Present: James, Chris M, John, Andy, George
Me and James were both really keen to do this cave, and I’m not sure the others knew what they were letting themselves in for ;o)
We managed to get lost on the way to the entrance – but this did lead us to find a limitless supply of knackered fridges!
The entrance is quite exciting, and care has to be taken not to pull down cobbles on your head. After this there was a bit of twisting streamway which leads to the duck. As predicted, due to the recent flooding this was rather tighter than it usually is. James went in first and spent quite some time groaning and mumbling, whilst trying to clear gravel out of the floor – this looked well unpleasant. After a bit of shuffling and pulling and pushing he was through and the rest of us followed. The Portcullis which followed also caused much amusement – a proper nose in the roof job – though thankfully short.
After this excitement was more rift passage down to the first and second pitches, rigged by James, before a very long rift passage to the next final pitches – rigged by me. The penultimate pitch caused some confusion due to the seeming absence of a backup belay – but eventually an acceptable natural was found. We decided not to go to the Main Chamber, as it was gettin on a bit, so we turned around after we’d all stomped around for a bit and headed out.
The journey out was rather tiring, but only the duck caused any problems. The problem being that the obvious way to do it wasn’t. A short amount of thrutching and we were out into the darkness (how it should be). Just as last time we went to GG it snowed, so it did this time. I seem to remember being rather chilly by the time we got back to the car!
Anyway a great trip, definitely reccommended for people that like this sort of thing ;o)
George.
Dissapointment Pot did exactly what it said on the tin.
Bloody freezing snowy day on Ingleborough. James ‘Sumpmaster’ was worryingly keen on this one.
Entrance was fine, uneventful until famous duck and portcullis combo. James dove to the ground, underwater already to dig enough gravel out of the duck. Much groaning, swearing, thrutching and drowning later and he was through. SRT kits off for first duck, awful 3mm ‘airspace’, any movement sumped it. V.V.V.V.V cold, bloody freezing in fact! Tight ‘orrible crawl and ANOTHER duck aka ‘Portcullis’. Small, evil and not what we wanted.
Now entire team damn cold and slightly put out by the nasty nature of ducks. SRT kits and helmets on and through to pitches.
4 uneventful pitches, didn’t go further, all too cold and dreading the return. Return was worse. Duck became almost impossible on the return trip as the obvious way is wrong. Logic out of window and we got through. Cold and wet treck(sic) back to car. Change, drive, kebab, home. Sorted. NEVER AGAIN!
Chris M.