Win 4 DMM Screwgate karabiners!!

[shotlighter]

Not caving related, other than the usual local rumour of a secret tunnel (not true), but it is current and it is cold.
The church at Church Lawton this morning, looking all picturesque.
View attachment 24900

And a boat frozen in and not going anywhere today.
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That church yard is where a lot of my family are. My mum, dad, aunts and uncles are residents and my great grandma Prudence who is is an unmarked paupers grave.

 

[Fulk]

Not a cave . . . but still, a tunnel (underneath the Stainton Aqueduct on the Lancaster Canal near Kendal).

 

[SamDavis]

A grand start to 2026, with a sub-zero trip to Greensett caves, just below the summit of Whernside! Described online at the CNCC website as a "highly recommended summer day out", we decided that this would be perfect for a mid-winter trip! Lots of fun was had underground and the sunset walk back to Ribblehead was great. Unfortunately my belt froze, so I had to drive home in my muddy caving gear to thaw out! Thanks for a great trip folks! And thanks to Fran for modelling in this one!

 

[bagpuss]

Not caving this week, as on our holidays, couldn't use the car today as roads not gritted. Nice walk from Pontsticill, limestone quarry counts as almost caving, right?! Didn't risk looking for cave entrances..

 

[Pegasus]

Crawling in a furry suit and zonked out from heat exhaustion.View attachment 24912
OK, only a tenuous link to caving (but it was cold out and everyone loves a cat photo .... ).

Love the imagination of folks thinking up tenuous links

.....and it's -5 outside right now so still plenty of opportunity for 'cold weather' shots!

 

[Pegasus]

Not caving this week, as on our holidays, couldn't use the car today as roads not gritted. Nice walk from Pontsticill, limestone quarry counts as almost caving, right?! Didn't risk looking for cave entrances..
View attachment 24922

View attachment 24923

View attachment 24924

OK, that first photo is definitely on the shortlist LOVE IT!!

 

[Vulcan]

Is that a phone mast behind you or something strapped to your back?

It's a walking pole that decided it didn't want it's sections attached together anymore so it was only useful downhill (ie in compression) so it was shoved in the bag for that bit still in one piece.

 

[bagpuss]

OK, that first photo is definitely on the shortlist LOVE IT!!

Wanted to make a snow caver but the snow is currently too powdery

 

[Maisie Syntax]

A rather anaemic Thornton Force on the Waterfalls Walk in Ingleton this afternoon. No snow around here (yet), but it was -7C this morning. Pretty much all the water which usually comes off the fells (in this case Kingsdale) must be still bound up in the frozen ground, which would explain why many of the caves are less wet than usual for this time of year.
A distinct lack of 'wild swimming' too....

 

[Pegasus]

A rather anaemic Thornton Force on the Waterfalls Walk in Ingleton this afternoon. No snow around here (yet), but it was -7C this morning. Pretty much all the water which usually comes off the fells (in this case Kingsdale) must be still bound up in the frozen ground, which would explain why many of the caves are less wet than usual for this time of year.
A distinct lack of 'wild swimming' too.... View attachment 24925View attachment 24926

Thanks for posting - will walk over to see it

 

[Lankyman]

A distinct lack of 'wild swimming' too.... View attachment 24925View attachment 24926

I'm reminded of the time back in the eighties (young and stupid?) when a friend and I decided to abseil over the force into the pool after a February trip into Valley Entrance. We then retreated to Ingleton where everything was shut except the Country Kitchen which was just closing. The lady there took pity on us and let us in for some hot food before the long drive back north.

 

[cavingbiker]

The guardian of the master cave (taken new year's day).

 

[EvilStu]

An icy entrance to Notts Pot for a YSS trip on 3rd January 2026. Brhhhhh it was chilly, much warmer underground.

 

[BigDyl]

Started to snow whilst getting ready for the first trip of the year! We only get rain in Cardiff, so it was a lovely change for once.

 

[Maisie Syntax]

Interesting conditions in Gavel on New Year's Eve; detail of a solid, ice-covered rope at the start of the second pitch, making life interesting for the descent.

 

[JoshW]

View attachment 24928An icy entrance to Notts Pot for a YSS trip on 3rd January 2026. Brhhhhh it was chilly, much warmer underground.

Another icy entrance from a YSS trip off the same day at five ways. What an evil bastard walk to do in that windchill on the way up. Beautiful views especially on the way down though!

 

[davel]

Again not the current cold spell, so again not a competition entry, but more caving in cold weather, this time from 1975.

 

[Pegasus]

Again not the current cold spell, so again not a competition entry, but more caving in cold weather, this time from 1975.

View attachment 24939

Great photo - good job you didn’t pretend it was taken during current cold snap as I'd have guessed you were telling porkies! - the wetsuits give it away

 

[wellyjen]

the wetsuits give it away

And the helmets and the NCB lights and the ammo boxes and the leather boots and the rope slings round their waists and the chained rope over the shoulder and the Series Landy and the NHS specs....
Full on 1970s caving.

 

[Lankyman]

And the helmets and the NCB lights and the ammo boxes and the leather boots and the rope slings round their waists and the chained rope over the shoulder and the Series Landy and the NHS specs....
Full on 1970s caving.

And don't forget actual real, proper snow which doesn't appear anything like as much as back then.