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Written by: Victoria Kocher

Published: 19 December 2025

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Christmas caving and immersion in frigid subterranean waters

The Twelve Disciples of Tuesday gathered this week for our annual festive pilgrimage underground. Julian, Katie, John, Edvin, Chris (twice), Kat, Katie (also twice), Rob, Rich, Alan and Victoria assembled, while Jess met us in the car park armed with generous provisions to share. Sadly, her knee isn’t quite cave-ready yet—we missed you, Jess.

In the hotel car park, we donned our layers, lights, and seasonal sparkle, properly dressed and suitably bedazzled. Then off we went: wellies on, headtorches glowing, rubbish sacks at the ready. A few new pieces of graffiti greeted us at the entrance, and with a jump, a squeeze, and a collective shuffle, we were in.

Recent rainfall had transformed the cave into a gloriously drippy, muddy affair. We found a suitable rock table and laid out our Christmas fayre before heading off to explore. Time was taken to admire the historic graffiti—remarkably beautiful, really—and to reflect on it as an unusual but touching form of conservation: echoes of visitors past, names and moments preserved in stone.

We reached the staircase and descended to the wishing well, then regrouped—though one group clearly seemed to be enjoying themselves more than the other. Reunited, we lingered by a strikingly beautiful pool. I’m fairly certain Katie was the instigator… kit began to come off, and resistance proved futile.

Six of the twelve disciples took the plunge, immersing themselves in the icy subterranean waters. Brilliant, it was. We even discovered we could swim beneath the rock into a smaller pool beyond. With some enthusiastic filming and a fair amount of flailing, we braved the cold and confidently declared a new tradition born.

I, having come straight from work, had managed to layer my caving gear over my work clothes—too many layers, as it turns out—and somewhere in the depths I appear to have lost a purple sock. If anyone finds it, please let me know.

After some glass clean-up, we headed back to feast. Ginger, mulled wine, cheese, sausages, homemade treats and mince pies warmed us through. Stories were shared, laughter echoed, and Christmas cheer flowed freely.

It was hard to leave the underground world, especially when the surface greeted us with a blustery three degrees. A truly excellent trip.

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Written by: Dylan Kocher

Published: 16 December 2025

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White River Series, Peak Cavern

Jon Pemberton, Rob Eavis & Dylan Kocher

With the temperature on the plummet, holly being hung and the distant bells of a two week vacation away from the madness of work; a Christmas trip is always in order! This year JP organised a White River trip and decided to keep it small and sweet as speed turns out to be quite the factor when we encounter the Battle Of The Bung! Arriving at 8am and then down JH at 9 having to rig over some in situ ropes, we swiftly entered the streamway. Admittedly being brought up in Stony caving, my experience with Peak is quite limited. However, the system does seem to be fairly quick and sporting. Rob leads the group through JH into Peak and the approaching speedwell where our bodies fall into the deep canal. Just when your body composes itself and height is gained a swift right leads to the Bung ladders. On first impressions, the stream trickles over the top of the dammed steel. With a closer inspection a complete vortex consumes the descent below. “F##k that” Jon yells, and before I know it Rob had disappeared into the maelstrom only to hear a faint shriek below signaling the next candidate. After Jon it's then my turn. Alone it does truly feel like the Bung separates you from the trip ahead and in a way, that was the true start for our trip that day. First few steps you try to take quickly, tucking your chin hoping to brace the torrent above and swiftly descend. Once the water crashes on to your head, the steps slow in a shock response to steady the feet. Quickly down I cannot remember how to exit off the ladder, being relentlessly thrashed with icy water. I just let it push me backwards, and out to my colleagues who all are enjoying the scene.

With some respite, we set off up Block Hall. Pitch after pitch we encounter an ever growing quality of flowstone pouring over the cave, until the top! Sadistically Peak district, a crawl at the top adds unwanted varieties to the trip but quickly leads through to The Kingdom. Here I listen in on the tales of exploration and discoveries, before we head up to Heaven for a photoshoot. Here is the only part of the report that is not bullshit. I pose, Rob sets the flash, and Jon takes out his camera. With one click the cave lights up. “I think that's the one”. With three more shots it's clear that the first picture was the best. Unknowingly Jon's entire caving career had led up to this moment. Sending his flash to Heaven. With the historic and remarkable feat completed we venture down the White River Series. One of the most unique cave features presenting a remarkable turkey teeth white! A calcite river seemingly frozen in time and well preserved passes on the left and before you know it we enter the pull-throughs of the Ventilator. Rob takes first, I second, and Jon third. Pull throughs go smoothly; and quickly out through peak and back into JH. De-rigging all the rope was a bit of a faff but we did it in a remarkable time. All in all, the full trip took four and a half hours. Good to see the boys do some caving and off to do some good honest christmasing.

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Written by: Rob Eavis

Published: 08 November 2025

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Dry weather and the small team lead us to chose having a poke at Peristalsis, the downstream end of Hunger Hill. This points directly at Static and Elastic passages in Doom and after our small success in Elastic earlier this year we figure it’s a good place for a gander. Plus I’d never been past Eldon’s Kram so was keen to check the place out. Obvs Joe had never been as he’s only don’t 3 caves in the Peak.

Filming as we go, we quickly get to the pitch and rig something not totally shit to get us down (DCA has since rebolted this, so hopefully it’s better than before). Down to the sump then up the tight rift of Eldon’s Kram. This was awkward, tight, and needed some loose stiff digging to get it passable even for us two midgets. Full respect for Mark to have made it through originally, it must have been very committing sliding down this for the first time!

Video here

Popping out into Happy Breakthrough is great, very unexpected, and the way on is surprisingly spacious and fun caving. Pass through a couple dodge bits then eventually the downstream end of the sump is reached and the start of the Peristalsis streamway. This is awkward but not too tight. As it continues it degenerates gradually, eventually after +30 minutes passing a small rift (the only turn off at all!) and then getting too tight. The way on is open, but only for someone about cat sized. Definitely a long way from home for an evening dig, took us about an hour to get out from here. Free leftovers in the Mechanics after, so well happy with the evening's events!