Details

Written by: Victoria Kocher

Published: 06 May 2022

Hits: 1434

Two groups out tonight. Katie, Edvin and Brendan went to Nettle for a trip down and back. Alan, Helen and I went to Winnats Head Cave.

I really like this trip and it was more fun the second time. Alan had to scoop more rocks than last time out of the tight entrance squeeze. Perhaps someone just thought it was fun to throw rocks down there. Once that was cleared a bit we squeezed through. Getting to know a cave is a great thing. It lends itself to being a friend that you haven’t visited in a while but enjoy their company. Winnats is great as you really feel you are just descending deeper into the hillside..well it is all downhill. I try to forget that climbing down means eventually climbing back up.

We spent some time in Fox chamber. The Conservation Audit mentions stalagmites in the Main chamber but on two trips I have not seen any of note. There are also flowstones in the lower level which are all in good shape. I always think a swim is in order at the bottom but probably never will.

Climbing back out is always a fun boulder slide with some tight squeezes. My plan for every caving trip is to stay in the middle of the group. That way I always have someone’s knee or shoulder and sometimes head to stand on. It works a treat.

We made it out in time to have a beer at the Cheddar and met up with Katie and Brendan. There is nothing quite like that after caving pint.

Details

Written by: Victoria Kocher

Published: 06 May 2022

Hits: 1255

Well, we met in the Bagshaw carpark at our usual time just not our usual day. At the Eldon AGM it was raised that the gated sections of Bagshaw be removed. This was a little trip out to see the Full Moon Series and see what we could. It was Kat, Bernie, Tim, Hal and myself, Katie was busy with lambing so she stayed on the ranch. 

Once we slid over that nice big boulder and made it into the crawl we hoped it would be worth it. Not a hard crawl just long and typically just enough of a puddle to feel a bit like a penguin. It was good to see Kat out again as she just become a mother again. she said it was the first workout she had. Good for the core for sure!

Once we reached the chamber, we were pleasantly surprised to see so many features. The flowstone does not disappoint and we had to be careful at times not to knock any stalactites off the roof. I was questioning why it was gated in the first place and now  I know why. I don’t think anyone who isn’t really interesting in caving would crawl in a tightish tube for that long just for the heck of it but as far as caving goes it was some of the prettiest I have seen in Derbyshire.

We reached a bit of a dig (Dead Ahead dig on the way to the French Connection?) and hung out for a while, someone had a piece of chocolate. I always forget that bit of caving survival kit. None of us took any amount of decent photos I am sorry to say. That probably means I need to go back ….

In my humble opinion it needs to stay gated. It is a matter of conservation and if you know Bagshaw it is not difficult to obtain permission to enter the gated sections. The Bagshaw Conservation Plan written in 2008 notes that this part of the cave is extremely sensitive. Keep the idiots out.

Details

Written by: Katie Eavis

Published: 04 May 2022

Hits: 1434

Katie and Bernie

Plus Masson Team: Fabian, Sam and Shaun

I planned a Tuesday night trip to Hillocks/ Knotlow and unusually for a Tuesday night trip only had one taker! So the team was Bernie and me!
However Fabian replied to say there was already a Masson CG trip heading down Knotlow that day and maybe we could do an exchange?
This sounded like a good plan to me, as I really enjoying the crawling, awkward bits and wet canal of Meccano ?
On the night me and Bernie headed down Wharfe climbing shafts and headed straight for Meccano. We were aware the other team had less caving to do than we did to reach the exchange point. Having previously spent time over several trips trying to identify the start of Meccano, or insert myself into ridiculous tight wet puddles that result in dead ends I seem to have finally learnt and we went straight to and straight through Meccano with no straying off route.

Soon we reached the squeeze under a hand-picked arch that signals the start of the wet canal. We stopped here for a few minutes to catch our breath, cool down, and have a light-hearted discussion about dying of hypothermia. As I crawled in the cold water made me a gasp a little, but I kept crawling forward. Once you get going the canal is quite pleasant. You can keep most of your head out (as long as you remember to turn it sidesways!) and just crawl along happily in chest deep water as your tackle bag gently bobs along behind. Eventually the crawl gets lower and dryer and heads up hill. It is at this point I remember the big blue tackle bag has teeny tiny drain holes, as I struggle to crawl up slope with the weight on it behind. Once there is more manoeuvre space and I turn around and turn the bag upside down, draining the water out the top and back down into the canal for Bernie to enjoy.

Soon after this we reached the pitch down to Knotlow Waterfall chamber and could see the other team waiting. We rigged the pitch and abseiled down to meet them. After quick chat (Well shout over the roar of the water) we headed off our separate ways. Me and Bernie headed out of Knotlow, pausing only for a little pitch head knitting and to retrace our steps when we went under the big obvious climb up. Soon we were back on the surface to find a nice night and not even pitch dark yet!

Knowing that we had the shorter trip out me and Bernie elected to wait for the others so we could swap back rope and rigging kit from the warmth of the pub. Having drunk our pints, eaten our crisps and chatted a bit last orders approached and we wondered if we should be worried about the others? Driving back to the Knotlow triangle there were no lights by the cars….

As we walked to the shaft entrance I debated whether I could cave in my normal clothes if they weren’t visible as the thought of getting back into my very very wet furry was not appealing…. Luckily as we approached the copse of trees I could hear the click of karabiners. The other team had had a good trip and been exploring, unaware they had missed last orders!

A really good trip! I do really enjoy exchange trips and haven’t been in Knotlow climbers in ages. And Meccano is always a pleasure ?

Thanks to the Masson for rigging Knotlow and derigging Wharfe and thanks to Bernie for keeping me company and buying me a pint!