Here is a very incomplete list of some of the trips the Eldon have been up to recently.
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- Details
- Written by: Victoria Kocher
- Hits: 1050
This week I met up with Cat, Bernie, Adrian and Katie who led the way into Waterway Swallet. I even remembered to print out the DCA Cave Monitoring Form and tucked it into my suit.
The survey indicates that the entrance is prone to flooding and as we arrived we had a brief shower. Once we walked down to the swallet it was obvious that it lies below a small stream and could flood under heavy conditions. Luckily this was not the case with us. The lid is not secure anymore but is laying on top of the entrance-still very heavy. We started to descend into this tight boulder choke of a cave.
Once we made it through the entrance series we got into the Main Chamber. The features here are noted as massive crinoid fossiliferous bedrock. We spent some time looking at the impressive crinoids here and the smooth brown rocks. Katie was pretty sure they were dragon eggs but that is not my area of expertise. Following Cat ( who likes to look at the survey again whilst sandwiched in a bedding plane, my feet inches from her head) we descended down into Toad Haul. I am quite aware each time I am in a cave with so much down pitch that inevitably I will have to climb back out. This cave was fine. None of the drops were ridiculously far and there were at least two static ropes along the way.
After the Gallery we dropped down into a long area of scaffolded dig. There were some dedicated cavers here. I believe this credit goes to Keyhole Caving and Orpheus Caving Clubs. I tried to take a photo of the warning signs but was too busy twisting my body through. At the bottom of two long hand lines and a crafty boulder climb we were at the point of heading off to find Room 101 or down to the Rising Damp Sump. We chose to head down and we did find the undisturbed mudbank containing silty-sediments that was on our survey. Yes, it is still there and still undisturbed.
I did not look at the survey at this point and for our ascent I opted for pub as it was getting late and not to take a look for Room 101. Looking at it now I wished I had ..well I guess that means another trip.
Thank you Cat for sharing your flattened ancient gummy worms with me. You can always trust a Doctor to have emergency supplies. The climb out was wonderful. Lots of bouldering and twists and turns. Then all of a sudden that warm smell of the Earth..we emerged in twilight into a delicious bed of wild garlic.
- Details
- Written by: Jim Thompson
- Hits: 1160
Team: Bog, JimT, JonP, SamP, RobE, JoeB
With a late night epic off the table due to the monthly EPC pub meet tonight, an assorted rabble formed from various members of a triumvirate of Eldon dream teams – Awesome, Average and Girthsome - met at the Delph layby intending to make a quick recce into Nickergrove to assess the accessibility of the streamway and see if it looked like the Stoney mastercave.
Prebeers supped, a bit of catching up with Bog, followed by a quick stroll up the Delph, adorned as it is at this time of year by wild garlic and general lovely spring verdancy, wholesome conversation flowing and all feeling relaxed, I reflected on how fantastic it is to be back caving with such a wonderful bunch after my hiatus.
We nipped into the adit entrance, down the shaft and had soon assembled in the muddy chamber at the head of the ladder, where Rob was already at the bottom making a fairly rapid assessment of the connection. Specifically that the whole lot had collapsed and the tiny hole that remained looked a pretty impossible prospect for reopening. Although disappointing, it answered the question and meant that we’d be on our way out imminently. At this point my general happiness, and the now removed need to take anything seriously, burst over into general idiocy to the delight of Bog and Sam, and I suspect dismay of soulless Joe. No calls of ‘Jim STFU we can’t dig’ on this occasion, however.
Rob reappeared and showed us the video of his knees, followed by a collapse to the roof and aforementioned tiny hole over the top.
We headed back to the shaft, prusiking part-way up and into a hole in the wall, followed by a bit of crawling and a slither back down which Bog helpfully confirmed didn’t, after all, require the use of a descender to, well, descend.
Back to the Didsbury shaft, Jon took a couple of photos on the way out and into a warm, daylit evening while Rob derigged the pitch inside the mine.
Straight up to the Anchor for important discussion about our choice of disposable lingerie made a pleasant end to a very social evening.
- Details
- Written by: Victoria Kocher
- Hits: 1010
Two groups out tonight. Katie, Edvin and Brendan went to Nettle for a trip down and back. Alan, Helen and I went to Winnats Head Cave.
I really like this trip and it was more fun the second time. Alan had to scoop more rocks than last time out of the tight entrance squeeze. Perhaps someone just thought it was fun to throw rocks down there. Once that was cleared a bit we squeezed through. Getting to know a cave is a great thing. It lends itself to being a friend that you haven’t visited in a while but enjoy their company. Winnats is great as you really feel you are just descending deeper into the hillside..well it is all downhill. I try to forget that climbing down means eventually climbing back up.
We spent some time in Fox chamber. The Conservation Audit mentions stalagmites in the Main chamber but on two trips I have not seen any of note. There are also flowstones in the lower level which are all in good shape. I always think a swim is in order at the bottom but probably never will.
Climbing back out is always a fun boulder slide with some tight squeezes. My plan for every caving trip is to stay in the middle of the group. That way I always have someone’s knee or shoulder and sometimes head to stand on. It works a treat.
We made it out in time to have a beer at the Cheddar and met up with Katie and Brendan. There is nothing quite like that after caving pint.
- It was a Monday crawl - 04/04/2022
- Hillocks – Wharfe climbing shaft to Knotlow – climbing shafts
- Bagshawe New Bits - 08/02/2022
- Follow the Leader - 01/02/2022
- Lockdown 2.0 - Cackle Mackle Mine - 12/11/2020
- Arbour Seats Surveying - 21/01/2020
- Nenthead weekend - 5-6/10/2019
- Lingards Cave - 04/07/2019
- On How the Eldon ruined the Cow Pot survey, Matienzo - November 2015
- Derbyshire Hall - 22/12/18
- Solo Aboard the Gravy Train - 6/12/18
- Went Boom – 29/11/2018
- Sidetracked by Science - 09/11/2018
- Youth of Tomorrow 9/9/2018
- Ricklow Cave - 2/7/2018
- Dr Jackson's Survey - 07/06/2018
- Newburgh Level - 13/03/2018
- A Game of Thrones - 22/12/2017
- Rowter Xmas trip - 16/12/2017
- Absolution - 12/11/17
- Cripple Creek - 04/11/2017
- Flat Out Walk - 09/11/2017
- A point of engulfment - 07/09/2017
- A bit on the side - 19/07/2017
- Boulder Pot - 14/07/2017
- Englands Green & Pleasant Land - 01/06/2017
- Hollywood Bowl - 17/02/2017
- Picnic Passage 16/11/2016
- Paternity's Fault 15/05/2016
- Carlswark 06/05/2016
- Swildons Hole 01/04/2016
- JH to Peak 16/03/2016
- Mountbatten Pot 21/04/2016
- Trapdoor Pot 20/02/2016
- Giants Hole 30/01/2016
- Ireby Fell Cavern 23/01/2016
- Neptune Mine 19/01/2016
- Stream Passage Pot to Corkys - 23/05/2015
- Water Icicle - 07/05/2015
- Crusader - 03/02/2015
- Water Icicle - 27/03/2014
- Rowter - 20/03/2014
- Titan Streamway Survey Trip - 01/06/2013
- Western Highway - 29/03/2013
- P8: Ben's Dig - 27/06/2009
- Hungerhill Swallet - 22/06/2009
- Nickergrove Mine - 20/06/2009
- Daren Cilau - 20/06/2009
- Nettle - 13/06/2009
- Juniper Gulf - 12/06/2009
- Maskhill - Oxlow Exchange - 29/01/2009
- Titan/J.H./Peak Cavern - 17/01/2009
- Fireset Shaft - 06/01/2009
- Ivy Green Cave - 24/11/2008
- Marilyn and Gaping Gill - 15/11/2008
- Carlswark Cavern (Dynamite Series) - 08/10/2008
- Carlswark Cavern (Dynamite Series) - 08/09/2008
- Eyam Dale House Cave - 07/09/2008
- Nickergrove Through Trip and Carlswark Cavern - 07/07/2008
- Gentlewomans to Youds Through Trip - 29/05/2008
- Bagshawe Cavern - 28/02/2008
- Craig a Ffynnon, South Wales - 16/02/2008
- Bradwell Dale and Bagshawe Cavern Clean-Up - 09/02/2008 & 10/02/2008
- Brown Hill Pot, East Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 09/02/2008
- Bagshawe Cavern in Flood - 21/01/2008
- South Gully Route, Eldon Hole - 20/01/2008
- Caplecleugh to Rampgill Through Trip, Nenthead Mines, Cumbria - 19/01/2008
- Full Moon Series, Bagshawe Cavern - 17/01/2008
- Peak Cavern Entrance to Titan Through Trip, Peak/Speedwell - 13/01/2008
- Titan, Far Sump Extension, Peak/Speedwell - 12/01/2008
- Cwmorthin Mine, N. Wales - 06/01/2008
- Croesor-Rhosydd Through Trip, N. Wales - 05/01/2008
- Cathedral - Dome Route, Lost Johns Pot, Yorkshire - 29/12/2007
- Notts Pot, Leck Fell, Yorkshire Dales - 27/12/2007
- Hungerhill Swallet - 20/12/2007
- Hungerhill Swallet - 17/12/2007
- King Pot, East Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 17/11/2007
- Hungerhill Swallet - 30/10/2007
- Winnats Head Cave - Downstream Pitches - 29/10/2007
- New Oxlow Extensions - 18/10/2007
- Lu Blue Sump and the Streaks Pot through trip - 05/10/2007
- Crumble/Beza route, Nettle Pot - 29/09/2007
- Western Highway, Far Sump Extension, Peak/Speedwell - 24/09/2007
- Filthy Five Pitches, Giants Hole - 20/09/2007
- Perryfoot Cave - 18/09/2007
- North Gully route, Eldon Hole - 18/09/2007
- Dr Jackson's, Perryfoot and the Dr Jackson's - Perryfoot Connection - 17/09/2007
- The Ride of the Valkyries, Far Sump Extension, Peak/Speedwell - 14/09/2007
- P8 to downstream sump - 14/09/2007
- Dr Jackson's Cave - 11/09/2007
- Hypothermia Crawl, Rowter Hole - 07/09/2007
- Heron Pot, Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 02/09/2007
- Giants - Oxlow Connection - 30/08/2007
- Swinsto -> Valley Entrance Pull-through, Kingsdale, Yorkshire - 26/08/2007
- Gingling Hole, Fountains Fell, Yorkshire - 25/08/2007
- Rowter Hole - 20/08/2007
- Buxton Water Aven, Peak Cavern - 06/08/2007
- Buxton Water Aven, Peak Cavern - 31/07/2007
- James Hall's Over Engine Mine (J.H.) - 29/07/2007
- Eldon SRT Rescues/Problem Solving Day, Pindale Farm - 28/07/2007
- Dan Yr Ogof, South Wales - 23/06/2007
- Giants Hole - Novice trip - 23/06/2007
- Grange Rigg Pot, Yorkshire - 30/05/2007
- Rowten Pot, Yorkshire - 29/05/2007
- Ireby Fell Extensions, Yorkshire - 26/05/2007
- Oxlow to bottom of Maskhill - 22/05/2007
- Knotlow Climbing Shaft - 16/05/2007
- DCRO Practice, Stoney Middleton - 13/05/2007
- P8 to Sump 4, Derbyshire - 02/05/2007
- Buxton Water Aven, Peak Cavern - 02/01/2007
- Waterways Swallet, Derbyshire - 13/11/2006
- Daren Cilau, S. Wales - 10/11/2006
- Bar Pot -> Gaping Gill Main Chamber, Yorkshire - 09/12/2005
- Tatham Wife Hole, Yorkshire - 08/12/2005
- Juniper Gulf, Yorkshire - 24/10/2005
- Swildon's Hole, Mendip - 19/04/2003
- Crumble and Beza, Nettle Pot - 06/03/2003
- Bagshawe Cavern - 21/01/2003
- Hillocks Mine - 16/01/2003
- Sidetrack Cave - 04/01/2003
- Birks Fell Cave, Wharfedale - 21/09/2002
- Lancaster Hole -> Wretched Rabbit, Lancaster Easegill system - 27/04/2002
- Croesor-Rhosydd - 02/06/2002
- Eldon Training Workshop - 27/01/2002
- Braida Stomp Weekend (Tatham Wife Hole & Lower Long Churn) - 24/11/2001
- Eyam Dale House Cave - 09/08/2001
- James Hall’s Over Engine Mine (J.H.) - 21/01/2001
- Jug Holes - 29/12/2000
- Lancaster Hole - 18/11/2000
- Bar Pot - 18/11/2000
- Ogof Ffynnon Ddu (OFD), South Wales - 24/09/2000
- Little Neath River Cave - 23/09/2000