Topic

It started with Carls TA Army buddies all wanting to go caving, so with help from Gordon a plan was formed. What we didn’t expect that only Carl would show.

Sunday morning and we got to Alum Pot nice and early, just to beat the Scouts. Played about in Dolly Tubs rigging a pull through even though the water levels were so low we could climb down without getting wet. Carl had a refresher on using a stop whilst I managed on an Italian hitch.

Couldn’t persuade Carl to do the cheese press so I had ago, after removing most of my gear including a half eaten mars bar and my backup torch I squeezed through.

Came back towards Diccan just to have a look, again as the water level was so low. A great cave when it’s not trying to sweep you off your feet.

Short drive (thanks Gordon) to Leck Fell for more caving without the TA.

Old Ing Cave is a fantastic cave with a nice easy walk, a few long strides over some deep pools but we made it to the dive line.

Birkwith was on our next stop, nice easy crawl in and headed up right, followed the route all the way to the canal. I managed to have a muddy scout around at the opposite end of the canal, nobody fancied a swim. Then back to find cave number four.

Gordon rigged Calf Holes and did a fantastic job on the extra long traverse line that the rope only just made it to the bottom, opps... so we went up stream to what seems to go on forever, I never made it to the waterfall though! Headed back down stream and managed to crawl past the letterbox, it happens. No problems heading through and out Browgill then back to de-rig.

Time for the whole day – approx 7 hours
Gordon, Carl and Pete.

rigging a pull through on the dollytubs is a brave move take it you ment dr banisters
bet you didnt have a permit for leck fell, good job you ended up on Birkwith
sorry for correcting you but if i didnt someone else would

shame you didnt make the waterfall in upper calfholes its a nice bit of cave

Nice one Paul

Was in calf holes friday afternoon, And funnily enough was looking at the survey this afternoon and wondering where this upper calf holes is, as i've never noticed a way on both time i've been
Where am i looking next time?

Anthony - go down the entrance pitch and go in the opposite direction from normal i.e. upstream and around the pool and you'll find an obvious passage.

I'll look harder next time

'It started with Carls TA Army'

Can we detect a missing apostrophe in the above text?
Excellent trip, Pete. Sounds like you had a grand day out. Any photograghs?

I can’t believe all the mistakes doh…

Must admit I wasn’t sure which caves we went in on Birkwith haha

I was taking about a visit to Knotts Two on Leck Fell, and I must admit I havn’t a clue what part of Alum is what, guess I need a lesson or two.

I was gutted that I didn’t make the waterfall and after the amount of rain in the last two days it could be some time before I get chance to try again.

Sorry no photographs.

Cheers Pete

Hi Nigel
Sorry no photos.

Hi Anthony
Very easy to see upstream passage – when water levels are so low. (Hardly a dribble coming from the entrance pitch area on Sunday). Unlike two weeks ago when we were struggling to stand up because of the water.
The Upstream passage as Pete put it ‘just got lower and lower’ Me an’ Carl stayed back halfway? whilst the intrepid Pete just carried on going. Apparently it’ just got lower and lower until there’s barely enough room to crawl’.

Hi Paul
Dr Banisters ??? Still not sure….. It was the sort of tube y bit at the start of …. is it Long churns then?- I got Pete to rig as a pull through as he had never done one, {pull thru’ that is LOL } and then another pull through on the little waterfall further on. .....Off an Italian hitch too –so always something new to do!

Then Went to is it Birkwith area? 1 Old Ing, 2 Birkwith, [clue in the name? LOL] 3. Calf holes & abseil; then thru’ the letterbox to Browgill.


Everyone:
OLD ING {Is this the one over the gate up the hill?}
At the ‘end’ of Old Ing [ Dive line/sump?]........ My friend tells me there’s a very thin, dry route/ squeeze through, up high in the passage? ->i.e. through into further passage i.e. beyond the dive line. …………….without (can it be? ) ‘free diving’ into the sump? (Not that I’ll ever be trying either LOL).
Q1 - am I getting this mixed up? (for a change LOL)

Also Q2 Old Ing On the way up to the entrance on the RHS of the track . Pete spotted a hole (plastic pipe covered with a manhole cover) does this connect up with Old Ing too or Birkwith?

We had a fantastic day in these 4 caves on Sunday. We are still working on recruiting CARL’s TA friends.

Rigged my first pitch without anyone else to check on my rigging so that was a leap of faith tooooo!

PS There’s now 4 ladders at the YSS ready for staining – I will fix them next time if required?

Regards,
G

peterj wrote:

I
guess I need a lesson or two.

Cheers Pete

Or two

gordona wrote:

Hi Nigel
Dr Banisters ??? Still not sure…..

Dr. Banisters is the first, large pool you come to if you enter at the very top of the system. There is a single P bolt for a handline above.

Then Went to is it Birkwith area?

Yep - Birkwith.

OLD ING {Is this the one over the gate up the hill?}

Go through the gate and walk along the track and around that back of the small hill. It's an odd little scar in the ground that you walk in to, but is barely noticeable until you are on top of it.

At the ‘end’ of Old Ing [ Dive line/sump?]........ My friend tells me there’s a very thin, dry route/ squeeze through, up high in the passage? ->i.e. through into further passage i.e. beyond the dive line. …………….without (can it be? ) ‘free diving’ into the sump? (Not that I’ll ever be trying either LOL).

Correct. Just after the obvious bend and chamber at the start of the final rift that leads to the sump, thrutch up into the roof and there's a very well-worn and shiny passage. I've never been along it, but this is the one you want.

Old Ing On the way up to the entrance on the RHS of the track . Pete spotted a hole (plastic pipe covered with a manhole cover) does this connect up with Old Ing too or Birkwith?

Yes - it's the cave between the two. You dive the sumps in Old Ing (making sure you take the correct turning), then emerge in Dismal Hill. Have a look at some of the surveys on www.cavemaps.org, such as this one

dweare wrote:

gordona wrote:

Hi Nigel
Dr Banisters ??? Still not sure…..

Dr. Banisters is the first, large pool you come to if you enter at the very top of the system. There is a single P bolt for a handline above.

as as we all know a pull through should use two hangers not one

then again i should wear safety gear when climbing the racking at work

Before I start a journey I am now aware what I should know and why.

1) The area we are heading.
2) The cave we will be playing in.
3) The names for the bits of system.

It’s an afterthought but kind of makes sense if the worse happened. Also whilst going up stream in Calf Holes if I had done my homework (see above) then I would have known about the waterfall in the upper chamber. Gutted…

Please can I have help map reading…

See you soon PJ.

ita always a learning curve pete study some or the surveys on www.cavemaps.org/cavesnc2.htm look at the caves you have done, work out the way they are on the bits you remember and you will soon pick up how the surveys work
failing that get a 6 pack come round to mine and ill go through it with you

See you Friday with six pack
Cheers Mate - PJ.

Why is there only 1 P bolt on Dr Bannisters then? ....I 'm guessing it's because it's only for a handline and it is n't really a pitch?
(We only rigged it for practise, as there was no need for anything at all given the low water levels).

Thanks for surveys, info and advice chaps!
all to the good,
you live and learn - well sometimes/eventually/never [delete as appropriate LOL]

Let me know when you get a 'six pack' Pete, would be worth a look!!??

you need to be in the gay bar in lancaster on a friday night donsnt she pete:woohoo:

I did wonder !??!?

you two are so cheeky...