27th March 2025 - R&R

 

With Tony away skiing (and once again seemingly with the slopes to himself!), Mike and I needed something to keep us busy on a Thursday evening. It's been very dry, the water levels are low and conditions should be right for good visibility (see here for a great John Cordingley explanation of vis. conditions). There'd also been a recent acquisition of a few bits of Warmbac neoprene so a Rowten recce seemed in order.

It's important to be prepared for trips like this and fortunately Mike was on it with quality banana bread, washed down with tea before the drive over to Kingsdale. Then for the short(est?) walk to the entrance and being unladen, quick scuttle along the roof tunnel to the pitch. SRT kits hung on the bottom of the rope we stomped up the main drain with just hoods, a mask, a camera and the description in hand. At the master junction we were both in new territory as we took the right hand branch and headed down Rowten passage. It's a cracking bit of cave, ripples in the water reflecting off the low arched roof. All too soon though we arrived at the sumps, a rope belayed from a thread indicating the way on.

We'd had a brief chat on the drive over about what this recce was going to be about and were in like mind about "just having a look". On paper the sumps are 1.5, 4 and 8 m long respectively. Today though a small airspace was visible through the first. With no worries about building up bad air, we both made our way through before conferring again. Things felt good. We were warm, visibility was good - perhaps a metre or so and the line so far was in good nick. Decision time. OK. I'd try going through to the  next bell and then come back. Calm my breathing, duck into the water and pull, pull, pull. Turning onto my back I was briefly aware of little silvery bubbles trapped on the roof and then a larger mirror, pierced by the rope - I was through. 

Wanting to spend as little time as possible in the bell I tried to get my breathing back under control and then hauled myself along the rope once more. Mike was waiting for a report and on hearing I didn't think it was too bad, we swapped over the mask and he disappeared into the sump. I don't know how long he was gone, but my perceived time I'm sure was longer than the actual time before he broke the surface once again. Mike too reported that it wasn't so bad and that the hood and mask combination worked well. It was decision time again.

Having read about the Langstroth sumps, the idea of 'dead air' in air bells really worries me. Both of us going back through the 4m sump and then waiting in the isolated bell while we tried the last sump therefore didn't appeal. I suggested to Mike that I'd like to try going back through, see how I felt and if all was good, proceed through to Rowten before returning.

[in progress...]

18th March 2025 - Cantabrian prep

After last year's superb trip to Cantabria we've decided to go back and hoping that they'll love it as well, my family's going to join us too. While others aren't so sure, eldest has said he wouldn't mind a go at some caving, so needs to learn the ropes. We've had a couple of SRT lessons in a garden tree so the rest of the team decided he was ready for a proper trip. As it's mainly pull through trips we're planning on again this year, Simpson's seemed an ideal location. 

Picking Mike up is always a joy as there'll be a pot of tea on the go, accompanied by fantastic tray bakes. Today was no exception and replete with outstanding chocolate brownies, we headed to Devil's Bridge to meet Tony and then on to Kingsdale. The Dales look stunning in the low light of a spring evening and the trudge up to the Turbary road was almost pleasant. Mike's cave radar was working in high precision mode and he walked straight across the open moor to the entrance.

While the Swinsto long crawl is infamous, I'm sure it feels almost as far in Simpson's and personally I find it a bit more awkward. At least in Swinsto you know you're crawling, whereas Simpson's I feel I'm constantly transitioning between stooping and crawling. In both though it's a relief to reach the pitches. The Five Steps passed without incident and at their foot we geared up for the first real obstacle, the traverse over The Pit.

Gearing up to traverse the pit

The pitches now fall in quick succession and we were back into our familiar routine with eldest slotted in between us. Mike quickly rigged with Tony and I trying hard to pull down the previous rope and get it forward before eldest descended allowing Mike to move on again. I thought there might be a brief pause at the duck but the speedy duo were through by the time I got there and there was no let up in the pace. That is until an innocuous little slot before the Slit pitch where I came to crashing to a standstill. I'm blaming the camera in my chest pocket, but I really struggled. To make matters worse, when taking off my SRT gear to make myself more sleek, my descender and cowstails fell off into a puddle. Not noticing until Tony was also through, he kindly went back to retrieve them for me. By contrast the Slit pitch itself I managed to pass without issue and having had to use both of our ropes for the longer pitch, the team was briefly reunited at the bottom. 

Watching Tony negotiate the Slit pitch

The stomp down the main drain helped pump a bit of warm blood around after the aqueous passage from the Great Aven and we were soon at the pitch up into the roof tunnel. Eldest's new jammers seemed to do the trick and Tony and I were once again playing catch up to reach Valley entrance.

There was just one final stop to make to fully introduce eldest to the Thursday night club, a pint (of orange juice and lemonade!) in the Barn.

An integral part of a Thursday night trip

Huge thanks to Mike and Tony for looking after eldest on his first proper trip.

12th March 2025 - Definitely not boring

It's been a gorgeous few days with hardly any rain but someone had dumped a year 10 parents' evening on our usual caving night. While Tony already had other plans (and had already been doing a bit of sneaky caving on the side!), fortunately Mike was free for a Wednesday evening trip.

Last week's trip had inspired a Spiral Stairs conversation so, with low water levels, we decided on a Borehole trip with an exit via the Wetched Wabbit "short cut".

Wednesday night is definitely not caving night in Ease gill. Bull Pot farm looked deserted and there wasn't a parked car to be seen. It was therefore just the two of us that enjoyed the sunny wander across the moor to the valley. I'm sure the entrance to the Borehole has changed, I was looking for a slightly undercut crag, but Mike spotted a beautifully crafted drystone wall with a little door in it that was indeed our entrance.

While I struggled posting myself through the door I loved the following climbs and passage. Beautifully clean washed streamway with entertaining drops and the clearest water I've seen in a while. At times it was like being on a safari, small shrimp swam in the gin clear water, pond skaters skimmed across its surface and droplet covered gossamer threads hung from the ceiling.

Mike getting his knee pads on at the entrance to the Borehole

The Borehole passage has a feel of being less well travelled than other parts of Ease gill and has sections of pretty and unusual formations such as sections of anastamosic roof. No I didn't have a clue either! Look it up - there are some very pretty pictures not just of cave formations but of biological and river systems too.

There are some pretty formations

The passageway had felt very horizontal, at times to the point of making "downstream" difficult to discern. A step up from the winding rift soon saw us staring down a 15 m pitch. There was plenty of room to put on our SRT kit and a single exhibit museum. A slightly hairy slither led back down past a bar to a position from which I could rig the rope from 2 bolts.

Litter or relic?

It's not huge but it's a definitely well proportioned pitch that lands in a pool from where it's suggested to pull the ropes before free climbing down the last couple of metres.

The Borehole only has one pitch, but it's a quality one

More great passage follows before a real change in character occurs at Mottershead's chamber where things get distinctly more Ease gillesque. From this point the navigation also becomes a wee bit trickier but as ever armed with a Braemoor description (here), you know you can't go to far wrong.

Popping out close to the Green and Smelly choke we wanted to make sure we could slot in our current position with where we'd been last week so dropped down into the snaking streamway which soon brought us to a junction with T piece passage and well known ground.

Despite having SRT gear with us we opted for the free climbable route into Spiral Stairs via a pile of perfectly stacked rocks. At the only junction we turned left where straight on would have lead us back to the roped climb alternative to getting into the passage and began swiftly snaking our way towards the connection with Wretched Rabbit. Once again the dry stone waller's art was on display as we popped through the hole into more frequented passage and the classic climbs back up to the expertly sculptured new entrance. 

This is a cracking little trip which really does have a little bit of everything except anything unpleasant. Being short it also allows plenty of time in the pub afterwards to ponder its delights.

6th March 2025 - We like pull throughs

With Tony stateside it was just Mike and I that left the van and headed past Bull Pot farm towards the moors. The washing facilities at the stream were being put to good use by a couple of diggers, chuffed with having moved a boulder during the day's session. I'm pretty sure though that there was a glint of jealousy in their eyes when they heard how we were planning on spending our evening.

The bends at the start of the Pool Sink passage were soon negotiated and entry to the more spacious passage beyond gained.

27th February 2025 - No Donald, it's called Juniper Gulf and it's not for changing

You win some, you lose some and for once I'd won, my year 11s were doing mocks and I wasn't down for cover or invigilation. A free Thursday afternoon and a sunny one at that! The only downside is that I'd been suffering from some long term flu like illness and was feeling pretty grim, but the chance for a longer trip was not to be missed. A few ideas were considered before the classic Juniper Gulf was settled on.

Packing the gear at the lay by

The walk up wasn't too bad. Though my lungs definitely knew they were working and my legs felt more like lead than usual, being with quality mates in a beautiful place was having a positive affect on my head.

Tony making last minute adjustments at the entrance

Mike gearing up

While it was a sunny day, it's been quite wet and it sounded like there was quite a lot of water running. We therefore opted for a traversing first pitch above the cascades rather than following the water directly.

Mike setting off rigging on the first pitch

We are incredibly fortunate in the Dales to have the CNCC. They provide reliable and safe bolts and excellent rigging guides and descriptions. Their workshops are also second to none. \begin{rant} Being in education I have suffered more than my fair share of CPD and I think it would be useful for school managers to go and see what these workshops are like and how much they cost. Being taught useful skills by passionate and knowledgeable individuals beats being subjected to nonsense spewed by snake oil sales people at vast cost any day of the week \end{rant}. Anyway the point is when everything the CNCC produce is so good, you really question when things don't seem quite right. We were still no where near the y-hang, let alone down the pitch when the rope ran out! The water didn't look as bad as it sounded so Mike made the decision to leave the traverse early and ab down to the stream. 

[in progress...]

Much of the route is traversing in a rift

Mike setting off down the final pitch - this is what we'd come for

Returning up the pitches

Tony doing a grand job derigging

There's a lot of rope to shift

Tony derigging an awkward bolt

Tony's video

13th February 2025 - Pull through practice

 

Mike and Tony kitting up at the entrance, a sprinkling of snow on the hills

Mike descending a damp pitch

Tony rigging the second part of the Split pitch

Mike descending the final pitch

Mike in the final chamber

30th January 2025 - In search of Excellent Pot

I don't know if it's still there, but at some point I'm sure there was a page of either the Wezzie Gazette or the Craven Herald framed in the Royal Barn's gents toilets. The article described the discovery of a new pothole on Leck fell and how features of it had been named after various Kirkby Lonsdale brews. The accompanying photo was a terrific shot of a caver on Monumental pitch so called after a pint popular with the diggers. As this is also the favoured tipple of  both the other members of our usual Thursday caving team, a visit seemed in order. 

A GPS brought us within a few metres of the entrance, but in the end it was Mike's sharp eyes that found the boarded entrance in a shallow sink hole. Boards quickly off and he was away down the impressively scaffolded shaft to join the natural streamway at the bottom.

The impressively scaffolded entrance shaft

A short squirm along the stream and then over some boulder debris brought us to the first of the Kirkby inspired features, Orange Tree chamber. (I think I'm right in that, pre The Royal Barn, the Orange Tree pub was the tap for Kirkby beers). A couple of small stall were definitely on message sporting subtle orange hues.

Orange formations in Orange Tree chamber

Our rapid progress was brought to a shuddering halt as I swapped over with Mike to rig the first pitch. Sensing that this could take a while if he didn't help, he quickly found me a natural thread to start my rigging from and pointed out a couple of spits. Having rigged the first y-hang from these, I then found another and re-rigged the pitch head. Finally I was off down the pitch, but 3 metres later I failed to find the deviation bolts and spent further time rigging off a couple of natural spikes. As it was huge, I did manage to find the ledge 10 metres above the bottom of the pitch and for once, ended my descent in the right place.

Mike descending Monumental pitch

An interesting little climb led down into Constellation Hall and a number of ways on. The bolts at the top the aptly named Loose Head pitch were placed so that even I could see them, right in front of me at head height. Part way down I was once again rigging off a natural before noticing the rebelay spit.

Following the stream once again the top of Stanley's pitch was soon encountered. Unbelievably I spotted a spit straight away, but where was the other? Moving back a couple metres from the pitch head and lying in a convenient stream Mike found the errant spit and rigged it for me.

Mike rigging the bolt I'd missed at the top of Stanley's pitch

The short pitch lead to a small rift and the sump, but after a brief nosey I reversed making some excuse about having a camera in my pocket. Oddly neither Tony nor Mike fancied a look and we instead began the upward journey. 

The plan had been to test out a faster photo protocol making use of both Tony and I having relatively bright lights. Shouting direction down the pitch to Tony I didn't realise I was placing him directly under the water and when he arrived at the pitch head he was behooded and slightly damp.

Mike ascending Monumental pitch in black and white

Mike ascending Monumental pitch in colour

The moors were clear and bright when we emerged and it was a brisk walk back to the car. There was now only one thing left to do, find a couple of pints of Monumental in the Barn...

Tony and Mike replacing the boards on the entrance shaft

 

23rd January 2025 - Pillar holes

For the first full team trip of 2025 suggestions were asked for and Tony was the fisrt back with a trip to Pillar holes. While there are 3 advertised routes available, it's been very damp and only Route 1 is advised in these conditions. If you want to enjoy the walk up rather than worrying about pacing and bearings then a gps is the way to go, while it's not the smallest of entrances there is an awful lot of similar looking moor.

With Tony having found the entrance for us and prior to rigging down the first pitch we needed a team photo. Aunty Liz has been very busy crocheting and has made us all superb merino wool beanies for under our helmets. They're absolutely superb, especially on an evening like this one where there was a chill in the air and the occasional snow flurry.  

Aunty Liz has been busy crocheting our new team beanies!

Watching Tony rig the first pitch it was clear how the pot hole gained its name with a line of quite stunning little pillars leading away from him in the open pot. Making a mental note to return in daylight when this would be a very atmospheric place to be I made my way down to the first rebelay and then on to the Tony busy rigging the second pitch.

Tony rigging the first pitch

Tucking myself in to allow Mike to descend behind me I was aware that it was quite drippy where I was hanging. Like with some types of rain that seem particularly damp, these drips were definitely of the wetting variety. For the second time in the evening I was glad of my new beanie and I anti-socially pulled my hood up. This just seemed to make the dripping louder with no reduction in wetting so I was relieved to hear the call of "rope free" from below.

The topo had mentioned that some innovative rigging might be required and Tony didn't let us down. I was particularly impressed by the deviation based on a jammed knot/crab combination.

Despite my beanie I was starting to get cold now. [This probably requires some explanation. Chasing Mike around Easegill has lead to me buying ever thinner under suits to avoid suffering serious overheating and dehydration. I should probably just go for a running vest and shorts and be done with it. So, after last week's trip, I'd arrived this evening in my thinnest suit. Unlike last week this was not a horizontal time trial but an SRT trip in an open (and therefore chilly) pot. The drips hadn't helped either] As soon as Mike touched down at the bottom of the pitch Tony set off back up and Mike and I began the winter belay ledge rewarming boogie.

Heading up last I was able to avoid the wait on the surface and I hope I didn't leave the others waiting too long. The brisk walk was definitely welcome and I was almost warm by the time we arrived back at the car.

Have to say I'm loving being able to move on from a pint of mild to a Guinness 0.0 at the Barn, much more in keeping than the Erdinger.

2nd January 2025 - Off beat Easegill

With Tony having exclusive use of a Spanish ski resort, Mike and I were left to fend for ourselves. Mike had a think and came up with a plan to head over to Cape Kennedy and the Fire hydrant in Easegill but with a little SRT loop to add interest. 

Unusually there were ropes down Lancaster Hole, Cambridge uni. on a New Year's meet by the look of the labels, but we were on our own as we headed down the pitch and towards Kath's Way. Fall pot and the beginning of the high level series were passed with Mike covering ground fast with a steady pace but always on the most efficient route, while I zipped around like a collie pup going nowhere slowly.

I'm sure back in the day I didn't blink an eye at crossing over Stake pot by hand over handing the in situ ropes, but either Easegill is slippier, I need new wellies or I've a different outlook on life and it's harness and cows' tails every time now. 

The Stake pot series of Easegill is one of the parts that I know I don't know. Even after recceing it a few times before taking on the traverse I always had the description in hand. I know it involves a fixed ladder at some point, but that's about it. Fortunately today I had a head up display and as long as I moved fast enough to keep him in my sights, I just needed to follow Mike.

Having kept my SRT gear on from Stake pot (no time to take it off following Mike), I had the indignity of coming to a standstill, or more a liestill just before Cellar pot as I just didn't fit through the low bedding. Fortunately it's removal allowed me to pass and find Mike at the top of Cellar pot where he'd cached his gear and was ready to climb up through an obscure hole leading up to the pretties in Cape Kennedy.

Sight seeing tour over we were reunited with our gear and out of the choice of a rope, a thin polypropylene line and a chain, I chose the rope and tried to began my descent. In the equivalent of trying to start a car with a dead battery I was going nowhere. The rope had become so heavily calcited that it just wouldn't run through my descender and in the end I was forced to down climb on my jammers. Mike meanwhile made a smoother descent on an Italian hitch. It's worth noting if passing this way that Stops just don't seem to like petrified rope.

I always find the Wormway an intimidating place and today was no exception. There's something about the texture of the mud that reminds you that you really are in the bowels of the Earth. Fortunately it's not far to the 88' pitch but a more sobering view then came into sight, a metre high ring of foam about 20m up the pitch. A day or two previously where I was stood would have been 20 m underwater. I seemed to be up the pitch a bit quicker than usual.

If you're looking for a bit of an off beat adventure with a little bit of everything then this is a great little trip - just make sure the water levels aren't too high.