When: 7 December 2011 7.15 pm to 9.30 pm.
Where: Rods pot, Burrington. Digging trip.
Who: Darren T, Flexx, Andy Sparrow.
This was our second trip since joining the Cheddar Caving Club and our first digging trip. We met Andy Sparrow at the carpark just passed the cattle grid on link lane. Once we were all ready we walked off to find the entrance. Andy was telling us all about the numerous digs going on in the area and we were soon at the entrance. It’s quite a tight cave and you have to crawl round the edge of some large and deep pots, we soon arrived at the top of the 45ft pitch whereby we climbed down freehand using the flying angel technique. Andy went first and I followed, Flexx brought up the rear I think he was out of sight and couldn’t really see how we descended the pitch so he struggled to get to the bottom. We sat and chatted about the dig for a bit and then heard movement way up above us. It was Burt coming down to join us. It was decided Burt would stay at the bottom of the pitch and distribute the spoil from the digging, I would sit at the entrance to Bone Chamber about 20 feet along a passage from Burt and do the change over of the bags of spoil from one drag cart to the other, Flexx and Andy would go to the dig face about another 20 feet along the passage. While Andy was digging Flexx was busy filling the bags with spoil and loading them into the drag cart. I would then drag the cart to me by hauling on the rope, I would then transfer the bags to the next cart and Burt would then haul them to his position. All was going well until the rope became undone between me and Burt and I ended up with no cart on the end of it, and then had to crawl down the passage to retrieve the lost end of rope. A good job was done and I think we must have moved about 30 to 40 bags of spoil in all.
I even had time to crawl into bone chamber and can see why it’s got that name. Not sure what animal remains are in there but it has been there a long time.
We all decided that we had done enough for one evening and Flexx went back up the rift first. Glad Andy had told us to bring a hand jammer to aid free climbing back up with the aid of the rope. I think we both got up there reasonably well considering how much of that sticky Mendip mud we had stuck to us. Flexx’s new warmbac didn’t look too new now.
It didn’t take long to get to the last Z bend and we could smell the cold night Mendip air coming through the small rabbit hole that is the entrance and exit of Rods pot.
That was our first cave digging trip, did we make any great discoveries of new cave systems, no not this time anyway.
______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
GB Cave. Charterhouse, Mendip.
When: 23 November 2011 7.15 pm to 10.00 pm.
Where: G B cave Charterhouse Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Rachel Sparrow, Daniel Govier, Nicola Dennis.
This was our first trip with Cheddar Caving Club. We met at the Charterhouse centre, which is about a mile from the cave. Rich was hiring an oversuit and helmet from the club so Rachel issued him with his kit and we all had to fill out a form so we could be issued with our permits to enter the cave. Parking is a bit tight on the side of the road by the cave so 5 of us piled into the caveclimb 4x4 and Rachel drove us to the lay-by. We met the other members of the trip and got our gear on and proceeded across the field to the cave entrance blockhouse, which is locked. We took the easier route Mud passage that is a flat out crawl this enters into a dry passageway, which continues some 60 meters down. We then came to a gorge which is a stream passageway some 6 meters wide and up to 12 meters high in places.
In another chamber 20 meters wide and 23 meters high for a length of 122 meters there is a bridge formed out the rock by a stream, which can be very fast flowing in the winter. We went down a tight passage and emerged by the side of a waterfall after climbing down we continued to the end of the passage. We then retraced our steps but this time climbed up the entire length of the waterfall and continued to make our way to the surface.
G B Cave is a very pretty cave with lots of calcite and stalagmites and stalactites, which is why it’s locked.
_____________________________________________________________________
Where: G B cave Charterhouse Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Rachel Sparrow, Daniel Govier, Nicola Dennis.
This was our first trip with Cheddar Caving Club. We met at the Charterhouse centre, which is about a mile from the cave. Rich was hiring an oversuit and helmet from the club so Rachel issued him with his kit and we all had to fill out a form so we could be issued with our permits to enter the cave. Parking is a bit tight on the side of the road by the cave so 5 of us piled into the caveclimb 4x4 and Rachel drove us to the lay-by. We met the other members of the trip and got our gear on and proceeded across the field to the cave entrance blockhouse, which is locked. We took the easier route Mud passage that is a flat out crawl this enters into a dry passageway, which continues some 60 meters down. We then came to a gorge which is a stream passageway some 6 meters wide and up to 12 meters high in places.
In another chamber 20 meters wide and 23 meters high for a length of 122 meters there is a bridge formed out the rock by a stream, which can be very fast flowing in the winter. We went down a tight passage and emerged by the side of a waterfall after climbing down we continued to the end of the passage. We then retraced our steps but this time climbed up the entire length of the waterfall and continued to make our way to the surface.
G B Cave is a very pretty cave with lots of calcite and stalagmites and stalactites, which is why it’s locked.
_____________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Manor Farm Swallet, Charterhouse, Mendip.
When: 19th October 2011 7.00 pm to 10.30pm.
Where: Manor Farm Swallet, Charterhouse Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Flexx, Dave G.
Our first SRT Cave. We parked the cars and went to the farm to pay our dues. Once we were changed we made our way over the bridge and across the field to the entrance of the swallet. Dave rigged the line for the first 50ft descent. Usually the rigger is the first down the line but as this was our first SRT cave Dave wanted to check we were doing things right so stayed at the top while we went down. I volunteered to go first so attached myself to the line and descended into the doom. All went well and I arrived at the bottom, where I sat surrounded by rock 50ft below the surface to await the arrival of Flexx. Flexx came down safely followed by Dave. Next was a long passage about 18 inches in diameter which leads down to the upstream passage. Next line to be rigged was a shortish 25ft descend down a very tight rift. All was going well, until while Dave was rigging the line he dropped his tackle bag with all the carabs and his camera in. Luckily he had finished rigging the line before he dropped it, so we descended after his bag. At the bottom this opened out into a largish gallery, which had some very interesting curtains in it. We had a look around, took some photos and decided that we did not have time to proceed any further, so started our ascent. Dave was first up the second rift and I followed. I found this very difficult due to the exertion of the tight rift and lack of oxygen. On reaching the top I was knackered, and sat and waited for Flexx to come up, who was equally knackered. Back up the passage to the bottom of the 50ft ascent, Dave was first up to the surface and as Flexx didn’t have a Warmbac he went up next and I followed last. I found prusiking back up relatively easy, much to my surprise. We decided we would return some time to explore more of this cave system in the future as we had only seen about 1/10th of it. We got changed and off to the Hunters for a well deserved drink. All in all a relatively smooth first SRT outing.
______________________________________________________________________
Where: Manor Farm Swallet, Charterhouse Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Flexx, Dave G.
Our first SRT Cave. We parked the cars and went to the farm to pay our dues. Once we were changed we made our way over the bridge and across the field to the entrance of the swallet. Dave rigged the line for the first 50ft descent. Usually the rigger is the first down the line but as this was our first SRT cave Dave wanted to check we were doing things right so stayed at the top while we went down. I volunteered to go first so attached myself to the line and descended into the doom. All went well and I arrived at the bottom, where I sat surrounded by rock 50ft below the surface to await the arrival of Flexx. Flexx came down safely followed by Dave. Next was a long passage about 18 inches in diameter which leads down to the upstream passage. Next line to be rigged was a shortish 25ft descend down a very tight rift. All was going well, until while Dave was rigging the line he dropped his tackle bag with all the carabs and his camera in. Luckily he had finished rigging the line before he dropped it, so we descended after his bag. At the bottom this opened out into a largish gallery, which had some very interesting curtains in it. We had a look around, took some photos and decided that we did not have time to proceed any further, so started our ascent. Dave was first up the second rift and I followed. I found this very difficult due to the exertion of the tight rift and lack of oxygen. On reaching the top I was knackered, and sat and waited for Flexx to come up, who was equally knackered. Back up the passage to the bottom of the 50ft ascent, Dave was first up to the surface and as Flexx didn’t have a Warmbac he went up next and I followed last. I found prusiking back up relatively easy, much to my surprise. We decided we would return some time to explore more of this cave system in the future as we had only seen about 1/10th of it. We got changed and off to the Hunters for a well deserved drink. All in all a relatively smooth first SRT outing.
______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Swildons Upper Series, Priddy, Mendip.
When: 7:00-10:00 28th September 2011.
Where: Swildons Upper Series - Butcombe chamber and the oxbows.
Who: Darren T, Flexx, Dave G, Tim T
Butcombe Chamber and the Oxbows
This was mine and Flexx's first trip to Swildons and as neither of us had kneepads and Flexx only had his cotton overall Dave G decided it was wiser to keep us in the upper series. Our route is shown in green on the map below. All in all it was a very good trip and when Flexx gets his warmbac we will return and descend the ladder pitch into the much wetter parts of the cave system.
Swildons upper series - the dry and wet ways, the oxbows and butcombe chamber
We entered by the zigzags and came out above Jacobs ladder; descending Jacobs ladder; at the old grottoe we went outwards up the long dry way,; crossed over to the wet way; up the crack/crawl to butcombe chamber; climbed up various holes in butcombe chamber; followed the stream down to the wet way; climbed to the old forty; descended and did the waterfall under the old forty; headed down to visit the twenty; retraced our steps and came out the wet way; I had a minor accident slipping and falling 4 -5 feet and landing on Daves outstretched arm but luckily no real harm was done.
__________________________________________________________________
Where: Swildons Upper Series - Butcombe chamber and the oxbows.
Who: Darren T, Flexx, Dave G, Tim T
Butcombe Chamber and the Oxbows
This was mine and Flexx's first trip to Swildons and as neither of us had kneepads and Flexx only had his cotton overall Dave G decided it was wiser to keep us in the upper series. Our route is shown in green on the map below. All in all it was a very good trip and when Flexx gets his warmbac we will return and descend the ladder pitch into the much wetter parts of the cave system.
Swildons upper series - the dry and wet ways, the oxbows and butcombe chamber
We entered by the zigzags and came out above Jacobs ladder; descending Jacobs ladder; at the old grottoe we went outwards up the long dry way,; crossed over to the wet way; up the crack/crawl to butcombe chamber; climbed up various holes in butcombe chamber; followed the stream down to the wet way; climbed to the old forty; descended and did the waterfall under the old forty; headed down to visit the twenty; retraced our steps and came out the wet way; I had a minor accident slipping and falling 4 -5 feet and landing on Daves outstretched arm but luckily no real harm was done.
__________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Sally's Rift Cave, Bathford.
When: 15 June 2011 19.30 – 10.00 pm.
Where: Sally's Rift Cave, Bathford.
Who: Darren T, Rich T. Dave G, Tim T, Ivan E, Mad, Digdug.
After going on a few Mine exploring trips Rich and myself thought we would have a go at this caving game. Dave G posted a trip on Darkplaces to go to sally's Rift Cave in Bathford. This is the second longest Gull cave in Britain. We met at the layby at the foot of the hill and followed Dave to the entrance. Dave decided to rig a ladder and lifeline to get us all down the entrance hole. This was our first time on a wire ladder but we managed it well and were soon all at the bottom and set fourth on our mission to explore this rather sporting cave.
The survey is deceptive as movement in the cave is rarely straightforward – squeezes and climbs bar progress continually. Digdub pointed out the scaffolding bar that marked the route into the boulder chamber. Ivan, Digdub and Dave climbed up with the ladder and lifeline bag into the boulder chamber. Mad had a few problems climbing up but managed it in the end.
They rigged the vertical squeeze by looping the rope around a boulder and hanging the ladder down the vertical squeeze. The rift and squeeze are quite tight but it soon opens out into a nice wide rift. The way on is not very clear and as Dave had left the survey in the car we decided to head back and come back another day. we exited the cave problem free and were soon walking back down the hill to the cars.
So what did Rich and myself think of caving, well you probably guessed it we got hooked and will be doing many more trips.
____________________________________________________________________
Where: Sally's Rift Cave, Bathford.
Who: Darren T, Rich T. Dave G, Tim T, Ivan E, Mad, Digdug.
After going on a few Mine exploring trips Rich and myself thought we would have a go at this caving game. Dave G posted a trip on Darkplaces to go to sally's Rift Cave in Bathford. This is the second longest Gull cave in Britain. We met at the layby at the foot of the hill and followed Dave to the entrance. Dave decided to rig a ladder and lifeline to get us all down the entrance hole. This was our first time on a wire ladder but we managed it well and were soon all at the bottom and set fourth on our mission to explore this rather sporting cave.
The survey is deceptive as movement in the cave is rarely straightforward – squeezes and climbs bar progress continually. Digdub pointed out the scaffolding bar that marked the route into the boulder chamber. Ivan, Digdub and Dave climbed up with the ladder and lifeline bag into the boulder chamber. Mad had a few problems climbing up but managed it in the end.
They rigged the vertical squeeze by looping the rope around a boulder and hanging the ladder down the vertical squeeze. The rift and squeeze are quite tight but it soon opens out into a nice wide rift. The way on is not very clear and as Dave had left the survey in the car we decided to head back and come back another day. we exited the cave problem free and were soon walking back down the hill to the cars.
So what did Rich and myself think of caving, well you probably guessed it we got hooked and will be doing many more trips.
____________________________________________________________________
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)