I'd wangled an invite on the KMM End of Year Extravaganza so an early start saw me driving through heavy rain all the way to the Dales, not always a good sign for caving.
Everyone was ready to go, kit was packed and bags split up between two teams. Keith, Lisa, Stuart and I were heading for the Cathedral route, whilst the other team of Nigel Berry and people were heading for the Monastery route.
I've only been to Lost John's once before and got lost on the way, so I gladly jumped into Keith's 4x4 rather than trust myself. Leck Fell has some fabulous views when the cloud is gone so I should really make more of an effort to explore the caves it holds.
The overnight rain had indeed been heavy, streams were coming off the upper dales in many places and although the entrance passage into Lost John's was negotiable, the Monastery route was deemed too much and so a Centipede/Cathedral exchange was set.
Keith rigged us down to Dome Junction where we met the other team back from a trip to Valhalla. Having found Centipede rigged they were soon down and waiting for us. We waved our hellos and set off up Centipede on the out. Back to the car for after a brief underground adventure. Early start and short trip partly prerigged meant we were back at the Leck Fell car park whilst others were just kitting up and surprised at our early morning arrival.
8 o'clock caving, that's the way forward that is.
