Sarah Moody, Ethan Griffins, Alexandra Kozel, Dylan Kocher
With the weather raining on our usual climbing plans, Lexie had suggested going beyond one of the gated sections in Bagshaw. I had only been on digging trips bouncing to the far reaches of Beyond Redoubt. Therefore, severely lacking in a greater picture of Baggers as a whole, and keen for an adventure. I had just listened to an amazing interview with the almighty Pug that is Jim Thompson. The conversation particularly captivated when turned to Namread Sump. Talks of faces pressed against gates judging draft in hopes to find an unreliable sump dry. How interesting. With a survey printed and laminated; I gave a few updates to unspecified passage names with the help of Jon P. Finding the Bagshaw Surveys to be quite shit. Sarah Moody and Ethan Gruff also decided to come have a play, always hearing about Bagshaw with some interest.
The plan was set. A quick trip to Namread Sump, if found open we would carry on and do the round trip (substantially longer). However, unlikely that seemed to be with the rain pelting the window of our mini cooper as it jogged down the M1. Arriving on site, friends soon joined us in the core of our hut and we made hastily for the New series gate. Once through, a pleasant and beautiful crawl ensued showered by clean pools of calcified and solid passage. Varying crawling leads to a rift, to soon be accompanied by beautiful straws. Quickly reaching pools chamber, pleasantly decorated and turning left into a small crawl leading to the aven series. From here passage was relatively comfortable crawling through varying passages with pleasant decorations, till a large aven with a rope hanging down. Namread Aven. Everyone began to kit up in harnesses but as the staple Eldon member I knew I had to set an example. Opting for belt and croll. Varied climbing in calcified flow with the aven soon bellowing out. Almost at the top the angle increases sharply with an accompanying handline. Straight up seemed to require use of the handline. With an effort to just top rope solo the climb, I ventured left where the passage abated in span allowing for an easier traverse. Though creating a loop of slack. Definitely didn't want to shock load the rope as well… anyways. Once at the top Lexie soon followed with Sarah and Ethan soon to follow. Each with their own take ascending the 20m shaft. A quick fueling up and off again. Now headfirst into Fairholm passage, where, like a seal one of slim proportions can belly slide through. Zero draft having been felt, I gathered I would soon reach the impassable sump. The ceiling became caked in mud, definitely showing signs of a flooded passage. Just ahead I saw a small pool with a yellow pipe; left over from the antics of 2005 to hopefully see a working siphon into Hollywood Bowl. Lexie soon squeezed down next with mates not far behind. Fair to say we were all now fairly covered in Namreads mud. On the left side of the sump a notch of passage could be seen further. Though without any draft I was hesitant to see how far one could go. Not confident it would be open. Turning around Fairholm passage was quite the workout, squeezing out quite interesting sounds from all of us. Eventually back at the pitch head Sarah descended below. Just rocking with the Belt and ATC I quickly attached it and jumped over fully trusting the homemade crappy steel bolt and flew down at quite the pace. Now below with Lexie on the rope, I hear “oh shit!”. Lexie, thinking the rope had merely shifted, looked up to see the rope completely desheathed. A foot or so of exposed core quickly leaving view as was best to just carry on down. Ethan from some communication also expressed his amazement remarking on how so few cores there actually were in static ropes. Isolated in a knot we were all safe and sound. Jon P had previously suggested we check out England's Green and Pleasant Land since the likelihood of a round trip being low. With a quick stop at the great aven we quickly retraced our path out. Pleasant crawling leads to a sizable hole before Pools Chamber. In the distance a rope strung down leading to a free-climbable passage up. Here a moderate climb ensues, and with quite some height gained a chamber is reached. Strewn with a wall of propped boulders starting low. Looking up it never ends. Everything looks like its own keystone. Sizable chunks of calcite ready to fall. Careful climbing up to a hole requires shifting round one more boulder. My left hand placed on said rock and a silent shift. Standing stone settled? Now above with quite a sweat on, not sure if everything was about to go. Stressed I looked below knowing the path would lead to my friends. Apologies to Lexie who heard me shouting mixed signals before deciding that it was not worth the risk. Having already been given a bad omen. Beyond, a rope could be seen through what seemed a beautiful flowstone passage. Nonetheless, I left to join the team. After some playful chats everyone was ready to head out. Fairly quick going we soon were back in the Coe.
Even though craging outdoors was called off Joe the GOAT joined myself and Lexie for some fun climbing at Awesome Walls the day after, where I put his belaying to the test. Climbing through the headwall, I had felt inverted for what seemed forever. Right at the lip the chains were in sight. Promptly from 0 to hero the pump took hold. Completely punting off swinging through the air. Joe catching soft, though not having much of a choice! Speaking after about my experience of the shifting boulder. Joe too had thought that the passage was well and truely fucked! Jon had knowingly sent me to a death trap! Only one question remains. He wanted me dead. But on whose behalf….
Till next time baby Love Islands on!
Dylan K