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Mendip (13-15 October 2023) 18 Oct 2023 22:02 #21554
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- dchadwick
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Now that I don't work Fridays, we made an early start for Mendip. Getting there in time for a quick trip down Swildon's Hole before the rest of the team arrived.
We had intended to go to sump 1 with a side tour to Tratman's Temple, as it happens we only did the side tour. The water levels were a little higher than I had expected, but nothing dangerous. We had the cave to ourselves until we got back to Parting of the Ways where we met a lead group heading down the cave.
After a quick look at the Lavatory Pan, we left via the Long Dry Way and the Zig Zags.
Dave & Ros; About 3h30
After a protracted game of What About, Martin Jackson joined us for a trip in GB. Martin had not been in the cave before, so we took him for a tour of the highlights.
Including the helictites at the top of the fixed ladder, Devil's Elbow, the folding in the main stream way, White Passage, the Loop, Ladder Dig (with the grim puddle at the end of it), Bat Passage & the extension (where I broke my camera). Before making him lead out, the way up the waterfall was closed, so we went back via the loop.
Dave, Ros & Martin; About 4h
We selected White Pit, a cave I have not done since 2018. This time we were joined by Long Bob, Martin crying off having played the "bad knee" card.
We descended the entrance using a ladder and a rope that was slightly too short. Then down the first & second pots, having to return to the bottom of first pot to find our way into Talus IV. This is one of the best decorated areas in the cave. Having admired the calcite and found the dig at the end, we returned to the Waist of Thyme, over 40 Backs and into the pit with views up Where Angels Fear to Tread. This is a fun pitch with a ladder going through a small hole before the descent. We returned to 40 Backs where I descended the awkward rift, hoping to get the spreader & karabina that had been dropped down the pitch. Unfortunately the ladder was not long enough to either get onto the traverse line or get to the ledge with the spreader.
We then made our way out of the cave and back to the Wessex, to spend a small fortune with young Mr Seddon before heading home.
The photos from this cave are from my last visit.
Dave, Ros & Long Bob; About 2h30.
We had intended to go to sump 1 with a side tour to Tratman's Temple, as it happens we only did the side tour. The water levels were a little higher than I had expected, but nothing dangerous. We had the cave to ourselves until we got back to Parting of the Ways where we met a lead group heading down the cave.
After a quick look at the Lavatory Pan, we left via the Long Dry Way and the Zig Zags.
Dave & Ros; About 3h30
After a protracted game of What About, Martin Jackson joined us for a trip in GB. Martin had not been in the cave before, so we took him for a tour of the highlights.
Including the helictites at the top of the fixed ladder, Devil's Elbow, the folding in the main stream way, White Passage, the Loop, Ladder Dig (with the grim puddle at the end of it), Bat Passage & the extension (where I broke my camera). Before making him lead out, the way up the waterfall was closed, so we went back via the loop.
Dave, Ros & Martin; About 4h
We selected White Pit, a cave I have not done since 2018. This time we were joined by Long Bob, Martin crying off having played the "bad knee" card.
We descended the entrance using a ladder and a rope that was slightly too short. Then down the first & second pots, having to return to the bottom of first pot to find our way into Talus IV. This is one of the best decorated areas in the cave. Having admired the calcite and found the dig at the end, we returned to the Waist of Thyme, over 40 Backs and into the pit with views up Where Angels Fear to Tread. This is a fun pitch with a ladder going through a small hole before the descent. We returned to 40 Backs where I descended the awkward rift, hoping to get the spreader & karabina that had been dropped down the pitch. Unfortunately the ladder was not long enough to either get onto the traverse line or get to the ledge with the spreader.
We then made our way out of the cave and back to the Wessex, to spend a small fortune with young Mr Seddon before heading home.
The photos from this cave are from my last visit.
Dave, Ros & Long Bob; About 2h30.
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