Caving & Exploration (1954-2020)
Leif had spent a lot of time sorting this weekend - and what fun it was! With a dryish trip led by Leif into the back of Smallcleugh, it fell to Adele and me to show Mick and Steve G the delights of the wet way from Caplecleugh to Smallcleugh - a favourite of ours …
Continue reading "Nenthead Weekend – Caplecleugh to Smallcleugh by Ian Cummins"
Robinsons Pot (2nd June 2018). Club Trip - Andy Cole, Ian Cummins, Nigel Easton, Adele Ward, Elise Ward, Peter Whitiker, Steve Woods. Pub Trip - Chris Camm, Joe Parsons. I don’t know about anyone else who caves but the plan in my head is; wakeup, cave, pub, and basically nothing else that happens I am …
Narrowly avoiding a head first manoeuvre that wouldn’t have turned out so well and climbing out of the end of the t-shaped rift I was joined by the others in the chamber below for a breather, a laugh and a drink of pop and a collective sharing of the fun we’d all equally just had..
Hagg Gill Pot. Nasty ladders, Super Cave. 7 March 2018 Jack, Faye, Denis, Phil, Adele I’ve chatted several times with Faye about getting out on one of her and Jacks mid week jaunts. Excited to have the run down on this little beauty of a cave , friends tell me - the formations are specular. …
Hagg Gill Pot: Jack, Fay, Denis, Phil, Adele (Wednesday 7th March) Spot on with our Window of Opportunity – the Wednesday before, Northern England was covered with disruptive snow, and the day after, the snow returned. Yet on the 7th Langstrothdale looked stunning – white edges to every field and lane, and, by the time …
Wednesday 18th October 2017 Sell Gill Jack, Fay, Gen Lovely, warm walk up to a surprisingly dry entrance. 3 pitches and the somewhat underwhelming “2nd largest chamber in England” according to my copy of PU. (Note for younger readers, PU = Pennine Underground 1965). Noted do-ableness of Goblin in these conditions; then out.
Alum Pot: Adele Ward, Ian Cummins, Fay Hartley, Leif Andrews (21 October 2017). https://youtu.be/BOQlzj3onJY With Pen-y-ghet Pot postponed due to the weather, a quick visit to Alum Pot, before ‘Storm Brian’ battered The Dales.
AKA Juniper Gulp: Ian Cummins, Fay Hartley, Leif Andrews, Adele Ward (11th November 2017). A Club trip to one of Yorkshire’s finest SRT trips were the words Ian told me. Homing in on SRT trips….. “so how big is this pitch mate?” An 8am start from The North East Squad saw us descending on The Penyghent …
Sunset Hole: Jack Upsall, Nigel Easton & Phil Parker (May ‘17 / Sat Club Meet). And then there were three. After meeting Jack in Inglesport the plan was to meet Phil in the layby past the Hill Inn. Umm problem number one, there were cars everywhere as we encountered the three peaks Pure Challenge. Once …
White Scar Cave: Ian Cummins, Leif Andrews, Elise Ward, Steve Woods, Adele Ward (September ‘17 / Sat Club Meet). It felt an ambitious move, fitting four members of the club in Ian's car. All sporting wet-suits and associated cold water protection gear, the car was going to be packed. Offering my friends a chance for a …
Shuttleworth Pot: Iain Geldard, Johnny Roe, Steve Woods (August ‘17 / Sat Club Meet). Sat in Inglesport Cafe eating a healthy breakfast my fellow club members were eager to go caving. The cafe however was full of folks I hadn't seen for ages. As Sweeney left for Easegill and Si, Di and Frank sat down …
Fairy Holes Cave: Ian Cummins, Adele Ward (September ‘17 / Sat Club Meet). I have previously commented to friends that caves have names that always fill me with dread, (although I have never been down these ) - Hammer pot, Quaking pot, the lovely Hell Hole. and a personal favourite name - Knacker trapper, although …
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 …
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 …