Shuttleworth Pot 30/03/23
Dylan K, Hal D, Victoria K, Rob E, Jeff W, Jim T, John P, Miriam A, Chris H, Dave G
On the final day of caving afoot, I am woken up by a call from Jeff letting me know breakfast is ready. Being welcomed by flat sleeping bags I make my way down and start the day of good fun and casual caving. Fast forward to a very wet and cold Bike ride to the east of Wernside, we all park up and talk shit about the weather. With enough elevation in the dales, the cloud cover on a nice day makes for a very wet environment. Today was one of those environments. I myself had little knowledge of Shuttleworth pot and was excited to be in a dry cave for a change.
With everyone suited up, we march across the hill with hopes to warm the temperature of a now chilly body although I may be extrapolating my own personal feelings on the group. The Jim and Hal shuttle service members enjoyed a warm insulated weather-protected ride over but hey ho. Also, a quick shoutout to Dave who only recently has had surgery on his knee and is caving with us this weekend getting out with some proper rehab. Many would milk an injury and sulk prolonging the suffering of rehabilitation rather than living properly. A true attitude to strive to maintain through my own future experiences. Go, Dave!
Arriving at the lid leaving I was determined to get down quickly and first to warm up disregarding the views of the hike over as although enjoyed on the way out. Jumping Down the barrel Arriving at the first 10m pitch. Easy enough done I then scurry down to the next series of small pitches not knowing anything about the cave I would think that this is small, and I would reach the end all too quickly. Then I rack my rack and jump onto the last pitch. One meter in I am in a dopamine-fueled rick flair groove as I realize the chamber present. Jim and Rob closely behind I express my excitement through some Woos and of course a staple song in any reasonable passage Banana Boat. Shuttleworth’s Huge roof boasting its arch invites spelunkers alike to dive deeper. Landing on a steep boulder passage with sets of diving tanks accompanied by the tumble of the stream in the distance I sit and enjoy the view Jim twinkling on the pitch head carrying the verses of Harry Belafonte.
Once myself Rob, Chris, Jim were all down there was a natural break in the team so we decided to go for a Bumble and some photos ourselves. Up the incline through a back connection into another passage smaller in stature filled with Helictites. I have had little to no knowledge of these formations, but stal that grows perpendicular to gravity are some of the most interesting and strange formations one can see. Past this passage, it leads up into another very sizable chamber with a passage leading to dog bones and then forking into a field of straws. Thousands in abundance reaching phenom lengths. Careful to stay on the red tape track we continue to the end of the known system through a couple of small chambers not noteworthy of the 3 giants in comparison downstream.
Hal with the cloud of straws, by JonP
On our return to the field of stall Rob does a fantastic job as always taking some shots with myself and Chris lighting up Jim all smug and manly enjoying the view. Once another photo shoot to grasp the size of the passage the second group appeared. Quite a party environment all of us standing around casually enjoying the company. The uniqueness of this group and their effect on this moment I can only explain this by how comfortable we all feel in this environment although Shuttleworth is a comfortable cave. Anyhow consequently made for a great little time followed by a group selfie and we split up once again {enter Victoria little addition}. Jon took group two and went to take some photos of the field of stal. When going downhill in the main chamber we reach the streamway.
Miriam in the streamway, by JonP
Two great pools with the passage continuing around a bend reaching a small nook ending in a Twenty-meter pitch. With my eagerness to get back on the ropes apoun finishing the cave Jim and I start our accent out of Shuttleworth. Rob however decides to go skinny dipping in the pools below. If not having a cold ride back to York, I would have loved to join. The proper thing to do. Once at the surface, I enjoyed getting to know Jim better on the walk back, the Dales Beautifully Bleak and a great weekend in the books.
Rob washing off the hangover, by JonP
-Dylan Kocher