This evenings trip was purely reserved to getting our heads around this complex system. It's jokingly been said before that the best way to play out the cave would be to insert yourself into every hole and then mark said hole with paint. There's been multiple occasions where I've pushed a certain section of this cave only to find that I've reappeared in another known section. Tonight was no exception.
I met Chris and Joe around 6:30pm and after a swift pre-beer in warmth we kitted up (not without it's mishaps) and Ventured down into the swallet. Acknowledging the call of nature (again) Joe and I had ample time to exlore the other sink holes and caves within the swallet but with little to report. With Chris now back we summoned out the badger and headed underground.
Our first lead to examine was one Mark Noble had flagged up after a survey trip in the late 70's with JSB, see fig 1. This was quite easy to find at the base of Hockenhull's Rift. Its easily recognisable by the immediate dog leg halfway down the passage. The end has three ways on. Left leads to a boulder choke that looks above our pay grade. Straight on is a narrow rift with a climb at the end leading to a further choke, whilst to the right is a tight rift which needs the floor digging (approx. 5 inch air gap), this is marked as draughting, however the draught was not present this evening with average surface temperature. The passage is solid which seems positive as most things below aren't. but it's not a dig which presented easy pickings - CHECK.
fig 1. Insert from JSB's diary (09/01/77) courtesy of Mark Noble
We then moved on to the next location. A choked rift heading SW from Chandra's Series, see fig 2 (blue circle). Chris opted to stay entrance side of the squeezes which seemed a bit more tight than usual. Joe and I proceeded to explore this section giving every hole a thorough examination. The rift was heavily choked with large blocks, again looking super uninspiring we opted out of this being a viable dig and I showed Joe the large clean washed descending choke at the entrance to Chandra's (orange circle). This does look very promising in reality with voids to be poked at everywhere, however it looks a serious undertaking and not something we (TA) would be willing to participate in. Also on paper the water that sinks here has been confirmed to reappear in Showerbath Passage, this doesn't mean there's not virign territory somewhere within the choke but makes decision making a little lopsided - CHECK.
fig 2. Screen capture from Waterfall Hole survey
Our next point of call was to head down to Jim's Bit but before we made it through to Waterfall Chamber we explored a hole in the floor which unknowingly to us dropped us halfway along Showerbath Passage. After checking a few holes we eventually stumbled upon a knotted rope down a pitch. I know Waterfall Hole only has one pitch like this which is EPS Aven but this did not look anything like the version I had set in my memory from 15 years prior. Joe descended and stepped across halfway down into a muddy side passage where he noted a sling hanging from a boulder. This triggered a memory I had of Jim's Bit but the pieces didn't quite fit together. After nearly losing a Welly in thigh deep mud Joe returned and we traced our steps back up the climb and dropped into the Waterfall Chamber. I led the guys down through the waterfall and into the passage beyond which was the way I knew to reach EPS Aven. Halfway down the passage I realised this was where we'd just come from. That didn't stop me having a little fun and pushing Chris onwards to explore the passage once again. After a few more metres he eventually turned around and called us obscenities for tricking him into thinking he was pushing a new passage.
Time served, we made a push for surface and reached the cars close to 10pm. Posties at the mechanics. Slowly I'm getting my head around the place but it's easy to lose yourself.
A disoriented Chris Hibberts (photo by JRP)