Topic

Lost Johns dome - monestry excahnge trip report

Having missed out on caving the previous day and only getting for a run (just not the same grimness), I was keen to get underground!! – it had been awhile. So with 9 similarly un-eager people we set off for Lost johns. Damian teams did the main route to the battle axe. The other 2 teams rigging and exchanging monastery and dome. Damian in his usual efficiency had the ropes packed back at the YSS with sufficient kit for each route. So at a blustery Leck fell parking we were delegated routes and teams. Being designated/ agreeing to do dome route I set off with Damian and corresponding parties so he could show the me the start of my route.

Having done rigging practices years ago and abstained generally ever since it was good to reinforce the learning. Unfortunately having a memory blank on doing bowlines on bights the rigging was limited to alpines and “fig 8 bunny ears” with the hope I wasn’t having to untie them. Fortunately the majority of Damian’s training, my questioning and observations resulted in something which I was more than happy to swing off. Nigel and Gordon seemed happy enough to follow me down a generally dry way down to the bottom pitch. The only upset of the day was going down the penultimate pitch to find I had plenty of spare rope so having checked the topo and length of remaining rope a quick reascend of the pitch resulted in the ropes being swapped over. Only to descend the final pitch to discover why the other route was aptly named the wet route!

The exchange party were seen through the water spay of the final pitch so a quick confab saw that we will be getting wet and had 2 ducks to negotiate; we haplessly set off. Having discovered that Nigel and Gordon had decided kindly that I was best suited to rigging and de-rigging! Gordon set off first with Nigel seconding we headed out up through the spray, and the 2 ducks before monastery pitch. Having negotiated the great pitch head and traverse we soon found our way to the last pitch and back into the entrance series. Daylight greeted us allowing for a quick change before heading back to the YSS for tea, rope sort and hut tidy. All in all a great day – cant beat lost johns for a quality outing. Cheers to all for a great day especially those trusting my rigging, Damian for organising and most importantly the unfortunate person that had to untie my knots!

dome – monastery S.Clifford, Nigel Steel, Gordon Aitkin
Time 4 ish hours?

Sam

Oh found a elbow pad while comming out - as not a pair theres no point me keeping it, so if you have the other one please let me have it or get in contact so I can return.

elbow pad is Gordons yep he lost one of them aswell

having done the wet route first it was nice to come out via the dry route, paul rigged on the way in so i derigged on the way out, another great trip in lostjohns thanks everyone

sam there was nowt wrong with the rigging , welldone

good post

A great trip once again into Lost Johns I do like this cave.

A big THANK YOU to Sam for Rigging and Nigel for derigging, Damian for organising and packing. Other team for rigging derigging.

I know now why it's called Lost Johns.
-I almost lost my pantene - as it plummeted down the 50m pitch - (thanks guys for finding it). I also lost BOTH elbow pads ( but have never really found them much use anyway LOL).
Guess the Pantene must have come loose between pitches = Lesson learnt, check security of P. before starting to ascend, on every pitch.

PS Whilst waiting to start the trip there was another party there. something to do with a dig? (connecting Knotts 2??? - 80m???) and wanting to derig it?/... But then someone came down our route to carry on digging. Disappeared through 'the window'.

Got nice and wet coming up.

Look forward to the next one

Yes most enjoyable. My first trip down Lost johns. I enjoyed all the pitches, found the dry route more preferable cos i had my specs on and could not see a F*****g thing due to the water, thoroughly enjoyed the ducks tho. It is such a shame there was a pleasantly warm breeze blowing, i am so used to Leck fell in snow and ice, far more enjoyable. Thanks Damian for sorting the trip and cheers Sam for being on point, and thanks for de-rigging. Look forward to the next venture on Leck fell