Present: Leon W, Ian W, John R
An early start was negotiated for this monster trip of minimal phaff. So at around 9.00, stocked with bacon sandwiches provided by John, we set off – to Tesco! Leon popped inside and told the others to “have a play” with the car. Potentially lethal. But death was avoided and after refueling the true start was made, chauffeured by John.
Some smooth and stop-free driving brought us to Kingsdale at 11.30 – a brisk stroll to the entrance got us underground by 12.36. The cave was tight. Tight and wriggly. But techniques were found to make progress and with sounds of manly exertion we reached the 1st pitch head. Ian rigged under taxing (cramped) conditions and we descended into a blessedly spacious chamber. Unfortunately, much time was then spent on an abortive route (i.e. the wrong one) in a tight, dry passage leading to a gaping rift in the floor combined with a very wobbly boulder choke. A return to the chamber, and descent into its floor (now known to be the 1st pitch of Brown Hill) brought us to a crawl into a fine chamber with a waterfall that would have been truly impressive, had not the water level been lower than a midget limbo dancer with an impressive spinal deformity. We tried a roof level passage onward – confronted with a suicidal climb down and running low on time we decided to quit while we were ahead. So about turn it was, and the return trip begun.
Mostly smooth going, excepting Leon’s “rower’s physique” causing him trouble at the 1st pitch head and the more slender, willowy, Ian and John being handicapped by tacklesacks which had obvious murderous intent. Soon we emerged into the sunlight (yes, that’s right, sunlight) and lay on the soft Kingsdale moss, discussing the merits of the cave and how close we had got to the true route through (pretty close in the end). Then back to the Volvo for a grade 1 change, a quick getaway, chips in Hawes and a rapid run back to Durham.
Summary: A fine trip – a fine cave on a fine day.
Lessons learnt:
- The way through
- Tacklesacks want you dead
- Wear the seatbelt in a Volvo which is likely to become airborne at 60 on the Kingsdale road
Total number of uses of the word ‘fine’ in this report – 4
John R