GST
Ben Monkey Boy Shannon, Ben Marks, Rob Eavis, Katie Eavis, Sam Pemberton Jon Pemberton Fabian Ehlers, Dylan Kocher
11/06/24
Here it is the Definitive Through Trip of the Peak District, for those in the know a culmination of vibes and raw awesome caving (par any caving). For those in the unknown, the GST (Great Stoney Traverse) was a trip that was theorized by the heart of Team Awesome originals, probably the only people with the intimate knowledge of Stoney Middleton Catchment and surrounding areas to pull it off by this modern route. A trip that would later be confirmed as the largest through trip of the peak district racking +8 kilometers of walking hidden from the overworld Traversing numerous Mines spanning hundreds of years of history, Horrendous traverses, Vertical silt walls, Collapsed tunnels, Neck deep freezing water, Workshops and so much more. For 99% of cavers and 100% TSG, the peak district offers nothing of note outside of Castleton. However, Ignorance and naivety will see groups sport cave the normal knowns and turn their nose to the sleeping Giant of Stoney Middleton. You won’t be able to find descriptions or surveys for trips like these and that’s why we like it. For now an intimate homage to the testament of Eldon and the few whom call themselves Awesome.
This is the Story of GST and those who Dared to do it.
Clouds looming over the peaks signalling for rain finally let loose. Miles away I start my car setting off to Stoney Middleton, a journey I have frequented so many times before. Driving in past the forests of Gindleford the environment seems still and temperate. Knowing how water prone our plans are I place my pessimism in the back of my mind something that comes very natural to me. Arriving on site Team Awesome are all not far behind. For this special and rare trip, Rob is joined by Katie Eavis elevating the team as a whole and another standard now to TA Fabian. This will make three cave rescue members with the addition of Ben marks as he slides into the layby. Our second Ben, (Shannon) of the afternoon strolls in on his house on wheels frightening some locals who distrust his backup camera skillz signaling their silly horn. Mercifully Ben decides not to crush them. Sam, then Jon join in suit. Having broken my wetsuit on a previous trip in Bog hall with a friend earlier this year Jon was kind enough to donate a spare wetsuit as he has recently bought a much more advanced XXS warmbac.
Once greeting bants were exchanged the 8 of us piled into the back of Rob and Katie's truck. A tight fit but not one that cavers are universally used to by now and head off to Milldam. The conversation in the ride over went over my head as I was pondering the same thing as the tires turned over the small and narrow lanes. The thought was disbelief that the further we got the ground would be covered by us right back to the cars beneath the surrounding farms and family homes whom themselves were probably putting the kettle on in preparation for a more domesticated evening planned.
Once parked I hop out and proceed to wrestle Jon’s toned cake into his wetsuit. Ok now that was a sentence and a half even for myself. Once through the gated section of Milldam, we start our walk down the entrance Tunnel saying goodbye to our last fresh air for the next couple of hours the progressive daylight sucked away with rusted iron reenforced passage taking foot. The decent is long and one gets progressively warm still air engulfing the latter two-thirds of the walk down. Around a large bend, I lead the group down into the pumped pool of water waist-deep but quickly passed. Black Engine ominously sprayed on the walls at intervening junctions careful not to go left into a lower region of the mine previously flooded, passing collapsed tunnels and disused cables swinging from the roof taking less note of the surroundings as we were in the preliminary stages of the GST still. General chatter ensues as the group meanders deeper winding round bend after bend only stopping at a junction leading to the collapse far past Black Engine. A fast pace set so far by the group and we jump at the chance to enter the waist deep pool and thus arrive at the collapse intersecting with the mine chamber. We climb up into a great ore mine of Lady wash sharing resemblances in stature to Oxlow some areas bigger with Boulders Wedged against the narrow walls 20 meters above threatening to crush unsuspected travellers as we dredge ascending silt mounds. Progressively the mounds down the chamber become narrow and steep till the reach there Axim a near vertical bank requiring steady yet fast footing. Once at the top, a fun slide feature presents itself. Careful though as it ends in a ledge with a fall that would most certainly could result in you coming out in a wheelchair. With this noted Jon jumps behind me and we slide straight to impending doom though catching footing on a large boulder at the precipice of the pit. This is now the Traverse. Currently, the most sketchy feature having encountered absolute shambles from myself Jon and Sam on our last trip to this region. The story be this…
Jon having put his successful second bolt on the wall reaches the halfway point to the traverse. As he begins his third of what would be an ideal set up of 4/5 bolts in total halfway through a ping and the drill starts spinning under no load. Snapped. A normal reaction would be to take this as a early sign for the pub. Under the heckling of Sam and I we convince Jon that he can make the rest with a shallow spit. (Photos of Jon on the traverse). A remarkable effort with both legs stretched on a reasonable slab problem with an ensured swing to match if lost saw Jon make the traverse. Easily half of the distance with it being the wider part you would think he had something to prove. The exit mound adds little comfort being completely loose Jon disappears and Sam and I watch the rope stretch disappearing on the other side. Once Slack Jon confirms he has tied it off a mine feature on the other side……
JP with his patented high knee move, by BenS
Back to the GST I clip my cow’s tails into the traverse excited to go first and wing it fast before our group pushes our spatial limits. Clipped on I weight the spits one after the other only wearing a belt I try to use the wall therefore not falling too low. The last feature requires a good confident jump as the tied-off rope does not want to be used or maybe I should rephrase that I didn’t want to commit to using it. Before long I was through with Ben S quickly to follow making it look easy. Sam however did not have his most elegant moment but was through as well. With Ben taking photos of Jon and Fabs It was now Mark’s turn. The award for the most cautious crossing goes to himself. I'm sure the five guys with glaring lights and non-stop heckling helped. After a short time marks proved successful but promised to return and re-bolt it. Then Rob and Katie flew behind, Rob jumping the last bit in his confident Rob fashion.
The abseil beyond the traverse, by BenS
The next obstacle was a vertical downclimb filled with spikes of iron cable bars and sheets in a massive trash pile. If carefully navigated you shouldn’t need a tetanus shot. A very spooky view looms once below what could be equated to a dead snake, showing just its bony ribs. Standing now above the mine passage all that remains are the rusted arches curving around out of view with a auspicious ladder propped above it. I would say one of the spookier settings that we found ourselves in although further down the passage the water turns crimson red with rusted skin forming itself on top of the stagnant pools not seeing any fluctuations in water level. This is the connection point a notable feature that has seen Rob and Joe on a previous trip from Glebe, also being the furthest myself Jon and Sam had reached before heading back. Deep in Lady wash the passage is soot black. Walls absorb almost all light. Passage onward comes to a junction. Straight on leading to an arduous mud caked crawl therefore better to counterintuitively turn left and double back shortly before regaining course to the long Straight dredge of Lady wash. Rather a Jaunt in comparison to our previous goings. Deep inviting pools line the passage offering no escape from the shelf above. Our group after another 15 minutes stop off at the most impressive workshop, Jon took some photos as Sam explained the workings of Helicoils something I knew nothing about but stuck with me. A quick time check from Katie confirms a much faster going than expected. Originally hoping to be out around 12 we were far ahead of schedule. This picked my spirits up perhaps the most as I had a exam to complete in the morning (Smashed it by the way). Lady wash main route from here into Glebe mine can only really be described as one of the longer walks, much easier goings with the firm footing and before long reaching the Red and White tape signalling the shoot off to DOOM, Wet West, SMMC , and of course best hardman route of the peak Cussey. Officially in home turf excitement and anticipation rises hoping the exit through the Sough tail of Moorwood is viable as the route back would be enough to break a man.
Ladders down to the sough, by RobE
Reaching the ladders through Glebe Moorwood connection descent is much more dubious than my last experience. It may have been due to the falling wood pile heaped around the entrance from the above ceiling. Katie, Jon and myself get a head start in the sough quickly reaching waist-deep waters then chest following suit. Cliffstile and Moorwood in my mind are the cherry on top for the GST. Small narrow passage with a reasonable current and some of the most amazing stoned ceilings. sections Fallen through and even a complete free-hanging arch requiring a delicate approach. I was previously told that the trip being strictly walking was a lie. Wet crawling awaited in the far reaches of Moorwood close to the exit. Of course, Jon has lent me his books, Wetsuit and why not one knee pad right?! With a deal being struck slightly past Victory level I would take the bag for his left kneepad. This deal turned out to be great as the Daren drum acted as a flotation buoy device that I could lay on in the confined areas. Comfort began to slightly slow my movement leading Ben S to catch up and before long the rest of the team.
Katie in the sough, by RobE
Past Rock Cottage the roof lowers Kaite ahead stopping and looking back. I hope its not out of worry but we keep moving through water up to our necks although passage is relatively straight going with little worries. Having never been to this end of the sough I was remarked when Jon pointed out various areas above that are the storm drains and such of Stoney Middleton. Before long roots start protruding through the walls and plant matter begins to brush and grab your legs, this rather uneasily feels like a pile of hairy forearms being pushed open as you prone through. With an excited remark, Kaite turns the corner I follow the tunnel leading to an excited Katie who was probably seeing on her end an even more ecstatic Dylan. We had done it and more importantly, bagged it as self-serving glory grabbing wankers it was our motivation. Grateful to be a part of it and a blast to partake.
On to the next Thursday
Dylan Kocher