Here is a very incomplete list of some of the trips the Eldon have been up to recently.
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- Details
- Written by: Jim Thompson
- Hits: 144
Team: Jon / Jim / Chris / Luke
A small team headed out to Monyash for a nice leisurely trip down Knotlow climbing shaft tonight. Conditions on the surface would have had Noah on edge about the amount of rain, so it was desirable to spend as little time outside as possible. However on arriving at the turning circle and observing every bit of off-road parking looking a lot like axle deep mud, Jim immediately decided to check if it was actually axle deep mud by driving into it. It was. A lot of wheel spinning later it definitely was. No amount of pushing was going to help, although it did manage to cover Chris – still in work clothes – head to toe in the stuff. Fortunately everyone else had taken a more sensible approach to parking so armed with a ratchet strap, Chris got into towing mode and moved the van just far enough for egress before the strap broke. We decided to dump the van back in Monyash and return so by the time we were changed, it was dark and the rain was coming sideways. So much for a quick trip.
Underground was far more pleasant. We made quick progress to the waterfall pitch and Jon did a heroic bit of rigging across the traverse which was just brilliant to negotiate. Down in waterfall chamber we had a bit of fun balancing on the pipe and headed into the coffin level. I’ve recently decided that coffin levels are my least favourite thing. Just too low and narrow for comfort, claustrophobic and oppressive and in this case too full of freezing water. This one seemed to go on forever and I was losing my patience with it but with Chris behind me I pressed on with Jon encouraging me to remove my helmet ready for the duck. I duly did and was getting ready for a tantrum but turned the corner and saw that he was inevitably taking the piss.
Blessed relief for a brief moment after emergence, Jon and Luke headed down the equally wet Crimbo pipe whilst I reluctantly followed Chris back into the level. Fortunately it had got much shorter in reverse and it was an absolute delight to be swinging up off the Y hang and across the traverse once again. Chris followed in style and it was a quick and easy exit. Back on surface the April lion of a night had become far more of a lamb, and we were soon having a really fun night in a buzzing Bull’s Head
- Details
- Written by: Archie Thompson
- Hits: 336
Team: Chris H, Vic, Hal, Archie, Jim T, Jon P, Luke C
The night starts off meeting the team at the artist’s corner carpark where we changed into our suits before barely fitting into Hal’s truck and driving up to the great Masson quarry.
With Luke and Jon leading the way we descended 35 metres down the rather tight Gentlewoman’s shaft. At the bottom we left our SRT kit behind and made a steady approach towards the pipe caverns of old Jant mine. Following some technical climbing, we made it as we observed the beautiful dog tooth crystals that had formed in little crevices all up the walls of the caverns.
Luke and Jon guide us towards the first tight squeeze which required a fair bit of digging as the team gradually moved through, with me and Vic communicating the plan to get through. Jon and Luke were the first to squeeze through the passage and immediately began shovelling and scraping the silt and gravel for Chris to squeeze through. Chris made a good effort to get through to passage which unfortunately had too much sand built up preventing him from freeing his waist out of the squeeze, where i contributed by providing myself for Chris to push off with his legs to make it through. Thanks to Luke and Jon’s digging me and Vic slipped through with no problems.
Following a couple more tight passages me, Chris, Luke and Vic had been split up from Jim, Hal and Jon who i believe struggled to fit through the second squeeze. However we soon regrouped where we saw engravings of old miners on the walls of the cavern dating as old as the 18th century.
We were relieved to see the pathway to the Coffin level was not blocked off this time, which provided an easy and relaxed crawl through a long winding passage dug out by the old miners. We had a quick detour to the miner’s jigging box before entering the coffin level (Ringing Rake Sough). At this point I went ahead along the passage which led to the exit out of the ground right at the carpark where we left off.
An amazing through trip which really provided a mental challenge at times and a satisfaction I think all cavers should achieve.
Luke in the coffin level, by Jon Pemberton
Chris the Legend
- Details
- Written by: Fabian Ehlers
- Hits: 408
Present: Rob, Jon, Sam, Luke, Joe, Ben and Fabian
Following a last minute change of tonight’s plan due to the wet stuff causing us some problems with Plan A, it was decided to have a reconnaissance trip down Gentlewomen’s Shaft and inspect the reported collapse in Youd’s Level (AKA Ringing Rake Sough).
Ben and myself arrived rather early in the Artists Corner car park and the rest of the team was slowly arriving, pre-beers were enjoyed and everyone piled into Rob’s car to head up towards the lay-by and progress was made towards the entrance shaft.
After descending the tight shaft the team met up in the first chamber and started to make steady progress towards the old mine workings as well as the ascending and descending chimneys and shafts.
With Luke leading the way, he ultimately arrived at the first wet squeeze and started to grovel his way through using the handily supplied tools before shouting back “This looks shit!” as he looked into the second squeeze. After a few minutes of digging and deepening the passage he slithered through and emerged on the other side. I got myself thoroughly stuck whilst trying to get through this squeeze and had to rely on Luke trying to pull me out yet the rocks under my back and arse prevented this from happening. A little wiggle and I managed to get through.
Rob, Jon and Sam must’ve been thirsty as they decided to tackle this squeeze face down and have a little rehydration stop on the way.
Rob suggested a little detour to inspect a nearby Jigging Box which was in very good condition and it’s always exciting to find evidence of T’Owd Man. We continued further downstream and started to follow the obvious stream way towards what seemed like a dead end. After a little bit of poking and digging Rob and Luke managed to squeeze through and were met with a further collapse which seemed impassable.
We know that at some point there may be difficult sections requiring some digging in order to breach through into the coffin level. Without being fully aware of the extent of this collapse nor having visited it from the other side it was decision time: spend time and continue to dig or start retracing our steps and head out. The consensus was let’s leave and come back from the other side at a later time.
Before attempting the first squeeze everyone spent a good few minutes digging the wet passage slightly deeper, creating a trench to reduce the water level and generally make it more appealing. Everyone passed with ease as this section was now incredibly easy. The way back through the maze of interconnecting passages and chimneys certainly is more technical from this direction and climbs felt slightly more exposed and all footholds seemed to have disappeared.
The ascend up Gentlewomen’s Shaft certainly split the prepared from the unprepared of the team, “Team Pantin” made it out very easy whereby “Team Hardcore” took their sweet time to make progress as getting into an efficient position to prussik is extremely difficult in such a narrow shaft.
Joe and myself were the last out and after derigging the pitch made swift progress towards the waiting and warm team, jumped in the boot and went to the car park to get changed into dry clothes. Thanks to Ben for bringing the post-trip cakes.
A certainly interesting trip although being a dead end for now, a little bit of work would make this an amazing Peak District trip to go onto everyone’s to-do list.
Fabian
- Starlink to Jupiter – 18/01/2024
- Winter Evening Giants Round Trip - 11/01/2024
- La Trampa Del Pug - 05/11/2023
- Winnats Head - 16/10/2023
- Castle Town Caving - 04/10/2023
- Sliding in the mud in Merlin’s Mine - 18/7/23
- Giants Round Trip - 27/06/2023
- TSG and SUSS Conquer the Stoney Middleton Master Cave - 10/06/2023
- Tour de Dynamite - 11/05/2023
- Red Salopettes - 29/04/2023
- Catching a Worth While Shuttle - 30/03/2023
- The long-awaited return to MG – 04/05/2023
- Change of Plan - Notts II – 30/04/2023
- Looks crap but he's happy - 20/04/2023
- Clatterways Levels - 14/03/2023
- The Titan Streamway vs Jon, Jim and Ben - 05/03/2023
- Titan through to Peak - 04/03/2023
- Don’t just chuck it in! - 16/02/2023
- Notts II - 15/01/2023
- Gaping Gill / Victoria’s Sponge – 14/01/2023
- Tuesday Nighters out on a Wednesday - 04/01/2022
- Peak Showtime Spectacular – 15/12/2022
- No Warmth, No Dogs, No Messing – 03/12/2022
- The Wrong Rope Grommit - 24/11/22
- Giants Hole with a splash of H2O and Rn - 17/11/2022
- Tasting the Forbidden Fruit – 3/11/2022
- Bruce Lee, Fairy Liquid and an SRT Dildo – 14/10/2022 – 16/10/2022
- Moorwood Sough - Tuesday nighters, again on a Thursday - 01/09/2022
- Trip out to Carlswark Cavern - 21/07/2022
- Buxton Carnival 2022
- Aygill Caverns - 26/06/1988 (+34 years)
- An Ease Gill Traverse - 25/06/2022
- Potholderz - 02/06/2022
- Waterways Swallet -Tuesday Nighters 18/05/2022
- Knickers, Nickergrove and Schrodinger’s Streamway - 05/05/2022
- Tuesday Split - 26/04/2022
- It was a Monday crawl - 04/04/2022
- Hillocks – Wharfe climbing shaft to Knotlow – climbing shafts
- Bagshawe New Bits - 08/02/2022
- Follow the Leader - 01/02/2022
- Lockdown 2.0 - Cackle Mackle Mine - 12/11/2020
- Arbour Seats Surveying - 21/01/2020
- Nenthead weekend - 5-6/10/2019
- Lingards Cave - 04/07/2019
- On How the Eldon ruined the Cow Pot survey, Matienzo - November 2015
- Derbyshire Hall - 22/12/18
- Solo Aboard the Gravy Train - 6/12/18
- Went Boom – 29/11/2018
- Sidetracked by Science - 09/11/2018
- Youth of Tomorrow 9/9/2018
- Ricklow Cave - 2/7/2018
- Dr Jackson's Survey - 07/06/2018
- Newburgh Level - 13/03/2018
- A Game of Thrones - 22/12/2017
- Rowter Xmas trip - 16/12/2017
- Absolution - 12/11/17
- Cripple Creek - 04/11/2017
- Flat Out Walk - 09/11/2017
- A point of engulfment - 07/09/2017
- A bit on the side - 19/07/2017
- Boulder Pot - 14/07/2017
- Englands Green & Pleasant Land - 01/06/2017
- Hollywood Bowl - 17/02/2017
- Picnic Passage 16/11/2016
- Paternity's Fault 15/05/2016
- Carlswark 06/05/2016
- Swildons Hole 01/04/2016
- JH to Peak 16/03/2016
- Mountbatten Pot 21/04/2016
- Trapdoor Pot 20/02/2016
- Giants Hole 30/01/2016
- Ireby Fell Cavern 23/01/2016
- Neptune Mine 19/01/2016
- Stream Passage Pot to Corkys - 23/05/2015
- Water Icicle - 07/05/2015
- Crusader - 03/02/2015
- Water Icicle - 27/03/2014
- Rowter - 20/03/2014
- Titan Streamway Survey Trip - 01/06/2013
- Western Highway - 29/03/2013
- P8: Ben's Dig - 27/06/2009
- Hungerhill Swallet - 22/06/2009
- Nickergrove Mine - 20/06/2009
- Daren Cilau - 20/06/2009
- Nettle - 13/06/2009
- Juniper Gulf - 12/06/2009
- Maskhill - Oxlow Exchange - 29/01/2009
- Titan/J.H./Peak Cavern - 17/01/2009
- Fireset Shaft - 06/01/2009
- Ivy Green Cave - 24/11/2008
- Marilyn and Gaping Gill - 15/11/2008
- Carlswark Cavern (Dynamite Series) - 08/10/2008
- Carlswark Cavern (Dynamite Series) - 08/09/2008
- Eyam Dale House Cave - 07/09/2008
- Nickergrove Through Trip and Carlswark Cavern - 07/07/2008
- Gentlewomans to Youds Through Trip - 29/05/2008
- Bagshawe Cavern - 28/02/2008
- Craig a Ffynnon, South Wales - 16/02/2008
- Bradwell Dale and Bagshawe Cavern Clean-Up - 09/02/2008 & 10/02/2008
- Brown Hill Pot, East Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 09/02/2008
- Bagshawe Cavern in Flood - 21/01/2008
- South Gully Route, Eldon Hole - 20/01/2008
- Caplecleugh to Rampgill Through Trip, Nenthead Mines, Cumbria - 19/01/2008
- Full Moon Series, Bagshawe Cavern - 17/01/2008
- Peak Cavern Entrance to Titan Through Trip, Peak/Speedwell - 13/01/2008
- Titan, Far Sump Extension, Peak/Speedwell - 12/01/2008
- Cwmorthin Mine, N. Wales - 06/01/2008
- Croesor-Rhosydd Through Trip, N. Wales - 05/01/2008
- Cathedral - Dome Route, Lost Johns Pot, Yorkshire - 29/12/2007
- Notts Pot, Leck Fell, Yorkshire Dales - 27/12/2007
- Hungerhill Swallet - 20/12/2007
- Hungerhill Swallet - 17/12/2007
- King Pot, East Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 17/11/2007
- Hungerhill Swallet - 30/10/2007
- Winnats Head Cave - Downstream Pitches - 29/10/2007
- New Oxlow Extensions - 18/10/2007
- Lu Blue Sump and the Streaks Pot through trip - 05/10/2007
- Crumble/Beza route, Nettle Pot - 29/09/2007
- Western Highway, Far Sump Extension, Peak/Speedwell - 24/09/2007
- Filthy Five Pitches, Giants Hole - 20/09/2007
- Perryfoot Cave - 18/09/2007
- North Gully route, Eldon Hole - 18/09/2007
- Dr Jackson's, Perryfoot and the Dr Jackson's - Perryfoot Connection - 17/09/2007
- The Ride of the Valkyries, Far Sump Extension, Peak/Speedwell - 14/09/2007
- P8 to downstream sump - 14/09/2007
- Dr Jackson's Cave - 11/09/2007
- Hypothermia Crawl, Rowter Hole - 07/09/2007
- Heron Pot, Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 02/09/2007
- Giants - Oxlow Connection - 30/08/2007
- Swinsto -> Valley Entrance Pull-through, Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 26/08/2007
- Gingling Hole, Fountains Fell, Yorkshire - 25/08/2007
- Rowter Hole - 20/08/2007
- Buxton Water Aven, Peak Cavern - 06/08/2007
- Buxton Water Aven, Peak Cavern - 31/07/2007
- James Hall's Over Engine Mine (J.H.) - 29/07/2007
- Eldon SRT Rescues/Problem Solving Day, Pindale Farm - 28/07/2007
- Dan Yr Ogof, South Wales - 23/06/2007
- Giants Hole - Novice trip - 23/06/2007
- Grange Rigg Pot, Yorkshire - 30/05/2007
- Rowten Pot, Yorkshire - 29/05/2007
- Ireby Fell Extensions, Yorkshire - 26/05/2007
- Oxlow to bottom of Maskhill - 22/05/2007
- Knotlow Climbing Shaft - 16/05/2007
- DCRO Practice, Stoney Middleton - 13/05/2007
- P8 to Sump 4, Derbyshire - 02/05/2007
- Buxton Water Aven, Peak Cavern - 02/01/2007
- Waterways Swallet, Derbyshire - 13/11/2006
- Daren Cilau, S. Wales - 10/11/2006
- Bar Pot -> Gaping Gill Main Chamber, Yorkshire - 09/12/2005
- Tatham Wife Hole, Yorkshire - 08/12/2005
- Juniper Gulf, Yorkshire - 24/10/2005
- Swildon's Hole, Mendip - 19/04/2003
- Crumble and Beza, Nettle Pot - 06/03/2003
- Bagshawe Cavern - 21/01/2003
- Hillocks Mine - 16/01/2003
- Sidetrack Cave - 04/01/2003
- Birks Fell Cave, Wharfedale - 21/09/2002
- Lancaster Hole -> Wretched Rabbit, Lancaster Easegill system - 27/04/2002
- Croesor-Rhosydd - 02/06/2002
- Eldon Training Workshop - 27/01/2002
- Braida Stomp Weekend (Tatham Wife Hole & Lower Long Churn) - 24/11/2001
- Eyam Dale House Cave - 09/08/2001
- James Hall’s Over Engine Mine (J.H.) - 21/01/2001
- Jug Holes - 29/12/2000
- Lancaster Hole - 18/11/2000
- Bar Pot - 18/11/2000
- Ogof Ffynnon Ddu (OFD), South Wales - 24/09/2000
- Little Neath River Cave - 23/09/2000