Table of Contents
Club Log Book 2024
Hunters Hole - Wed 3 Jan 2024
Andy Sparrow, David Cooke, Keith Milward, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders, Seán Tidey, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
A delayed follow up to our SRT tower training evening (due to the passing of Jackie Dors)
This cave has been a bete noire of mine for quite some time so with a certain amount of fear and trepidation I got changed and positioned myself at the back of the group in case I bottled it and needed to leave in a hurry.
It was lovely and warm inside the cave and, despite being drippy, a lot drier than outside. Andy, Sean and Cookie rigged swiftly and the whole party disappeared efficiently before me.
All too soon it was my turn, the first pitch had been rigged excellently with the Y-hang as high as possible, this calmed my nerves as I didn’t have to drop off of the ledge into the abyss as I had done previously, at the rebelay Andy was on hand to encourage and reassure as he was for the second and third, before I knew it I was at the bottom with everyone else.
I wasn’t in tears and my knees weren’t knocking, what’s going on? Whilst it lasted I barged to the front of the queue and started to make my way up the ropes, by the time I got to the third rebelay I knew what I was doing and actually enjoying myself. All too soon I was at the Y-hang and then up and out to the surface where the rain had stopped
Whilst others derigged I got changed then all went into the Hunters for a debrief.
Hopefully my SRTing is on the way up, partly helped by new cows-tails that I actually trust. Thanks to all for your patience, guidance and encouragement
— Lawrence Wilson 12/01/2024
Sludge Pit - Wed 10 Jan 2024
Andy Sparrow, David Cooke, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders, Rachel Sparrow, Will Puddy
Euan
Our fitst digging trip of the new year saw us making a fresh start in a new location, at the digging chamber adjacent to the clubs old dig.
We split into three teams with Andy and Rachel drilling holes in “The Hidden Stream”. Will, Euan and Peter making great progress at the new dig site, Whilst Cookie and Lawrence partially rebuilt the spoil heap and retaining wall at the bottom of the Aven dig site that had collapsed for a second time.
All out in freezing temperatures so reluctantly warmed up in the Hunters
— Lawrence Wilson 21/01/2024
Pierre’s Pot - Wed 24 Jan 2024
Andy Sparrow, Lawrence Wilson, Paul James, Peter Sanders, Rachel Sparrow, Seán Tidey, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
Euan
All parked and got changed in much warmer temperatures than last week then divided ourselves into two groups, the first to tackle the squeezes and the lower reaches while the second had a bimble around the upper series.
Peter, Will and Sean negotiated the squeezes without too much difficulty, Sean needed to remove all extraneous kit but just pushed through, sadly PJ’s chest was just too big and despite a few spirited attempts couldn’t force the second squeeze so joined the upper series team.
We had a good poke around reversing chimneys etc. and Yvette doing the Switchback, finally leaving the cave at just gone 21:00 when we retired to the Woodborough where the other team arrived a while later having had a great trip up the streamway all the way to the Hanging Gardens.
— Lawrence Wilson 30/01/2024
White Pit - Wed 31 Jan 2024
Andy Sparrow, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders, Rachel Sparrow, Seán Tidey, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
Euan
Meeting on the roadside between Priddy and Ebbor Gorge at 19:30, we got changed and walked to the entrance over a surprisingly soggy field, on the way it was pointed out that we needed three ladders but only had two! thankfully Andy had a plan.
We descended the tube and turned right into the roomy and well decorated Talus IV, after a few photos we retraced our steps to the junction and took the other passage down through a couple of squeezes to the top of The Forty Backs.
Sean rigged this with both of our ladders and all except Andy and Rachel descended the awkwardly tight rift. At the bottom we had a quick look in Master’s Hall then climbed up the calcite slope of Coffee Pot, helped and hindered in equal amounts by a knotted rope, once at the top a tight right angled bend was negotiated then through a puddle and some small passage to emerge at the entrance to Talus IV.
Andy and Rachel had kindly derigged The Forty Backs and had rerigged the entrance pitch most ingeniously. On the way in Andy had lowered the ladder then abseiled down on a doubled rope. On the way up he used the rope as a safety line, belayed from the bottom but he attached the ladder via a prusic to the other (dead) side of the rope thus being able to climb up the ladder whilst being lifelined, very clever.
Emerging into the field at 22:15 the fog had come down, sadly the Queen Vic was shut but the Hunters provided a warm welcome
— Lawrence Wilson 6/02/2024
Sludge Pit - Wed 7 Feb 2024
Andy Sparrow, Lawrence Wilson, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
I am writing this sometime after the event so can’t remember much about it! I’m sure we did good work in both the secret streamway and the connection dig then went to the Hunters afterwards
— Lawrence Wilson 28/04/2024
Swildons Hole in flood - Wed 21 Feb 2024
Andy Sparrow, Euan Goodland, Ken Passant, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders, Peter Hall, Rachel Sparrow, Seán Tidey, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone?
Having had a couple of weeks of rain and a forecast for more rain on the Wednesday this trip was advertised as “very, very wet” and boy we weren’t disappointed!
The stream was at the very top of the dam and judging by the debris had been going down the grid not long before, in we went, the noise was incredible.
We decided to go straight down the Wet Way as not sure we would be able to come up it against the flow of water.
The Eyehole was interesting, as soon as you where in it your body formed a plug and the water almost immediately backed up and flowed over the top of you, nothing for it but to allow yourself to get washed through, unfortunately Rachel managed to find the foothold on the other side that wedged her in position until she too was washed through, having had a near death experience she and Andy battled their way out.
The next challenge was the Lavatory Pan, it was very nearly sumped, thankfully the much braver than I Pete Hall was at the front and dived through, when it was my turn I just sat in it feet first and within a second I was spluttering on the other side.
The old Forty was in full flow with the water hitting the far side, very glad of the hand line especially on the way up.
The Twenty was thundering. Standing immediately at the top the water came halfway up my thighs
After battling our way back to the Water Chamber a few hardy souls returned via the wet way whilst the rest went via the Short Dry Way that had a sizeable stream flowing down it the whole way.
It was a relief for our ears to finally exit the cave and escape the noise. A truly wonderful trip that I will remember for a very long time. I know upper Swildons “like the back of my hand” but the water transformed it into a completely different beast. Congratulations to Euan as it was his first trip to Swildons, I hope he isn’t disappointed in normal conditions
A very welcome catch up at the Hunters as could only hear shouts down the cave we hadn’t chatted much.
— Lawrence Wilson 28/04/2024
Eastwater Cavern - Wed 28 Feb 2024
David Cooke, Peter Sanders, Will Puddy
Euan Goodland
Met at WCC on wet and foggy night and eventually set out to Eastwater around 8pm. Peter warned everyone of the slippery approach and promptly slid down the bank on his backside. Lovely waterfall down the entrance and through the approach to the Boulder Ruckle, so soon washed off the muck. Wet through, we progressed through the Woggle Press to the Boulder Chamber and then down to the Crossroads. Turning left we arrived at Dolphin Pot and descended with the aid of the 13m rope (and Italian Hitch for some). Next came the 35ft (Dolphin) Pitch which was rigged with the two ladders and 21m safety line, last man down using a doubled safety line held at the bottom. Getting a bit cold now, we descended the pitch (finding that one ladder actually reached to within a metre of the bottom, but two gave more flexibility at the top). Then on to the Bold Step, which was a bit testing. Down the rift we branched left and down the Muddy Oxbow (?) right at the bottom and back up the Thirteen Pots, returning to the Bold Step (actually climbable in the upward direction when at least two point contact could be maintained) and up through the Woggle Press for a refreshing shower on the way out (more so for Peter who struggled up the first access hole to the base of the entrance shaft which was in full flood instead if diving across to negotiate the second access in slightly more comfortable conditions. Slithering back up the slope we arrived cold wet and tired at the WCC, to find the time was nearly midnight, so straight to bed with no beer. What fun!
— Peter Sanders 2/03/2024
Sludge Pit - Wed 6 Mar 2024
Andy Sparrow, Lawrence Wilson, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
I suspect others but can’t remember
Another digging trip to our favourite cave, writing this after the event I presume good work was done in both the Secret Stream and the connection dig, I’m sure we went to the Hunters afterwards
— Lawrence Wilson 28/04/2024
Waterwheel Swallet - Wed 13 Mar 2024
David Cooke, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders, Will Puddy
Unfortunately my Panda spluttered to a halt at the top of Cheddar Gorge (turned out it was the alternator) thankfully Cookie had signal and Will picked us up.
After starting a little late this brilliant little cave came up trumps as it always does, we all enjoyed a swim at the bottom of the ladder, the canals seemed a bit longer than usual and I had forgotten how much “up” there is on the way out.
A warm welcome was enjoyed at the Riverside where we caught up with Cookies adventures in India
— Lawrence Wilson 28/04/2024
Monthly meeting - Sun 17 Mar 2024
David Cooke, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders
Met at the White Hart, Cheddar, after asking the membership over email prior to the meeting about Gary and Avril becoming new members they were voted in, welcome.
Cookie has been nominated to become Chairman of the CSCC by the club following an email “poll”, congratulations and good luck in the upcoming election process.
Longleat access was discussed, no progress
Various caves and escapades were discussed over a pint or two leading to the coming 5 weeks trip programme being agreed
20/3/24 Hunters Lodge Inn Sink 27/3/24 GB perhaps to Disapointment Chamber 3/4/24. Sludge Pit 10/4/24.Rocket Drop or Ubley Warren Pot depending on access 17/4/24 SRT or advanced trip, possibly Rhino Rift?
— Lawrence Wilson 18/03/2024
Hunters Lodge Inn Sink - Wed 20 Mar 2024
David Cooke, Lawrence Wilson, Paul James, Peter Sanders, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
This is a great little cave, but quite strenuous!
Having got the key from Roger we all went down the ladder and straight into a descending crawl that finally emerged into a large well decorated chamber. Then through more squeezes and climbs before arriving at the top of the pitch that Will rigged.
The pitch is long and awkward, the ladder runs against the sloping wall all the way with two pinch points. Despite linking two ladders they didn’t quite reach the bottom leaving a straight forward free climb.
Through a squeeze a lake was reached that most waded through to some passage beyond. We returned via the same route.
After much discussion as to which pub was closest we ended up in the Hunters
— Lawrence Wilson 28/03/2024
GB - Wed 27 Mar 2024
Andy Sparrow, David Cooke, Euan Goodland, Lawrence Wilson, Paul James, Rachel Sparrow, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo
Gary Avril
All met and changed in light drizzle and walked to the entrance across a very wet field.
Just inside we split up with Rachel, Gary and Avril going through the squeeze into Mud Passage whilst everyone one else climbed up the fixed ladder and into the Devils Elbow route, most of us had never been this way before and where pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t all squeezes. There are little chambers, free climbs and some decorations. Ultimately at Buggery Bend it is a crawl through water before a tricky down climb into the stream (fixed hand line) before popping out into the gorge 20m upstream from the normal Mud Passage route.
Following down stream into Main Chamber we regrouped then split with Andy, Rachel, Gary, Avril and Lawrence making their way out having had a look at the formations.
The rest went down the terrace and loop before climbing up into ladder dig and visiting Bat Passage before finding Disappointment Chamber which is all very loose, thankfully Yvette managed to dodge a large rock dislodged from above.
Changing was cold and wet so it was essential to warm up in the Woodborough the ladder dig crew arriving at 22:30
— Lawrence Wilson 28/03/2024
Sludge Pit - Wed 3 Apr 2024
Andy Sparrow, David Cooke, Euan Goodland, Ken Passant, Lawrence Wilson, Seán Tidey, Will Puddy
The clocks having changed at the weekend we walked across the fields in the light in a rare dry spell, as there was a good turnout we split into three teams.
Sean and Will going up the Aven, Andy and Cookie in to the secret streamway whilst Ken, Euan and Lawrence got busy at the dig. At exactly 20:00 silence descended whilst we listen for sounds through the dig face, disappointingly we couldn’t hear anything Will and Sean reported clearly hearing our banging about and even voices so can’t be far now, good progress was made from both sides.
A lot of rubble was removed from the secret stream with reports that it looks interesting about four metres ahead.
A pleasant debrief was enjoyed at the Hunters where we were all impressed with Will’s rock aiming that this week managed to find the bridge of Sean’s nose
— Lawrence Wilson 8/04/2024
Rocket Drop - Wed 10 Apr 2024
Andy Sparrow, David Cooke, Euan Goodland, Ken Passant, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders, Seán Tidey, Yvette Mayo
Arrived in thick fog, having introduced ourselves to the farmer we got changed in a barn and dunked wellies in disinfectant then walked across a couple of fields to the entrance pipe.
Descending the 10m entrance landed us straight into a roomy chamber with a flat and frankly terrifying ceiling. From the end of the chamber a clamber through boulders lead to the top of a short down climb with a vintage hawser laid hand line in place.
Directly at the bottom of the climb a corkscrew downward squeeze lead into another, well decorated chamber with a short extension at one end.
The corkscrew squeeze was a lot harder on the way up through it, other than that the way out was straight forward via our inward route.
According to the farmer nobody has been down this cave since Covid and a few years before that, so probably six or seven years, that’s a shame as it’s a worthwhile little cave, having said that I won’t be racing back for a year or two.
A slow drive in thick fog ended at the Hunters for a debrief
— Lawrence Wilson 15/04/2024
Sidcot Swallet - Wed 17 Apr 2024
David Cooke, Euan Goodland, Lawrence Wilson, Yvette Mayo
Arrived in Burrington in sunshine and decided to have a quick look down Aveline’s, to our surprise the lock was missing allowing us to have a look at the distinctly unimpressive Mesolithic scratchings and the very muddy end of the cave, Cookie has informed UBSS that the lock is missing.
Walking up the valley we arrived at the entrance to Sidcot and rattled down the spidery entrance tube with Cookie looking unsuccessfully for the entrance to Purgatory.
After negotiating the Letterbox and Tie Press we slid down the Lobster Pot and soon came to the watery end of the cave, despite this being a duck it appeared to be full of silt so would need digging out to get to the true end of the cave.
The accent of the Lobster Pot provided the usual array of sound effects but eventually all managed it without the use of the rope.
Just before the Letterbox Cookie and Yvette examined a left turn that succeeded I leading to Purgatory, whilst they where doing that Euan and I exited the cave and did a very quick entrance to entrance trip of Goatchurch which Euan hadn’t been down before, turning the evening into a three cave jaunt.
We retired to the Woodborough where we were joined by Andy and Rachel
— Lawrence Wilson 28/04/2024
Read’s Cavern - Wed 24 Apr 2024
Adam Fletcher, Andy Sparrow, David Cooke, Euan Goodland, Judi Durber, Lawrence Wilson, Peter Sanders, Rachel Sparrow, Will Puddy
Gary and Avril
All met up at the Burrington Inn, then lift shared up the very bumpy track to park at the UBSS hut, a very pleasant walk in spring sunshine to the always impressive entrance. Here we split with Andy, Rachel, Lawrence, Gary and Avril going in the dry entrance while the rest went via the Wet entrance before successfully bottoming out the cave at the sump.
Sliding our way in we abruptly arrived in the impressive Main Chamber before having a look in the once very pretty Grotto.
From here we had a good look around the Main Chamber but couldn’t find the way into Junction Chamber (wrong name?) the entrance has possibly been filled with debris, there are huge amounts of flood bebris newly deposited, presumably from the February floods.
Exiting via the Wet Entrance we walked over to Bath Swallet where we had a look at the top of the pitch. The other group weren’t far behind us so lift shared back and arrived at the Woodborough within a few minutes of each other.
Good to see so many members out for a Wednesday night’s caving
— Lawrence Wilson 28/04/2024
Sludge Pit - Wed 1 May 2024
Andy Sparrow, Euan Goodland, Lawrence Wilson, Paul James, Will Puddy
Gary Powel
A very successful night’s digging with rapid progress (about a meter) made in the connection dig, we have now turned left which hopefully is heading straight for the top of the aven dig site, our spoil heap is quickly filling up, so all of this week’s spoil was podged onto the wall which presumably strengthened it quite a bit. Fingers crossed not far to go !?!?
— Lawrence Wilson 2/05/2024
Sludge Pit Hole - Tue 7 May 2024
Seán Tidey
Garry
Andy, Garry and I met at the Wessex at 7 and began the now familiar routine of heading to the dig.
On reaching the secrete streamway I climbed up to check out the last bang and begin removing the rock. What I was met with was quite a surprize. After previous bangs almost all the rock had been shattered into pieces not much bigger than a fist. These could easily be piled into the half barrel, pulled under the person at the face and dumped until the streamway was clear enough to begin drilling again. This time though the rock had shattered into 5 very large pieces, including some from the right hand wall (all the banging having been done in the left). This proved very hard to remove and involved slings, ropes and lots of profanities. The rock here has quite a lot of faults in causing this to happen. Eventually Andy and I got most of it out with just one whopper left slap in the middle. The plan is to tackle this with plug and feather on the next trip. We had been talking about creating a turning round space in the streamway at some point as so far its a case of wriggle in and wriggle backwards to get out. Inadvertently we have almost done this. Once we had removed as much as we were going to be able to it was time to start drilling. The clubs new 4AH drill battery made its debut and made short work of the rock, making two 60cm holes and still showing two lights on the battery! Andy and I swapped places so Andy could rig the bang. We then retreated to just below Castle Falls where Garry got the press “the button!”, making what sounded like a good explosion.
Standard exit procedure, no pub.
We will wait and see what next week brings.
Seán
— Seán Tidey 12/05/2024
Rhino Rift - Wed 8 May 2024
Seán Tidey, Will Puddy, Yvette Mayo,
On a beautiful spring evening Will, Yvette and I met on Charterhouse rd north of Longwood. Before setting off we had the inevitable untangling and fitting of our SRT kits followed by the flaking of 150m of rope into two bags and the distribution of krabs and slings. By 7.30pm we set off with topo and key in hand and of course our helmets on our heads.
After a bit of searching we found the cave and Will and Yvette got to work on the padlock. There is about 5 minutes of crawling and sliding before you reach the top of the first pitch. From the top of the first pitch we could easily identify the direct and right hand-routes, as there was a CCC sign on the right-hand route confirming the bolts were CCC & CSCC placed and maintained. I set off rigging the RH route, starting with a short traverse to the first Y hang in a shallow rift. From here the first big pitch started, at first descending with feet on the wall but at the first deviation the wall went vertical and the decent became free hanging, something like 24m in total.
At the bottom, very far from any wall I spied a small, in-situ sling around a flake just above the entrance to a rift. At first I thought that's a very small sling for a deviation! Then it dawned on me, it was there to grab and allow the rigger to be able to get to the wall and therefore next bolts. With no wall in reach I started to swing and after a couple of mins of swinging and bouncing I managed to grab the sling, pull myself towards the wall and clip a very welcome bolt. I continued to rig, making a 5ish meter bridging, traverse through a rift to the top of the second pitch. Will and Yvette were now making their way down the first pitch.
Somewhere in this or on exiting this rift, and I have no idea how, I think I may have lost the RH route and ended up on the direct route as after another amazing free hanging pitch I arrived on the ledge at the top of pitch three (the sketchy boulder bit in the guide book) rather than hitting a rebelay at the top of three and getting all the way to the bottom of the cave without touching the ground. I had now used the two lengths of rope I had been carrying so set up camp on the ledge and waited for Will and Yvette who were now on the second pitch and waiting in the rift. We regrouped on the ledge and discussed the options, the amount and position of visible bolts making matters confusing. I eventually rigged a short traverse followed by a 23ish M non-freehanging abseil down to the floor.
After we all made it to the bottom of the cave, we had a couple of minutes of looking around but time was quickly marching on and we had an 11pm call out. Unable to put off ascending any longer I set off up the pitch, with Yvette behind and Will de-rigging. On the sketchy ledge Yvette swapped position with me and took point on the very bouncy pitch two. When Will arrived and de-rigged the bottom pitch I took the bag of rope and gave him the empty one and set off upwards!
All three of us I think it is fair to say found the free hanging ascents pretty hard work, mainly due to poor technique rather than fitness, defo the case for me. By the time I reached the rift Yvette was transitioning onto the first pitch, which was proving hard as I had not left anywhere near enough rope loop under the rebelay (thought I had loads when rigging but it all turned out to be rope stretch). Will caught me up in the rift as Yvette carried on up.
When I eventually slogged my way up to the top I took one bag with me and left Yvette to wait for Will while I dashed out of the cave to grab my phone and scramble into the field to get signal and cancel the call out, also to let people know we were not going to make last orders. When I got back to the top of the pitch Will had just finished de-rigging so, very hot, sweaty, and tired we made out way out of the cave, faffed again with the lock and ambled back to the cars for 11ish.
This was a fantastic and challenging trip, not to mention an excellent work out. Credit to Yvette for preforming like a seasoned SRT caver and Will for doing all the de-rigging and ascending with the extra weight of rope.
Although it would have been good to have more than three members of the club on the trip any more than three and we would have been very late. If we fancy going down again, perhaps after some training then either pre-rigging or rigging both routes could be an option.
Seán
— Seán Tidey 12/05/2024
