Topic

Not really fancying a trip down a wet Nick Pot with a large group, I decided that Marble Steps was a better option.
Having recruited Lukas & Long Bob we were going to have 3 large bags of rope, then Matt jumped ship from the Nick Pot trip to make the trip more pleasant.
We parked in Mason Gill lane and headed up to the cave, the stone slab path was very treacherous and the wooden bridges were worse!
I set off rigging down the gully, crossed over Gully Route and into Sidewinder Route where we had some rigging faff. Having sorted the hang to my satisfaction we headed down to the bottom of Main Chamber and towards Stink Pot.
I missed the hangers for Stink Pot and ended up in a section of passage that I didn't recognise. Back tracking a few yards, we found the hangers and dropped the pitch, traversed over the route into the Intestines and descended the slightly damp Ninety.
The first half of the final rope was quite wet, but we persevered to the head of the final pitch, which was very wet. I rigged it but had no intention of going down. Matt went part way down before sense got the better of valour.
I had already started back up The Ninety and was looking forward to the pinch point at the head of the pitch. Something was clearly wrong as it was not a problem this time.
Bob & Matt followed me and Lukas was left to derig. Bob took the first full bag and headed out. Matt (who had forgotten his loaned pantin) took the second full bag and went for a snooze at the top of the gully.
I got the third bag and Lukas was left with the last bag.
A good trip and apparently drier than the Nick Pot trip, the head of Trouser Flake being likened to a blizzard on Cairngorm (fortunately they had taken a shelter).

Team: Matt, Lukas, Long Bob & Dave.
Time: About 4h15.