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With Damian, Ruth, Kristian, Ales and of course me

A short but fun trip was the order of the day (night). It was cold with a capitol C but the roads were absolutely fine.

Pulled up outside Valley entrance and my hands froze to an ice cube in well under 30 seconds, meaning I soon absconded to Valley ent. With the help of Kristain I got my hands warmed up so I could finish up kitting up. With valley rigged by Damian we headed up the hill and had a relative straight forward trip down Simpons with me being called suicidal for free climbing over the 'pit' for some reason.

All was going fine until slit pot when I descended to discover that the knot must had not been in the middle as the rope stopped 2m short of the floor. I took the knots out at the bottom and just about managed to tiptoe onto the floor before the rope shot back up the pitch like a catapult to stop about 4m up the wall. Glad this was not a fixed rope! After a bit of communication/miscommunication I got the rope adjusted and the others followed me down.

Normal trip to the surface but I did not hang around the car for long as I hate the chaotic changing with 4 other people in the cold (especially as I can't get in it, in my under suit) so I grabbed my clothes and went straight back into Vally entrance, it was far more civilized and warmer! First time I have ever got changed in a cave, I wonder why I never thought of it before in winter it was so pleasant!

ive always traversed the pit with no fixed aid

Me too, though the first time on one of my first caving trips I insisted of being attached to something, how things change.

Thought that was how it was done

A few go down the pit & pull the ropes down behind them

alexr wrote:

With the help of Kristain I got my hands warmed up

Oh yes Alex, is there something you want to tell us

nsteel wrote:

alexr wrote:

With the help of Kristain I got my hands warmed up

Oh yes Alex, is there something you want to tell us

Watch this space