Topic

With numbers continuing to rise, it was clear that we were going to have enough to do an exchange.
In the end we had 14 people intending to do the trip. Having packed the bags, we split into 2 teams of seven and headed over to the parking near(ish) Crummock Farm.
We then started the long walk up the hill in the fog. 
The majority of the Rift Pot team became temporarily misplaced on the way to the cave but corrected with the help of some walkers and an app. We had set off before the Long Kin East team and arrived at their cave shortly after them!
We exchanged one of the bags which had been taken by the wrong team and completed the short walk to our cave.
Our descent went without issue and we were soon at the bottom of the cave in Santa's Grotto waiting for the Long Kin East team.
Their underground route was longer than ours and apparently they had some issue with the packing.
With lights descending the final pitch, I decided to head back up Rift pot to ease the congestion on the long pitch of Long Kin East. Lukasz opted to follow me and we did not take long getting back to the surface.
We then headed back over to the Long Kin East entrance and I went in to find the rest of our team, while Lukasz stayed on the surface.
I got nearly to the final pitch before I encountered Fran & Dave. They followed me back to the first pitch and headed up. Fran was going to wait at the far end of the traverse for a bag.
Ellie appeared next and was going to take over the derigging from Andy & Phil who had done the first two bags.
Not having to take a bag, I headed out with Fran. After a while some of the other team appeared from Rift Pot and we headed down the hill in twos & threes.
Apparently Matt had forgotten his helmet on the way to the cave, leaving Robin to find his own way to the cave. Robin could not find the cave, managed to miss Matt on his way up to the cave and walked back to the hut before going on a solo trip in Valley Entrance.

Rift to Long Kin East team: Fran, Ellie, Dave, Andy, Phil, Lukasz & Dave.
Long Kin East to Rift team: Nicky, Ade, Neil, Paul, Martin & Matt.
Time: About 4 hours