Rowten-KDMC Rowten Sumps Inc Alfie Burnley!!!!!

Saturday February 15th 2025

Members present: Dylan Kocher,  Ethan Griffiths,  Max Kellermann-stunt,  Sarah Moody

Rowten-KDMC

Max Stunt, Sarah Moody, Ethan Griffins, Alfie Burnley, Dylan Kocher

Feeling somewhat isolated from caving over the winter holidays, I decided to organise a trip from Rowten-KDMC with friends who were capable of pulling it off. For anyone who doesn't know this would involve the Rowten sumps. A rather infamous set of obstacles requiring freediving through multiple airbells flat out to complete the through trip. The option was present at the time to reach out to fellow cavers who have completed the sumps as it seems that most whom have done it have passed the torch so to speak. Our group was going in fresh. Not a single person would know for sure if they would pull their way to air until they themselves did so. Quite Enticing!
Leading up to the trip I am not ashamed to say I was a little anxious as I have had numerous dreams of it, unsure of how myself or anyone else would react to it when the time came. This was just compounded with the slightly miserable weather here in York with rain and temperatures that only cavers could appreciate. Max however offered some great assurances to the trip as he decided to become a Cave Diver! Rowten would therefore give him a great chance to dial in some of his kit and check out the sumps for the rest of us mere mortals. Sarah had decided to be Awesome and offered to Derig the entirety of Rowten. Completely Alone. This can not be understated as it would require monumental effort to do so, or a Saturday afternoon for Sarah! Showing us boys time and time again who’s Boss. When meeting the legend SUSS Alfie at our York Christmas meal we had exchanged a few words about the sumps and then had the luxury to watch him tempted to drown himself in the streamway of Sell Gill I knew he would answer the call. Ethan had always been keen to kill himself with me, so when the time came so the Team Slightly Competent banner once again arose from the mud!
The day came and the lovely drive to the Dales began. A good segment of the trip was spent discussing the details of the trip, and everyone tried to convince me that we should check out the sumps from Kingsdale first, as everyone else thought this may be smart I conceded to the idea. However null and void it would later become. With bellies full from Inglesports upstairs cafe and the banter high we carried on to Kingsdale. Once fully kitted up trying on our fashionable wetsuit hoods, a solo traveler emerged from the valley entrance. Max and Ethan ran over to ask if the pitch required a rope and the state of the water levels at the master cave. To which he then replied that the water levels were low and the sumps were clear. Music to our ears as this apparition sent from the cave gods laid all our doubts to rest. No need to go into Kingsdale, we could just get on. Moving our way through Rowten to the fateful ledge that most of us have such fond memories of. Consisting of some technical rigging underneath, taking enough time that it allows the rest of the group to catch up and crack jokes until you want to just throw yourself off the ledge and cut the middle man out. See the jokes here have a habit of becoming all too dark. Once at the base of the main shaft a big gully group was ascending out. Due to the low water levels we engaged in some bonding with the folk sharing some of our whisky and managed to stay quite dry. Continuing on just passing the corner into the flyover route, Max had quite a bit of trouble on the rope as SRT can become rather a faff with air cylinders swinging between your legs. Not that he was making the situation better for himself rather just adding comical relief for the rest of us (me). Below the waterfall crashing into the base of Rowten I had been checking in on myself wondering when the adrenaline would hit, as I knew that our journey was coming to the end of the beginning of the trip. Hearing the rope free from Sarah we all progressed to the sumps. Hitting the chicane and switching down to the sumps, moving fast with all the energy increasing to a boil. With eyes on the prize, Ethan and Alfie drop their kit and stuff it into the tackle sack. I guess they're committed! Sarah was even about to join us putting on the spare mask we had brought for redundancy. Max had sorted his gear in quick fashion diving into the sumps hauling our bag of SRT kits with him. Once surfacing again he remarked about how his helmet was getting stuck. I knew we would be pulling through upside down facing the rock and having a shell helmet wouldn't factor in, hopefully. Giving Alfie the chance to go first, his reply assured me that I would be doing so. Finally laying down in the stream the blunt freezing water penetrated through the wetsuit. Crawling to the rope giving it a tug and turning back to my mates giving them my favorite Gandalf quote

“Tis But The Deep Breath Before The Plunge”

-Gandalf

A few deep breaths and then BAM. Submerged flat out watching the groved ridges of limestone pass by for what seems to be a long time by the moment I emerge in the first airbell. The rope tied from bolt to bolt I take three breaths and dive forwards to the next less than half the distance than the first. It feels like a flash. For the second bell,l I smash just past the rope as here the route b-lines 90* to the right abruptly. Resulting in the space closing tighter I pulled back and up into the air. The third dive is barely a factor at this point as it pales in comparison. Once through pumped with the result in a roomy space allowing you to sit up i wait for the others. Next is Max who brought the last bag but to my surprise turns around diving back through so he can be the last one to tell Sarah to derig. For what was about 4 minutes the rope gave a gentle swing and before long Ethan pushed through. Thoroughly excited to see him as it's been far too long he remarks saying “That was nice, Longer than I thought it would be”. Alfie next gave “That was Good, That was Cool!”. Max right behind him having now dived the sumps a consecutive 5 times, the kid couldn't get enough! That might be a record! Continuing to the valley entrance, the exit was fairly quick going only stopping to put Max’s dive gear away and the SRT kits back on. KDMC is extremely beautiful and not as short lived as people say. It was sorely missed as the cold air from the barrel of the valley entrance ahead let in. As we continued to the car. Ethan and Alfie decide to head back up to Rowten to check on Sarah. Alfie with his kit on even drops down to grab a bag being a beast. Max and myself in turn do our part in warming our car seats.

All in all a very successful day trip with banter and fun all around. When one of my friends stated that the real hardmans trip is the person derigging he was right. Sarah is the only reason we were able to simulate the black book trip and will definitely be back to bag it in the Summer. Max, now knowing every inch of the sumps, and Ethan and Alfie smashing it with ease couldn't have had a smoother day.

Dylan Kocher