Caving & Exploration (1954-2020)
Eldon Hole: Denis, Jack, Fay and Vic (26th November 2017). Snowy, misty, dull, wet morning in Perry Vale Derbyshire. Fay and I met Jack and Vic at the Wanted Inn. Quick recce of trip plan and then off to Sweetknowle house to get changed. Short walk up to pot with entrance rift shaft festooned with in …
Bar Pot: Denis, Joe, Fay (28 May 2017). Arranged to meet at the Reading Room Clapham 10.00am. On arrival we were informed Joe had set off at 9.30 with his nephew, Jack and mother Heather. We were to rendezvous at Main Chamber: Heather and Jack to use winch, Joe down Bar to M/C. We reached Bar …
Lost John’s Cave: Ian, Simon, Adele, Denis (18th March 2017). We met at Inglesport, picking up new tackle bags, with the weather very wet, although we decided to stick with the plan and keep to the original trip, despite the conditions. We knew that upon reaching the High Level Traverse we would be OK for the …
Phil, Denis (11th February 2017) Snow-capped peaks making for a chocolate box setting. Parked at top car park, Coniston. Itinerary – to bolt top level pitch for coming WRPC trip, and also to check lower adit for connection with upper levels. Steady walk up through snow fields saw us arrive at lower adit level. Phil …
Nettle Pot: Denis, Phil Carol (7 January 2017). Phil Carol, an old caving friend of a decade ago said he was interested in a cave trip, having not caved since the days of France and Spain expeditions. He showed an interest in Nettle Pot, so it was decided that a trip down to ‘The Sting’ …
Bull Pot: Denis, Fay, Andy, Jack, Steve Woods, Nigel, Phil (18th February 2017). Fay was to rig with Denis and Jack, Steve, Andy: Phil, Nigel were to derig. We did not see Phil or Nigel again. Conditions were perfect and Fay set off with myself in tow. The route she chose was to bypass Slot …
Small Mammal Pot: Ian, Lief, Adele, Fay, Denis, Simon (28th January 2017). Met at Curlew Crafts Café, weather sleety and cold, and cold wind. All fuelled up we set off up the fell for Small Mammal via Ingleborough Cave and Trow Gill. At the cave we stopped for a drink and a chat with John …
Simpsons Pot: Ian, Simon, Denis (2 October 2016). Curlew Café, Ingleton start, 1130, then off to Kingsdale. Changed at Braida Garth roadside, trek to SImpsons with Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin, myself taking Bronze. Ian and SImon caved in neoprene, myself in fleece. I suggested Great Aven, they agreed. Descending we noticed the first traverse was …
Eldon Hole: Denis (10th October 2016). One of my first trips with Tatham Club was Eldon Hole. Tony Collins, Club President, told me of the dig and showed me some J Lloyd diagrams from 1777! Why would this man lie about a master cave below the Main Chamber as depicted in Lloyd’s diagrams. No point …
Lost John’s Cave: Denis, Patrick (14th August 2016). Down Cathedral and out Centipede. It is a decade since I have caved with Patrick and we had lots to talk about including my first trip down there with CPC. Patrick was co-leader. On our way down Patrick rigged a traverse line which was missing. Lower pitches …
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Calf Holes : Jack, Erin, Frazer, Genevieve, Dillon, Zack, Denis, Faye, Peter (3 July 2016). Entered via Brow Gill Cave, Jack led, myself back-marker. Waterfall Bypass needed some coaxing for Zack he being only six years old. Plenty of hands on once this obstacle was passed. The next section fell in favour of the children …
Simpson's Pot: : Faye, Denis, Dave, Jeff, Malcolm, Jean, Natalie 7 (August 2016). Through trip to Valley Entrance, system pre-rigged, running smoothly till short pitch into chamber above head of Slit Pot: rope missing creating an awkward climb down. On exiting Kingsdale Master Cave, Dave and Faye decided to give the roof traverse a go. We …
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Mountbatten Pot: Denis Bushel (1st June 2016). Last trip down Mountbatten Pot before unknown at time livery transplant. Tackle: 60m rope, minimum gear, wind-proof matches. Objective: to test for inward draught in narrow fracture at termination of shaft dig which I failed to notice last visit. Expecting outward draught which I did not feel on …