When: 17 July 2013 19.00 – 21.15 pm.
Where: Sludge Pit Hole, Priddy, Mendip.
Who: Darren T, Rich T. A Sparrow, C Castle, N Denis, T Denning-Kendle and S Tidey.
This was the first time most of us had visited this cave as there has been no access for the past twenty odd years. Andy and Chris have been down before as they have been caving for donkeys years. There has been a number of access restrictions placed on the cave, such as an admission fee and peoples names put in a visitor book. This is all done just inside the entrance. Once we had signed ourselves in and paid our dues we rigged the pitch with a ladder and lifeline and descended to the bottom. We assembled in Fault passage and headed down towards I think Shale series then down Tributary passage, left at the end into four pots rift. Most of the team went through this but Chris, Trish and myself opted for the easier option through the Maze into the area past Triple Arch. After a short rest we backtracked through the Maze and into the main rift. We then went to the end and had a look at the dig by the sump. On the way out some of us went through Aragonite rift and Strike chamber. We were soon all ascending the ladder and back to the surface. This is a short but very sporting cave (very tight in places).
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Showing posts with label Priddy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Priddy. Show all posts
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Cuckoo Cleeves Cave, Priddy, Mendip.
When: 1 May 2013 7.00 – 9.00 pm.
Where: Cuckoo Cleeves Cave, Priddy.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Tricia, Rachel and Sean.
The plan was too meet at the Hunters and drive to the lay-by which is about 1km from the pub. Nobody had been to this one before except Tricia but she couldn’t remember which lay-by it was so we drove all the way to the end of the road and turned around and headed back, the lay-by was supposed to be by some farm buildings so we stopped at what could be it. We were soon changed and walked across the fields to a depression and there it was a stone tube with a lid on. That is the entrance to the cave. The ladder was soon rigged and we all entered the cave.
At the bottom it’s quite tight and twisty. We continued down into a chamber and went straight on. We soon came to a stop as there was a pitch with no obvious way down backtracking a bit we realised that the way is too the left down a wide rift which goes into a passage this comes to an awkward climb which reminded me of singing river mine where I broke my foot. It looked worse than it was and we were soon following the old stream way downwards around and between some awkward rocks and rifts and soon reached flat roof chamber where we stopped for a breather and chat. Rachel told us about a cave called Waterwheel Swallet which sounded very interesting. We then followed a rift down and reached another chamber where it was full with bags of spoil from and dig that went down and round to the left. Straight ahead there was a crawl that looked very tight. We decided that was the way to the lake. But no one wanted to try and negotiate it. Remembering the stories of anyone except the slightest of cavers getting stuck I’m not surprised. We followed the rift back up. The part of the cave called the canyon was very interesting on the way back up. Sean and I were the first ones back up to the large rift where we found a frog waiting for us. Sean put it in his pocket for release later. We soon found ourselves climbing back up the ladder and out into the fresh air. There are a lot of stories about bad air in this cave but today it wasn’t too bad although in places most of us did get short of breath at times. Will return again to take some pictures of the cave.
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Where: Cuckoo Cleeves Cave, Priddy.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Tricia, Rachel and Sean.
The plan was too meet at the Hunters and drive to the lay-by which is about 1km from the pub. Nobody had been to this one before except Tricia but she couldn’t remember which lay-by it was so we drove all the way to the end of the road and turned around and headed back, the lay-by was supposed to be by some farm buildings so we stopped at what could be it. We were soon changed and walked across the fields to a depression and there it was a stone tube with a lid on. That is the entrance to the cave. The ladder was soon rigged and we all entered the cave.
At the bottom it’s quite tight and twisty. We continued down into a chamber and went straight on. We soon came to a stop as there was a pitch with no obvious way down backtracking a bit we realised that the way is too the left down a wide rift which goes into a passage this comes to an awkward climb which reminded me of singing river mine where I broke my foot. It looked worse than it was and we were soon following the old stream way downwards around and between some awkward rocks and rifts and soon reached flat roof chamber where we stopped for a breather and chat. Rachel told us about a cave called Waterwheel Swallet which sounded very interesting. We then followed a rift down and reached another chamber where it was full with bags of spoil from and dig that went down and round to the left. Straight ahead there was a crawl that looked very tight. We decided that was the way to the lake. But no one wanted to try and negotiate it. Remembering the stories of anyone except the slightest of cavers getting stuck I’m not surprised. We followed the rift back up. The part of the cave called the canyon was very interesting on the way back up. Sean and I were the first ones back up to the large rift where we found a frog waiting for us. Sean put it in his pocket for release later. We soon found ourselves climbing back up the ladder and out into the fresh air. There are a lot of stories about bad air in this cave but today it wasn’t too bad although in places most of us did get short of breath at times. Will return again to take some pictures of the cave.
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Sunday, 27 January 2013
Swildons Hole, Priddy, Mendip.
When: 27 January 2013 3.30 pm to 7.00 pm.
Where: Swildons Hole, Sump one.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Steve, Steve’s Son and Max Fisher.
ChCC trip to sump 1.
Rich and I arrived at the usual meeting place outside the barn on Priddy Green. Next arrived Max and then Steve and his son.
We all changed quickly and walked across the fields to the entrance of Swildons Hole. On route to the entrance we met two other club members Chris and Nikky who were on their way back to the barn they looked very wet and very cold, there had been a lot of rain recently and this had thawed the previous week’s snow. The stream going into the entrance looked more like a river.
Rich was our leader for the trip as he wanted to learn the route to the twenty foot pitch.
We opted for the long dry way so we would not get wet too early. It was good to crawl around the stalls etc. We followed the stream way and the water was in full flow going down the pitch into the bottom of the old forty.
We soon reached the top of the twenty pitch and the waterfall was roaring. Steve sorted the kit out and did all the life-lining. I was the third to descend down the ladder. I was a bit apprehensive as this was the first time on a ladder since breaking my foot but my inexpensive safety wellies did their job. The water was very cold and quite powerful.
Once Steve had descended the pitch and sorted out the kit we regrouped and headed for the twin pots. This was my second time here. I had negotiated the pots easily first time but with the water rushing down the stream way it was going to be a different story this time and I was forced to let go and landed in the second pot. Under the water I went. As the story goes I have now been baptized a son of Mendip.
We headed into Barnes Loop and had a quick rest before carrying on down, we also popped up into Tratmans Temple quickly to point out the route into St Pauls and the other bits of the cave.
It wasn't long before we arrived at a very foamy sump 1, Rich and Max did the sump and soon returned, I was getting cold and tired by now so didn’t do it. Next time I will do it.
By now we were all cold and fatigue was setting in so we started the climb back to the twenty.
On the way back we opted to go through a tight rift which I struggled with and had to retreat and climb up the old washing pot. Back at the twenty we soon realised that it was going to be a struggle to climb the ladder as we were tired and the water was now coming down the waterfall quite heavily. It was a team effort to get everyone back to the top.
On we went heading for the exit. The waterfall at the bottom of the old forty turned out to be a bit of a mission and in the end Steve managed to climb up and put a hand line in. We continued via the short dry way and exited to the cold dark Mendip hills with thunder and lightning in the distance.
Once back at the changing barn we hurriedly changed in time for the club meeting.
This was my first proper caving trip after breaking my foot.
All in all it was a cracking trip.
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Where: Swildons Hole, Sump one.
Who: Darren T, Rich T, Steve, Steve’s Son and Max Fisher.
ChCC trip to sump 1.
Rich and I arrived at the usual meeting place outside the barn on Priddy Green. Next arrived Max and then Steve and his son.
We all changed quickly and walked across the fields to the entrance of Swildons Hole. On route to the entrance we met two other club members Chris and Nikky who were on their way back to the barn they looked very wet and very cold, there had been a lot of rain recently and this had thawed the previous week’s snow. The stream going into the entrance looked more like a river.
Rich was our leader for the trip as he wanted to learn the route to the twenty foot pitch.
We opted for the long dry way so we would not get wet too early. It was good to crawl around the stalls etc. We followed the stream way and the water was in full flow going down the pitch into the bottom of the old forty.
We soon reached the top of the twenty pitch and the waterfall was roaring. Steve sorted the kit out and did all the life-lining. I was the third to descend down the ladder. I was a bit apprehensive as this was the first time on a ladder since breaking my foot but my inexpensive safety wellies did their job. The water was very cold and quite powerful.
Once Steve had descended the pitch and sorted out the kit we regrouped and headed for the twin pots. This was my second time here. I had negotiated the pots easily first time but with the water rushing down the stream way it was going to be a different story this time and I was forced to let go and landed in the second pot. Under the water I went. As the story goes I have now been baptized a son of Mendip.
We headed into Barnes Loop and had a quick rest before carrying on down, we also popped up into Tratmans Temple quickly to point out the route into St Pauls and the other bits of the cave.
It wasn't long before we arrived at a very foamy sump 1, Rich and Max did the sump and soon returned, I was getting cold and tired by now so didn’t do it. Next time I will do it.
By now we were all cold and fatigue was setting in so we started the climb back to the twenty.
On the way back we opted to go through a tight rift which I struggled with and had to retreat and climb up the old washing pot. Back at the twenty we soon realised that it was going to be a struggle to climb the ladder as we were tired and the water was now coming down the waterfall quite heavily. It was a team effort to get everyone back to the top.
On we went heading for the exit. The waterfall at the bottom of the old forty turned out to be a bit of a mission and in the end Steve managed to climb up and put a hand line in. We continued via the short dry way and exited to the cold dark Mendip hills with thunder and lightning in the distance.
Once back at the changing barn we hurriedly changed in time for the club meeting.
This was my first proper caving trip after breaking my foot.
All in all it was a cracking trip.
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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.
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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.
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