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Written by: Jon Pemberton

Published: 19 May 2023

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Cavers - JonP, ChrisH, JimT & AdamT.

Adam had expressed interest in caving with the club after seeing a video of Cussey on youtube. Jim and I had wanted to venture into the Dynamite Series of Carlswark for sometime and this seemed like a perfect opportunity for a punters trip as Adam lives in Stoney. We all met at the layby and kitted up briefly discussing our objective to Adam. We dropped Flower Pot and I gave them a brief tour of the Dynamite Series to the duck. I went through first trying my best to keep dry in the puddle. Chris followed and got reyt stuck in the squeeze. Head first, down-hill I can only think what Adam thought, Chris now on the verge of panic, Jim had to retrieve his legs whilst I pushed on his head with my feet! Eventually he budged a little each time and was soon back safely in Midnight Chamber. Adam came through next after being reassured which arms to put in which direction. Jimothy followed "fishscales-style" and managed to squirm his way through an inch at time. I went back through to try and persuade Chris to try it feet first, he did but it wasn't going today and vowed to return soon!

Jim, Adam and I made our way out via Eyam Passage whislt Chris de-rigged Flower Pot and met us at the other end. Adam seemed to enjoy himself, hopefully he'll come again if Jim's bants have not put him off.

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Written by: Jon Pemberton

Published: 17 May 2023

Hits: 1161

After the debacle of trip decisions, the "B-team" as we were now dubbed (Dylan, Jeff, Rob and I) eventually decided to partake a little pootle down Little Hull Pot. A slow start had by all, we packed bags whilst Jeff managed to squeeze in one more brew and began the march up towards the slopes of Penyghent. Lots of talk on the way up and then being overtook only to overtake again we eventually passed what appeared to be a jogging event which was our first obstacle for the day. Second obstacle was to not drop Jeff down Hull Pot as the view from atop was giving him a bad case of vertigo, not helped by Rob pretending to fall down. 

Dylan successfully failed on getting us to the entrance via his nose (turns out a map does a much better job) and we sat at the entrance for a good while talking politics until we were greeted by an all female group about to embark on the same trip - Holey Moley! We decided now was a good time to get a move on! Dylan had expressed it was a pretty lengthy trip, one which he had recently done and assured us that it would take most of the day (although Rob and I had different intentions). Rob bombed it down the entrance which involves a bit of flat out crawling over cobbles until you reach the main stream passage and then the first pitch. This involves a short abseil through a window into a parallel rift which traverses out to the main shaft via a tiny ledges. This shaft was pretty awesome and once all down Dylan remarked on how quick that just happened and how it might be a much shorter trip than he thought. Now comes the second pitch, a short climb leads to a slot in the roof which gives you a great hang for this 40m+ shaft. The hang sits on the far wall which makes swinging out rather nerve racking due to the exposure, two deviations drops you straight down, we sat on a ledge with lamps switched off watching the others descend.

From here a little climb down cascades leads you to a smaller passage taking the water, this leads to a squeeze on the right wall which eradicates the need to get wet (negotiable with SRT kit on). Walk, walk and some traversing leads to a climb to a higher level traverse which eventually leads to the third and final pitch. We gave Dylan a bit of slack here and asked if he could rig for us. We all squirmed at his knots and wondered how he bottomed the cave on his last trip without dying, some stern words of encouragement got us down to the ground where we dumped kits and went for the sump. A short climb leads to a washed out bed which eventually leads to the large photogenic sump chamber. Discussions, photos and gummy bears were had and we started our retreat. All went rather smoothly only getting slightly halted by the all female team coming down the big pitch, we managed with only slight tangleations. 

On surface we met Dave. I was parched and rather pissed finding someone had drank my carton of ribena (pretty sure it was the other group from what people are telling me.) The walk down was rather pleasant in the baking sun and Jeff, Rob and I capped off the day by our very own jogging race up Penyghent and back from the Bradford hut. Men of many talents us tha' knows!

FYI I won. Obvs.

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Written by: Dylan Kocher

Published: 10 May 2023

Hits: 1688

Shuttleworth Pot 30/03/23

Dylan K, Hal D, Victoria K, Rob E, Jeff W, Jim T, John P, Miriam A, Chris H, Dave G

On the final day of caving afoot, I am woken up by a call from Jeff letting me know breakfast is ready. Being welcomed by flat sleeping bags I make my way down and start the day of good fun and casual caving. Fast forward to a very wet and cold Bike ride to the east of Wernside, we all park up and talk shit about the weather. With enough elevation in the dales, the cloud cover on a nice day makes for a very wet environment. Today was one of those environments. I myself had little knowledge of Shuttleworth pot and was excited to be in a dry cave for a change.

With everyone suited up, we march across the hill with hopes to warm the temperature of a now chilly body although I may be extrapolating my own personal feelings on the group. The Jim and Hal shuttle service members enjoyed a warm insulated weather-protected ride over but hey ho. Also, a quick shoutout to Dave who only recently has had surgery on his knee and is caving with us this weekend getting out with some proper rehab. Many would milk an injury and sulk prolonging the suffering of rehabilitation rather than living properly. A true attitude to strive to maintain through my own future experiences. Go, Dave!

Arriving at the lid leaving I was determined to get down quickly and first to warm up disregarding the views of the hike over as although enjoyed on the way out. Jumping Down the barrel Arriving at the first 10m pitch. Easy enough done I then scurry down to the next series of small pitches not knowing anything about the cave I would think that this is small, and I would reach the end all too quickly. Then I rack my rack and jump onto the last pitch. One meter in I am in a dopamine-fueled rick flair groove as I realize the chamber present. Jim and Rob closely behind I express my excitement through some Woos and of course a staple song in any reasonable passage Banana Boat. Shuttleworth’s Huge roof boasting its arch invites spelunkers alike to dive deeper. Landing on a steep boulder passage with sets of diving tanks accompanied by the tumble of the stream in the distance I sit and enjoy the view Jim twinkling on the pitch head carrying the verses of Harry Belafonte.

Once myself Rob, Chris, Jim were all down there was a natural break in the team so we decided to go for a Bumble and some photos ourselves. Up the incline through a back connection into another passage smaller in stature filled with Helictites. I have had little to no knowledge of these formations, but stal that grows perpendicular to gravity are some of the most interesting and strange formations one can see. Past this passage, it leads up into another very sizable chamber with a passage leading to dog bones and then forking into a field of straws. Thousands in abundance reaching phenom lengths. Careful to stay on the red tape track we continue to the end of the known system through a couple of small chambers not noteworthy of the 3 giants in comparison downstream.

Hal with the cloud of straws, by JonP

On our return to the field of stall Rob does a fantastic job as always taking some shots with myself and Chris lighting up Jim all smug and manly enjoying the view. Once another photo shoot to grasp the size of the passage the second group appeared. Quite a party environment all of us standing around casually enjoying the company. The uniqueness of this group and their effect on this moment I can only explain this by how comfortable we all feel in this environment although Shuttleworth is a comfortable cave. Anyhow consequently made for a great little time followed by a group selfie and we split up once again {enter Victoria little addition}. Jon took group two and went to take some photos of the field of stal. When going downhill in the main chamber we reach the streamway.

Miriam in the streamway, by JonP

Two great pools with the passage continuing around a bend reaching a small nook ending in a Twenty-meter pitch. With my eagerness to get back on the ropes apoun finishing the cave Jim and I start our accent out of Shuttleworth. Rob however decides to go skinny dipping in the pools below. If not having a cold ride back to York, I would have loved to join. The proper thing to do. Once at the surface, I enjoyed getting to know Jim better on the walk back, the Dales Beautifully Bleak and a great weekend in the books.

Rob washing off the hangover, by JonP

-Dylan Kocher