This has long been on my to-do list but with moderate rain during the night in Settle, I was wondering whether the duck would be passable. With no rain forecast until the afternoon, I decided to give it a go.
With only Bernice and I going from the club, we got away early and met Mike (also early) at the parking in Kingsdale.
A quick change in the blustery weather and we headed along the lane to East Kingsdale. Turning left off the lane after the kissing gate, we had a good pull up the hill to the first of 3 stiles.
The next 2 stiles were passed and we carried on into the next field. At this point we should have read the words rather than ploughing on through the field until we could see Braida Garth. After checking with the words, we started back and found the concrete tube hidden in a depression, just like it said in the words.
A swift descent of 5 fixed ladders lead to a crawl with some decorated cross rifts, then a mud bank and the duck (with bailing equipment and a sump line).
I had a quick look, but was unhappy about the last (lowest) section of the duck, particularly with the possibility of rising water.
I came back and we (that is Mike & Bernice) bailed for a while. I then had another look and forced my way through after removing my helmet.
Bernice appeared next having not removed her helmet and was spluttering a bit as she came through the low section. Mike came through last with less drama than Bernice.
A short climb lead up to the Expressway a huge bolder strewn passage. We initially went left into the Missile Silo and dropped down a daunting climb and a short scramble up to an excellent view of some multi-coloured curtains & straws.
Returning along the passage we dropped our SRT kits off at the entrance to the duck (which still had roughly the same water level) having decided not to stay too long this side of the duck (it is very difficult to bail from the inside).
Returning to the expressway, we turned right. This was mainly decorated with orange straws and stalactites. We carried on to the end of the passage and then went down the sandy crawl to the huge Rushton Chamber.
Across the chamber we could see the SRT pitch, with in-situ rope leading over an interesting looking traverse.
We then headed back to the duck and out of the cave.
An interesting trip with more to look at, certainly worth another visit in more settled weather.
Team: Bernice, Mike & Dave.
Time: About 3 hours.
