Gradisnica

Sunday August 19th 2012

Members present: Alexander Stelfox,  Christopher Jones,  Laurent Michaux

There was a healthy amount of faff before this one, lots of messing around at the hut, going in and out to get odd bits of kit, filling up bottles etc. and then a poor decision on parking further away from the cave than we had to, but we eventually made it.

I remember this being a very intimidating pitch when I went last time, but then again, it was my first year of caving so my memories are maybe a little skewed, this time it was impressive to behold, but not so terrifying. Having a wet rope also helped, my rack wasn't on fire when I reached the first rebelay this time.

I also rigged this time, which was a good experience, there's something different when you rig a cave compared to when you're just along for the ride, mostly the exposure of the pitches, but also a strange feeling when you're waiting at the bottom watching someone struggle on a Y-hang you probably could have rigged better.

For future reference, the main pitch has long lifes to rig off, one at the top with a back up, 2 for the y-hang, and 2 further down for rebelays, all of which are needed to avoid rope rub and to break the pitch up a bit (it is ~70m). Below this the scree slope was worse than I remember on one side (where you land) and much better on the far wall, which is the way down. There is an in situ traverse line which could do with replacing in a few years, but apart from that nothing too dodgy in the upper section.

We skipped the bottom pitch this time, I had little desire to go down into the horrific chamber below for a second time and risk putting myself under the hanging scree, but maybe in future I'll give it another shot.

All in all a very good trip, efficiency in the cave made up for the faff beforehand, and I had a great time.