Trips & Reports

A lovely trip with an unusually low level of testosterone. We did the round trip, but broke off before Lowe's passage to visit the Waterfall Series for a bit. We headed to Crystal pool chamber via the dry way and back via the wet way! Wish I had played around a bit more in that chamber as I am lead to believe there is some lovely stuff leading off from there... We weren't underground for long at all, so had... read more

I agree, it was a very pleasant and efficient trip: minimum of faff (whilst getting ready and going to the cave, not instead of it ;)) It was my first time to lead really, and I was a little bit nervous about it. There was no back-up Martin to explain things to me! But we made it to Crystal Pool within an hour and enjoyed a snack in this beautiful place. I totally failed taking pictures that truly represent the... read more

I'd been pretty nervous about the OFD 3 traverses after what I'd heard about them from various people, but they're really not that bad at all - and that's coming from someone who's scared of traversing! Got to the streamway but it was too wet to carry on up to Smiths Armoury so we made an about turn. I'll be back... On the return we stopped for a snack; I discovered mid-mouthful that my cereal bar was mouldy. Unpleasant. I have been... read more

(not sure if I forgot somebody)

Good fun. A few years since I've been, so I'd removed the crawly/rifty bits from my memory. A bit of a messRT fest for the bottom half, especially with the addition of a knot pass, but at least the y-hang for the last pitch now stays attached to the wall once it's rigged. ... read more

Mike and I arrived in the Peak on Friday evening with the idea of going climbing on Saterday, but we needed some Friday night entertainment and as the TSG was quiet and we just happened to have SRT kits and 300m of rope (my 200 and Mike's 100) in the car we decided to head to Eldon, getting there just as it got dark. For the first exchange Mike rigged East route while I rigged West route (the best of... read more

My last minute decision to come on that trip meant that there was no space in the cars left, so that I had to take the train up to Clapham, where someone was supposed to pick me up and take to the cave. However, when I arrived at destination, I got a call that the car was still miles away, and I phoned up John Holloway whose group had already arrived at Ingleton for breakfast. At last the second car... read more

Did I mention how good binch eating at a random fast food at the station feels after such a long caving day???

Intense.

The trip had been in the planning for a long time, and this was it. The others were off to Heron, but we didn't fancy that. Not one bit. We were going for it. Big time. Toby, as usual, was having a lie in, but I really did fancy the trip so whilst I knew it was cruel, he had to be forced out of bed. He did not look happy. It was pretty foggy as we left the YSS, but... read more

I gave it hard 2 for the rig, it wasn't trivial and provided some decent entertainment.

A really really fun pitch to rig....what is it doing in Yordas?! Ridiculous.

There's 2 things I never remember about this cave: - How wet it is and how much you have to get into that wet. - How long the walk is, it just seems to go on forever. But there's also a lot I do remember: - Face melting SRT which is glorious to rig and de-rig - Amazing passages and chutes - The connection through to Ireby II and the wonders therein Well worth a(nother) return trip!

Agreed. Ireby 2 has everything in it, SRT, horizontal bits, commitment, isolation (for Yorkshire), formations (best ive ever seen but SHHH) its got it all

After a standard serving of shittalk & breakfast at Bernies, me and other members of the York University Crippled Pothole Club assembled and made our way up to the beautiful entrance of Marble Steps. I had been selected to rig the gully route, while Jonny lead the second team down Sidewinder, a decision I was quite pleased with as I hadn't rigged anything since I'd been back from Australia and I was anxious to get my rigging hat back on. The... read more