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Written by: Rob Eavis

Published: 12 April 2013

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Report by Jules Barrett
Cavers: Jules Barrett (EPC), Simon Mee (TSG)

I think Ian Barker got it right when he described Winnats Head Cave as "...one of the greatest Derbyshire trips..." It's a magnificent cave with impressive chambers and rewards for those who get beyond the vertical squeezes in the second boulder choke. I'd been to the Wigwam Aven area at the top of the 'up' pitches quite a few times and always fancied having a look at the downstream pitches. The only thing I knew about them were that they're supposed to be like a Yorkshire Pot and the rigging was off Spits. Me and Simon had a midweek day off and since Simon hadn't been in Winnats Head before we went for that.

We met at the TSG hut at midday and sorted some rope and hardware. Drove up to park at Winnats Head Farm, asked permission and walked to the entrance in the little quarry. Suffered the crawl to the first small chamber and then continued to arrive in the Main Chamber. Dropped down into the first choke and threaded our way carefully through that. There are some huge boulders in here which don't seem to have a lot supporting them. Carefully made our way down to Cornwall Avenue and into the very impressive Pox Chamber. Dropped down into the second choke and down the first vertical squeeze with the in-situ handline. I dropped down through the second vertical squeeze and took the bags off Simon. Simon had a couple of goes at the squeeze but his chest wasn't having it and he kindly waited there whilst I continued on. I took one of the bags which had my SRT kit, first and second pitch ropes and some hardware. I'd use this trip as a chance to have a look at the state of the first and second pitch bolts and the last pitch could wait till another time. From the bottom chamber with the big sump pool I made my way through The Sewer on my back and put my SRT kit on at the bottom of the first 'up' pitch. Prussiked up the fixed ropes and crawled along to the top of the downstream pitches. Here the waterfall comes in from the 'up' pitches above and descends over the lip of the first pitch. Rigged the very easy traverse into the top of the first pitch and descended down past a deviation to land on a sloping floored chamber. Even though Derbyshire is very dry at the moment there was still quite a bit of water coming down out of the roof here. At the end of this chamber is the top of the second pitch so rigged this off a couple of Spits, then a rebelay to land in a wet passage with very dark limestone. My bolts had screwed into all these Spits fine. By this time I'd run out of rope and was very aware that Simon would be getting cold so after a quick look over the edge of the final pitch I got straight back on the rope and started back up; de-rigging as I went. Back down the rigged pitch, through The Sewer and back to meet Simon who kindly didn't complain at all about his hour spent sitting here on his own. The trip out was uneventful and we exited to clear skies and air starting to feel chilly towards the end of the day.

Details

Written by: Rob Eavis

Published: 12 April 2013

Hits: 4344

Report by Jules Barrett
Cavers: Jules Barrett (EPC), Carl (Bog) Bergman (EPC), Chris Schofield (EPC)

We were after a trip with a decent bit of SRT and some proper caving at the end and since Chris and I hadn't been to the end of New Oxlow this seemed like a good idea. I had recently heard about a poised boulder in the Oxlow entrance shaft and it would also be good to have a look at this. I'd packed the rope in the afternoon and since I'd chopped up my 100m rope this needed a bit more thinking about. However, finished with one large bag for the first pitches, one medium bag to get us down to the bottom of the Pilgrim's Way pull-down thing and then a smallish bag with the pull-down rope and North Pitch rope; the luxury of caving as a three! We met at the Oxlow parking around 7:00 p.m. and the sky was darkening already as the nights draw in. There was a distinct chill in the air as we got ourselves sorted which reminded me that autumn is well and truly here. The only issue that I had was being unable to find a decent pair of gloves so I was wearing a pair of gucci fleece ones that are really too good for caving. We walked over to the entrance and started rigging down the pitches. Rigging was uneventful and we arrived at the bottom of the pull-down thing that leads up into Pilgrim's Way. Once here Chris took over the rigging and found the pull-down thing to work fine. Weaving the end of our rope between the strands of the pull-down rope worked well and Chris pulled the rope through. Bizarrely as he was pulling the rope down a pair of gloves fell out of the sky and landed next to our feet. They were mine which had been knocked off the top of Pilgrim's Way and come to rest on a ledge last time I was here! These were much more suitable for Pilgrim's Way crawling so I swapped. Once into Pilgrim's Way SRT kits went in a bag and we made our way along comfortable crawling passage towards Mecca Aven. Last time I'd been here was in full neoprene on the way to Giants Hole via the Connection and this trip felt much more relaxed. Once past Mecca Aven we were into lovely cave passage which allows walking to Jacob's Ladder and eventually to North Chamber. SRT kits back on and Chris rigged North Pitch to land us at the bottom. Bog has been here before so went off exploring along Pilgrim's Way having given us an idea of the delights that were to follow in the Portcullis and the Sewer. From the bottom of North Pitch we crawled through the Portcullis and continued to the Sewer. This is described in Classic Caves of the Peak District as a diminutive, aqueous crawl which it is but it's very short. Finally the passage enlarges into a high and narrow rift at Boulder Chamber and following the water forwards leads to some very impressive dams and a sump. We returned to the top of North Pitch to meet Bog and made our way out along Pilgrim's Way. Bog and Chris kindly de-rigged allowing me to escape back up the ropes with a smallish bag. Had a good look at the poised boulder in the entrance shaft and it does look as though it could do with propping up or something like that. On the surface by 11:30 p.m to a lovely clear evening with loads of stars. Pub missed but that's OK!

One of the best trips in the system; not difficult and even the passage between the bottom of North Pitch and the final sump is enjoyable really. Oxlow is great fun to rig and it's great to do some proper caving at the bottom in New Oxlow. I'm planning a return journey to have a look at stuff like Icarus' Crawl and Henry Mares' Crawl. There's also the inlet that Bob Dearman passed but I'll have to find out which one that is.

Details

Written by: Rob Eavis

Published: 12 April 2013

Hits: 4285

Report by Jules Barrett
Cavers: Jules Barrett (EPC), Shaun Puckering, Keith Joule

Marcus Crabbe and I had originally planned a look at Lu Blue Sump the previous Sunday evening and carried cylinders, lead and a set of diving kit down with the intention of diving. Marcus has dived the sump before but we wondered whether things at the bottom had changed in the intervening years. The carry in took longer than expected and since we both had work the following morning we decided to leave the dive for another day. Since Marcus was going to be busy for a while he offered me the dive if I could find someone to support. Shaun, Keith and I met mid-afternoon in Castleton and assembled the kit. Once at the top entrance we rigged the pitch for SRT and abseiled in; tying the SRT kits on to the bottom of the rope. With only a bag each between us we made good progress through the cave to Lu Blue Sump. The water level was very low today with the water about 3m below the lip of the pot. Keith and Shaun rigged a ladder down to the water whilst I got kitted up. Climbed down the ladder and Shaun base-fed the line to me from the reel. Had two dives exploring the sides and bottom of the pot reaching the bottom at 7m on my gauge. Although the water is crystal clear initially, it soon goes to a foot or so after the sediment on the walls has been disturbed. It looks as though the way on is under the south-west wall of the pot where the wall is undercut at the bottom but ends in soupy fine silt. Under here visibility was very poor. After a probe underneath I surfaced and climbed back out of the pot. Kit got packed and after a quick look at the West Choke we headed back to the streamway with dive kit etc. Keith led out through Nervous Breakdown, past the Donkey Dongs, through Route 66 and out of the lower entrance. Lu Blue Sump has obviously provided a large input of water to the Stoney Middleton system at some time and these places are always worth a look.