Topic

With dwindling numbers and uncertainty about the weather 3 of us decided to go look at Sell Gill. We initially decided we were going to try the wet route but I was getting a little nervous on the way up and these was intermittent (albeit light) rain.

Anyway we got there and I started rigging. I started descending the water fall and had reached the point where I was getting drenched but couldn't make out where the bedding plane was. Looking down it was only going to get wetter so, as I didn't know how far I would have to go into it I have to admit I chickened out. I do, however, fully intend going back in a dry spell.

Anyway fortunately we had known this might be a problem so we had enough rope to do the dry route. We headed back to the surface, said hello to some nice hill walkers as we repacked some ropes, and down the dry route. After that it was a pretty uneventful trip to the bottom. We did some wandering in the stream but we were soon on the way back out. It was at this point however that I discovered I had banged the gate on one of my crabs and could no longer open it. This wouldn't have been a problem but it was attached to my harness to hold my foot jammer so I couldn't use it on the way up.

Pete and Susan kindly derigged and we arrived on the surface just in time to meet the same friendly hill walkers that we had met before coming down the hill. They really seemed fascinated that we had spent that long underground. A quick walk down the hill and we were back at the car safe and sound - nice little Sunday trip.

Oh... and in case anyone is wondering Alex Wallman did a brilliant job at bending the gate on the krab so that I could get it off my harness and get my pantin off it! Thanks Alex!

Members: Brian, Pete, Susan