Topic

Heron Pot



Pete James Gordon Aitken

Time in cave 3hrs.

We decided we needed some more rigging practise; nothing too ambitious- so decided on the day to do Heron as we’ve both done it before.

Interesting walk up. We met cave rescue training some Collies. Had a bit of a chin wag with them (the blokes not the dogs LOL) before carrying on across the hill. Pete was spot on with his routefinding. We went straight to the exit to check the stream level which as expected, inspite of lots of rain during the night, was reassuringly low.

Treked up to the entrance area eventually found the ‘Top Entrance’.

Descended to the first pitch head. Put a ‘Y’ hang on first set of ‘P’ bolts across the passage. Tried looking for another set but could n’t see any even when precariously peering round the corner. So we descended, rigged off these first set of ‘P’ bolts . Did n’t like the look of it though as there was a little bit o’ rope rub. So ascended again.

By this time another set of cavers came along so we decided to let a Bradford group go past us. Nice set of blokes - Who were doing a pull through. They had a riiging guide which seemed to show a higher route? But they did n’t seem concerned over the little bit of rub even though they were on 9mm.

We Could n’t find a high route so we carried on down both pitches. Waterfalls were only a trickle really so no issues to contend with.
Pete rigged the second pitch straight to ground. (I did think there was a rebelay to do around the corner of the cliff but could n’t see it..........Or at this time.......with hardly any water......... any need for it.

At the end of ‘half tube canyon’ we Spotted a high level passage which we explored, (now see on the survey that it was the ‘Old phreatic passage’) . Had some nice features in it.

Made our way out through the’ long crawl’. Water was really low and not too cold, so reasonably pleasant and the duck at the end had only about 6” of water so that was good too.

Treked back up to entrance.
After a drink set off back down to derig. I went right down to the bottom of the second pitch, whilst Pete stayed at the top of the first. I wanted to see if I could spot the rebelay which I’m happy to say I did – but it looked a b to get too.[= blind pendulum swing? – around a cliff corner how the h are you supposed to get hold of the P bolt whilst swinging around???? I can see more training required Damian!]

Anyway ascended to top of this bottom pitch.
Then started to ascend first pitch and thought to myself ‘this is odd I’m sure we went through the waterfall last time. Strange’.
But then I saw Pete had been exploring too and found the missing ‘P’ bolts around the corner of the first pitch; so had rerigged it onto this second set of ‘P’ bolts which then cleared the waterfall.

So we did eventually rig the pitch correctly? .... . I think?

Grand day out, look forward to the next one.
cavemaps.org/surveys/luss/full/LUSS%203%20Heron%20Pot.png

sounds like you rigged it ok once you had found all the right p-bolts , the rebelay on the second pitch isnt that bad once you get yourself round the corner
well done chaps

Excellent write up thanks Gordon.
Great day out, looking forward to the next one.