THE I}ERtsYSHIR.E CAVER No.105
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GIANT'S EXTENSIONS FARNSLEY LANE CAVE ELDON DIGGING RESCUE REPORTS TONY GIBBS SPILLS ALL! fl.50 THE DERBYSHIRE CAVER Sprinq 2000
EDITOR: lain Barker 56 Thornbridge Crescent, Birley, Sheffield, 512 3AE.
Tel: 0 1 1 4-2530 1 1 2 Mobile: 04 1 0689704 email: [email protected]. uk Copy date for the next issue is the end of June 2000. Material can be written, phoned or on disk ('word'format if poss). Subscription to this publication is €7 for four issues, see back page for details. The views expressed in ihis publication are not necessarily those of the editor or ihe Derbyshire Caving Association. Contact the DCA website at www.theDCA.org.uk
CONTENTS Page , 1 EDITORIAL&REVIEVV " 2 LETTERS & DID YOU KNOW?I 3 NORTH SUMP RIFT EXTENSION 4 NORTH SUMP SURVEYS 5 TONY GIBBS SPEAKS! 6 TONY GIBBS SPEAKS SOME MORE! 7 TONY GIBBS SPEAKS EVEN MORE!!!! 8 A TRIP WITH ENGLISH NATURE 9 CAVING NEWS & DIARY 10 FARNSLEY LANE & ELDON DIGS 11 CAVING NEWS 12 RESCUE REPORTS 13 RESCUE REPORTS {BARIKER,S BOT
Hi, lots of digging news this issue. lt seems that the Eldon have a new influx of blood and appropriately enough some of these new lads are working away down Eldon Hole. Good luck to'em; I dug the same spot about a decade back. There's a piece in here by Tony Gibbs, the Conservation and Access Officer of the DCA. lf you care anything at all about our caves, or ever wondered why Derbyshire caving is so hassle free for "Joe Cave/' this article will explain. Of all the DCA team this bloke probably has the most time consuming and hardest task which he handles with aplomb. You've probably never met him and you probably never will but next time you're down Lathkill Head, Devonshire Mine or any number of other sites, iust bear in mind that if it wasn't for Tony you wouldn't be allowed in there at all.
*S@RRY ]THE WE HAD T@ DO [T _ PLEASE F@RGIVE US Eli'C, HrC- BOT Yes, we've put the price up. Sticking ten bob (sorry, fifty pence) on the price may seem a bit high but the cost of producing the Derbyshire Caver has gone up, the costs of posting it to DCA members has gone up, the petrol used delivering it to shops has gone up and for years & years the price of this publication has stayed the same. lt couldn,t continue for ever. Anyway - you're still getting all the Derbyshire caving news for less than the price of a small bottle of questionable foreign beerl
R,EVOEW POTS'rY'FlN'us
rhe Masson never cease t:T'If:3#3^il'::,:5?Hln ,n" o"r,n" or the British caving club is accelerating the Masson membership keeps expanding in direct contrast. I became a member just over a year ago and was very impressed with the and sheer number of members who tum out regularly on trips. This club is ightly knit and a lot of this can be laid at the door of the club committee who ensure that enthusiasm is maintained. \Mih usually two trips each week (thafs over 100 a year god's sake!) the members soon become very good cavers indeed_ One of the most important things the Masson do is publish (free to members) Masson News each month. This @ntains the forthcoming trips and articles about previous months caving events. And this is where pots'N' pints draws its material fom. The Masson have been in existence for twenty years now and this publication covers the last ten. lt's a big, chunky 44 document with a clear plastic cover and too pages for me to count. ln full colour with hundreds of articles and snippets, some which are mercilessly funny. For anyone ho wants to know how to run a successful caving club this is the way. lf you just want an insight into what is rapidly becoming one of Derbyshire's premier clubs buy a copy. ou can get it on CD for €3.50 Or on paper for f 10. sounds like a lot of money doesn't it? But bear in mind that a local print shop quoted per unbound copy! Contact ALAN KEEN. 16 SHETLAND WAY, COUNTESTHORPE, LEICESTER, LE8 sPU LETTEiRS TO T,i;lLE IEDI-IOFI
Editor, Derbyshire Caver, 56 Thornbridge Crescent, Birley, Sheffield, S12 3AE
Dear Sir or Madam,
Diving in Devonshire Cavern, Matlock Bath (Derbyshire CaverNo. 102, (May 1999) pp11- 12).
Lower sump dive, by David Webb.
It was pleasing to rea,J of the Masson Caving Group's dive, but, there's little that's new under the ground. The sump and shaft-up at the bottom of Devonshire Cavern were (re)discovered by a small group of us either in late 1963 or in 1964. To be fair, some time previous, someone else had dug the backbreaker which is some 20-30 metres or so from the bottom of the system - to digress a little, at that time ii really was fearsome and remained so until a rescue of some poor soul who had dislocated his arm on the wrong side as a result of getting stuck and being pulled through by his partner - so both were on the wrong side!
A few metres digging over an hour or two and we were through! At the bottom of the shaft we found a cocoa tin (Cadbury's) sealed with tape and containing a message (l siill have it somewhere). lt had been dropped down a partially blocked shaft under the front room of Guilderoy House during floor replacement (this section used to be Guildereye Mine - we have an 18"' century picture at the Mining Museum) asking any finder to notify them. We did.
We had the usual vision of measureless caverns beyond the water filled passage of sump or at least free access to the Hodgkinson Hotel's cellars. A skinny dip proved insuffcient to proceed, so a week later we returned with what for us passed as diving gear. That was me in a pair of swimming trunks and 30 feet of hosepipe with me also attached to a hemp belay rope for dragging- back purposes. Nevertheless, we were able to ascertain the same result as David Webb reported.
It seems likely that, because the sough which drains Devonshire is blocked at the Fountain Baths (now the Aquarium), raising the level some 40-45 feet, that this point below Guilderoy will be roughly that height above river - ce(ainly, in my experience, in dry years the water does not appear to fall to a lower level, as one would otherwise expect.
Our gear was much easier to carry than the Masson Group's, but I really cannot recommend it.
Lynn Willies.
DND YOU KINOW? The Eldon Pothole Club once had Jimi Hendrix playing at one of their stompsl
Or...... Back in the mists of time Bob Dearman made out a will with a sum of money attached so that if he stiffed-it the Rolling Stones could be hired to play at his wake...... in the quite understandable fear that he would have met an early demise at the hands of certain Eldon members who would prefer a free Stones gig over a live Dearman, Bob only recently revealed this anangement! !! ! |I NOR]TH ROffi SUMP EX]TENSI@N Stockport Caving Group
North Rift is to be found in Giant's containers full) 0f water to empty Hole, just after the Eating House the sump and is reached by turning left out of the passageways which lead to the As we had suspected, the low point traverse to Geology Pot. lt consists of the sump was an archway, similar of a rift passage interspersed with to those encountered in North Rift. low archways terminating in a small Luckily there was no build-up of silt sump-pool. on the other side of the arch and we have dug out the sump floor to make Keith Bentham and John Cordingley the arch a passable squeeze investigated this site in the early seventies and reported the sump to (Enter the Winja). However this is be blocked by a silt-choke just rendered more awkward by the fact below the surface. They began to that the water still trickles into the blast away the rock-slope before the sump from the other side, and we sump, with the intention of digging have always kept someone baling away the silt blockage, but were on the North Rift side of the sump to diverted elsewhere by discoveries in ensure ihe party beyond the Maggin's Rift squeeze is not cut off. Stockport Caving Group, attracted At the moment the sump is about by the prospect of a (relatively) 2m deep and about 4m long (see easy dig first looked at this site in cross-section) but we would 1996. Baling the sump-pool quickly recommend that the sump should revealed the silt-choke to still be in not be dived as the squeeze is place but easily dug. Over the last rather tight. lt should certainly not, few years we continued to work the be f ree-d ived. site as the weather permitted, with the principal diggers, in alphabetical The passage beyond the sump is order being, Richard Aldham, Bill shown in the survey and is aboui Griffiths, Wayne Rickett and Steve 20m in length. It consists of a rift Turnbull. passage heading roughly northwards, nearly full to the roof Digging was confined to the drier with large boulders. This rises at months of the year as water flowed about 45 degrees for approximately through the silt-choke in wet -1 0m until it reaches a passageway conditions - encouraging as an choked wiih large boulders. At this indication of passageway beyond, point a |ow crawl to the west runs io but frustrating to dig. We found that a blind chamber some 2m across as the dig deepened, there was (Alice's Pa lace). more and more water to bale out of the sump-pool each time, before Clearly the way on is through the digg ing could commence. boulder-choke and this is currently Nonetheless, taking advantage of receiving our attention. the good weather last summer, we finally managed to dig through the silt-choke in August. By this time, we estimate, we had to bale out about 3 tonnes (or 600BDH t"l
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oq z Itl inagg o a \o \oG \o Mission Statement Tony Gibbs Conservation & Access Officer
My Beliefs
It is my belief that all that lies beneath the obligaiion to undertake any work for them ground is a part of our Heritage. I believe wiihout prior consultation with DCA that, whoever claims to own the land Council. I will, however, always attempt to merely occupies it and holds it in trust. lt is co-operate and liaise vyhere I feel that to this fundamental belief in our right io our do so is in the best interests of the caves heritage that, to me, always presumes in and cavers in this region. favour of access. Without access to our On Caver Responsihilities caves, then lsee little point in pretending to conserve them. Along with access comes responsibility. Any access that I strive I will My Job Role for strive to ensure that it is, in conservation terms, of a lf, as Conservation and Access Ofiicer it is sustainable nature. Continued access expected of me that my loyalties lie entirely agreements will, therefore, be dependant with those that democratically elected me, on the responsible attitudes of cavers then I am sorry to disappoint them. I will towards the cave environment. To this end always put the needs of the caves above it is hoped that all cavers in this region will the needs of individuals. lt is always my strive towards achievement of the Minimal aim, however, to work in the best interests lmpact Caving Code. lf there are to be any of both the caves and of cavers wherever exceplions, then lwould expect them to be that is achievable. I would repeat that my supported by reasoned conservaticn presumption will always be in favour of arguments - with ihe exception of Cave access, and that Conservation without Rescue. access rs ineffectual. On Conservation I propose to produce details in my Ofhcer's To me Conservation does not mean just Reports of my Short, Medium, and Long cave formations. Cave Conservation Term Objectives as part of my obligation to DCA. includes the management of all the identifiable pressures on any system by I propose to chase my Sho(, Medium, and whatever user groups and interests, It Long Term Objectives enthusiastically and includes external and internal pressures vigorously. from whatever source. lt also includes Some of this, may mean change, and most enhancement when this may be deemed change meets resistance to change. essential for the continued and sustainable enjoyment of the cave environmeni. For I will, in my reports, continue to siate my long term conservation to be effective objectives and to report my progress strong and effective links need to be towards these objectives. established with Training and wilh peoples' Scope first introduction to caving. I believe that it is time for the role of Training to expand My scope, within this job role, is into Education in order to form these links, predominantly related to the geographic I also believe that every site is unique, and Region represented by DCA, and to I am wary of blanket policies being applied representation of DCA at a National level. to individual sites. I, therefore, support the lf other Regions, user groups or national development of individual Cave organizations have any interest in these Conservation Plans for systems; and I intentions, then I will feel under no support the individual conservation interpretation of sites. For this reason it instance lam referring to negotiations for may be that what is supported at one site access to sites without access. ln such may vary from that supported at another. cases, I am confronted with two major This difference will, however, have to be concerns from landowners and mineral justified in conservation terms in the rights owners; development of the cave ennservation o What is in it for me, or why should I plans. These interpretations should form bother? the basis any Education Packs developed. Access . How can I be reassured that access will not bring about problems of noise, I believe that many existing access nuisance, litte( damage, and sometimes restrictions have used c,onservation as an verbal abuse - or worse? excuse for exclusive visitor rights. ln Again this situation can be alleviated to connection with this, I have been able, with some exient, if landowners can be assured support, to develop the Cave Formations that the Minimum lmpact Caving Code, Vulnerability Chart, and also the system of and the Code of Ethics are being adhered Zoning. This is described in the National to. These are as laid down in the National Caving Association Cave Conservation Caving Association Cave Conservation Handbook, Chapter 11. Use of this Handbook, Chapter 13. approach has demonstrated that there are often restrictions imposed on systems that Other User Groups are totally inappropriate to the vulnerability Because of my beliefs in basic rights to our of the formations, but where the formations heritage, it is understandable that I should have been cited as the reason for the wish to involve other user groups, and restrictions. \A/hat I am now proposing is a landowners, in discussing the future far more scientific approach link to the conservation of the caves and mines in the be+.ween vulnerability, sustainability, and reg io n. appropriate conservation meaEures. The Cave Conservation Regional for Any access restrictions imposed Management Committee has conservation been set up reasons will now be with this very much in mind. lt has a very challenged by me, and scientific wide representation. I believe that most justification will be expected. Failure to do past conflicts of interest can be overcome so will demonstrate by default that any by a combination of zoning, and of restrictions imposed may be for well other collaboration. reasons, but cannot be for justifiable reasons of conservation" This approach does come with its inherent risks. I believe that these risks are We have, recent years, been losing in calculable. I also believe that the benefits more access to caves than we have been far outweigh the drawbacks. The risks gaining. Sometimes access has been lost include the need for openness and honesty through obliteration, but sometimes it has in dealing with these other interests. lt is been lost through the use by cavers, and only by this approach that we can gain the the effect that this has had the on trust of the other interests. I see this as an landowners. This is conservation issue, a essential step in building a reputation for and is hoped commitment of it that the honesty, genuineness and integrity. cavers to the Minimal lmpact Caving Code will go some way to alleviating this problem This can only help to improve the profile of in the medium and long term. As far as DCA with other interests, groups, and gaining access is concerned, there are two organizations. types of problem associated. ln the one Finance instance there has only been a steady trickle of new discoveries, although some We are just beginning to reap the benefits have been quite significant. ln the other of this improved liaison with other user groups. We have received financial and both parties' best interests for cavers to material support all ready tom, use engine, or hauling shafts for their pitches, reinstall ladder-ways English Nature, Environment Agency, and for the English Heritage, Chatsworth Estates, lndustrial Archaeologists This is perhaps National Trust, Peak District National Park something that we are not used pressures mine Authority, members of PICA, NCA Training, to, but as develop on a telecommunications firm in Sheffield, and usage, we may have to accept the conservation reasoning supporting such a of course a considerable number of DCA project, particularly individuals clubs, also if it is supported or and and groups. interestingly a number of non-members flnanced by these other user and non-caving individuals. I personally find the prospect of the next few years exciting. see oppoduniiies We now have a variety of avenues of I to put right of the past, funding available, all of which need some damage of the it exploring. Many of these have sprung from to develop systems for ensuring that does not recur, for generations this rapidly improving relationship with and future from improved other user groups and organizations. of cavers to benefit the access and their educated conservation DCA has also received two awards for awareness. conservation and for project related work. I am an optimist, despite the fact that it has The costs of these proposed changes are been said "an optimist is just a pessimist high. lt is essential, therefore, that we do that lacks experience". work with ihese other interests to share the My Limitations costs and the work loads. lt is also essential that we thoroughly investigate all ln attempting to achieve my objectives, I possible sources of funding. am aware of my strengths and Managing Change weaknesses, and I do believe that once some of these systems are set-up and I repeat that I propose to chase my Short, established, that the job role will change. Medium, and Long Term Objectives poini, job enthusiastically and vigorously, and that I believe that, at that the role will some of this may mean change, and that require someone more able to maintain the procedures, physically get most change meets resistance to change. but also to out amongst the membership and sell I also understand how change can be seen conservation to the membership. as threatening, frightening, or just plain My holistic view irritating. lt is far easier to accept the status wouid neecj io be replaced by one quo, but in terms of cave conservation this of a methodical nature with more is not sustainable. aftention to the operational detail. I accept this from the outset. This change I believe is inevitable. What I Your hope we can achieve is to manage this Decision change as painlessly as possible. The lf you agree with the above intentions, then success is dependant on the level of I would ask for your continued support acceptance and co-operation of cavers. through this period. lf, however, you find One example that springs to mind is with these intentions objectionable, then I would respect to Mine Conservaiion. As cavers strongly recommend that these objections we need to accept that we are only one be raised at a DCA Council Meeting. By user group, and that an lndustrial this means it may be possible to either Archaeologist's idea of conservation of a resolve the objections or to replace me climbing shaft might involve the with someone more representative of replacement of ladders in original current feelings of the membership. materials. To cavers it might seem like the loss of a pitch. By zoning, it might be in A TRIP WITH ENGLISH] N]ATT'RE (by John Cordingley)
Last year the D.C.A. and English Nature jointly published an excellent little leaflet called "Do You Dig Caves?". lt gives basic information about all the Sites Of Special Scientific lnteresi in the Peak District of significance to cavers. This is widely available and a glance at it will tell you where the S.S.S.l.s are and what you must do before going digging in these sites which are legally protected under the Wildlife And Countryside Act.
Not long after this leaflet appeared a group of us from the T.S.G. were thinking of taking on a large scale digging project in a well known Peak District cave. So I decided to bite the bullet and wrote a short letter to E.N.'s Peak Distrjct team to ask if they had any objections. I received a very pleasant reply and there were no problems. The E.N. staff I'd been in contet with were not cavers but are keen to learn more about our caves. John Gunn therefore organised a trip for them and I was asked to go along.
The trip took place on 1ah February this year when five of us went for a wander round Peak Cavern. Apart from John and myself the party included Audra Hursl and Ben Ie Bas (both from E.N.) and John's son Owain. We spent almost 5 hours underground discussing cave conservation and lwas very impressed by Audra and Ben's willingness to see lhe ordinary cave/s point of view. They fully understand that digging and other exploratory activities are necessary, otherwise new sections of cave (with all their scientific potential) would not be opened up! Also, cavers can provide EN with invaluable information on the condition of known caves and potential problems facing them.
I also learned quite a lot about what E-N. is trying to do; they have much the same objec{ives as cavers - i.e. to protect the caves that we gain so much pleasure from, with the minimum impact on our freedom for ongoing exploration. ln a way they can be thought of as co-ordinating the efforts of the various groups with interests in our karst area. No caver worthy of the name wouid intentionally cause damage, yet might easily do so through ignorance. A good example is ihe existence of rare plants in certain shakehoies, lf a caving club wanted to do a surface dig then a quick phone call to E.N. would normally establish that this would cause no problem. However, if a particular dig were to pose a threat to surface vegetation then it wouldn't neessarily mean we can't dig there - it might just be that not walking or dumping spoil on one part of the ground is all that's needed to avold damage. The feature of scientific inierest which receives legal proteclion isn't always immediately obvious, which is why there is a need to check with E.N. first. This seems to me to make a lot of sense.
There is still a body of opinion in the caving world that English Nature exists to restrict our ac{ivities - this is just not true. E.N. and cavers are increasingly working together so that we can protect known cave systems whilst continuing io explore our caves withoui causing inadvertent damage. lf you are planning a dig in the Peak District then contacl E.N. diredly as below. They are very helpful and easy to deal with; you'll also avoid breaking the law and in most cases there won't be any restriclions. So there's no excuse - right?!
English Nature, Peak District and Derbyshire Team, Manor Barn, Over Haddon, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1JE
Tel: 01629 815095
Email: << [email protected] >> NEWS CHESTERFIELD CAVING CLUB As from and including Thursday March 2 we will return to THE LOCKOFORD lNN, Tapton, Chesterfield, for our usual monthly club meetings. This is reached from Chesterfield via Brimington Road to Tapton (1 mile from town), tuming lefi at Lockoford Lane
D.C.R.O. As treasurer of DCRO I would Iike to extend my thanks and those of the commiftee to various individuals and clubs who helped us raise money on Street and Pub collections during the lasl financial year, namely (in no particular order) Masson CC, Chesterfield CC, Crewe +PC, Disley UG and "The Stockport Cavers" for their incredible effort during their "Reunion Bash" A thankless Task but a very profitable one! Volunteers are required from individuals or clubs for this years round of collections-don't forget it might be you or a member of your club who requires our assistance on our next "shout". Ralph Johnson (DCRO treasurer).
C@URSES, CONFER,ENGES, EVENTS, IETG" 2000 May 14th (Sun.) - CNCC/NCA Training Event, Clapham, N. Yorkshire. Topics include Accident prevention/dealing with emergencies, SRT clinic, Equipment Review, conservation "Cave Vulnerability'studies, AV Presentations. Cost €5.00 to include refteshments. Funher details available shortly - cafes, shops and www.cavinq.uk.com or contact Paul Ramsden, CNCC Training Offi cer, [email protected] June 10/11 - MENDIP 2000. Priddy. Mendip Regional Meeting / cscc Event. contact Dave lnvin, Townsend Cottege, Priddy, Wells, Somerset. BA5 3BP. Tel. A1749-870369, Email. [email protected]. Website at: http://www.mendipnet.co.uk/2000. June 16118 - Royal Forest of Dean Symposium lll. Contact Paul Taylor, 9 Massey Road, Gloucester, GL 1 4LG. Email. [email protected]. uk June 16/18 - British Cave Rescue Council National Conference. Bull i'th'Thorn lnn, Derbyshire. For details ring Alan Gamble 01298-78613 July 719 - CAVERS FAIR 2000. Hosted by DCA at Pindale Farm Outdoor Center, nr. Hope, Derbyshire. 2 days of events: SRT and Ladder/Line workshops, First Aid, Basic Cave Rescue, Photography and Mdeo workshops, fieldwork sessions, competitions, quizzes, a stomp, etc. to suit cavers of all ages and abilities. Accommodation on site is bunkhouse or camping. Food will be on sale on site all weekend. Booking forms due out at the end of March. Watch out for news on the DCA website at
IMEETTI{N]GS 2000 April I (Sat.) - DCA Council Meeting. t0am. Monyash Mltage Halt April 9 (Sun.) - BCRC AGM. 10.00am, Derbyshire Police He., Riptey May 6 (Sat ) - CSCC AGM. 10.30am, Hunters Lodge, Priddy. FARNSLEY ILANIE DOG Mark Noble and I had a dig at this tiny blocked entrance on 7th February, and found that it was the top of a narrow passage full of flowstoned boulders. After 4 sessions of pleasant but strenuous boulder bashing and chiseljng, we were able to wriggle through into a just-penetrable passage. After about 3 metres we were on the edge of a roomy 3 metre cllmb down into a chamber about 1.5m x 5m, with a floor of flowstoned boulders. Another day of rock moving revealed the wall undercutting into a passage, at yr'hich point the draughi became very much stronger. Mark Loftus was easily persuaded to dig here instead of going to Streaks West Choke on 22nd February, and another session with crowbars and sledge hammers got us through another short bouldery thrutch to a second short climb down. Another small chamber, and another crawl full of flowstoned boulders followed- We shifted enough to scraum in for a couple of body lengths, but large boulders lie ahead and it will have to be made bigger. We reckon the present end is I or 10 melres below the entrance. lt is a small fossil vadose s\vallet cave, with the bottom of each little cascade or pitch full of boulders, all flowstoned together. An exciting site, for we know of nothlng in the immediate area that draughts like this: Paracetam 'Ole is about quarter of a mile up the valley. Repoft from John Beck ELD@NI H@Ud A preliminary visit was made to Eldon Hole on the 23rd January to assess the condition of the presumed Lloyd's Shaft. To our knowledge the dig was last active in the late 1980's when three TSG members including lain Barker were trying to flnd the now legendary 'greai rivef as ta,ked aboul by Lloyd and King in iheir writings of the 1770s. The Eldon team, consisting of Jase Rider, Gary Bode, Davey Jones and Steve Rider set about stabilising the entrance to lhe dig (which has collapsed due to rotting timbers) a week later on the 30th January. A third visit was made on the 7th February and good progress was made removing deads left over from the TSG dig, widening the cunent e)lent of shaft and extending the depth of the shaft by 3 to 4 feet - hopefully past the depth attained by the TSG in the late '80s. A return is planned in the near future. Report from Steve Rider, Eldon Pothole Club
C,ITCH UP OH TEE CAI'II\IG TSSII-S A'f: hfip: { [www.hn h.dircon.co.uk/cavi ng. htm :{ [www.eldon org.uk
DAVE EDWARDS & ASSOCIATES OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ACTIVITY PROVIDER & CONSULTANT 1 Sycamore Barn, off Main Road, Taddington, Buxton, DERBYSHIRE, SK17 9TR Tel/Fax 01298 85 375. Mobile O78Og 181801 Email [email protected] http://website.lineone.netl - dave.edwards CAVING TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING CLASSIC CAVING TRIPS NOVICE CAVING TRIPS SRTPITCHRIGGING RIGGING FOR LADDER & LIFELINE TECHNIQUES SRT BASIC SKILLS COURSE SELF RESCUE TECHNIQUES FOR LADDER & LIFELINE SELF RESCUE TECHNIQUES FOR SRT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, WEATHER & FLOODING COURSES TRAINING SL ASSESMENT FOR THE LOCAL CAVE LEADER SCHEME TRAINING &- ASSESMENT FOR THE CAVE INSRUCTOR SCHEME
10 GOODtsVE CLAORE It's with a sense of some regret to the DCA that Claire Trinder has lefi English Nature and gone off to work in West Africa. Having sat in meetings with her, it soon became apparent that while having little interest in caving she did have a great deal of interest in conserving our Derbyshire caves and promoting cunent and future exploration of them by those of us who do such things. Claire was an invaluable aid to DCA/EN relations within Derbyshire and we'll all miss her.
EF{ED,iIATOROL'M POT high on Bradwell Moor, a ferv hundred yards fiom Long Rake Mine, this dig is in a ising location. The dig is in a shakehole in the bottom ofa small dry valley. The entrance i covered b1, a m[rnhole. and is a 20' deep shaft lined with drystone walling. From the bottor-n a short crawl leads to a climb dorvn into a chamber, where the digging face has been causi excitement. by swallorving great gobs of mud into an unknown orilice. o save m-v-self a lynching, I should mention that this is arguably a SUSS dig, although several members have been active here at various times. DO'W,EL DALE SNDE POT Dale Side Pot has been a TSG dig for several years, with the past two years having some particularly determined digging by several tenacious individuals, rvho were finally with a break:tkough into a large rift. There are two sumps; the upsfeam sump has been ived for 100m by John Cordingly, but closes down; the static sump has been entered for a short by Tim Hallarn. A dig has been making good progress in following the stream as it si down a boulder-filled rift, although this seems to flood during the winter On 4111/99, the sun e]' of ihe ne'w extensions was finally connected to the surface on a survey following an unpleasant change in the snow. The depth of the survey is 54m, although the curently flooded) dig at the bottom probably adds a little more depth to this. The prospects at Dowei Dale are good, rvith several large shakeholes on the top ofthe hill, and a at valley level, which is unfortunately impenetrable exrept for a short distance ( full spiders). GAL|E[\]A INFT / EPJT AVEN] This dig has led through a boulder choke to a series of avens and steeply sloping passageway, ising up to the level of the White River series. The way on is rocky, but heads towards an area t}le downstream end of White River. Although pro$ess is likely to be slow at least next few feet, there is a faint draught, and the passage appears to enlarge slightly beyond iction. A couple of sessions of determined capping should let us see if it's worth effort. Thanks to the TSG webmaster for the above. VALE - Dr. HUGH KIDD Hugh Kidd, long serving member of the DCRO has died after an illness. Hugh was invofued with rescue in Derbyshire for the past forty years and treated many casualties in that time; a number of people owe him a great deal. ln 1990 DCRO were filmed by Yorkshire TV doing a mock rescue down Bagshawe cavern \Mhen for some reason I was picked to be the casualty. I can well remember, as with cameras rolling, Hugh descended the ladder towards me as I tried to look splattered at the foot of the pitch. ' then, what happened?' he said, looking all doclorish and concerned, 'Well, he had a curry lasl night, farted, 'n' blew himsetf off the laddel chimed T-Pot! Well we all three got the giggles and had to be re-filmed. Hugh was a lovely bloke, it's a real loss to us all ihat he's gone. R,ESCUE IREPOR]TS BAGSHAWE CAVERN surface, a rriving there about 31st May 1999 ?,2 2n Two experienced cavers went to push the top of lt4ontagu Aven at ASHBOURNE the end of Windy Passage in the 21"1 June 1999 Dungeon Series. One stayed in A local lad had left a suicide note the chamber at the foot of the and van ished. The pollce aven while the other climbed up. requested a search of the When the climber reached a culverted Henmore Brook u nder height of about fifty feet there the center of Ashbourne and a was a considerable rock-fall smalI team assembled and set off below him which blocked about for the scene. They were stopped twenty feet of the aven with the en route as further lnformation foot of the choke jammed at a from the po[ice was r,eceived that point about sixteen feet above the the youth had been found alive aven floor. The man in the aven and well - in bed at hon'Ie! was unhurt and able to communicate th rou gh the CARLSWARK CAVERN blockage. They spent about half 30th June 1999 an hour trying to clear a route but Two adequately equipped but realized help was needed. The novice cavers entered the Gin caver below the choke left the about '1 0 30. and made their way cave and the alarm was raised into New Cariswark where they aboui 19.05. A large team erpiored various passages. When assembled with a variety of they tried to make their way out of engineering gear. The first New Carlswark they were unable rescuers got the aven about to find the entra0ce into 21 .00. they made contact with the Ncrthwest Passage. They ended trapped man, set up molephone up travelling the Big Dig Loop four communications with the surface trrnes or so before wisely deciding and inspected the blockage. After that a fifth trip through the canal all other options had been rvould serve thern no useful considered and the way out of the purpose. They then settled down bottom of the aven protected frorn to waii for help. They were falling rock by a drystone barrier, reported missing when they didn't one mau {Derek Stables, a.k.a. T- return honre on time and a DCRO pot) climbed up to a point level controller was contacted by the with the bottom of the choke and police at 19.30. (nine hours after about 22.15. he began work with the pair had entered the cave). a crowbar. About one nerve- Around 20.30. three small search wracking hour and several teams entered the cave, one into impressive rumbles later a way the resurgence entrance, one through was opened up and the down the Gin and one down the trapped man was able to abseil Eyam Dale Shaft. About fifteen down to the foot of the aven. He minutes later the missing pair then made his own way out to the were found by one of the teams, cold, mildly hypothermic and very
12 dehydrated. They were fed, found on the surface by a rewarmed underground and then mountain rescue team member. made their way out of the cave under escort, surfacing from the BLUE JOHN MINE Gin Entrance shortly atlet 22.00. 27th August.1999 - twelve and a half hours after Ambulance para medics were they had gone underground. called to attdnd an elderly woman tourist who had been taken ill LYME PARK whilst down the cave. They 3'd June 1999 requested DCRO assistance to A man went missing from home help get her out to ihe surface after leaving a note suggesting and a ieam of eight was turned that he might be contemplating out. The woman was on the s;uicide. His car was found in the tourist route close to the carpark at Lyme Park near Disley Crysta llised Cavern and after and a search was eommenced. As consultation with the paramedics there were thought to be mine she was put into a cave rescue shafts and culverts in the area stretcher for the journey oui. DCRO were called out in support Getting ihe stretcher up the of mountain rescue teams- A pothole steps was as tricky as preliminary search reveal€d no usual but \Ara"s carried out withoui shafts or culverts - and thefl the incident and she was on the man walked into the carpark surface about thirty minutes after looi Posts c ript ! PINDALE AREA The Lyme Park call-out occurred SGrh oetober 1g-qg during the middle of the Tideswell Police were searching for the missing Carnival, in view of the nature of body of a man they believed had been the call-out, Brian Woodall who murdered at his home in Hope. The was dancing through the streets suspected murderer knew the areaof of Tidza dressed as the Grim Bradwell Moor adjacent to the Hope Reaper, was lefi behind ! cement works intimately and the DCRO were asked to investigate certain mine MIDDLETON BY WIRKSWORTH workings, caves and shafts in the area 12th July 1999 in case the body or other evidence had Mou ntain Rescue teams were been dumped in them. helping police search for a missing man who's car had been A team of twenty assembled to carry found abandoned near Middleton out the searcfl and working in two By Wirksworth. There was groups they cofrred Pindale and Dirtlow evidence that he was Rake in detail and also descended a contemplating suicide. Due to the number of shafts elsewhere (including number of mines and mine shafts Bird Mine). Nothing of interest to the in the area DCRP support was police was discovered. The missing requested and a small team was man's body was subsequently found by mobilised. Shortly after the first the police buried in the garden of his team members arrived on site home. however, the man's body was 13 DERBYSHIRE CAVING ASSOCIATION OFFICERS FOR 2OOO.2OO1 CHAIRMAN Bob Dearman. The Green Cottage, Main Street, Chelmorton, BUXTON, Derbyshire. SK17 gSL. Tet: (01298) 85594, E-mail: SECRETARY & lellnyfotts. 3 Greenway, Hulland Ward, ASHBOURNE, Derbyshire. TREASURER DE6 3FE. Tel: (01335) 370629, E-mail: CONSERVATION & Tony Gibbs. 329 Kimberworth Road, Kimberworth, ROTHERHAM, ACCESS OFFICER S. Yorkshire. 561 1HD. Tel: (01709) 559858, E-mail: LEGAL & INSURANCE Pete Mellors. "Fairview", Station Hoad, Edingley, NEWARK, OFFICER / ASST. CONS. Notts. NG22 8BX. & ACCESS OFFICEB Tel: (01623) 882515 PUBLICANONS & lain Barker. 56 Thornbridge Crescent, Birley, SHEFFIELD. 512 3AE. P.R. OFFICER Tel: (0114) 253 0112, Mobile: (0410) 689704, E-mail: TRAIMNG OFFICER Nigel Atkins. Wharfedale House, Springfield Close, Midway, SWADLINCOTE, South Derbys. DE11 0DB. Tel: (01283) 210666, Fax: (01283)2t\7n, Mobite: (0831)449919, E-mail: ASSISTANT TRAINING Dave Webb. 3 De Vere Gardens, Woodthorpe, NOTTINGHAM. OFFICEB NG5 4PH. Tei: (C115) 840 1109, E-mait: PROJECTS I Mark Lowe, 14i Birch Lane, DUKINFIELD, Cheshire. SKi 6 sAp. EOUIPMENT OFFICER Tel: (0161) 330 5111, Mobile: 0802-358602, E-mail : CAVE RreETRY John Beak Glebe Cottage, The Hiiloc{( Eyam, SHEFFIELD. S30 SECRETARY 1 RB. Tel: (01433) 631 732, E-mait: PLANNING LI,AH}O{ Dave Hycroft. 42 Femeydate Avenue, Harpur Hill, BUXTON, OFFICER Derbyshire. SK1 7 gLW. Tel./Fax: (01298) n167, E-rnail : LIBBABY LlAlSOf,l Roy Paulson. l-iolt House, Holt Lane, Lea, IvIATLOCK, Derbyshire. OFFICER / ASST, SEC. DE4 sGQ. Tel: (01629) 534775, E-mait: THEDCA - WHAT WE DO AND HOW TO JOIN US DOING !T The aim of DCA is to protect the caves and promote good caving practice within the peak District and surrounding areas. Membership is open to all clubs and individuals with an interest in caves and caving or mine exploration. Membership enquiries to the Assistant Secretary. The Derbyshire Caver (the newsletter of the DCA) has been in uninterrupted publication for over thirty..years and is of paramount value as a forum for cavers in Derbyshire. lain welcomes contributions from a/ cavers, whether DCA members or not. News, articlei, etc. should be sent to lain at the above address, or give him a ring. The Derbyshire caver is posted free to DcA members; non-members may subscribe by sending a cheque for t7 (payable to DcA) for four issues, to Jenny Potts. Some back issues are also available for sale curent issues of the Derbyshire caver are available lrom the following ouuetsr Hitch 'n'Hike, Bamford; The Old Smithy Teashop, Monyash; Lovers Leap Caf6, Stoney Middleton; peveril Outdoor & Travel, Castieton; lnglespo,t, lngleton_