleep, Grebe, Repeat.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Lol. Where else do I go? Eat, Sleep, Grebe, Repeat.

Yes old Binders is still hacking away in Grebe though I am not sure what he is on about sometimes -- " maybe a paragenetic tube containing periglacial allochthonous mass flow fill."

 

[mikem]

Nope.
A clue

View attachment 28485

I know a kayaker called Muppet...