Trip report 23/02/23 Bagshaw cavern
Jon Pemberton Sam Pemberton Rob Eavis Dylan Kocher
With the completion of two days of pushing for the uppers at Ashbourne during Shrovetide, I was a little sore coming to Bagshaw and lacked much-needed food although I remedied this later in the night. This would be my first trip to Bagshaw and was interested to see first-hand what so many have told me. That it was long, a lot of crawling and pretty all of which were spot on. The goal for tonight was to reach some possible dig sights in the upper series above Madam’s Guillotine. After some usual light banter, we kit up and head to the Eldon Caving Hut. Inside the shed, I thought that I might be able to hang up a hammock Mabey two and put my keys in an old boot. Off down the steps, we went where we turn left and pass the dungeon, into the aven series and then crawl into the Full Moon Chamber. Rob and Sam get a head start to Madams Guillotine while Jon and I hang back and take some photos. Once finished up we set off to catch up with Sam and Rob into Moose’s Revenge and a wonderful crawl filled with some beautiful straws and crystal pools. Other adventure features come after some lengthy crawling into a duck. With a wet ear, we ascend through some Scaff into Madam Guillotine. Very impressive room and a much-appreciated change from the hard crawling. A 10-15m pitch up into the roof. Sharing two kits meant Sam and Rob lowered theirs upon completion. With Rob's kit on I was eager to see how the Pro does it. First, I attach my Croll this does not bite the rope then the hand jammer… also does not grab. Well great after a few more tries it starts working and I ascend the rope on Rob's new Petzl Free Flowing ascender gear.
At the top of the passage, a ledge allows access to two passages both ending in digs. Journeying down the left side we come to a camp with food and a mysterious maple bottle. Could it be pee or fermented juice of course I take the cap off for a smell and the must was ripe. Journeying on the floor contains CCC’s every 10 meters or so. Coarse crystalline cryogenic cave carbonate forms from the precipitation of water in temperatures well below freezing in polar to sub-polar climates. Although not the most exciting feature the limited AWE value does pack a punch in information for insight into past environmental conditions. After lengthy crawling, to the end, we head back. Stopping at the camp the boys open the food jar for a look inside. I grab a granola bar and with communication with my appetite I decided to brave a bight. “That was a BIG first bite,” Rob says in what may be a concern. This emotion was then justified when I find that the bar was a whopping 19 years expired. So, I eat the rest. On the way back I did not give birth to Ridley Scott's alien and have not since. What could this mean that all expiration dates on granola bars are just company insurance to have their customers throw away older bars to only buy more? Probably not and I got lucky. I digress. The journey out was moderately strenuous and lengthy. Fast forward to the Anchor in which we warm ourselves and organize another trip back. Bagshaw is a great system with no shortage of potential ways to spend your time for what is a great trip and sure I will be back to dig. (I was)