Topic

The Ingleborough forecast was for heavy rain from midday and the plan of meeting at 9 to debate options eating into that fair weather window, I chose to head elsewhere with everyone who wanted to come with me. With questionable logic I headed for a favourite trip, Hensler's Pot.Ladder down to 50m damp crawl then 2m climb to small chamber with inlet on the right running to a puddle.  A couple of thick rock ribs above the puddle call for a flat out shimmy with optional whimpering when you notice the water temperature. This is described as a duck that can sump. I question that as in all but biblical rain can I see it requiring holding your breath yet alone under water escapades. Going against a heavy current might be a problem if the inlet were three or four times as heavy?
Suffice to say belittling an entombment warning is asking for embarrassment so I headed up early to get down and out before the rains came. The puddle is probably 8m below the surface so probably reacts quickly to overground conditions.
Once past the puddle the passage changes from low crawl to dry rift approaching the first pitch called Buzzy. I manage to make progress in this section seem far more difficult than it is but once at the pitch; a simple 3 p bolt effort needing 18m of rope that drops you to a small chamber, the way on is a 2m drop down a slot simplified on the way back by an in situ handline.  Passing Big Benn Aven on the left, a clamber up boulders and a slither over one more gets you to Monica pitch, another 3 p bolt easy rigging challenge needing 12m of rope. Over a rift is the head of Ac/Dc pitch. You can use the tail of the previous pitch rope to extend across the rift but being dangerous I go for a 2 maillon setup so I can carry a shorter 10m rope.
From the bottom of the pitch a short capping rubble strewn rift leads to a 3m drop to a section of crawl traversing, which is a bit strenuous with a heavy bag and around a couple corners appears Haigh's Bottom Pitch, a 4 p bolt affair needing a 20m rope. There are a few bits of calcite to avoid and a well placed y hang let's you avoid a few ledges on the way down to a mud floor chamber where a popple strewn crawl is the continuation heading off into territories unentered on this trip. A check of the watch before turning around suggested I shouldn't dilly dally, I set a short call out when on my own, and usually regret it, not enough caving under the belt to make short work of this return journey and I was already bushed so best take it steady.
The obstacles are fairly fast arriving, nice to feel the progress of ticking them off as you go.  Arriving back at the puddle I was glad to see no noticeable increase in depth and set off for the entrance, quite looking forward to seeing daylight, shattered as I was. Popping out to light rain and low cloud I contently set off for Clapham through the Storm Arwen debris that has made Trow Gill a very different place, thinking how brilliant is caving.  An evening at the Helwith for the December Social event rounding off a good day, many thanks to the organiser Lynne.