Magnetometer Pot

Sunday September 2nd 2012

Members present: Andy Hurlbatt,  Sophie Hentschel

A fun little trip with a bit of everything. After the initial faff of returning to the surface due to one of the party members being unwilling to go through the Wet Crawl, the remaining trio had a relaxed trip as far as Milestone Chamber.

After some rain the previous night and morning, we were worried about the water levels, but with no more rain forecast we decided to give it a go anyway. It turned out that our worries were unfounded. Despite a drippy first chamber, and following a reasonable sized stream for a bit, we soon left the flowing water behind. The sections beyond First Well Pitch only flow during extreme conditions. <a href=http://www.pennine.demon.co.uk/NPC/1957/FF4.HTM>It is thought</a> that the Styx sump is fed as an overflow from another system, and backs up when the weather is very severe, which can flood both the Dry and Wet crawls. Otherwise, the Wet crawl seems to be fed by percolation only. Unless fed by the Styx, the water level seems to remain fairly constant (when there aren't any cavers sloshing about). The River Styx itself is like a giant version of the Wet Crawl; a slow (or possibly stationary) stream half filling a wide, low passage. It's not too long, just over 100m, and is usually just below waist height, reaching Danger Depth at just one point. After this, Easy Passage is, well, pretty easy going. Turning right at Holes Junction takes you through a nicely eroded passage, with interesting swirlholes that have somehow developed a ridged base, including one that looks almost like an ammonite. This joins a typical Dales vadose trench, which ultimately reaches Caton Hall.

We stopped along here at Milestone Chamber for a snack, then headed back. The most notable occurrence on the return was the change in the waterfall just after the entrance chamber. What was initially a well sized chute of water had reduced to something comparable with a garden hose. On the surface, it transpired that the stream passing the entrance when we went in had vanished. Most entertaining.

If you are planning on visiting in the summer, I would recommend you take a flamethrower. The concrete entrance pipe makes a wonderful home for a large cloud of midges, which will be disturbed and eat you while you're rigging.