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Written by: Dylan Kocher

Published: 10 May 2023

Hits: 2175

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

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Written by: Chris Hibberts

Published: 05 May 2023

Hits: 1436

Team – Jim Thompson & Chris Hibberts

After dragging staples to the start of French Connection over 2 months ago and 1 subsequent trip that was unfruitful, optimism was high that the sump had dried up enough to allow us entry to start the job of stapling a route up Madame Guillotine.

The dragging of Drills and SRT Kits cemented the need to put staples in to avoid the pain in the proverbial getting through Taylors way and Snakes Pyjamas. After reaching the spot just before FC, where we’d left the staples, Jim decide it was my turn to see if the sump was passable. I passed the first small pool of water and down to the second and could see about 6” of space through so continued. Jim kindly agreed I didn’t need to return, and he would haul the 3 tackle bags through with him. Much puffing, panting and cursing later Jim was through and passed the bags up through the scaff section into the bottom of MG.

After 5 Minutes of deliberation, we decided to start up the scree slope to the right of the main route to give us the most height and thus reduce the number of staples required. This would involve a short 3m climb up followed by a 4m traverse left to the bottom of the route that would hopefully then continue straight up.

The first staple went in to give a foot hold to allow a step up onto a ledge this also needed a further 2 staples to give hand holds to assist. Once onto the ledge a spot of gardening was required to clear a way for the traverse left. Jim stuck one more staple in high up to give a hand hold to get onto the freshly cleared ledge.

First four staples to reach the Traverse - By Chris H

With no Safety line in place and now around 8m up from the bottom of the slope I decided to get onto the in-situ rope that was rigged to get up the pitch. Level with the ledge, a spot of swinging back and forth allowed the clipping of a long cows tail, plus the tether from the drill, into the last staple giving a better position to add a further staple as a hand hold to get to the start of what will now be the route up.

One more staple was added as a foot hold but at this point the battery had started to die, and Jim was starting to feel the cold, it was 9:15 and thoughts of making The Anchor were now prevailing. We packed up the drill and SRT kits and head out to reach the surface around 10:30. Our best efforts to make the anchor were unsuccessful and a beer in the back of Jim’s van was the next best thing.

We’ll return next week with the challenge of reaching the top. The in-situ rope is now starting to pull us away from the wall and will need to be replaced with one straight down the wall to give better positioning.

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Written by: Chris Hibberts

Published: 03 May 2023

Hits: 1434

Team – Jim T, Hal D, Victoria K, Miriam A, Chris H. 

After an evening of pondering our options in the dump, and the conclusion being to split the group of 10 in two meant that in the morning 5 of us were heading off to Ireby Fell Cavern (or so we thought). We sorted out ropes and metal work and loaded up Hal’s truck for the 30min drive over to Ireby. However, arriving at the parking area we were greeted by a group of 10 cavers who were using the cave to brush up on surveying skills and decided we needed a plan B.

The previous trip to the Dales included a trip into Knotts II which was thoroughly enjoyed by the group, as Miriam and Vic were not on that trip, we decided it would be a good idea to revisit with the intention of looking at some other areas of the system as there had been less rain that last time.

A short 10-minute drive round to Leck fell and we were soon parked up, gear on and ready to go. The group agreed that the short walk to the entrance was of great benefit, and we were soon descending the remarkable entrance shaft. Kerplunk vs. Snakes and Ladders springs to mind whilst descending through the jungle of Scaff poles and Sections of Ladder…… c’mon double 6.  This was descended by all with no issues. Following a couple of small climbs down and another small section of scaff we were met by some members of the Caving Crew at the top of a slightly awkward climb down. They let us pass and shortly after we entered the Streamway.

At the junction we opted for a steady amble upstream to admire the many formations that adorned the roof and walls having time to stop and take some photos on the way. After passing through some waist deep sections, we eventually reached the section that was sumped on the previous trip this had now turned into a wet flat-out crawl, determined to go further than last time we continued for approximately another 50m only for the sump to stop us yet again.

Returning downstream we found a nice spot to stop and, thanks to Hal and Vic, a banquet of cheese and chocolate was washed down with Ribena. Fed and watered we resumed downstream past the junction for the way out, and down through the small cascade that had considerably less water flowing than the previous visit. A few meters on marked the spot we reached previously which was again, now a flat-out crawl. Goading Jim to continue with the cry of “…I didn’t come to Yorkshire to go crawling…” (those who know Jim can imagine the accent involved) we crawled a similar length to the previous flat-out crawl to be met yet again by a sump.

On the return Jim decided to climb the very impressive in situ rope ladder on the right-hand wall off the streamway, this led to a Phreatic Tube which Jim continued down for about 30m he returned shortly after and decided further information on where it was heading would be a good idea. As we found out later that evening this was a good choice.

Regrouped in the streamway we started heading for the surface passing another group of three coming down the slightly awkward climb which Jim tackled with ease taking a totally different route than on the way in. We all followed and agreed it was a great choice and much easier. Steady progress was made, and we were soon on the surface enjoying the good weather. We let the other group know we were out and decided the next course of action should be to head for the pub for refreshments.