Rob Eavis Jon Pemberton Dylan Kocher
Eldon getting with the times tonight. In an effort to be like super TSG, this trip we’re busting out the nail polish.
Last week saw a breakthrough in waterfall swallet. This week we’re making sure you will forever know it, having never been to this dig the excitement was definitely high. Keen to see another classic in the making, my friends had been working hard as usual with their unique gorilla digging style. Tonight’s mission was to survey beyond the void, and wrap our heads around the area that adds complexity to an already complex environment.
First stop was the Travelers Rest where we picked up our digging prizes from 2025 ensuring a glory grabbing photo in the process.
Once parked up, myself and Rob hastily jumped down the swallet. Jon would be joining us later. Through the bedding we hit a choke, past ward wins into a pitch head via the sump bypass; set up as a deathball freeclimb. Having focused on climbing recently this felt super sketch. Rob, of course, just plummets down pressed against the wall. I carefully negotiated the alternative and standard TA approach to the freeclimb. It could not be understated how dumb and mad this would seem to any other club, but these lot breeze it and clearly blunted by the years of exposure to Radon poisoning. Once through, the discombobulated way presents its own fun obstacles and definitely gives a fringe and untraveled vibe to the destination ahead. We reached Breakthrough 1, past Westy’s bit, and there we started our survey. Some fun crawling leads to Breakthrough 2 where we dive (feet first) into the void. Beyond this is a relatively large and comfortable chamber where numerous ways lie ahead. Pushing a few easy picking and tight leads to no avail brought us into deeper areas of the boulderchoke. Various leads gave way into further small chambers, until John cried out above letting us know of his arrival. We investigate a small lead on the floor. I start digging away and within a couple minutes myself and Rob are able to push on and through into what will be the deepest point in The Void (so far). Solid walls surround a third of the area and NW give way to the usual broken down choke; however the colours have gone from dark grey to a hollow orange (small chamber nearing on 20m below main chamber). Feeling by far the most remote, getting out above took some care as the whole place can be quite loose. In haste to join in and survey, Jon helps navigate us through another area above and adjacent to the way we came in. This is hidden when first entering. Moods being chip and cheerful, as now there are three in The Void. Jon excitedly points to the wall “look look”. Thinking he was pointing out a way on, I thought he was a bit mad at first and he definitely thought I was just dumb until I looked closer. What appeared to be scratches from a stemple adding to a growing theory that this area has at one time been accessed by miners. This is further evidenced by apparent stacking above (high chamber SE) and knowledge of the area adjacent being mined, making it all somewhat conclusive. With some more pushing and surveying in rather hostile and unstable conditions led us back to the main chamber. It was agreed to head back out after a final push and end tonight’s fun. In total, we have added 120m of absolute clusterfuck to the cave. I’m sure there will be a way on somewhere as now access can be maintained through weather conditions, but seems to be quite the start!
With pints and snacks bought at the Mechanics, I was very pleased to see that the nasa rocket launch had already initiated its countdown. A very fine excuse to stay a bit longer before my drive back home.
No one died in the cave nor on the launch so very successful night indeed.