Topic

Please excuse any dodgy attempts at caving terminology!

We started the walk over to the cave entrance in bright warm sunshine. Arrived at the cave looking forward to getting inside and cooling down! A narrow but walking height chamber led to the first short drop down-Chris and Fiona set up a safety rope for us novices to climb down. The rest of the cave involved some walking height chambers and some low enough to have to bend over. Two more short drops down and then a further passage leading to a 20 or so metre drop which is where the trip had to end for us (doing the SRT in June though!). Headed back and arrived back out into the sunshine, but with thunder ominously rumbling in the distance!
Entered Great Dewk cave beginning at the narrowest end in case the storm did reach us before we got out. An unnerving (for us novices!) low belly slide at the beginning, which gradually opended to up to crawling height but getting wetter. Soon we were able to stand up and walk giving us chance to appreciate the prettiness of the cave. Emerged outside to dark skies- the storm had reached us. A few minutes later we were heading back to the car in a hailstone storm and a not very pleasant change back into clothes.
Overall enjoyed the caving very much- thanks to Chris and Fiona for the trip!
Debbie

Good report, Debbie. A little bird tells me you were very impressive underground too!

For completeness, a slightly earlier party (consisting of me, Ian Ball and Ian Vincent) also popped down Sunset taking advantage of some new, higher-level bolts on the second climb to give the Ians some traverse practice, and soon arriving at the base of the pitch. I made enough unpleasant noises about the rest of the cave that both Ians saw sense and we retreated quickly the way we had come.

We met Debbie and party on the way out just short of the second climb, had a quick chat and pushed on out. On the surface we walked over to Hardrawkin (in beautiful sunshine) and popped down.

The only thing of note here was that I found a frog perched on a ledge half-way between the 1st and 2nd pitches (How it got there and survived, I'll never know!) The frog safely depositied in my rigging bag, we exited to horrendous thunder and, a few minutes later, probably the worst downpour I've seen outside the Alps. Everything was flooding within minutes and there were two rescues - one for 4 walkers coming off Ingleborough and one for a party in Long Churn. Apparently 33mm fell in 40 minutes ... a very sobering sight, and a valuable reminder about summer storms. Be warned all!

I was looking up that rope ladder thinking if this chap who is a pretty serious caver thinks it's a bad move to get up there then who am I to disagree.

Gives a reason to go I suppose.

Ian B.

Great report Debbie, thanks

a brief note about the rain ! one of the rather large drops hit me in the left eye on the way down (i even had my glasses on)from GD and buised my eye black eye from rain drops you don't hear that every day. The pain has only just gone away thats how hard it was.

Anyway another injury over looks like i'm back to some sort of caving shape . . . and you though't you'd all escaped !

i've been up there once not a great deal to see ! for those that know smudge here a photo of him trying to get up there a few years ago.

Chris,

I was speaking to Luke Taylor a few days ago? He seems to remember you from the days he was a yss member, ring any bells?

Ian B.

Ian,

quite a few we did the coast to coast together in 99, a while ago now even by my standards - didn'ty have much meat on me then - then again still not that much now.

how do you know Luke ? did he go to huddersfield uni or is that by some other random event - small world as ever !!

you'll have to bring him along Caving the next weekend you are up

Chris

Yep, he was the squash club boss at Huddersfield Uni.

He is in London now, so closer to Huntingdon than York!

Ian B.

can you PM me his email ?

I'm afraid I dont know it.

I've texted him the address of this web page which is viewable by non members so maybe he'll get in touch with you?

Ian B.

Non-members can't access the forum or get details of members cotact details. That's the point of having login details.

I beg to differ, gve it a whirl, unless there's some fancy cookie arrangement going on whereby the sute knows who you are after logging out I think the trip report section for all activities and walking are viewable by Jimmy Jo public.

I'll point Luke to the contacts page just in case, do you pick up the Try Caving emails?

Ian B.

Non-members can't access the forum or get details of members cotact details. That's the point of having login details.

Non members can access the Trip Reports section, but not the General Discussion Section. I guess this has been done to advertise the caving we do to outsiders, while maintaining privacy for club business.

i pick up the try caving emails cheers chris