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Written by: Jim Thompson

Published: 09 May 2022

Hits: 2043

Team: Bog, JimT, JonP, SamP, RobE, JoeB

With a late night epic off the table due to the monthly EPC pub meet tonight, an assorted rabble  formed from various members of a triumvirate of Eldon dream teams – Awesome, Average and Girthsome - met at the Delph layby intending to make a quick recce into Nickergrove to assess the accessibility of the streamway and see if it looked like the Stoney mastercave.

Prebeers supped, a bit of catching up with Bog, followed by a quick stroll up the Delph, adorned as it is at this time of year by wild garlic and general lovely spring verdancy, wholesome conversation flowing and all feeling relaxed, I reflected on how fantastic it is to be back caving with such a wonderful bunch after my hiatus.

We nipped into the adit entrance, down the shaft and had soon assembled in the muddy chamber at the head of the ladder, where Rob was already at the bottom making a fairly rapid assessment of the connection. Specifically that the whole lot had collapsed and the tiny hole that remained looked a pretty impossible prospect for reopening. Although disappointing, it answered the question and meant that we’d be on our way out imminently. At this point my general happiness, and the now removed need to take anything seriously, burst over into general idiocy to the delight of Bog and Sam, and I suspect dismay of soulless Joe. No calls of ‘Jim STFU we can’t dig’ on this occasion, however.

Rob reappeared and showed us the video of his knees, followed by a collapse to the roof and aforementioned tiny hole over the top.

 We headed back to the shaft, prusiking part-way up and into a hole in the wall, followed by a bit of crawling and a slither back down which Bog helpfully confirmed didn’t, after all, require the use of a descender to, well, descend.

Back to the Didsbury shaft, Jon took a couple of photos on the way out and into a warm, daylit evening while Rob derigged the pitch inside the mine.

Straight up to the Anchor for important discussion about our choice of disposable lingerie made a pleasant end to a very social evening.

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Written by: Victoria Kocher

Published: 06 May 2022

Hits: 1854

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.

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Written by: Victoria Kocher

Published: 06 May 2022

Hits: 1626

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.