Little Waterfall Swallet
Little Waterfall Swallet is next door to Waterfall Hole and has received only a small amount of attention from diggers over the years. Until now...
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- Written by: Jon Pemberton
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Due to conflicting schedules the gang has been split up for the foreseeable weeks, so Sam and I had agreed to head down LWS on a different evening to other gang members with intentions of aiding progress. Also Sam had not been about for the past 9 weeks so it was an easy one to get back into, rather than a romp to the end of Baggers.
Armed with drill and rock removal tools our plan was to crack on with Dig#2 (Rob’s dig/2nd Reich) but on inspection it looked miserable! Tight-as-you-like and the way on looked tiny (even for Rob). I wanted to inspect the lower dig (1st Reich) although I’d never actually seen it in the flesh it mad sense that this would be the way on. We dropped down to floor level and both had a crawl to the end. It was tight for sure but not as desperate at the one above. With your helmet it off you could just about see into a black space but how big was that black space? Big enough to crawl along? There’s only one way to find out…
We started to dig out the floor (which was awkward) It involved digging a small mount facing the dig face and because of its tight nature you’d then have to push said mound underneath you, hop over it, turn around and then throw it towards the bottom of the pitch. Progress was slow but necessary in order to cap the face ahead. After a couple of shift swaps we were about 12 inches away from a proper look at the void. At this point Sam started to toot on his vape and gassed the place out! We were knackered and now we couldn’t see owt! We decided to head to surface via a quick ‘B-line’ to the top dig but this involved a traverse off the rope at the top of the pitch and I literally couldn’t see my hand so we headed out for post beers on surface instead.
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- Written by: Rob Eavis
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Over the last few weeks the 1st and 2nd Reich digs have taken an absolute hammering. Both digs are simply the widest sections of the rift as it tightens to the west, one above the other, and the strong draught suggests they are a good lead. What's more, following heavy rain at the end of May a stream could be heard beyond!
I've taken a fancy to the top (2nd) dig and over 4 trips have now progressed about 2m to the top of a vertical drop down to the floor below. This offers a tantalising view of a clean-washed, rift passage heading off. Unfortunately the drop down is too tight to get along so progressing any further here will take a lot of effort.
The dig face back at the end of May
Meanwhile Joe has been working the lower dig, and whilst he had a slow and frustrating start, last night saw some great progress and he too now can see into the next passage. We even have visual contact between the two ends.
This now makes 1st Reich the most promising looking dig and I'm hopeful that in the next trip or two this should be able to be passed. Fingers crossed the passage beyond is big enough to fit along!
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- Written by: Rob Eavis
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The Reich digs, at the western end of Brooklands Straight, are 3 similar constrictions at different elevations. This direction appears to be downstream and all 3 draught, but other than that probably most people would happily call it the end of the cave. Thankfully, that’s where the Eldon begin.
Last week Jon and Joe went photoing in the Far Left leaving me to spend a happy couple hours capping the righthand wall of 2nd Reich. This made about 600mm of progress widening the rift, although not very exciting as you can fit about 2m passed this point to where it gets really tight.
Looking out of 2nd Reich at Joe, by RobE
After Joe had a fight with his shower and unfortunately came off worse I was on my own tonight. To be honest, this dig is very much a one man party, so that suited me fine. It had rained all day (42mm in 24 hours!) and the waterfall was flowing well. V2 was taking all the stream leaving V1 nice and dry still, but there was some evidence that some water had flown down Brooklands Straight recently.
Excitedly upon arriving at the dig there was an obvious rumble coming from ahead. I squeezed to the front, filming for the Team, and clearly a stream can be heard flowing ahead. Water sounds are very hard to decipher, but this feels like it could well be a similar amount of water to that flowing down V2. Game on!
2 hours of capping later I’d made another 500mm ish although then wasted another hour with a snapper which didn’t fire, much to my annoyance. Then I realised that my jammer had fallen off my SRT kit in the entrance crawl so I had to improvise with a pantin to get up the 20m pitch. Nevertheless, a great session, although there’s lots to do to get through! I’ve never really started a mining project like this before so we’ll see how high the enthusiasm stays.
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- Written by: Rob Eavis
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Hal, Chris, Joe, Rob
Whilst another team worked down Cussey tonight, we planned to continue exploring V1, sort out the rigging and have a better look at the digs. During the prep talk it became apparent that nobody had managed to inform Hal that there is now a 20m pitch to reach the end so he’d have to share an SRT kit, oops! I’d also managed to forget my oversuit cos I’m an idiot, so it was a furry only trip for me.
Me n Joe headed to the far left, leaving Chris and Hal to work on the pitch. I was quite keen to try remember some of the survey stations from last week as I’d forgotten my marker, however this was definitely harder than I thought. Meanwhile Joe was off climbing in the roof and managed to pop up into some new stuff. I surveyed my way up to him, through a narrow rift and back into the main choke, and we eventually dropped back down into known ground. This bit of the cave is very similar to Waterfall Hole, where you could survey loops all day and make the cave look really long, even though it’s just a pile of boulders. Still, I’ll take the extra 20m, thanks.
Joe in the new loop
We had a bit more of a poke around, including looking at the big rift in there which is parallel to the main Brooklands Straight rift. The survey suggests that the westerly end of this is in a nice location potentially bypassing the main rift digs, but unfortunately no way on was found.
Joe in the big rift in the Far Left
We then headed back to the other, where the big noises of capping and banging had finished and the pitch rope now hung beautifully. We checked out the #1, 2 and 3 Reich digs but nobody was very excited about them. The rift just gets tight. The draughts prove there will be a way on, but most people would simply call this the end. We’ll see what happens…
Joe climbing up to 3rd Reich
Whilst the others climbed out I had a freeclimb up into another passage even higher up, now a good 14m off the floor, using the deviation to swing in. This rift passage actually starts off quite wide and enticing but soon ends properly in a solutional pocket. I survey back and we all head out. Tough times ahead for V1…
Chris on the pitch with it's now lovely hang
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- Written by: Dylan Kocher
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Trip report 02/05/24
Jim Thompson, Rob Eavis, Joe Buck, Jon Pemberton, Fabian Ehlers, Chis Hibberts, Dylan Kocher
I was pleased to arrive early on a glorious sunny day for the first time in a while back with TA due to some busy Thursdays. Once the band was all together, we changed in our usual spot where I turned around to a grinning Rob presenting a pack of underwear in purple and pink. Choosing team purple, I unfolded the pants to reveal Awesome stamped on the waistband and two small hand prints on the cheeks. Pleased I did not put them on as I would have shat all over them knowing what was to follow in the coming evening.
Digressing, today’s mission was to rig the pitch to allow the team to drop into the bottom rift safely as the free climb was very somewhat adventurous thus gaining access to the Dig (The Far Right). Once done with some sight cleanup I head into V1. Having last been to V1 when I pushed through into the small entrance chamber, so it was nice to see it pushed successfully hitting a junction leading to a narrow passage that continues gradually down until you're situated on the boulderlike rafters of the V1 rift. With Jon taking some photos and Rob calibrating his Disto myself and Joe go ahead. Arriving on the scene in time to see Jim descend on his newly bolted pitch. Chris watches carefully over him as the rope situates itself into a perfect rub point on a large boulder wedged between the opposing walls. After some back and forth that turns into a passionate response from Jim we agree that once the deviation is bolted, we will blast the boulder to bits.
How many Awesome members does it need to avoid a rub point?
Rob having successfully surveyed up to us is now in the room with Jon, Fab Joe and Chris. Oh, as well as Jim who has come back up off the doomed pitch head. The banter was at an all-time high, probably due to the 7 professional comedians itching to descend to our new material. After a remark to Rob that I “could free climb anything he could” he decides to call my bluff and urges me to head down and clear some space. In hindsight, this was so stupid from the bat as we were in consensus about blowing this rock and sending it down. But of course, I did not think twice and went right ahead. Once positioned below about one and a half meters away from the team above the rock is being drilled. I quickly decided that my spot was somewhat exposed to the blast zone (Directly below it) and moved where the rift bells out making a roofed-off level. Then I heard someone remark after me to which Rob replied, “Don’t worry about Dylan he’ll be fine”. Quickly feeling the pace of events starting to ramp up with the excitement from above growing I was becoming increasingly worried about my “Safe spot”. This was unideal although admittedly exciting. Asking Fabian to let me know when he was going to blow, but it was too late a humongous roar from above smashed through the cave with debris flying in all directions followed by smoke or dust. Something hits my back with reasonable force although not with any real damage just only to my psyche. It was loud as my cohorts will attest to. I am not too ashamed to say that I started yelling not sure what, but I was very worked up. A game of Limestone roulette. looking back at the spot where only moments ago I had decided to move from there was a great chunk taken out of the rock. My right hand moves for stability so I don’t fall down the rift but rests on a piece of the blown-up limestone that was uncomfortably large I’m not sure what effect this would have had if it were me.
Well, it was only half over as Pyrotechnic German wanted to blow it up again as it didn’t get the whole boulder. With my cries not being taken seriously the drilling starts again. This time is worse as my safe spot is not that safe knowing ricocheted rock is able to reach me I wedge my body into the opposing wall and position ass upwards as this is what you are supposed to do in a lightning storm. Fabian listening to my request for a clear heads-up shouts below. Hands pressed against my ears I can only hear the thuds as the hammer strikes down reaching the charge. I decided to pick up the yelling again as the nerves were at a high. And again, an imposing force blasts past with rock hurled down the rift below. With a mental check and a few swear words, I wiggle my toes and realize I am fine. Some proper Cowboy shit.
Descending the V1 rift leads straight on top of the Far Right dig. To the left hits a small free climbable aven Fabian climbs up noting that there is a continuation above although small. To this I come right away jumping in headfirst consisting of a left crawl into a sharp bend to the right. Left again led to an enticing room that seemed to be sizable enough for standing and not an end in sight. I waited for another member to join before committing to the squeeze ahead. Chris comes for a look with Joe not far behind. Once Joe was present, I take my helmet off and pushing through my face brushing past what seemed to be a sheep femur on the way. Through to the other side, I stand up and look around. To the left is another rift running parallel to the previous ending in a wall of sand mud (this is the best description). On the right is a boulder passage heading up. Joe struggles on the push and partakes in some deep inhales. Once a few remarks about how he doesn’t think he can fit Joe joins me in the chamber. Rob follows shortly surveying up to us. With the nod to go ahead and bag the rest, I head up to the right and through a few obstacles leading to a standing dark wet passage that unfortunately circles back on itself and into the first chamber.
Dylan in the Far Left
With some more exploration into the offshoots of the higher-level boulders, we decide to head out whilst completing our newly discovered round trip. With some pictures taken, I squeeze back through the vice obstacles down the aven and out the cave. Joe and I leaving Rob down the rift without his srt kit but once changing at the car we could see a light bobbing along letting us know that the free climb was successful.
All and all another brilliant night with some good honest adventuring with promising nights ahead.
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