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: Ben Marks
- Hits: 887
Above: The rubbish freeclimbers unite! Jim Thompson (L), Ben Marks (R)
A prompt 0830 start saw us meet Jim and his van on the lane up towards Titan, and we were soon parked, changed and stomping across the fields towards the shaft. Jim, with a renewed twinkle in his eye after being the recipient of 2023’s ‘most awesome caver’ award (courtesy of Team Awesome!) was excited for the trip, as this would be his first time experiencing the awe of Titan! Jim was first to lower himself into the comparative warmth of the entrance shaft, followed by myself and then Jon. Once I’d landed in the blasted passage at the bottom, I stooped my way over to the window and gingerly waited on the edge looking out into the abyss – it’s a view that never gets old. I had assumed Jim was on the pitch, so waited until I could hear a rumble of a “rope free!” from below. However, soon Jon was sat with me too, and after having a chat for a while we suddenly heard some clanking and a worried sounding voice exclaim “Jon!”. Slightly taken aback by this, we both stared back up the blasted passage, only to hear and see nothing! Weird… Until a rather confused and disgruntled Jim joined us by the window – He’d only gone and somehow turned the wrong way at the bottom of the entrance shaft, and walked in the complete opposite direction to the largest vertical cave shaft in the UK! Oh well, it was his first time…
With all of us past the event horizon traverse, and making that ballsy step of unclipping from the traverse line halfway up Titan, we headed over to the inlet marking the beginning of the Titan Streamway. I’d only ever been to see the first few cascades and never beyond, so I was excited to head up into the streamway proper. It’s such a beautiful bit of cave. White scalloped limestone is clean washed by a lovely flow of clear water. I can see why nobody has ever had the heart to put some handlines in – it’s just so pretty. It’s fair to say that freeclimbing the cascades provided some real challenge for me, and Jim didn’t seem to enjoy them too much either. With gorgeous stream washed limestone cascades comes an extreme lack of hand and footholds, and getting up the cascades was very much dependant on bridging and chimneying up them (as well as some excellent leg ups from Jim and some killer wrist grabs from Jon!). I’d not caved properly for a month or so, and so it was a bit of a struggle to get up these! Worth it though.
Once through what is one of the finest streamways in Derbyshire, a wet flat out crawl is met for a little way, and after some navigational cockups from Jon ‘you cant get lost, its dead straightforward’ Pemberton, we pressed on through ‘Wetsville’, followed by ‘Slopsville’ and then the thrutch up through some boulders to enter a fantastic aven with a handlined climb leading off up towards the Absolution boulder choke. Just fantastic, varied caving which feels completely alien for a peak district trip. I gave the handlined climb a go, but I just felt it was too much risk of me decking it before my physical assessments for the fire service on Wednesday! None of us had a watch either, so it was decided we would turn around. A shame really, as from what I’ve heard the cave really starts to get good from here. Oh well, another reason to return.
The return journey was far more straightforward: It was great fun sliding back down the stream cascades, and felt like we were out canyoning! Jim headed off first back up to the window whilst I scoffed my strategically stashed Double Decker, and Jon and I got very cold whilst listening to the soft tones of Jim leisurely singing and prussiking back out at tortoise speed! As soon as his shout echoed around the void, I shot up the rope and was shortly back at the entrance shaft to find Jim still climbing. All three of us were quickly back up to surface, and chatting about how good the trip was – If only we’d taken some photos, but Jon had forgotten his SD card. Another trip back will be on the cards very soon…
All in all, a fantastic trip to top off what has been a brilliant AGM weekend - I've enjoyed meeting some of the people I've heard so many stories about, and of course being voted in as a full member!
Ben Marks
- Details
- Written by: Victoria Kocher
- Hits: 1160
Katie, Hal, Bernie, Dylan, Mark and Victoria
Katie had organized the Titan through to Peak trip on the day of the EPC AGM. There is not much of a better day to be had and also to know that you will be with the rest of the club later on. After my trouble on a long pitch in Yorkshire recently, I knew it was time to jump back on the horse. Katie sent me a text on Friday night to confirm we were all coming…I had some hesitation but just needed the extra nudge. We met up at the TSG for a welcome cuppa and some banter with friends. Since there were six, we decided we could do the trip in one group and still make it to the Anchor at five.
You can’t be in Derbyshire for very long without hearing about Titan and it’s not a trip to be missed. Hal had worked with the original gang on the entrance shaft all those years ago and still had never been in. Once we drove up to the top we figured out our order and headed in. None of it disappoints, from the engineering of the entrance shaft until that first glimpse of Titan itself. Dylan listened to half the directions as usual and found himself on the traverse line heading to Titan Steamway. That was fine, he just had to wait. Katie waited at the rebelay and quelled any hesitation I might have had. Time to turn all the lights on to take a good look at this giant. Once Katie, Dylan, Mark and I were at the boulders we noticed it was taking a longer time for Caver number five to make it over the ledge…we waited. We knew they both were very experienced…it was too big to shout…just a huge echo of unintelligible noise. We did the usual chatting until Katie started to think of a long prussik up…after about 40 minutes we saw a light make its way over the ledge and down. Caver five had found himself in a “bit of a bother” with the rebelay and was looking for another way to release his cowstail. Using his hand jammer, it had become entangled around his foot. The rope had a lot of play so he had to use his knife to cut it free (oh this is familiar) and sent it sailing up past Hal’s head. Hal again had to navigate down the rope to get the jammer off so he could descend (oh yeah this is wayyyy familiar).
Once we all were safely down we took off our SRT kits and set off on the long crawl and twisting routes through boulders to find Peak. This trip has it all-waist deep water in beautiful streamways- a swirling whirlpool and great traverses-climbing and the unforgettable mud of colostomy crawl. Once we arrived at the junction for JH I could see the incredible pipe system. Nothing in here is short of stupendous engineering and determination. The large stemples through the roof left from long ago were imposing over our heads. Up and down all the ladders and laying in pools as we crawled along took a lot out of me but it was a wonderful adventure at every turn.
The final push and here were the muddy ducks. Time to scrub up and head out. You do my back and I’ll do yours. We made it out in the daylight and headed back to the TSG for a warm brew. Time to wipe our names off the board as out and head to our AGM. I won an award later in the evening for my epic F**k up previously but really it means more that when we all cave together we help one another, every step and every climb…epic. Thanks guys!
- Details
- Written by: Jim Thompson
- Hits: 939
Team: Jon, Jim, Chris, Sam, Joe
A sizeable team assembled on the inky black moor for tonight’s jaunt. All gathered in Jon’s van for a quick chat about the differences between, and merits of, scarification and aeration and of course the obligatory prebeers, I got the abuse/banter started immediately by pouring half my Guinness Zero via my crotch onto the luxury white carpet he has installed on the floor…
Quick change and off on the long trek towards the objective. Just as I felt like the end was approaching, I had to turn back to fetch my descender…
By the time I returned various bods were still wandering about looking for the shaft. Duly located, Jon set to tying knots and loudly exclaiming his prowess at rigging. We were rigging two ropes on the shaft to speed up egress, so with the first one sorted I chucked the free end down the hole. Cue a spluttering diatribe of further abuse from the Peak’s leading authority on rope handling.
Jon, Joe, Sam headed down restoring peace and I got on the rope, abbed down a few metres and waited for Chris who hadn’t been on a rope for a while consequently was shaking and on the verge of tears. I talked to him gently about how the nonchalance of the other bellends created tension and other such pearls.. Sam heard me and thought I was being rude, but of course I’d never do such a thing.
As predicted Chris was fine as soon as he weighted his Stop and wondered what all the fuss was about, and just to prove it kicked a big bit of ginging out that glanced my helmet and missiled down the shaft, exploding just where Sam was poised…
Anyway, we all reached the window at the mid-shaft platform and got off the rope ready for a poke about. I’d never been in this place and was really looking forward to seeing the spiral staircase it’s known for… it didn’t disappoint, complete with in-situ t’owd man’s wheelbarrow at the top for good measure.
Some fairly awkward looking but really fun thrutchy climbing followed, a bit of up and down before reaching a lovely narrow, but tall and deep rift with in situ handline and some more nice climbing/traversing to enjoy. This opened out into a much bigger mined out bit full of, it looked like at least, bright pink fluorspar.
After this with the three ahead of us all perched in a shaft, the whole place crumbling to bits as they stood still, we all decided it would be really nice to have a debrief in The Anchor afterwards so Chris and I made a quick exit and were joined by Sam whereupon we abandoned Jon and Joe to derig and went to the pub. The deriggers met us shortly afterwards and Jon obviously felt guilty for his mistreatment of me earlier and toned by presenting me with a lovely spar crystal.
- Notts II - 15/01/2023
- Gaping Gill / Victoria’s Sponge – 14/01/2023
- Tuesday Nighters out on a Wednesday - 04/01/2022
- Peak Showtime Spectacular – 15/12/2022
- No Warmth, No Dogs, No Messing – 03/12/2022
- The Wrong Rope Grommit - 24/11/22
- Giants Hole with a splash of H2O and Rn - 17/11/2022
- Tasting the Forbidden Fruit – 3/11/2022
- Bruce Lee, Fairy Liquid and an SRT Dildo – 14/10/2022 – 16/10/2022
- Moorwood Sough - Tuesday nighters, again on a Thursday - 01/09/2022
- Trip out to Carlswark Cavern - 21/07/2022
- Buxton Carnival 2022
- Aygill Caverns - 26/06/1988 (+34 years)
- An Ease Gill Traverse - 25/06/2022
- Potholderz - 02/06/2022
- Waterways Swallet -Tuesday Nighters 18/05/2022
- Knickers, Nickergrove and Schrodinger’s Streamway - 05/05/2022
- Tuesday Split - 26/04/2022
- 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