Bagshawe Cavern
The Eldon always have a number of active digs undergo in Bagshawe.
One that is currently receiving quite a lot of attention is the "Dead Ahead Dig" in the Full Moon Series.
[For more information regarding Bagshaw Cavern go to the dedicated page]
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- Written by: Jon Pemberton
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You either love Bagshawe or you hate it. Ok, maybe love is a strong word, you tolerate it. That said, it was Just Josh and I this evening on what would be Josh’s day of reckoning. We met at 6pm and opted for changing in the Coe rather than the pissing down rain outside! I showed Josh the Eldon’s 'base' as it were, him now being a fully-fledged member and then proceeded to kit up and march on down the steps. I gave him the whole spiel on Bagshawe's history and it’s discovery, showing him the entrance to Mulespinner and pointing out such features as Calypso’s Cave, Agony Crawl, the Dungeon etc. before arriving at the first gate. Here’s where it starts to get complex and the story telling becomes more illustrative (mainly due to its era of discovery and EPC’s involvement). We proceeded past the first gate as our plan for this trip was an act of in-situ rope scaling.
We headed up the second gate (The Snake’s Pyjama’s) admiring the pretties along the way. Once at Full Moon Chamber I gave Josh a quick rest bite (Bagsahwe comes with it’s own type of fitness) and once recovered we made for a quick glance at the connection to the Aven Series from a far, telling the story of Return of the Cosmic Juice Extractor II and Moose’s Revenge. We now headed along Moose’s admiring what we could at Pearl Harbour and thus the need for conservation and caver due diligence. Now I could really talk his arm off as we were approaching my part of the story and the dry connection to the Hollywood Bowl Series. We hesitantly made our way over Finn’s Pot and started the crawl of the French Connection. It’s mad to think how much effort went into digging this connection and the fond memories which spanned over 18 months of my early caving career. Still, sometimes it gives me the willies! The amount of sessions we had to flea from the dig rapidly due to stale air (normally when Jim forgot to pump air as he was chatting too much…) when you’re crawling head first down the tube, with all the blood rushing to your head, something clicks in the brain that makes me panic. Safe to say I raced through this section and left Josh struggling for breath (not due to bad air) and proceeded to fight my way up into the chamber known as A Wave of Apathy.
We took another breather here, again telling Josh how we’d seriously lucked out with it’s position (we were convinced we'd end up in Arverscough's Beds - alas). We both climbed through the scaffolded boulder choke into Madame Guillotine and made our way to the base of the pitch. We came prepared with harnesses and cow’s tails and I showed Josh the ropes or lack there of and made our way up the staples. At the top we took another breather, Josh now feeling the effects from the pace, now it was time for my evil plan to hatch. I had an ulterior motive for coming here, having climbed this pitch many times since the completion of the bypass (15+ years ago) I've always looked up and wondered where the dangling ropes head off to? At the top of the pitch lays a coiled 50m dynamic red rope of various vintage which I guess probably came in during the Hollywood Bowl's original exploration (circa early 90's). Heck - even the belay was a climbing nut which is still chocked in the crack from where the static rope leads off! The aven stretches up out of sight from the top of the pitch, with only a rope dangling down leaving multiple questions around it's belay high above. As most caver's will be aware, usually in-situ ropes up avens, especially ones which don't see much use tend to have rather crusty bolts, bolts you wouldn't want to hang your trousers from. I always thought it'd need a drill to re-check these leads as a fall on the rope wasn't worth the risk, but now with the staples in place I managed to de-kit Josh to a point where I could create a solid belay from one of the top staples (hoping not to pull out - right Joe?) which gave me just enough protection to traverse to a gulley on the SW side of Madame Guillotine.
From here, Josh was enrolled to ensure the belay remained decent or alternatively watch me take a 10m whipper on static rope! Once safe in the gulley I proceeded to climb up using a back and foot technique, choosing not to look to my left and the gaping abyss which was gaining depth with every foot scaled. The rock was pleasantly solid as everything had calcified with the amount of water which pisses down from high above. At about 8m I eventually met the belay which turned out to be a solid thread, giving me a little more confidence. Here's where it got spicy... From here I had to unclip to get my head right into the aven proper as it all started to tighten up. A fall from here would be catastrophic and for sure would take hours and hours just for Josh to exit the cave, let alone call a rescue. Luckily 3m above the aven reached a solid roof with no way on. I down climbed back to the belay and clipped back in. I traversed out into the void to take a solid look at a parallel aven next to the one I had just scaled, also blind and around a similar height but bigger in diameter. I hesitantly started the down climb, trying to remember all the foot holds and hand placements but in reverse. At this point Josh had left his post to enjoy the circus show happening above and was lying down at the pitch head where he could just about glance up to see me shitting me kegs. Grateful to be back in the base of the gulley, there was one last job... one last lead in the MG upper vicinity, a heavily calcited tube on the opposite side. I started to traverse around, with my dumbfounded confidence from the 30yr old rope belayed to a staple which could possibly pop out at any moment. However, it dawned on us both that I'd never get into the tube clipped to the rope. Thinking fast, mid climb, I managed to unclip from the rope and remove my cowstails from my harness (which were currently still clipped to the rope), jam in one of the crabs behind a calcited rock whilst dynoing into the the upwards trending calcited tube to mediocre safety. It was here where Josh began to think this all seemed rather stupid! But here, stupid worked. I was in the tube (just) and my rope was within reach (just). I crawled up the tube for 5m to a further aven 2m high, choked with a typical Baggers flat roof - job complete!
Once back to safety we headed back down the staples and reversed our steps, taking in the Hippodrome en route, surfacing around 9:45pm. I'll leave it with Josh to tell the story of how I made it back to the staples alive.
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Avengers assembled for what was a pretty average trip but packed to the gills with talent! We had finally decided on making a start on stapling Namread Aven (part of a bigger project of eradicating SRT from the higher level passages in Bagshawe). Joe was to be chief stapler, accompanied by Jimmy ‘Underground’ Thompson and new member Sam Burgess (Location Unknown UK) in tow. I was purely there for motivational purposes and to make sure we used our four (!) staples wisely.
We made quick progress to the first gate and Jim led us beyond at furious pace. We cajoled on how Pool Chamber was sumped before Sam and Joe had reached the junction but it was actually bone dry, the same with most of Bagshawe at present. We headed through and noted some fresh graffiti as we entered the Aven Series. Here on the wall are some bold “X’s” five in total which are from the original exploration team and survey markers, however, just above these markers someone has took it upon themselves to write “HOME” and an arrow pointing back to Pool Chamber, which is a shame as it’s only cavers who get to go beyond the gate…
We made our way over to Namread, Joe and I free-climbed the first section as I was conscious of our small selection of staples. We had one surplus staple from the Madame Guillotine venture which was coupled with three random staples left over from the original DOOM exploration back in 2011. These staples were different in size to the MG staples and required a larger drill bit, the size of which was relied on solely by guess work, as per usual EPC standards. It was Joe’s first time placing staples and boy was it a learning curve! The first stemple went in quick as we were using the twin powered makita, he gave it a jolly good bashing and hammered it down into the holes. But… once he’d climbed on it and weighted the thing, he realised it was loose and pulled it straight out in a comical fashion! We debated our options and decided it would be best to leave as is and return with some proper bonder to complete the job. Next staple went in better and we were almost at the top already, The third staple went in as poorly as the first! Getting towards the end of his tether, Joe placed a stainless bolt up top to belay the fresh rope we had brought down. All old rope was then cut off and dropped to the floor. On down-climb we realised that the three staples still left a massive gap to the bottom of the flattish calcite slope which leads from midway up the aven (the safe point). Joe begrudgingly placed the final staple, this one was of the Madame Guillotine blend but to his dismay, placement methods were completely different to that of the Doom blend and thus he thoroughly cocked it up. Now at about boiling point, he widened the holes and smacked our final staple home, which seemed to be the only one which felt reassuringly firm.
Sam Burgess in the Great Aven (Photo by JRP)
At this point Joe was done but I asked him to place a bolt just underneath the overhang so we could start to belay the traverse line for clipping. This section of the cave is heavily calcited and once the bolt had been placed he began to tighten the thing up and it just span itself around like clockwork! Now completely bemused by the whole operation, Joe muttered some profanities under his breath, unclipped all the tools from his harness and passed them to me. “Here you go, YOU can do it! – I’m done!” He then down-climbed the next section and proceeded to exit the cave! I confirmed the bolt was spinning and followed him down as we had plans to meet the ADR diggers in the pub and I still had a little side mission. All this time Sam and Jim had been having at heart to heart at the base of Namread Aven. I eventually managed to convince them to check out the Great Aven which was a few metres behind them but instead they went over to EGAPL and turned around at the spike. Luckily once down at the bottom of Namread I managed to convince Sam to join me in the Great Aven for a quick photo as I’d dragged the camera here. Once done, we raced back out and met the gang at the anchor for refreshments.
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- Written by: Dylan Kocher
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Sarah Moody, Ethan Griffins, Alexandra Kozel, Dylan Kocher
With the weather raining on our usual climbing plans, Lexie had suggested going beyond one of the gated sections in Bagshaw. I had only been on digging trips bouncing to the far reaches of Beyond Redoubt. Therefore, severely lacking in a greater picture of Baggers as a whole, and keen for an adventure. Just having had listened to an amazing interview with the almighty Pug that is Jim Thompson. The conversation particularly captivated when turned to Namread Sump. Talks of faces pressed against gates judging draft in hopes to find an unreliable sump dry. How interesting. With a survey printed and laminated; I gave a few updates to unspecified passage names with the help of Jon P. Finding the Bagshaw Surveys to be quite shit. Sarah Moody and Ethan Gruff also decided to come have a play, always hearing about Bagshaw with some interest.
The plan was set. A quick trip to Namread Sump, if found open we would carry on and do the round trip (substantially longer). However, unlikely that seemed to be with the rain pelting the window of our mini cooper as it jogged down the M1. Arriving on site, friends soon joined us in the coe of our hut and we made hastily for the New series gate. Once through, a pleasant and beautiful crawl ensued showered by clean pools of calcified and solid passage. Steady crawling leads to a rift, to soon be accompanied by beautiful straws. Quickly reaching pools chamber, pleasantly decorated and turning left into a small crawl leading to the aven series. From here passage was relatively comfortable through varying passages with pleasant decorations, till a large aven with a rope hanging down is reached. Namread Aven. Everyone began to kit up in harnesses but as the staple Eldon member I knew I had to set an example, opting for belt and croll. Fluctuating climbing in calcified flow with the aven soon bellowing out. Almost at the top the angle increases sharply with an accompanying handline. Straight up seemed to require use of said handline. With an effort to just top rope solo the climb, I ventured left where the passage abated in span allowing for an easier traverse. Though creating a loop of slack. Definitely didn't want to shock load the rope as well… anyways. Once at the top Lexie soon followed with Sarah and Ethan soon to join. Each with their own take on how to ascend the 20m shaft. A quick fueling up and off again. Now headfirst into Fairholm passage, where, like a seal one of slim proportions can belly slide through. Zero draft having been felt, I gathered I would soon reach the impassable sump. The ceiling became caked in mud, definitely showing signs of a flooded passage. Just ahead I saw a small pool with a yellow pipe; left over from the antics of 2005 to hopefully see a working siphon into Hollywood Bowl. Lexie soon squeezed down next with mates not far behind. Fair to say we were all now fairly covered in Namreads mud. On the left side of the sump a notch of passage could be seen further. Though without any draft I was hesitant to see how far one could go. Not confident it would be open. Turning around Fairholm passage was quite the workout, squeezing out quite interesting sounds from all of us. Eventually back at the pitch head Sarah descended below. Just rocking with the Belt and ATC I quickly attached it and jumped over fully trusting the homemade crappy steel bolt and flew down at quite the pace. Now below with Lexie on the rope, I hear “oh shit!”. Lexie, thinking the rope had merely shifted, looked up to see the rope completely desheathed. A foot or so of exposed core quickly leaving view as was best to just carry on down. Ethan from some communication also expressed his amazement remarking on how so few cores there actually were in static ropes. Isolated in a knot we were all safe and sound. Jon P had previously suggested we check out England's Green and Pleasant Land since the likelihood of a round trip being low. With a quick stop at the great aven we quickly retraced our path out. Pleasant crawling leads to a sizable hole before Pools Chamber. In the distance a rope strung down leading to a free-climbable passage up. Here a moderate climb ensues, and with quite some height gained a chamber is reached. Strewn with a wall of propped boulders starting low. Looking up it never ends. Everything looks like its own keystone. Sizable chunks of calcite ready to fall. Careful climbing up to a hole requires shifting round one more boulder. My left hand placed on said rock and a silent shift. Standing stone settled? Now above with quite a sweat on, not sure if everything was about to go. Stressed I looked below knowing the path would lead to my friends. Apologies to Lexie who heard me shouting mixed signals before deciding that it was not worth the risk. Having already been given a bad omen. Beyond, a rope could be seen through what seemed a beautiful flowstone passage. Nonetheless, I left to join the team. After some playful chats everyone was ready to head out. Fairly quick going we soon were back in the Coe.
Even though craging outdoors was called off Joe the GOAT joined myself and Lexie for some fun climbing at Awesome Walls the day after, where I put his belaying to the test. Climbing through the headwall, I had felt inverted for what seemed forever. Right at the lip the chains were in sight. Promptly from 0 to hero the pump took hold. Completely punting off swinging through the air. Joe catching soft, though not having much of a choice! Speaking after about my experience of the shifting boulder. Joe too had thought that the passage was well and truely fucked! Jon had knowingly sent me to a death trap! Only one question remains. He wanted me dead. But on whose behalf….
Till next time baby Love Islands on!
Dylan K
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- Written by: Jon Pemberton
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Gang members Eavis, Buck, Hibberts accompanied by both Pemberton's (The Pembros) assembled for tonight's adventure. The plan was a round trip of the upper series in Bagshawe Cavern via the Hollywood Bowl, hoping to make use of the current drought conditions.
After some swift pre-beers we descended the cavern around 7pm and made quick progress through the first gate towards the aven series. Our turn off here was the second to last aven - Namraed. Namraed Aven (8m) Is a relatively easy climb for the first part but is rigged for SRT as the last 3m are vertical (insert Staples here).
We all ascended with relative ease and started making way down Fairholme Passage which is an awkwardly tight bedding crawl at roughly 45°, prone for getting stuck in! The crawl leads downhill for 5 minutes before reaching the ominous passage named Namraed. For the majority of the time, this is sumped, but in serious drought conditions, the passage dries completely gaining the intrepid explorer access to the Hollywood Bowl, a magnificent Cavern which feels out of place in Bagshawe!
Namraed was bone dry, this gives a good indication of the low water levels so it may pay off to go seek some more of these aquatic locations - food for thought...
Once all in the Hollywood Bowl, we marvelled at its grandeur before separating. Chris and Sam were to head out whilst Joe and Rob and I were to complete the round trip via Madame Guillotine.
We gingerly ascended the 18m which climbs out of the chamber, on ropes which have been there since 2005. Most of the hangers still look okay, but again it's probably one which may need some further attention in the future. From the top Joe took a wrong turn and got seriously stuck which left Rob and I to head the correct way up the slope and through a series of tight calcite squeezers towards Nathan Gate. From here it's easy sailing, typical Bagshawe crawling, walking and stooping interlinked by flat out squeezes. After about 15 minutes we reached Madame Guillotine where now you can easily descend the Via ferrata route down the 15m pitch just using cows tails.
It was now 9:30pm so we promptly got to move on and descended through the boulder choke gaining access to the French connection. At the moment this is bone dry and an absolute chore to negotiate minus the lubrication. We continued crawling and eventually met Full Moon Chamber with just a short section left before reaching the gate and exiting back into the main drag. A good romp led us to the steps and we were out by 9:47pm. Quite speedy for this round trip and we weren't going fast by any means. One I definitely recommend whilst Namread Is currently bone dry.
Anchor for post trip refreshments and debrief.
Photos by Rob Eavis
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‘A’ Team once again assembled for an assault aimed at The Bitter End of Bagshawe. Joe, Sam and I met at 6pm and were underground for 6:30pm. Chris had already gone underground in advance with a taster of getting back into the swing of things after his jollys (Albania fit). We caught him up at Full Moon Chamber where he cajoled us on his ‘Tour de Baggers’ after missing the turn off for the Full Moon Series four times! We pressed on together to the top of MG where we parted ways with Chris and continued to the end. We made it there in an hour and I took first turn at the pointy end.
Digging was super easy this week (for me) as I’d remembered to bring a head torch so could leave my helmet further back, this gave me more movement at the end. Luckily Joe had done a cracking job last week enlarging the passage at the end in every direction, it reminded me of a bear den. I now had enough room to bring the kibble up next to me, dig ahead and fill it with ease. The sediment was super easy to cut through and I just continued to follow the obvious roof tube on the right which has approx. 3 inches of airspace and a few stal. I filled 10 kibbles, the last few containing a few larger rocks which were removed from the floor and then proceeded to give the floor to Sam.
Sam filled a further 10 kibbles but the sediment began to condense with a more finely packed gravel which proved digging to be a bit more laborious. Joe finished the shift with a further 5 kibbles (totalling 25) taking just over 2 hours. With a firm 9:30pm cut off we started the slog back out. It’s funny… there’s little to no conversation on the journey back to surface. Everyone has the same feelings, SHUT UP AND PRESS ON!
We made it to surface at 10:40pm taking a little over an hour to get out from the end. No banging headaches this evening so we could enjoy post beers and tangfastics at leisure! The end is looking good, the roof is rising and we’re seeing a change in sediment but it’s not getting any easier! Watch this space…
Mission complete (JRP)
When the tangfastic hits (JRP)