C r a v e n P o t h o l e C l u b RCRr a veen cPco tooh o l errCddl u b

IISSN 1463-6131 Number 130 (Apriill 2018) Craven Pothole Club

Founded 1929 www.cravenpotholeclub.org

President Alan Pedlar

Chairman Paul McWhinney [email protected]

Secretary John Helm [email protected]

Membership and Assistant Glenn Costin [email protected] Secretary

Treasurer Rob Scott [email protected]

Editor Patrick Warren [email protected]

Recorder and Librarian Pat Halliwell [email protected]

Tacklekeeper Pete Jones

SRT Tacklekeeper Gordon Coldwell

Cottage Warden John Webb [email protected]

Conservation Officer Rowan Worsman

Committee Helen Gray Ric Halliwell (SeniorVice-President) Dave Hoggarth (Junior Vice-President) Tracey Jones Steve Kelley

SteveKirk (ITspecialist) Ian Patrick Terry Shipley Jeni Smith

FrontCover: Dave Ellacotton the 176m entrance pitch to Harwoods Hole – Takaka Hill, New Zealand South Island. Photo: John Helm (see article pages 8-11)

BackCover: Toktogui and its reservoir and the spectacular views of the Fergana Ridge – Kyrgystan. Photo: Kevin Gannon (see article pages 5-7) Craven Pothole Club Record

April 2018 Number 130 Contents

Editorial Patrick Warren 4

Kyrgystan 2017 Kevin Gannon 5 Going under, down-under (a trip to the Antipodes) John Helm 8

Birks Fell Cave (50 years ago) Howard Beck 12 Alum Pot in the Thirties Ric Halliwell 16

More of Jingle Pot, Chapel-le-Dale John Cordingley 20 Resurgences at Grange-over-Sands John Cordingley 22

Meet Reports

Hagg Gill Pot – 11th November 2017 Dave Headley 23 Boundary Pot – 13th January 2018 Patrick Warren 23 Short Drop / Gavel Pot – 14th January 2018 Dave Ramsden 25 Llangattock, South Wales – 19th-21st January 2018 Simon Ashby 25

Alderley Edge (West Mine) – 4th February 2018 Glenn Costin 26 SRT Training Weekend – 10th-11th February 2018 Ian Patrick 28 Swinsto Great Aven via Valley Entrance – 25th February 2018 Tom Thompson 30 Roaring Hole (Sunset) – 11th March 2018 Patrick Warren 31

"Spot the Famous Geologist" (JR Nield Trophy 2017) Pete Jones 31

Library additions for January 2018 Record Pat Halliwell 32

Brief digging update 32

Report from CNCC Meeting – 14th January 2018 Pat & Ric Halliwell 33

The Back Page – Notices, Correspondence, etc 34

The Club Rules, Constitution and related matters are incorporated in the Craven Pothole Club Handbook. The Record is published by Craven Pothole Club Limited, Registered Office: Ivy Cottage, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 0HF. Registered in England No. 31935R. No part of this Record may be reproduced without permission from the Committee of the Craven Pothole Club. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Craven Pothole Club. For further information on the CPC see www.cravenpotholeclub.org

Send all material for publication to: Patrick Warren, 11 Bryony Way, Rock Ferry, Wirral, CH42 4LY Tel: Evening 0151 644 1525 Mobile 0779 256 4734 E-mail: [email protected]

Typeset in Scribus 1.4.6 with URWPalladioL, URWClassico, and Luxi Sans.

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 3 Editorial

he Record is ... delayed. I know! I've been busy, not Tleast in grabbing an underground trip when I can. As well as a couple of Meets (Boundary Pot in Easegill, and RoaringHole inChapel-le-Dale), Ialso gotto the GIS workshop in Penwyllt in February. Whilst this was an opportunity to get up to speed on the latest thinking in geographical information systems and cave surveying, just as important for me was the chance of an afternoon (?!) trip into OFD. Yes, navigating the complexities of Top Entrance, teetering on the infamous Traverses, and wading up the streamway of OFD III, I finally got to Smith's Armoury – a rite-of-passage trip which had escaped me for nigh on 30 years. There was more though, as we pulled through down Pendulum Passage to follow the magnificent OFD II streamway all the way downtotheConfluenceandoutofCwmDwrwithnarya hitch (err, glossing over going around in circles trying to find the startofthe Cwm Dwr choke). Emerging around 10.30pm, we staggered back to the hut (well, I did; the others still seemed to be walking normally) for a late ▲ Gypsum 'wool' and selenite needles in Cueva Vallina, Arredondo, meal, and gin and tonic (thanks Becka!). Fine trip! Cantabria (photos: Carmen Smith / Matienzo Caves Project)

The other reason the Record is delayed was a week in Matienzo. The sun shone (mostly), and despite winds strong enough to turn tent poles into bananas, we managed to pack a lot in: surface walks, recording and ticking off undescended holes (yes, there are still plenty of those). The highlight for me was a 'proper' 6hr+ trip into Cueva Vallina above Arredondo south of the main Matienzo depression (big thanks Christine and Matthias for taking Tom under their wing!). Vallina is a cave that I think I will never tire of, and I can't resist quoting what Ali Neill wrote about the Avinguda de la Sorra in the heart of the known system: "... a large elliptical passage in sandy-coloured limestone containing large transverse ribs in the roof. Passing along the sandy floor is so effortless and following someone with a good carbide is mind-blowing, just like floating along in some huge, crystal-clear sump. I found this stunning passage a moving experience, which did not diminish after a summer of long trips into the cave."

Matienzo aside, the Record this time has a definite international flavour, with reports on trips to Kyrgystan, Australia and New Zealand, and an invitation to a joint Wessex-CPC trip to Maras in northern Greece in August (page 34). Back within the bounds of Sheet 90 we have Howard Beck's thrilling tales of the breakthrough trips in Birks Fell Cave, surely the jewel in the crown in Upper Wharfedale and one of the finest discoveries in the CPC's long history of pioneering cave exploration. It even beats the OFD streamway, in my opinion! Patrick Warren ▼ Tom in the entrance to Cueva de Coberruyo overlooking the Vega arm of the Matienzo depression (PBW)

4 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) Kyrgyzstan 2017

UK Team Members: Malcolm Foyle (Wessex & CPC), Bryan Day 2: Bishkek to Kerben Norton (Dylan) (CPC), Michael Thomas (Wessex), Kevin Gannon (CPC). This was a long day travelling from Bishkek to the Chatkal area via Tash-Komur. Traveling through the outskirts of Kyrgyzstan Team Members: Alexey Dudashvili (Guide), Ulan Bishkek was a great experience as we edged our way through Rakhmatov (Interpreter), Vladimir Leshunov (Driver), Elena the hustle and bustle of markets and street vendors. We Vasilyeva (Cook). stopped for personal supplies at a small supermarket and took our lead from our hosts and purchased bottles of vodka he prime objective of this initial reconnaissance trip was each. Tto locate areas for future exploration along with making good contacts with the local population and hopefully forging We needed a gas bottle fill and this was obtained outside a potentially good on-going working relationship. By working from a street merchant who decanted gas into our smaller alongside the local cavers we hoped to gain an area or areas bottle whilst our driver watched on with a lit cigarette in his for ongoing exploration for future years. It has been a good mouth. We then headed south-west towards Toktogui and opportunity to enhance the reputation of British caving. its reservoir and the spectacular views of the Fergana Ridge (see photo back cover). The road climbed steadily as we reached Travelling to Kyrgyzstan is quite straight forward from the a height of over 4000m, where the van pulled over in the UK with regular flights from Heathrow via Istanbul with snow and Alexey poured each person a vodka and just said Turkish Airlines. As we tried to land at Bishkek we hit a "it's tradition". heavy snowstorm which meant the pilot had to abandon his approach and try again. Its funny how all of us plane Chatkal is one of the most speleologically unexplored area passengers go silent when the engines start to roar and the in Kyrgyzstan. It is located in a remote, hard to reach area plane banks sharply to one side. on the South-Western Tien-Shan. This remote location is bounded by high mountain ranges on three sides, the fourth Due to this heavy heavy snowfall on our arrival in the capital, being bordered by Uzbekistan. The elevation difference in Bishkek, our original exploration plans had to be altered as the upper part of Chatkal river basin is about 2200 metres, manyofthe isolated highlevel road passes were closed. More and in the lower part about 1600 metres. The heights of the accessible locations were chosen however this still entailed watersheds are more than 4000 metres. There are high altitude a lot of road and gravel track travel and the crossing of high plateaus, which are located at altitudes of up to 3000-3200 level passes which required our van to be dug out ofthe snow metres. a few times and having to use snow chains on a couple of occasions. This all added to the feeling of remoteness and No explorationwas undertakenonthis trip due to the weather made for a very exciting and enjoyable trip. conditions, however at our many stops we could clearly see that this was an area that would warrant further examination Day 1: Bishkek in the future.

This was spent in Bishkek resting and meeting our guides We spent the night in Kerben, in a local's house that had and driver, sorting kit etc. We also viewed a presentation rooms to rent out and where we were able to cook our own from Alexey Dudashvili, our leader guide, on the geology of food. Our cook prepared a very good hot meal for us and the Kyrgyzstan in preparation for our exploration. As a city rooms were very clean and comfortable. This was also our Bishkek still has a feeling of a soviet state with its run down first introduction to a whole evening on neat vodka. blocks of flats and prestigious civil buildings. Day 3: Kerban to Jalal-Abad via Buzbu-Too ▼ Cave entrance, Buzbu-Too massif (all photos: Kevin Gannon) The Buzbu-Too mountain massif is located at the south- west junction of two large mountain ranges, At-Oynok and Chatkal. The highest point ofthe massifis about 2800 metres. The entire mountain range is composed of the Devonian and Carboniferous limestones.

The southern part of the mountain massif is cut by canyons with numerous streams. Apparently in the spring, during the melting of the snow cover, dry channels are filled with water streams, the main sources of which are numerous springs.

We explored the source of one of these springs, which was also the site of an Islamic shrine. We also split up and explored the base of the cliffs for any cave development and found one small cave which appeared to be a burial site. A large cave entrance was attempted to be reached, however time constraints Ԃ

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 5 meant we had to abandon the attempt. It turned outthatthe locals knowseveralcaves inthe area as well as permanent springs. The easy access to this area would make the logistics of an expedition quite straight forward as a base camp could be located in one of the gorges or on the mountain steppes.

We spent the night in Jalal-Abad and visited an Uzbekistan restaurant where we were treated to neat vodka poured from a teapot into bone china cups. It was an alcohol free establishment but our Russian guide, Alexey was not going to be deterred.

Day 4: Jalal-Abad to Kazarman

This was a shorter day traveling to the Narin river basin. A ▲ Uzbekistan restaurant new road and a new dam are being built just north of Kazarman and our contacts were able to give us access to a Day 5: Kazarman to Karatal Japyryk Reserve via Narin guided tour of the works in progress. The Kambar-Ata reservoir that is under construction will be over 50 km in This was another long journey through hours and hours of length when completed. Whilst in the area a number of cave mountain steppes and meadows with high mountains seen entrances were seen, at the base of the cliffs just above the in the distance. We stopped on route to look at some more river level. It could be seen even at a distance that the caves caves in a band on conglomerate. The cave entrance we were formed in a very loose and unstable conglomerate of entered was about 20 m x 20 m and went in for about 30 m. mud and rocks. It was very unstable with rubble falling away from the walls with just a slight touch of the hand. We were joined that evening by the two Geologists from the construction site, that had taken us on the tour that afternoon. We set up camp in Karatal Japyryk Nature Reserve as the air We had a very good evening with lots of great food and the temperature dropped. Our location was south of the Moldo- neat vodka flowed freely once again. Too Ridge, located in the Inner Tien Shan, at the central part of Kyrgyzstan, to the south of Lake Sonkol. The ridge is ▼ En route to Karatal Japyryk Nature Reserve

6 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) located in a latitudinal direction from west to east, between the large river valleys - Kokomeren and Naryn. Thelengthoftheridgeisabout150km. The maximum height is 4185 m. It is the only ridge in Tien Shan, which is completely composed by limestone.

Along with the tents to sleep in we had a large group tent in which the meals were prepared and eaten. We also had a generator which provided lighting, and charging etc. this also became our vodka bar for the next two nights.

Before we left the UK we checked with Alexey on what temperatures we would be likely to have. Thepromiseof18 to20C nevermaterialisedandat this camp spot we wore every bit of clothing we had with us.

Day 6: Karatal Japyryk Nature Reserve ▲ En route to Karatal Japyryk Nature Reserve It snowed quite hard overnight, which meant that we had to stay close to camp,as the van could not get up the tracks that All in all this has been a very productive trip that has enabled would take us closer to Molodo-Too ridge, even with snow us to identify areas that could do with further exploration. chains on. So the day was spent exploring some karst areas We are now in the process of making plans for a return trip close to the ridge by foot. We found many grottos in some of later this year, and have added another two people to the the large and small canyons. The area that was explored was team. If we are successful in locating limestone that has not vey big but it did have very intensive small scale karst substantial cave development this year, we plan to then set processes. up a full expedition for the summer of2019 made up ofWCC and CPC members. Over the day we spoke to herdsmen about the location of any caves and were told of many caves and springs to the Kevin Gannon north of our camp site.

This is an area that needs further examination, however access to the higher levels would only be possible on horseback or via helicopter.

Day 7: Karatak Japyryk Nature Reserve to Bishkek

We broke camp after a night well below freezing and drove back to the main road after extracting the bus from the snow a couple of times. Then drove back to Bishkek to fly home the following day.

◄ ▲ Karatal Japyryk Nature Reserve

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 7 Going under, down-under (a trip to the Antipodes)

nJanuaryIwas fortunate to have a Ifortnight in both Victoria, Australia and in Wellington, New Zealand.

Prior to the trip I had made contact with some cavers in the Victoria Speleological society (via their website), and two (Ken Murrey and Peter Freeman) had kindly offered to takemeonatriptotheBuchanCaves area, staying at Homeleigh (a cavers hostel in Buchan and ex-pub).

So the day after arriving in Melbourne Ken came to pick me up early morning, we then collected Peter and some tackle from his place and headed out to Buchan (about 350km east of Melbourne).

On arrival in the area we first visited the show cave entrance to see the small museum and also to visit a swimming pool where the water comes straight from Duke's cave ▲ ‘Elk formation' in Elk River cave, Buchan, Victoria (all photos: John Helm) (which is part of the underground network). In the afternoon we visited Elk River Cave (see Peter's survey, After dumping our gear at Homeleigh we headed out to part of a new Elk River Atlas) one of the most developed Honeycomb Cave on the Potholes Cave reserve (10 km NE caves in the area (over 3km of surveyed cave) via the Baby of Buchan). This cave is very popular with outdoor recreation Berger (M14) stream approach route. This involved an groups and has a large concrete slab entrance to stabilise the entrance pitch (watch out for snakes at the bottom I was told!), rubble. A short entrance pitch (laddered) dropped us into a then another short pitch leading to a traverse and a narrow complex of dry reasonably well-decorated passages, via a sloping passage with an awkward drop at the bottom. route called the ‘Magical Mystery Tour'. We must have spent Another short pitch (laddered) then led to the active a couple of hours climbing around the system before heading streamway. Prior to dropping in to the stream way we all out and back to base. The cave atmosphere is very dry and put on our thermals as I was told it was cold water. I went so only an oversuit and undies are needed. Also there were down first and to be honest the water didn't seem cold to me. some fine fossils in the Devonian limestone. I went a short way to the up stream sump (U1) and then we all carried on down along the low streamway with what the The following morning we returned to the Pothole Cave Aussies call ‘roof-sniffs' (what we call ducks), past the Reserve and had a short trip into Baby Pierre (M12), this time formation that resembles Elk antlers to the downstream sump using SRT. A tight entrance pitch was fun both in and out, (D1). The diving of this is on-going and Ken is one of the with a 10m drop to a diving team. UK cave divers including Jason Mallinson have ledge then a further also helped push these sumps. They are currently at sump 10. 20m to the bottom below which was a Then we travelled back to Homeleigh for another night in blind pit (close to the hostel and a few beers. connecting to Elk River Cave). Near the The following day we drove to a cave known only as M4 bottom there were located 15km from Buchan and nearer to Murrindal. This some lovely forma- cave is not often visited and it took a while to find the tions, however I was overgrown entrance. The cave is a long stream cave with first down and smell crawling but passed through two really great, well-decorated was awful due to a chambers. There was a section that is apparently often a ‘roof- rotting dead snake at sniff' (duck), however it was bone dry. Peter and I went to the bottom (a ven- visit the upstream sump and I managed to identify a potential omous one according way on, off to the right by pushing my body in. Pete had to Peter). earlier told me that divers had found no way on (which is

◄ Strange formation, M4 cave, Buchan, Victoria

8 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) ▲ Surveys copyright © Peter Freeman probably correct if you try to go straight ahead). On exiting to my visit when a group of yahoo's got lost and needed the cave we were able to drop into the warm waters of the guiding out. As a consequence, the directions to the entrance river and clean up. After this trip we headed back to are now not so clear, though once you see the dirt track called Homeleigh, packed up and returned to Melbourne. I thanked Caves Road you know you are nearly there. There is then a my hosts and invited them to the UK to go caving. 1.5km walk though the bush (showing clear signs of a fairly recent bush fire) to the entrance, which has metal steps to it. In the following days I made a solo trip to Britannia Creek From the entrance there is a 6m pitch to a muddy chamber Cave (see Peter's survey), near Warburton, NE of Melbourne. with adjacent streamway. Itwas a cave I had visited 3 years ago and so knew its location and the route to the entrance (though now there is sign at the Then many routes are possible squeezing, crawling and side of the dirt road leading to it). The cave is in the tree-fern climbing over weathered granite boulders. and eucalypt bush of the Yarra forest and consists of a series of passages with a stream-way (and resident platypus though Despite being on my own I did not find the route finding too I did not see him) between rounded granite boulders showing difficult as there were numerous survey markers and spray distinct onion weathering. There are also frequent tree roots paint dots. In fact I arrived at survey marker 58 and as it was across the passage making interesting squeezes. I spent about getting quite low along the stream, I turned around and 1 hour here, frequently popping up to the surface at the retraced my route to the entrance (it was only after this trip numerous other entrances. I was surprised by a bounding that Peter said I was within 10m of the upstream entrance). wallaby in the bush as I returned to the car and also made sure I checked that I had collected no leaches on my way Following my 2 weeks in Australia I flew to Wellington, New through the humid and dense bush (really quite different Zealand. Once again I had been in touch with some cavers from the UK). via the web. My contact was Dave Ellacott, who had been a member of HTG (Hamilton Tomo Group, North Island) and A couple of days later I drove to the Labertouche Cave, in now a member of Nelson Speleological Group. He has also the Tarago-La Trobe Forest, 60km east of Melbourne. These caved with a number of our CPC members in the past when caves are also in granite (Tynong Granite) and the stream can they visited New Zealand. be followed for about 175m between granite boulders and granite bedrock. However due to the fact that these caves are The plan was for me to fly from Wellington to Takaka (on close to Melbourne, non cavers frequently visit and get lost the northern tip of South Island), then do a couple of days leading to lengthy rescues (the route finding can be complex.) caving and travel back with him by car to Wellington on and there had been a three day rescue a couple ofweeks prior the Inter-Islander Ferry. Ԃ

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 9 He had justfinished beingpartofthe Bulmer Cavern Expedition in the Mount Owen Range (currently 71kmlongand 755mdeep), SW ofTakaka. The flight over was interesting as it was a little 6-seater plane the took off from the international terminal in Wellington, and the windy conditions meant it was quite a bumpy journey. Dave met me at the airport and we drove up to the NSG hut which is situated about 500m south ofthe Takaka Hill road summit. It a great hut with the only power being from solar panels for LED lights inthe eveningand a traditional long drop dunnie situated at 50m away in the bush.

Atthe hutthere were also three other cavers thathad been on the Bulmer expedition and it was decided that on the following day some of them would meet up and cave with us on a trip through Harwoods Hole. In the morning we first met up at Toad Hall Café, in Motueka for coffees and breakfast (we also met Kieran Mackay one of the driving forces of caving and cave diving in New Zealand).

The entrance shaft to Harwoods hole is a 200m vertical drop in daylight so we picked up the club's specific rope for this pitch and headed back up the hill(theopeningislargeenoughtobeseenonGoogle Earth, in the Abel Tasman National Park), and along theCanaandirtroadtothecarpark. Wechangedand walked to the entrance (only a short distance). There were a number of tourists about as it is a ‘wild camping' site and I am amazed that they do not get more folk falling down the hole as everyone tries to getcloserfora good view. We were inluck, as a local climbing centre had left their rope in place so elected not to use ours. The pitch consists of a scramble down about 15m then a substantial rebelay and then it is a ▲ Harwoods Hole entrance free hang all the way to the bottom. I went down first on my Petzl bobbin (I have since purchased a rack) as the heat sink At the base of the gorge Mike picked us up and took us into properties of my little abseiling device meant I did not want Takaka where we ate and had some beers. Other local cavers to go too fast and risk it getting too hot then scorching the joined, and also Martin Farr and his wife who was over on rope or worse. The view downis amazing and truly humbling. holiday and doing some prospecting. We then headed back It becomes apparent that the ‘moss' that you can see much to the NSG hut and prepared for another trip the following further down the shaft is actually trees. Once at the bottom day. I waited for the other four to come down however Mike elected to just abseil down then prussik back up and meet us In the morning we went part way along the Harwoods Hole at the end of the Gorge river creek, while Dave, Keith track and parked by ‘The Hobbit hole' entrance to the Middle Chatterton and I continued on through the cave. Earth/Greenlink system currently over 33km long and the third longest in New Zealand. We abseiled into the entrance The cave from this point follows a stream all the way out to by a short pitch and a few thrutchy sections lead downwards, the Starlight Cave into the Gorge Creek. The trip is truly past some superb white flowstone and stals (all tidily amazing as there are many cascades of varying lengths (with barriered off, but with scrubbing brush to clean off once you fixed ropes in place) over white stalagmite flowstone had squeezed past) eventually reaching a large shaft, which interspersed by malachite green pools of clear water (a since we had limited time we decided not to descend. On photographers delight). There were a couple of interesting exiting the cave we then went to look at the Te Waikoropupu climbs and a short crawl but nothing too awkward, though springs, near Takaka, which are said to be the largest Dave did note that it was about as wet as he'd ever seen it. freshwater springs in the Southern Hemisphere. After about 2.5 hours we exited out of Starlight Cave. At this Unfortunately as they are considered a sacred site by the point the plan was to scramble down the dry river-bed to the Maori diving is no longer allowed in them, but no passage mouth ofthe Gorge creek. We did scramble down to the creek was known from them as the water comes up between to find that it was in full spate. Thus our descent was more cobbles. like canyoning with swimming and took about 2.5 hours. Whilst descending we were fortunate to see some very rare After this we headed back to the NSG hut, packed, and then New Zealand Blue ducks, a single one and then a pair who back via Nelson to the Inter-Islander ferry at Picton. Once were quite unafraid of us. across the Cook Strait, Dave then dropped me off back at my

10 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) brother's in Wellington before he headed home to Hamilton.

All in all it was great fun in both countries and it shows that we cavers are a similar bunch which ever the part oftheworldwearein,andyou'realwaysmadewelcome when you visit, once you have a contact. Dave did comment that it would be nice to re-establish caving between Craven members and the Nelson Speleo Group, perhaps involvement in the Bulmer Cavern Expedition another year? John A Helm

▼ ► Harwoods Hole to Starlight Cave (see also front cover)

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 11 Birks Fell Cave (50 Years Ago)

Not every day is it that the average person is given opportunity to fifteen years, then, with the potential of the site a great draw walk where no other human has ever set eyes – and at risk ofbeing the BPC succeeded in pushing their way through the low clichéd by saying so, take one giant step for mankind – but barring passagetoexploreafurther150 yardsofpassagetobestopped the extreme depths ofthe oceans or the frigid infinity ofthe cosmos, by the canal alluded to earlier. where might such a place be? Well, ifyou're sitting comfortably a tale to you Iwill tell… At the existing end as it was then, it was all any person could manage but to cower in the languid canal. And shiver. Then ust the year before Neil Armstrong's historic words were make a hurried retreat from the flood-prone cave. Jimmortalised on TV screens around the world, a CPC team – of which I was fortunate enough to be a participant – were All this was about to change. taking their very own momentous steps, in a place no less remote than deep space, one that in its own discreet way was John Batty had been prime mover, the one to draw attention equally hazardous, where a deep penetrating cold and to the tremendous possibilities of the site. Over several fathomless darkness reigned supreme. This occurred during weekends during the summer of 1968 John, together with a period of great change, so much feverish underground Roy Taylor and Randy Coe attacked the terminal choke, activity, of challenges anew and an unprecedented level of spurred on by the strong draught. It was Sunday July 28 new discoveries. when, after hours of back-breaking toil hauling out rocks, the choke seemed to become more unstable. Batty then High on the fells to the southwest of the Dales village of noticed an insignificant fissure to the right. Buckden in upper Wharfedale, Birks Fell Cave in the summer of 1968 would become the new frontier of exploration. Up to Through this the strong draught whipped rather enticingly. then this fine cave had ended in a low passage half-way full of icy water, the latter held back by a consolidated dam of Poking and levering with a bar produced a narrow rift with boulders that aeons past had tumbled from above. a protrusion at water level preventing access. Hammering away soon produced sufficient space for Randy to give the The story began in the summer of 1932 when W.Brown and rift ‘a go'. After passing two cross-joints he found himself in E.E. Roberts of the YRC cleared out the cave entrance and a wide and wet bedding that very soon swung through 180 announced they had discovered about 1000 feet of cave degrees to the left. At this point a tactical retreat was called. terminating in a wide but low, cobble-choked bedding. The The passage continued, but was low with little airspace. cave clearly had promise, however so matters remained for The following Saturday was the occasion of the Penyghent ▼ Denis Round in Aven II passage (all photos: Howard Beck) Pot meet led by Ken Chappel. Considerable thought had gone into the low passage and Randy was determined to give it another go. He was supported by John Whalley, Roy Taylor and a non-caving guest.

Pushing along the bedding Randy found the airspace so minimal that in places he could only progress on his back. Soon, however, he was through and able to stoop then stand. Water level was lowered a little and Randy was joined by Taylor and Whalley, the guest having to remain in the canal and await their return.

Within just a few strides the three found themselves at a 25 feet pitch which they were able to bypass using a parallel, but climbable rift. Walking passage then took them into a long and dry chamber and another choke through the floor of which could be heard the stream. The cross-section of the cave at this point was approximately 15 by 20 feet. After a good look around they returned to the surface collecting their shivering guest along the way.

The following weekend a larger team descended the cave. While Don Mellor, Randy and Roy dug in Slipped Floor Chamber, Alan Wallbank, John Hallam and Pete Miller began a survey, John (Hardcastle) Nuttall and Pete Rose took photos while Mike Scratcher and Richard (Grouch) Hodgson climbed an aven inlet. Later Edward Whitaker and myself entered the system as the diggers broke through the floor of the new terminal chamber to explore a sporting streamway.

12 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) My joining the ranks of the CPC was indeed fortuitous, being just in time to participate in that weekend's euphoric discoveries. The day I arrived in Buckden prior to the big breakthrough I met with a carnival atmosphere that Saturday night in the Buck Inn. Everyone was in celebratory mood at the day's finds. Two local characters were there too, Jacqui Beresford with his accordion and ‘Banjo' Willie.

When later that day John Whalley and Mike Walton exited the cave following a late evening ‘look' they strolled non- chalantly into the bar to relate how they had found an even larger continuation. A hush descended on the throng. The accordion wheezed into silence, a soggy fag dangled from Willie's lips, while we cavers were all ears, barely able to contain our excitement as they told how they could see into a black void and hear the distant rumble of a river!

All hell then let loose.

▲ Laurie Todd in a roof grotto, 40 Years Corner

◄▼ Negotiating cascades en route to the Grand Gallery

Everyone went wild with jubilation, the beer flowed, congratulations were exchanged, plans made, everyone aglow with animated chatter. Little did we then know when bedding down for the night, that we were on the verge of one of the largest discoveries in the country for many a long year. When I joined the team descending the next morning it followed on the back of several hard-won sorties. Besides myself were Randall Coe, Alan Wallbank, Edward Whitaker, Pete Rose, John Whalley and Mike Walton.

It was indeed unfortunate that the person who had inspired the discovery, John Batty, should be otherwise Ԃ

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 13 occupied and unable to take part, for the cave – whose small encountered a low passage of sufficient height to avoid flat- entrance belied what really lay in waiting – would prove a out crawling but low enough that our poor knees made heavy visual smörgasbord of geological features guaranteed to work ofthe rippled limestone. But the discomfort was quickly delight and stimulate explorers bored with the more overlooked, however, as from ahead came a roaring driven hackneyed underground expeditions. on the hem of a monsoon blast.

Expectation was riding high. Emerging in a sizeable space, we stood facing a stream crashing powerfully down from unknown heights. Falling Everyone was so keyed up that en masse we swept down the with such energy that spray was driven sideways against the cave like a human tsunami, only washing up at intervals to glistening walls of the chamber. The noise was thunderous, marvel at wondrously decorated grottos and other fantastic the wind terrific. Everywhere large limestone blocks reposed features. The tidal wave surged onward through chamber where they had landed, having fallen from the distant roof beyond chamber, flowing along grandiose rift passages. millennia ago. And from them sluiced the subterranean rain, every niche and fissure of their scabrous surface dripping Waterfalls augmented the sweeping tide of humanity; while and dribbling. as one we waded deep pools and gingerly climbed cascades as refreshing as an advert for Fox's Glacier Mints. One And so John and I progressed, through jaw-dropping wonder moment traversing high above the stream, the next we were beyond wonder, the cave passageway leading ever deeper gasping, wet, and flopping through gloopy flat-out wallows; beneath Wharfedale's verdant hillsides. Indeed the cave so cock-a-hoop were we that scarcely a thought was spared seemed never ending. But of what geological deceit was this? for our discomfort, nor whether it might be raining topside, To our wishful thinking it imparted the feeling we were though I guess on this score each silently kept their our own destined, atsome distantpoint, and insome…as yetunknown council. manner, to emerge someplace in a neighbouring valley. The question hanging on our lips, was of course, where on earth As it happens John faltered in order to make adjustments to would that be? his personal attire. I hung back to wait while the remainder of our group, never slowing, surged on, the tidal wave and At times we were forced into savage narrowings of the tunnel, collective cries of wonder carried away by the boisterous or the cave roof would lower menacingly until we feared the stream. inevitable end, but always the cave rallied – forever opening up and luring us onwards and downwards When my companion ▼ John Allonby descending Shale Cavern pitch to regions of deeper and I resumed our down- mystery. ward journey there was neithersightnorsound of At length forced to our fellow explorers. No squeeze down a tight matter. Almost rushed slot, emerging in a off our feet with excite- square-ish passage dic- ment, we were borne tating hands and knees along by an impetuosity crawling in water up to barely in check, tracing our armpits, the way the stream as it splashed became dark, foreboding and chuckled over rip- – don't like the look of pled chutes and rocky this –withrockthe colour steps, water flung every of a black thought. A which way, from ledge to Styx-like atmosphere ledge in a spray-lashed prevailed. It was hard to sporting manner. It was not feel melancholy as the sort of find that made beams from cap lamps all the hardship worth- lanced optimistically while, justified the bruis- through the fog of exer- ed knees and scuffed tion. Dark oxbows elbows. loomed either side re- sembling long dimmed Anytime, we thought, we eyes, and in these blind shall catch up with the socket-holes silt banks others. The water, the had been heaped by noise – the mystery of it erstwhile floodwaters. all proved exhilarating beyond the kenofanyone Thankfully the passage who has never experi- didn't last long. Soon it enced such thrills. We grew in height, then a whooped and yelled in muffled rumbling set the delight. Negotiating the pulse racing as we picked last of the rapids we two a cautious course among

14 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) angular blocks littering the streambed. At last – was that a glimmer of light ahead? Yes! We had finally caught up with our friends who, ever since the upper reaches of the system had continually gained ground on us. We were overjoyed.

Striding around a bend and there we see them, lollygagging on boulders, munching delicacies, smoking, discussing that which had been explored, speculating on what must lie ahead.

And what was ahead?

We two tail-end Charlies sidled past lured by a primordial rumble. And with giddying abruptness found ourselves brought up, teetering, on the brink of a void of undetermined depth where the stream leapt out into space. Succumbing to gravity the water erupted into myriad prisms reflecting the light from our lamps, then it was lost in the gloom of Shale Pitch.

Howdeep was it? Whatmightbe below? Pertinent questions indeed. Being halted by a deep vertical drop so remote from the entrance was a sobering thought. Clearly there was much more to Birks Fell Cave but for the moment, at least, the metaphorical gauntlet flung at our feet would wait.

For the moment it was the end.

Further explorations through into the following year would extend the end ofthe cave and climb two major inlets, eventually extending the system to two miles and a depth of455 feet to make it one ofthe classic cave systems ofthe Dales. Howard Beck ▲ Adrian Bridge at the foot of the Shale Cavern pitch

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 15 Alum Pot in the Thirties

he CPC had a long-term Trelationship with the Alum Pot caves with open visitor days when groups were taken down Alum, for example March 12th on the 1931 Meets Card was "an open Visitors Day at Alum Pot, Selside, described as one of the largest caverns in England (295 feet)." In1932 the Club achieved the first ever Alum-Diccan exchange. In 1939 members used a garden hose, car foot pump and an oil drum to build an improvised diving bell and got a small distance into the Alum Pot sump. Just after the war, CPC members were involved in film making with the J. Arthur Rank Organisation and took the MP for Skipton down Alum Pot. However the most unusual aspect of the history was in 1935 when…."born out of the cordial relationship with the Wilcocks of Northcote Farm, the CPC took out a lease on Alum Pot. This ▲ Alum Pot in the 1930s (all photos unless stated otherwise: arrangement embraced the provision of a wooden hut and H. W. Rhodes Collection, CPC Archives). the employment of a one-armed railway worker to collect entry fees." (DC Mellor, 2004) hole. In an attempt to preserve unspoiled the charm of the immediate vicinity, it was announced this weekend that the Because the CPC Library is difficult to use at the moment Craven Pot-hole Club, whose headquarters are at Skipton, due to the preparations for its move I haven't checked the have secured a lease of the pothole and the nearby caves of Committee minutes regarding this action but the background Long Churn and Diccan Pot. The Club has accepted canbe explained froma bookofold press cuttings. The Editor responsibility for the repair and maintenance of the dry stone of the Craven Herald at the time (John Mitchell) was a CPC wall which surrounds Alum Pot, and its members will act as member and Albert Mitchell also worked as a reporter for wardens in the prevention of litter, and damage being done the paper so it carried many stories about the CPC. The to the walls, fences and trees in the immediate Craven Herald (5 June '35) states that "Alum Pot Hole on the neighbourhood. Alum Pot, Diccan Pot and the entrance to slopes of Ingleborough……is the most popular and Long Churn are situated on the farm holding owned by Mrs spectacular of the North Ribblesdale pot-holes. Scores of E. A. Wilcock of Northcote Farm, Selside, whose family has people visit the place on sunny days in the summer months, done much to preserve the pot-hole from the depredations and hardly anyone who goes refrains from throwing a stone ofthe thoughtless. Itwas a member ofthe familywho planted down the shaft, over 200 feet deep. In consequence of the the trees around the pot-hole, and for many years now the damage done to the surrounding wall, the proprietor has public have had free access to the pasture in which the caves withdrawn the privilege, so long enjoyed by the public, of are situated. making a free visit, and a small charge is now made. Many people have protested against the imposition of this charge, Dangerous Practice but as is often the case, those who visit Alum Pot and respect the property of others, are suffering for the thoughtless. A Of recent years, however, the practice of maintaining the wall stone wall surrounding the chasm is protection for cattle and in effective repair has become much more onerous. To many sheep, and for anyone walking near during darkness or mist. visitors the temptation to lift a stone from the fence wall and Each summer large stones are pulled out of the wall and hurl it down the pot-hole is apparently irresistible. They hear thrown down the shaft." the tremendous roar from the depths as the stone crashes against the vertical sides before it is shattered against the The following month (19 July) the Craven Herald announced bottom 200 feet from the surface, but they take no heed of the fact that the wall needs to be repaired. While pot-holers Preservation of a Pothole are not so foolish – they realise that parties may have entered Alum Pot taken over by Craven Club the system unnoticed by way of Long Churn – members of Appeal to Ramblers the Craven Pot-Hole Club felt it was hardly fair for the owner to be placed at considerable expense in return for the courtesy "Alum–orHelln–Pot,adeep cutriftinthelimestone,situated of free access. It was for this reason, and perturbed by the half a mile above Selside, on the slopes of Simon's Fell, is a fact that amateur cave exploration is distinctly dangerous, popular weekend rendezvous of many ramblers and cyclists, that the Skipton Club offered their supervision of Alum Pot. and is regarded as the most picturesque of any Craven pot- Their first task will be the repair of the long stretch of wall

16 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) which fences in the surface aperture of the pot-hole and, as to do the job effectively much of the wall will have to be rebuiltand the top stones secured, theyreserve to themselves the right to make a small charge for entrance to the pasture. There will be no charge to members of any pot-holing clubs, but in order to avoid the clashing ofmeets clubs will have to obtain permission from the Secretary of the Craven Pot-Hole Club (Mr. A. C. Waterfall, Sheep Street, Skipton). In return, during the time they are descending the pot-hole clubs will be asked to arrange for the supervision of visitors. Any damage to the walls will be reported to the Police and proceedings taken.

Privilege to Pot-holers

In future no private cars will be allowed to pass over the track leading to Alum Pot from the former Clapham-Selside Highway. Parking facilities will be provided, but the field track is unsuitable for cars. Camping will be permitted in the vicinity of Alum Pot or Long Churn, but the privilege is reserved for members of all bona fide pot-holing clubs and their guests, and other visitors are asked to camp nearer the village. The area of land will be in the oversight of four Trustees - Mr. J. R. Wilcock of Northcote Farm, Selside, Mr. J. W. Morpeth of Selside, Dr. G. A. Fisher of Skipton (President of the Craven Pothole Club) and Mr. Blackburn Holden, J.P., F.R.G.S., an ex-President of the club. Alum Pot annually descended by many pot-holing parties has a total depthof290 feet, and has one ofthe largestsurface apertures inCraven. Descents are made intwo ways –byladder direct fromthe surface, orthe more frequentlyused method byway of Long Churn. At a depth of 120 feet there is "The Bridge" the chief feature of Alum Pot. It is estimated to weigh over 50 tons and is balance finely across the rift. In the final chamber a waterfall is seen, plunging down from the depths ofDiccanPotto fall into a sump and to reappear onthe other ▲ Alum Pot sign (photo: Albert Mitchell collection; courtesy side of the Ribble at Turn Tub (sic)” Dave Allanach).

Similar comments were made in the same paper the following Herald and also in the 16 December Yorkshire Post "The month (8 August '35) "A feature of Alum – or more properly Rescue took several hours which it was explained was no Helln – Pot in North Ribblesdale, is an old dry stone wall, guide to the time which would be taken in an authentic which encircles the 200 feet deep chasm. Now overgrown mishap. The purpose of the meet, it was stated, was simply in many places with mosses, the wall serves three purposes; to gain some ideas of the difficulties and the time which as some protection against mishaps to farm stock, as bield would inevitably elapse before an injured man could be [shelter] for the sheep, and to shelter the plantation of trees, brought to the surface." planted some 50 years ago around the slopes of the pothole. {A letter in the Craven Herald dated 4 September 1932 from Sadly the attempts to stop people throwing stones down the Robert Wilcock stated that he planted the trees 58 years earlier shaft didn't work and on July 5th 1936 Miss Mabel Binks of assisted by Thomas Ayton of Settle, so a slightly different the Leeds Pennine Club was killed when a large stone crashed date for the planting.} But it would appear that to take a stone downthe shaft. This was the firstpothole fatalityinYorkshire. from the wall and hurl it into the depths is an irresistible (Leeds Mercury, Yorkshire Observer, Yorkshire Post, temptation to many, and the recent spell of fine weather Yorkshire Evening Post 6 July, Craven Herald July 10). coupled with an increase in visitors, has meant that the wall "Together with her companions Miss Binks was standing on is now breeched in several places. The Craven Pot-hole Club, a ledge some 200 feet from the top of the shaft when a stone, who recently leased the pot-hole in an attempt to preserve which is said to have been about double the size of a man's unspoilt the charm of Craven's most picturesque fist, fell from above and struck her on the back of the head, underground system, are to erect notices appealing to visitors causing injuries that proved fatal...How the stone came to be not to throw stones, with a warning that prosecution for dislodged is at present a mystery. It is not considered that malicious damage may follow." it could have been disturbed by the ladders and the other gear that the party was using. A theory is advanced by In December 1935 CPC undertook a practice rescue down members of the Central Rescue Organisation, which was Alum Pot supervised by Rescue Wardens(CRO then called formed some time ago to deal with pot-hole accidents, that Central Rescue Organisation had been formed a year earlier) the stone was dropped from surface level...Alum Pot is which was reported in detail in the 20th December Craven one of the most awesome of these limestone —" Ԃ

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 17 ◄ ▲ Alum Pot in the 1930s

"— formations in the North. In the course of a year descents rolled from its fellows and moved by slow degrees to the are made by hundreds ofpotholers and club guests, and there chasm's edge until a process of imperceptible subsidence are thousands of less venturesome visitors. With regard to finally tipped it over into the chasm itself. It might, indeed, the suggestion that the stone which caused Miss Bink's death have been originally impressed into the face of the shaft itself, may have been dropped from moor level, it is significant that and ata momentofmaturity, quite incalculable, have dropped the farmer who owns the adjacent land has for years been below. We are reluctant to suppose that it was thrown down troubled by people who remove stones from the wall and by a hand careless of the possibility that pot-holers were drop them into the depths. A nominal charge for visitors of below. It is said that, seized by an irresistible and quite 1d.which is levied by the Craven Pot-Hole Club, is devoted childish whim, visitors have thrown stones down the shaft to the repair of the wall, which will probably be concreted as to hear the echoing of their fall and ponder the depth of a a precaution against further ravages. There is a notice near chasm thus vaguely established. Such acts are, of course, the hole asking visitors to refrain from stone dropping" "A utterly foolish. People on the surface cannot know that the suggestion has been made that the stone may have been pot-hole is vacant at any given time, for many who descend accidently dislodged by people on the surface, and it is said enter the Long Churn passage at a point some distance from that inspite of notices warning people against the practice, the main shaft and emerge into it at a junction which is quite stones have been taken from the walls and thrown down the out of view of anyone standing clear of the rim of the chasm. shaft" (Yorkshire Observer) We do not suggest, as we say, that Miss Binks was struck by a stone thrown into Alum Pot in the belief that no one was "The accident on Sunday at Alum Pot, involving the death below; indeed we avoid the suggestion the more carefully of a Leeds lady, points to something approaching a special because stone-throwingthere atthe odd times maytoo readily risk which has attended descents of this deep rift in the lead to a theory in the present case which may be entirely limestone on Ingleborough. Alum Pot, alone among the pot- unfounded." (Craven Herald) holes in Craven, is encircled at the surface by a stone wall, now in the course of repair by the Craven Pot-Hole Club, The above article contrasts greatly with the very detailed which is sensible of the protection that a stout wall will report on the Coroner's inquest (Craven Herald 17 July) “The provide to surface visitors and pot-holers alike. The victim Coroner, addressing the jury, said this was all the evidence of Sunday's accident was struck by a splinter from a large it had been possible to procur. It seemed very unfortunate stone which, it is supposed, fell from the surface some 200 that the woman should have lost her life in the way she did, feet above her. There is no evidence in our possession to and if it was that someone was throwing stones down, it was show that the stone was one of the many hundreds of which very regrettable. Mr. James was the only witness who could the wall is built or whether, originally part of the wall, it had say that he saw some person throwing a stone, but that stone

18 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) undoubtedly was the one which killed Miss Binks. This Pot-Hole has been leased by the Craven Pot-Hole Club since Apparently, enquiries had been made and there was no 1935, a step taken to stop a scheme for the commercialisation of suggestion that a stone had been dislodged. It was very same. Every person goinginto Alum Pot field is liable to a payment unfortunate that a man on the surface threw down a stone; of2d. unless he can show the gatekeeper either a "C.P.C. Badge" he was not a child and he ought to have had more sense. The or a subscription receipt for the current year. Coroner added that if the person did not know there was anyone below, he did not think there was any culpable Permission is given, on application, to other clubs to descend on negligence, and they could not find that person guilty of the following conditions anything more than indifference and carelessness. A person is permitted to throw a stone, the Coroner continued. Stone – (i) that at least one person is left on the surface to guard the pot throwing is not a crime in itself, but if I was standing in direct and see that NO person be allowed on or over the surround wall. line of a stone which was thrown, and if the stone knocked And to see that no person acts in such a way as to endanger the me downand killed me, thenhe would be guilty ofsomething people below very serious – manslaughter or murder. But if the man who threw the stone did not know I was there it would not be a – (ii) ladders must be used for the Long Churn Chimney and from serious charge against him. We have no evidence that any Bridge Level Pitches. Tested ropes at least for the remainder. of the people on the surface were aware of anyone below. And there is no criminal negligence on anyone. Without – (iii) Camping fees of6d. per head to be sent to the Craven Pot- retiring the Foreman announced that the jury were of the Hole Club opinion that Miss Binks met her death accidentally as a result of a stone thrown down the pot-hole." – (iv) ifan Open Meet is held – 3d. per head or Tackle Fee charged to be sent to the Craven Pot-Hole Club There is one other amazing piece of information on the unfortunate incident. A member of the Club went to Horton – (v) no vehicles allowed for any purpose in the field and informed the police of the accident who in turn informed the CRO. The policeman then went to Selside "P.C. Wells, – (vi) Payment at the gate by everyone although he had not previously descended a pothole – he had taken up duty in Horton in the previous week – All monies from the Alum Pot clauses shall be put into a separate volunteered to go down and render first aid". (Craven Herald account (Alum Pot Fund) and shall be used solely for the restoring 10 July) The Yorkshire Post (6 July) even specify that he went and maintenance ofthe surround wall, and such amenities as the down the rope ladder into the pot-hole Craven Pot-Hole Club and the Land-Owners think fit.”

In April 1936 the Craven Herald carried a statement " 'The An interesting piece of Club History with the Club doing President and Council of the Craven Pot-hole Club early conservation work and assisting local landowners. But acknowledge gratefully your contribution towards the repair as Club members we should be glad that attitudes were and maintenance ofthe wall circlingAlum Pot, and appreciate different in those days, today someone would have sued the your help in preserving unspoilt the charm of this beauty CPC as the controller of access with responsibility for the spot' This form of receipt is being given for the nominal wall, and if that had happened the Club would almost charge asked of visitors as they enter the track leading to this certainly not exist today. Maybe, with the strong links the well known pot-hole. For years, no charge has been made, Club had with the Craven Herald, the article on 10 July was but the rapidly growing popularity of Alum Pot and a the start of a defence, just in case. consequent increase in the amount of damage by thoughtless visitors has made some small acknowledgement necessary. Ric Halliwell As is well known, the chasm is surrounded by a drystone wall ofa circumference ofabout 100 yards and, unfortunately, Ref: Mellor, D. C. 2004 Chapter One – Foundations and Early walling materials make an excellent missile for pitching down Years; in Beck, H (Ed) CPC Jubilee 1929-2004 Publication. the gulf producing thundering echoes."

I have managed to find a copy of the Craven rules regarding Alum Pot (probably from 1939) and these are listed below: {2.4d is equal to 1p in present day terms}

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 19 More of Jingle Pot, Chapel-le-Dale

he notes below follow on from Tthe article in CPC Record 129 (January 2018) pages 8-10, which described the discovery of Augury Crawl at the bottom of the entrance shaft of Jingle Pot. Patrick Warren's editorial in that edition commented on how easily new passages can be turned up, as a result of careful examination of well known sites. Anyone remember the Lost River Chamber extensions in GG, which CPC members literally walked into (and whichhad beenvisible fromthe MainChamberto BarPottrade route all along)? Another CPC discovery which springs to mind is the Lone Ranger Series in Link Pot, again wide open and found as a result of being thorough.

During the work in Jingle Pot we pondered on who made the first descent of this surface shaft. The Northern Caves guide gives no clue, so I contacted Stephen ▲ Adrian Hall at the start ofthe canal leading to three sump Craven in South Africa, who kindly checked his (extensive) pools in Jingle Pot (photos: John Cordingley) records and also drew a blank. However he drew attention to an early account of visits to this system, published in Boyd to pass after shifting the flakes. It always helps if sumps in a Dawkins' 1874 book“Cave Hunting” (pages 47-50). Itincludes complex area have a name, so I propose to refer to this one the intriguing mention of Mr Metcalfe, who: “made his way as “Palmer's Sump” from now on. down it [i.e. Jingle Pot] from the chasm of Weathercote”. This seemed to suggest it might once have been possible to get to Butwas there yetanother way on (bearing in mind the change the bottom of Jingle Pot's entrance shaft from Weathercote in water clarity before and after the slot)? Nothing else was Cave, without diving. So were there passages explored in the found below water but a low airspace over a deep canal was 19th Century which are unknown to modern cavers? spotted, over to the left of Palmer's Sump (see photo). It was duly noted and earmarked for further investigation when Inspired by Patrick's encouragement and the information the water level would be lower. which Stephen had sent, I went back to Jingle Pot in January. My own literature search had revealed that, in 1976, a sump The chance came for the next trip late in February, at the start had been located by Rob Palmer at the south east end of the of a very cold spell. The canal had plenty of airspace and was rocky bedding where previous diving had normally started found to be about about 30 m long and quite large. However (CDG Newsletter 40 page 20). This fact had never made it there were subtle signs of previous visits, despite the fact that into CDG sump indexes, so the current generation of cave none of the Cave Diving Group Sump Index descriptions divers was unaware of it. Rob thought it was a downstream make any reference to it. Three sumps (also not in the Sump sump and he got in 9 m but decided it was too low. Intrigued Index) were identified along its length. The first, Canal Sump by where a sump in this area might lead, I went for a dive 1, is under the right wall after 10 m (and only about 5 m using minimal gear. After all, what is considered worthwhile beyond the descent to the slot in Palmer's Sump). The second pushing underwater today would probably have been is about 15 m further on and also under the right wall (Canal disregarded in the 1970s. Sump 2). Terminating the main canal is Canal Sump 3; the roof descends into the water at a very shallow angle and this I followed in Rob's fin strokes down over boulders in a large sump may recede much further in a good summer drought. passage to where a wall came down vertically, leaving a low slot obstructed by loose flakes of limestone. After moving Only Canal Sump 1 was dived on the above occasion. It these aside it was possible to pass through into a low but descended into a beautiful scalloped bedding tunnel some 5 wide bedding plane at about 3 m depth. The water here was m wide. After 30 m a passage going off to the left was noted a crystal clear blue colour. Some 15 m from base I was feeling and the “main” way on was followed to a point 40 m from the insecurity ofjusta single tankand came back. On a second base where the small reel ranout. Ona follow up visitanother visit a point about 18 m from base was reached but the way on was noticed off to the right around 20 m from base; bedding hadn't got any bigger, so the line was removed. The this looks similar to the passage found in Palmer's Sump on new bitofpassage heads roughly north east, although reading a previous trip; the two probably connect, forming an oxbow. a compass accurately in a low bedding is never a precise art. Canal Sump 1 was explored further and surfaced some 70 m I think in 1976 Rob had got as far as the slot which I was able from base, in familiar territory. The dry passage beyond was

20 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) found by Steve Tucker and Julian Griffiths back in the early the nearest end of Jingle Bell has never been visited and a 1980s and I'd surveyed it shortly afterwards. (The underwater sound connection with the base ofJingle Pot may be possible.) route via which they'd found it may be different from the The rift accessed by climbing up this muddy slope at the sump I'd just passed however.) The dry passage leads to a bottom of Jingle Pot has a lot of fault breccia and some very boulder choke after 50 m with a loud rumbling sound fine sub-horizontal “slickensides” (scratch marks from emerging. The water heard must be the Weathercote stream movement along the fault plane). This suggests that Jingle but this couldn't be Metcalfe's route to Jingle Pot because it Potand Jingle Bell are formed along a “strike slip fault” where still involves a 70 m long dive. the predominant displacement was horizontal (see photo).

Another area checked in February was the steeply ascending Over 130 m of passages (in total) have been entered on recent mud slope at the north west end of the open pot. I climbed trips, both above and below water, none of which is shown up this expecting it to be blind; there is certainly no open way on previous surveys of Jingle Pot. Some of these have been on but in fact a large passage does continue, solidly plugged visited by others previously and some are newly discovered. with boulder clay. This point is within metres of a large fault The CDG Northern Sump Index 2015 describes just two chamber called “Jingle Bell” which is entered part way sumps reached via a single passage from the base of Jingle through the connecting dive between Jingle Pot and Hurtle Pot but there are actually four separate ways on from the Pot, described in BPC Bulletin 6 (7) pages 8-12. (The roof at shaft base and no fewer than six accessible sump pools. Even worse confusion exists over the underwater passages leading off from these sump pools. The only way to sort out this area is to survey everything and write a full description. Work on this is already well underway and further new ways on may turn up in the process. In the meantime, the schematic diagram with this article shows the layout of all known airspace passages leading from the bottom of this fascinating pothole. John Cordingley

◄ The many slickenside marks in Jingle Pot show it was formed along a strike slip fault.

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 21 Resurgences at Grange-over-Sands

he Grange area, across TMorecambe Bay from Arnside and Silverdale, has never been considered one of great potential by most northern cavers. I don't think I'd ever been until our former CPC “Emperor” Dick Espiner (known to his many friends as “Harpic”) went into a care home there. I used to go and visithimand was struckbyhow much limestone is visible from the approach road. This is proper Great Scar Limestone, the same stuff as that around Ingleton. So, inevitably, a bit of background research was required.

One of the more useful tools available to modern cavers is Google Earth. Whilst zooming in on the shore area my eye was immediately drawn to an obvious pool with a stream emerging, about 50 m out from the promenade. It looked very similar to the Google ▲ The Blue Pool resurgence at Grange-over-Sands, with the Earth image of Turn Dub, though perhaps not on quite the promenade in the distance (photo: John Cordingley) same scale. I threw some wellies into the car on the next visit to Harpic and went for a look. If you walk from the large car There is at least one other resurgence nearby. The large park near the duck pond under the bridge carrying the duckpond at Grange (see Google Earth) is supplied from railway line, then turn right along the promenade for a short Picklefoot Spring. Again, the water is a lovely crystal blue distance, the rising is easily seen out on the shore. It proved colour where it emerges from a blocked culvert to supply the to be a beautifullyclearblue pool, about7macross and maybe duck pond. Graham Sumner, a local caver who investigated 3 m deep, with a substantial stream flowing from it out to this further, tells me that the actual resurgence is likely to be the sea. This “Blue Pool” is at about SD40857782. (In the some distance further back. It's probably not under the accompanying photograph a welly is just visible on the far floorboards of the nearby building at the back of the pond side of the pool, giving an idea of scale; the photo was taken where the groundsmen keep their tools and equipment, so in very dry conditions.) there's little hope of access here either. It may lie under one of the buildings on the inland side of the main road. There It wasn't possible to see from the surface if there was a way is some interesting information about Picklefoot Spring at on at the bottom, so I planned to come back with a bit of the second web link below (with thanks to Graham for diving gear. Dave Hoggarth and I even talked about getting pointing it out to me): Harpic onto the promenade when this was happening, so he could direct operations in his own inimitable style. Sadly, we Between them the Blue Pool and Picklefoot Spring produce never managed to co-ordinate work commitments with the a lot of groundwater and the obvious question is where does right weather and Harpic became too ill shortly afterwards this come from? I've been unable to find any information and passed away in June 2016. about water tracing done hereabouts; indeed there don't seem to be any obvious sinks to test. However, behind Grange- The Blue Pool wasn't forgotten though and I diverted via over-Sands is the large limestone upland area of Hampsfield Grange next time I happened to be passing along the South Fell. The highest part of this is at an altitude of well over 200 Lakes road. But the scene was very different; all the grassy m. It seems likely that the sea level resurgences at Grange shore was covered by the sea! (I'd failed to realise that this are fed from this upland limestone block, in which case there visit corresponded with a spring tide.) More recently I had is a depth potential greater than many of the well known another look just with a mask, this time having checked the underground hydrological systems in our more familiar tide situation for Morecambe Bay (easily done at first web Yorkshire Dales caving region. There are other clues to the link below). The base of the conical pool was choked, with existence of speleological development such as various short no obvious bedrock. The water wells up through the fine and choked cave fragments, mainly of interest to grained estuarine deposits, in a similar fashion to several of archaeologists. Perhaps it's time cavers took this area more the Ribblesdale resurgences where water rises through seriously? alluvium (Turn Dub, New Houses Risings, Goat Close Rising, etc). Phil Murphy (who is very familiar with this area's John Cordingley geology) tells me that bedrock is a long way below the surface here, so there seems little hope of finding a way into the cave http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/tide_tables/5/439a passage which must feed the Blue Pool. http://www.bodian.co.uk/w---picklefoot-spring.html

22 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) Hagg Gill Pot – 11th November 2017

Andy Baines,Tony Baines, Clive Bone, Glen Costin, H Dowling, Dave Headley (co-ordinator), John Helm, Dave Jones, E. (Jane) Kulrover, Ian Patrick, Lynn Patrick

he weather was bright but cold. There had been rain Tthrough the night which had swelled the river. There was an impressive turn out of 11 people!

Once we got to the entrance, we started getting folks down; while the rest of us descended, the first half went upstream. Once all the rest of us arrived at the bottom of the entrance pitch, we also went up stream, only to bump into the first party coming back. All attendees went up to the Straw Chamber and were impressed with the formations. The passage which leads to the Straw Chamber has a lot of Helictites.

All of us visited the Down Stream Sump where John Helm had a wander up into the roof via a rope which was hanging ◄ ▲ Hagg Gill Pot (photos: Dave Headley)

down. The original explorers were hoping to find a way over the Sump, which only goes so far.

The first half of the group had gone up to the Up Stream Sump, where we eventually met up with the others. Glen and two others decided to have a wander down the White Line Passage. A couple of the group had a look and decided it was not wide enough for them!

The rest of us headed back to the entrance pitch and finally out to the surface. The trip went very well and everyone had a good time.

Many thanks to all who turned up. Dave Headley

Boundary Pot – 13th January 2018

Paul McWhinney, Simon Parker, Meg Stark, Patrick Warren Once inside the short crawl gives out onto a 2m climb down (co-ordinator) into a chamber with daylight entering from a surface hole. From here there are more climbs and junctions, until 'd volunteered to look after this meet since Mike Bottomley eventually we started going upstream in a low cobble-floored Iwas otherwise occupied with long distance fell running. crawl. At this point the value of having three descriptions Boundary Pot had piqued my interest anyway – I had never became apparent, as by the time I had sorted outall the scraps been down, and it had only relatively recently been connected of paper and worked out which bit of one description into the main Easegill system by Sam Allshorn and others. corresponded to which bit in another description, the way To aid navigation, and recalling the backcountry advice about on had been found by my companions without any help from never taking two compasses (always take one, or three), I me whatsoever, and without me ever having to venture to had accumulated three route descriptions: from the original the sharp end! article in Descent, from the new Northern Caves, and from John Gardner's website. Sure enough, crawling upstream leads to an enlargement where the water enters vigorously from the roof, and then Kevin Dixon helped us find the entrance before taking himself the crawl starts to descend as it becomes more tubular in offon a surface walk. This is in the true left bank (i.e. looking solid rock before popping out above another climb down, downstream) next to the bend in the Easegill stream where onto a ledge with the deep rumble of the main river below. the valley floor widens on the way to Top Sink. It's also more A traverse and bold step gains a half-open chimney descent or less alongside where the main stream sinks, and the to reach the bottom of one of the waterfalls, and that's it; entrance crawl is marked by a small survey tag. we're inthe bigstuffnow. This route cunninglybypasses Ԃ

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 23 the original 15m pitch into Fusion Cavern, which we reach route though that seems somewhat inevitable. Curiously, via the steeply descending bouldery crossover passage. because ofwhere itlies Boundary Potdoesn'trequire a permit, and neither of course does Pippikin, but I have not yet heard Onwards from here degenerates into a hands and knees crawl, of anyone doing the no-permit-required Pippikin-Boundary now accompanied by the whole of the main stream, but I can variant of the Easegill Traverse! start to see the resemblance to Thackray's passage for which this is surely the main feeder. A shout from the front heralds Patrick Warren a delightful grotto with white stal and curtains, and a little further on we encounter strange, thickly-bedded crystalline deposits that evidently are the remains of an eroded calcite floor. Shortly after this the stream falls away to the left, and we enter the relative quiet of Hiroshima.

Despite its fearsome reputation, Hiroshima doesn't seem to be particularly more unstable than anything else in this part of Easegill, though perhaps one should be cautious venturing off the beaten track. This track now takes us over a short crawl to an obvious scaffolded shaft – the 'Manhattan connection' to Far East Passage in Easegill. Upstream from here leads to the base of a 'funnel' into Nagasaki cavern, to join the trade route between Limerick Junction and the Assembly Hall area.

Here I have gotten turned around somehow, and we briefly end up going to the Rock ofAges before realising the mistake. We turn around and head offto the Assembly Hall –my three companions make the obligatory side trip to look at Easter Grotto whilst I furtle about above the climb down to Thackray's. Then it's downstream to Holbeck junction and turnoffinto the bottomofPool Sink, to exitvia Spiral Staircase and Wretched Wrabbit entrance.

Boundary Pot certainly exceeded my expectations in terms of quality of caving – I hope it doesn't really become a trade

► Boxing Day Aven in Boundary Pot (photos: Simon Parker)

▼ Crystal deposits (5-10cm thick)

24 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) Short Drop /Gavel Pot – 14th January 2018

Emma Akam, Gordon Coldwell, Charlotte Forder (guest), John and through a low section in a shallow streamway, nothing Forder, Miranda Forder, Helen Hunt, Steve Hunt, Dave Jones, too challenging, eventually arriving together at the muddy Toby Knights, E. (Jane) Kulkova, Dave Milner (co-ordinator), climb up to Glasfurd's. We then enjoyed a series of well- Dave Ramsden decorated chambers connected by tight, but short, connecting squeezes at low level. Well worth the effort involved to reach eck Fell was not the place to hang about on Sunday. The the final chamber. One or two people entered what appeared Lcar park at Cowan Bridge was fair enough but getting to be the outlet passage (to a sump?) in a narrow canal, but out of the cars at the parking stop was a chilling experience. were dissuaded from pursuing it any further by a lowering We all changed quickly and hurried to gain the shelter of roof so returned to rejoin the rest of the group. One last look what may be the largest shakehole in Yorkshire. An event in around and we began the return journey. itself to climb over the fence and spiral down the narrow muddy track to the pitch heads with spectacular views into After climbing down from Glasfurd's we took a detour along the shakehole along the way. Having dismissed any thoughts a descending and narrowing streamway to look down at the of Short Drop, it was agreed that a visit to Glasfurd's top of Gavel 3rd Pitch (28m ladder pitch) No insitu anchors Chamber(s) would make a good trip. Dave M. had brought could be seen, only a troubling short climb down and lots of the tackle, stayed to see we were organised, and left to return swirling water. The pitch head obviously hides itself well to his van. An injury would have made it unwise for him to until you get down there. Clearly for another day. Maybe. continue underground and cause more damage. It would So now we made our waybackto the entrance, the SRT squad have been equally unwise to remain on Leck Fell with the first to the shakehole followed more sedately by the ladder prevailing weather conditions. climbers. All back up safely to the ledge, derigging and regrouping before the climb out to what seemed an even We splitinto two teams. Johnrigged the SRTroute underneath bleaker fell. A rapid change, into the cars and downto Bernie's the overhanging roof for himself, Miranda, Charlotte and fortea, superb carrotcake and othergood things. Manythanks Jane, whilst the remaining seven took the ladder route rigged to the riggers and to everyone else who all made this a and lifelined by Gordon down to the bottom of the shakehole. memorable meet at a venue where there is still much The ladder team then scrambled down a brief partly remaining for future visits scaffolded sloping shaft with some neat walling out onto an interesting down climb (with a rope for assistance and a lack Dave Ramsden of available footholds at one point) to rejoin the SRT group. Loosely combined, we followed a pleasant series of passages

Llangattock, South Wales – 19th - 21st January 2018

Simon Ashby (co-ordinator), Gordon Coldwell, Glenn Costin, Sat – Agen Allwedd Inner Circle – All Nick Gymer, Dave King, Anna Smith The ‘big trip' of the weekend. A damp & misty walk along ix Craven cavers made the trek to S. Wales, staying at the the old tramway took us to the entrance of this classic Welsh SChelsea SS cottage, Whitewalls, for the weekend. Despite cave. Once through the gate an easy start got us warmed up variable weather some good caving was had, making for an for the passages to the First Boulder Choke. Past this the enjoyable trip and thanks to all who came. impressive Main Passage is reached but only followed briefly before diverting into the Main Stream Passage, still a decent Fri – Ogof Clogwyn – Glenn, Dave & Simon size itself. Onto the Second Boulder Choke, a rather drawn out affair with plenty of climbing up & down. Beyond the We three were lucky enough to be free Friday, so went for a Main Stream Passage continued to Northwest Junction, where look into the Clydach Gorge. Ogof Clogwyn was explored the Turkey Streamway joins and we stopped for a rest. We to the end, a short trip but interesting with its extensive continued for some distance up Turkey Streamway, phreatic shelving of the main streamway. Up to 2 feet deep eventually leaving to enter the dry passages of Sand Caverns yet only an inch thick, these formations are very distinctive. and the nicely crystallised Selenite Needle Passage. At the After that we had a good rummage round on the surface junction withEasternAvenue we feltwe had time to complete looking for Ogof Nant Rhin, the lower entrance to the tight the full Inner Circle route, so headed North to reach the vertical cave Ogof Pont Gam. Unfortunately we never found magnificent Dome of St. Pauls where we rested again to gaze it, though of course talking to a CSS member later suggested up at this fantastic sight. The enormous junction just before it was just a bit further upstream than our limit... Finally on is equally impressive in an ‘able to drive a bus down it' sort returning to our parking spot we followed the railway tunnel of way. Completing the Inner Circle by entering Midsummer behind us through the hill; an interesting diversion to take Passage, we soon reached the tight entrance to Coal Cellar in some industrial heritage. Passage. Here I + AN Other struggled to get through the narrow slot, both removing oversuits and taking several Ԃ

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 25 attempts; that was a new experience for yours truly… At last Sun – Ogof Pen Eryr – All minus Glenn through, the low boulder-strewn & occasionally tight passage that follows gave little respite for the 30 mins it took to arrive The original plan of Ogof Craig A Ffynnon was scrapped due back at Turkey Streamway. We rested again at Northwest to the forecast for heavy rain, thus posing the risk of a section Junction before starting the final leg back out, re-tracing our near the entrance named Gasoline Alley sumping. So after route though the First and Second Boulder Chokes to the playing worrabout we settled on Ogof Pen Eryr, a short cave entrance. Dark by now but at least not raining, a brisk walk in the same quarry as Darren Cilau. Essentially following a back to Whitewalls concluded a fine trip. single rift passage through a succession of tight squeezes and boulder chambers, this was a sporting and enjoyable trip. A On an aside, at the cottage we caught up with Pete Bolt and good Sunday cave. On exiting we were treated to a beautiful Tarquin Wilton-Jones who'd been to the Priory Road area of view across the valley to the mountains beyond, all gently Aggy that day, checking up on persistent but unsubstantiated swathed in drifting mists and a soft rain. Maybe there were rumours that the cave had been connected with Darren Cilau. also glimpses ofa red dragon, glidingover its hills and valleys They were impressed by the digging work in this remote ever on guard? location but found no evidence of a connection. Simon Ashby

Alderley Edge (West Mine) – 4th February 2018

Carl Barton (guest), Glenn Costin (co-ordinator), Hugh Dowling, Dave Jones, Olly King (DCC), Marita and Dave Kirkam, Simon Parker, Alan Pedlar, Mick Potts and son Nathan, Dave Ramsden, Wayne Smith (guest), John Webb, Matt Wilson and son Ben

he mines at Alderley edge are some of the oldest copper Tmines in the UK dating back to roman times. One mine contains a (suspected) roman altar and roman coinage was discovered recently however, there is also suggested evidence the mines may date back to the Bronze Age. The mines were actively worked up until 1919. Since the closure, the mines have been the focus of local casual adventurers and cavers alike. Unfortunately the mines have also been the scene of several incidents including tragic fatalities. This led to all the entrances being blocked until the early seventies. The three main mines on the 'edge' are Wood Mine, Engine Vein Mine and West Mine. All the mines are on National Trust property and access is now governed on a leader led basis by Derbyshire Caving Club. They offer trips for all abilities from ▲ West Mine (all photos: Glenn Costin) easy trips aimed at the public on open days (their money spinner) and private tours through to more adventurous trips DCC have a small museum at the back of the Wizard pub for visiting caving groups. DCC have a team of guides that and this is where the tours usually start. Olly, our guide for lead the trips and will offer a historical guided tour. the day gave a short overview ofthe mines, how they connect and a potted history. He offered several trip options but he felt that maybe a full excursion into the vast West Mine would be best suited given the size of our group. The entrance to West Mine is a pleasant 15 minute walk and passes the entrance to Wood Mine and the former electrolysis processing plant. The entrance is gated and leads via a small shaft to the initial adit. From here on in, I haven't a clue! Despite this being my 5th or 6th trip into West Mine, I get hopelessly lost in the 6 miles of passage. Some of the features we went through include 'Twisted pillar chamber', 'Sphinx Chamber', Plank shaft,(and dozens of other shafts) all linked by a maze of adits. The one thing that is immediately notable about West Mine is its HUGE!!! And all the chambers have been hewn by hand.

◄ West Mine

26 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) For the sporting caver/mine explorer there is lots of fun to If anyone fancies another trip into the mines..possibly wood be had including exposed traverses, various rope and ladder mine or engine vein, I can arrange mid-week evening trip climbs and a handful of interesting, optional obstacles like later in the year. the laundry chute, the 'funnel' and the toilet seat squeeze. Thanks to all who attended. Most folk had a crack at some of the challenges and the younger members in our party had great fun on the traverses Glenn Costin and climbs (Under the watchful eye of dad).

What makes these trips special is how knowledgeable the DCC guides are with regard to the history and the geology mines. Olly also has a soft spot for the novel, 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen' by local author Alan Garner. The book is based on the Wizard of the Edge and several of the book locations are set within West Mine including Plank Shaft and 'Lion' rock. Olly pointed out all the areas in the mine that feature in the book.

Our trip lasted about 4 hrs and everyone agreed the place was pretty spectacular.

We retired to the ‘Wizard' pub for posttrip drinks and nibbles.

► West Mine ▼ The West Mine team

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 27 SRT Training weekend – 10th - 11th February 2018

Saturday:

Ian Patrick (co-oordinator), Lin Patrick, James Smith, John Webb (Assitant “Instructors”); Brendan Ayre, Gina Ayre, Helen Hunt, Steve Hunt, Liz Laing, Michael Potts, Natalia Potts, David Ramsden

aturdaywas indoor atthe verywell equipped SRT training Sbarn at Yorkshire Dales Guides in Stainforth.

A very full and productive day looking at all basic aspects of SRT, setting up kit, Up, down, change overs, rebelays, deviations, passing knots etc. Some other skills were looked at for those who were ready, rigging and basic rescues. The day was very relaxed providing an ideal learning environment with various members passing on their knowledge and skills to a very willing group ofnew members, a perfect situation I think.

Sunday:

Ian Patrick (co-ordinator), Lin Patrick, James Smith (Assistant “Instructors”); Helen Hunt, Steve Hunt, Liz Laing, Michael Potts, Natalia Potts, David Ramsden

unday was a steady trip down Sell Gill putting the Sprevious days training into practice. Again a relaxed environment with experienced members keeping an eye on people to ensure a safe and enjoyable day.

A big thanks to the experienced members who helped out and made this a really successful SRT training weekend. Ian Patrick

28 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) ◄ ▲ SRT training (all photos: James Smith)

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 29 Swinsto Great Aven via Valley Entrance – 25th February 2018

Dave Ramsden, Ben Marston (Guest), Dave Jones, Gary was swinging clear of the floor, oops! Everyone managed Schofield (Guest), David and Marita Kirkham, Ed Rutson the leap of faith to get off it, but as I arrived, Dave Kirkham (Guest), Charlotte Pinch (Guest), Mike Hartley, Darren Rowe, rightly observed that going up would be more challenging. Tom Thompson (co-ordinator) There was a surprisingly full flow in the river below but we eaving Thirsk at 0630, I arrived at Ivy Cottage about 0800, strode up to the complex junctionarea quite swiftly. Foolishly Lwhere there was but one Mystery Camper Van and a car. I opted for an upstream visit to River Junction, but the iciness After a coffee, having reviewed the ivy empties consisting of ofthe waters quickly resulted in a retreat. No-one complained Scottish gin and several whiskies, I realised there was little about this at the time… chance of seeing anyone alive. Good effort though folks! So we established East Entrance Passage after some chat and Thank you so much the thoughtful individual who chalked entered via the muddy bypass. Eventually all of our party the access code for the new tackle store up; It would have were in Great Aven; some went uphill to probe the top of the been a nightmare otherwise… as it was I selected a ladder boulder pile; others speculated (briefly) about Philosopher's two and a half feet short of the pitch; no ladder would have Crawl; having identified this we opted for a same-way return. been worse! Soon the occupant of the Mystery Camper Van Swinsto-Simpsons exchanges and pull-through trips were revealed himself: Pete Gray, a man offew words this morning. reminisced. Soon we were on our way back to the pitch. With “wherra you off?” “West Kingsdale”. “By yerseff?” “Well, a struggle, kindly aided by combined tactics on behalf of a its ‘club meet innit, some said to come”. “Enjoy then, wondrit couple of the party, I was on the ladder to return to the roof ood leff doors opinn”. tunnel. I swiftly re-rigged the ladder to allow a less challenging start and after checking that all were happy with Arriving at Braida Garth in glorious sunshine and a bitter the result, ladder climbers both experienced and novice came north-easterly wind, I wondered just who would turn up to up at great speed. A group awaiting descent kindly allowed go underground on such an astonishingly beautiful day, us to supersede their arrival before us at the pitch head. clearly made for the hills, not the caverns of our wonderful Dales. As you can see above, there whurr menny: (Lancashire With the arrival of Darren, who had kindly agreed to be back- dialect, One, Two, Menny). It was lovely to meet so many marker, we were soon out of the cave, that's all except Darren, members who have joined in the last three or four years, as whom I left the tackle bag with, so that he could scoop up well as their guests, who I hope we shall see much more of gallonsofwaterwithitonthereturn! Alittlelater,heemerged in times to come. Itwas also a wake-up for me to be so out into the bright sunshine, we all awaited him at the entrance. of touch with the current active membership… All seemed to appreciate the day's journey however. Ivy was deserted when I returned to wash tackle. Sunshine continued As people arrived I was astonished to find that they were all all the way home. Thanks to all who came out to play. for our meet, I kind of assumed they were other groups and there would be the usual pitch congestion, but no, they were Tom Thompson all Craven. I don't think Darren and I have caved together for a long time, maybe since a Mendip trip in Swildons?

So we were all duly swallowed by the now (Plastic!!!) oil- drum with its ill-fitting wooden lid: I do hope the original is somewhere saved for cave posterity? Gathering in the well- decorated initial chamber, we plunged into the clear but icy waters of the initial canal, to follow the well-known trade route to KMC, currently celebrated by Mark Burkey's excellent cover photo on the new edition of Northern Caves, a work of total dedication by its authors, Sam Allshorn and Paul Swire. Rigging downto KMC, I could see thatthe ladder

30 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) Roaring Hole (Sunset) – 11th March 2018

Glenn Costin, Nick Gymer, Rich Hunt, Dave Jones, Dave King, Unfortunately this was pretty much as far as we got, as the E. (Jane) Kulkova, Ian Patrick, Laura Patrick, Lin Patrick, way on down through the next boulder choke was occupied Patrick Warren (co-ordinator) also by said stream. This was proved by inserting various 'volunteers' who emerged generally drenched and spitting oaring Hole had long intrigued me: how can it be 130m water. A strategic retreat was called for, so that at least an Rdeep, with only a couple of short pitches? Unfortunately alternative trip could be done. today wasn't going to be the day to find out, as melting snow at the tail end of this raggedy winter had once again raised Back on surface, enjoying a bit of sunshine, the general water levels to uncomfortably high levels. We found the decision was that Team Patrick would head back via Great entrance fairly easily: it's in the edge of the clints on the right Doukthrough trip, whilstthe restofus would head for Sunset hand side of the main Ingleborough track, just a few minutes Hole. It's a long time since I've been and it was only when off the trail, and a little before the massive collapse feature we got there did I recognise the entrance. The rope we had of Braithwaite Wife Hole. The entrance narrows somewhat proved useful for rigging out of the water around the unexpectedly before opening out into a decent-sized chamber. cascades, and dropping the final pitch. The way on leads down through a choke (the first of many apparently) to a short passage to the top of the first pitch It was a good day out – perfect for a Sunday. I'm pleased so where the cave opens out quite spectacularly, with the stream many people turned up for what might be regarded as a running nonchalantly over a graceful waterfall below, rather obscure cave. And it's still on my list... Tolkeinesque fashion. Patrick Warren

▲ JR Nield Trophy (2017 Dinner Awards) – "Spot the Famous Geologist" by Pete Jones

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 31 Library Additions for April 2018 Record

Exchanges

News of the Weald #101 December 2017 Newsletter of the Wealden Cave & Mine Society: Cave diving exploration in Bihor Mountains, Romania; trip reports; Digging and packing in Godstone 2017; Zelska Jama, Slovenia – second time lucky.

Red Rose Cave & Pothole Club Newsletter Vol.55 No.1 January 2018: Discovery of Poll Creugair, Applecross; the Stockdales of Bullpot Farm; Cuckoo Cleeves/Mendip weekend; caving in the Totes Gebirge; Casserole Pot update; 3 Counties survey.

Speleo 72 2017 Journal of the Czech Speleological Society – in Czech but Gordon Coldwell has shown that Google translate can produce a readable English version.

Speleologia 77 Revista della Societa Speleologica Italiana December2017 inItalianwithsummaries ofmajorarticles in English.

Wessex Cave Club Journal 344 Nov.2017: caving in Panama; caving in Greece 2017; report on AGM & Dinner; digging and From the Logbook.

White Rose Pothole Club Newsletter Vol.36 Issue 4 Dec.2017: Christmas Bumper Edition; trip reports including Windshaw Gill Pot; trips at Nenthead; digging; Fay's trip to New Zealand.

Purchases

Cave and Karst Science The Transactions of the British Cave Research Association Vol.44 No.3 December 2017: Karst conduit complexity at Castleton, Derbyshire; cave cyanobacteria and algae in Bashkortostan; E-A Martel's 1895 descent of Gaping-Ghyll (cover photo is a view of abseiler descending GG Main Shaft on rope); Gypsum nucleated on spider webs; abstracts from BCRA Cave Science Symposium 2017.

Donations

From Robert Scott — Descent No.258 Oct/Nov 2017: Excaliber and Jenga Pots with survey; archaeology in Ffynnon Beuno Cave, N Wales; Shepton Mallett CC in Thailand 2016; The Last Sandwich, Ogof Draenen; Report on 2017 UIS Congress of Speleology, Australia; Sludge Pit digging; diving in the Green Canal, Dan yr Ogof;

No.259 Dec.2017/Jan.2018: creation of Twll Du, 2nd entrance to Ogof Draenen; - the Sharp End of Mulu – 2017; Life under Earth – microbiology of caves Pt.4; The stal of Dentdale; caving in the Dachstein Massif, Austria.

From Kevin Dixon — Bradford Pothole Club Archive Bulletin Vols 1-7, 1946-2006; Journals #1-3 1953-1961; BPC Glass Slide Collection; Grank Mounson Negative Collection. All on DVD.

From Mike Ashmore — Casteret, Norbert My Caves (translated into English) JM Dent, 1947; Farr, Martyn Darkworld – the secrets ofLlangattock Mountain Gomer 1997 Pat Halliwell

Brief digging update

Rumour has it a small breakthrough has been made in Pond Sink – more details will hopefully be in the next Record.

PBW

Perfection is achieved not when nothing more can be added but when nothing more can be taken away. — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

32 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) Report from CNCC meeting – 14th January 2018

he Secretary reported the death of Tom Sykes, who from The Training Officer had reported the possibility of changes Tfrom 1963-1971 was the first Secretary of the Council of to the BCA funding of training courses. It may prevent Northern Caving Clubs (CNCC), and presided over support for Certification courses such as 1st Aid. It is also numerous access improvements over his years in office. possible that there may be a general reduction in funding for Ingleborough Estate has agreed to the test-running of an on- training but this has not yet been confirmed. line cave booking system which it is hoped may be extended to other major estates in the near future. The Secretary It was agreed that the CNCC website could not include topos reported that he is trying to develop a “road-show” display for routes using anchors not installed under the CNCC anchor to take to Hidden Earth and CHECC. The Secretary is seeking scheme. a volunteer who is a regular CNCC attendee, ideally based in the Dales, to write a regular quarterly piece for the Craven A report on the BCA Council Meeting included the following Herald Dales Life supplement. This is a great opportunity items: to get caving and the CNCC into the local spotlight on a regular basis. Several new topos have been added to the 1. The Constitution was to be re-examined. CNCC website. 2. An Insurance Manager will be co-opted; the maximum The Treasurer proposed a vote of thanks to Tony Harrison cover on the PL policy will be increased to £10M and the for his generous donation of fees paid to him by Natural cost per member will be raised next year to cover the England. It was reported that minor discrepancies in claims increase (£1.50?). had delayed refunds from Stories in Stone for conservation work on several caves, including Great Douk. 3. BCA Child Protection Officer is now called Safeguarding Officer and there is a new appointment but the person It was noted that several conservation projects were on hold has not been named. because of Health and Safety issues. 4. Dave Rose has been appointed BCA Newsletter Editor and The Access Officer had written to the BCA QMC Media Liaison. (Qualifications Management Committee) stating that CNCC will look at to what extent CNCC should include the 5. BCA now has links to Caving Forum's “Try Caving”. instructed caving sector in future access agreements. The question was also raised, should a breach of access 6. The post of Legal and Insurance Officer has been removed arrangements by the instructed sector be first brought to the and legal advice would be sought on a case by case basis. attention of CNCC as the area's regional body or BCA/QMC as the authority over the training scheme. There were not There was a discussion on the changes coming in with the strong feelings either way. new Data Protection Act. It was noted that caving clubs do not have to register with the Data Commissioner but do have After much effort by the Access Officer to agree a new access to renew consent of members each year. It was agreed that agreement with Langcliffe Estate it was agreed that CNCC Peter Hambly (NPC), a retired professional data protection would withdraw from the 1978 agreement as it was no longer officer, would draft advice to be provided to CNCC Clubs. possible to operate it. The onlycaves mentioned inthe defunct agreement are Dalehead and Penyghent Pot. It was agreed ItwasnotedthattherewasanewdataofScottishMinerecords that Andrew Hinde, as CNCC Chairman, should continue and that Scottish Access details would be included on the to negotiate the Fairy Holes, Weardale, access agreement. CNCC website. The North Pennines Geo Park. It was reported that at present the Park has no interest in caves –merely the Whin Sill. There A Youth and Development Group is currently supporting are approximately 35 caves in the area including several major students at Lancaster University to form a new caving club. maze caves. The Chairman has provided the Park with a list The group may be looking at other previously important of caves and will maintain contact with the Park. The new University clubs which have ceased e.g. BUSS. It was agreed Yorkshire Dales Management Plan will have more reference that CNCC write to the Group offering assistance with any to caves, caving and cavers than has been the case in previous future approaches. plans. The Access Officer is involved in extending the caving session at the Kendal Mountain Festival. He wondered if It was reported that the 2018 BCA AGM will be held in the CNCC or the larger Clubs would have an interest in Forest ofDean and the 2019 AGM will be in the Dales. It is participating. Tim explained that to book a stand would be hoped that this might encourage more Dales cavers to attend very expensive but it may be possible to mount something the 2019 AGM. such as the Hidden Earth “artificial cave” in the organising body's area. The Access Officer's draft statement regarding Pat & Ric Halliwell CRoW for the CNCC website was discussed and approved by the majority of Clubs subject to some changes in wording.

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 33 The Back Page – Notices, etc

Maras – Greece 25th August to 8th September 2018

Maras is the second longest cave in Greece at 11km. The main passage is the biggest consistent bit of passage that we have seen. Inthe winteritis reported to carryup to 36 cumecs of water (36 tonnes a second).

The main river passage is 7.8km long. The first 500m is a show cave. A trip to the terminal sump and back is 10 miles !!!!! There are sumps at 3.2km, 6.2km, and the terminal sump at 7.8km.

We are planning to dive all three sumps. There is 1.5km of passage beyond the 6.2km sump that ends in an ongoing sump. This is one of our main objectives on this trip. There are plenty of leads within this section of passage between ▲ Maras (photo: Clive Westlake) the two sumps. All three sumps appear to produce around the same amount The 6.2km sump is only 20m long and very shallow so the of water which is very interesting. The lads have found a divers will be pretty much self sufficient. We plan to put in couple of dig sites to have a go at. We want to finish a rope in this sump so that a few confident cavers that are photographing the main river passage, check out the hills happy and experienced with short sumps can go through (found at least one new entrance in 2016) and generally have with a single bottle. The ongoing sump lies in the direction a good time. of a shaft on the surface that is 138m deep and a vertical kilometer above the river passage. We want to have a proper This is being organised by Malcolm Foyle and Malc is keen look at the shaft this year as the French first dropped it in to get a few CPC members along. I shall be driving out there 2010 and the Greeks went to photograph it in 2016. We want with Dave Milner and possibly Dylan (Bryan Norton). to see if there are any windows or passages leading off of the shaft. Flights are cheap and the nearest airport (Thessaloniki) is about 3 hours away. You can come and go when you want The sump at 3.2km goes off at a tangent to the main cave, between the dates. under a valley towards a large area of limestone with no known cave at all – another surface area to be checked out. If anyone is interested in joining us out there have a chat with me or Malc. The terminal sump was dived by us in 2016 and is starting to rise and is still 3-4 km away from the sinks. Kevin Gannon

Lake District Camp Cottage Working Weekend 23rd/24th June 2018 19th/20th May

The meet will be based at the Turner Hall Farm campsite Just a heads up to everyone that the next Cottage Working (NGR SD 233 964, http://www.duddonvalley.co.uk/page6 Weekend falls on 19th & 20th May, which is not that far then scroll down the page) in the hamlet of Seathwaite in away. If you wish to help out with cleaning, maintaining the Duddon Valley. There's loads of great walking here and and decorating your club cottages then please come along even underground quarries too. for a day, or why not make it a full weekend, and for those who work and stay over, the delights of Ric's gastronomy Charges, according to the website, are : £6 adult; £1 car; £1 will once again be served free ofcharge on Saturday evening. tent; £2 campervan; £2 child; £1 dog; £1 shower meter. Quite a few of the old regulars will be in the far far north The campsite has a signpost at the roadside. Please take the eating Haggis and partaking of a wee dram on these dates, "Large vehicles" route as the way through the farmyard is so the opportunity is there for some new faces and as many a very snug fit. regulars as can make it. I'll issue a work list nearer the dates, but certainly cleaning fluids and paint are likely to feature I would appreciate it if you would let me know if you plan prominently at this session! on being there. That way I can let Hilary know so that she can allocate an area of the campsite (hopefully in the usual Hope to see you there. spot by the ruined farmhouse) to our group. John Webb (Cottage Warden) Robert Scott

34 Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) Notices, Correspondence

Birks Fell Cave The owners have advised the following: 50th anniversary weekend – 28/29th July 2018 ‘Nightlycharges are£7.50 an adult, £4 a childand£5foran electric Hi All — I realise that the daffodils are barely open yet but hook-up; this does include one car. Ifpeople could mention on the I suspect most of you are looking forward to a glorious booking summary they were with the CPC anniversary event that summer and may even be planning to attend some of the would be great as it would enable me to try and pitch them close weekend meets. With this in mind, can I draw your attention by each other. All motorhomes, campervans and caravans would to the 'Birks Fell Cave 50th anniversary meet' on the 28/29th need to book on to the caravan and camping club site which is 140 July 2018. This meet will celebrate 50 years since the metres away from the tent and pod site (as they would be with a breakthrough into this Wharfedale classic by Craven Pothole party it would be ok ifnot all were CCC members). There are two Club (see article pages 12-15). pods currently available for your dates both will have heating, lighting, electricity and mattress covered seating areas that fold I'm not here to extol the virtues of the cave but I will say it's down to form beds (currently updating the web site to reflect this a cracking trip and anyone who does come…no matter how as pods last season were not all furnished). Be great to have you far they venture into the cave will have a full and rewarding all ifwe can meet the needs ofyour event. We do provide a fridge, day (or two). Some even state Birks Fell is one of the finest, freezer and kettle for use by campers (and hair dryer for the lady's sporting stream caves in the Dales. in the shower pod!). We do have on site toilet and shower faclites, we also provide a fridge and kettle for use by campers.' We have a permitforthe two days and the cave willbe rigged for SRT and ladder (Depending on who attends). Full details can be found at: http://buckdencamping.co.uk/ Tel: 01756 760 3074 ; 07786 896 985 The main reason for getting this out early is we will be camping at the Buckden Camp site in the centre ofthe village. The good news is, the Buck Inn is also about to re-open. I I have spoken to the owners and they are very have spoken to the new owners and they are planning to be accommodating and are looking forward to hosting us. open by Easter. They are also excited at the thought of a load However, people will need to bookdirectlywiththe campsite of thirsty cavers ringing open their tills again. and pay in advance. Please state you are with Craven Pothole Club and attending the anniversary weekend when booking. So, stick the date in your diary, circle it on the calendar, add an event on Microsoft outlook and make a booking with the campsite site…And those not familiar with the cave…do some reading (But skim over the bit about the ‘sewer'). Glenn Costin

Meg Stark writes — You should always read the small-print Back to the SRT bag. Leaving everything else with Kevin, yourself, as I found out to my cost, £40 in fact. Thanks who was trying to look innocent while carrying an SRT bag, Ryanair! “There's nothing to say you can't take your SRT I was escorted back though security, past the baggage drop, kit as cabin baggage” said someone who will remain right to the very start of the self-check-in. To do Ryanair anonymous. Well, that's one interpretation. It had seemed credit, they did attempt to retrieve my hold bag, but were a good idea, my SRT kit in a (clean) personal tackle bag unsuccessful. So my tiny little SRT bag cost me £40 to check weighs 3kgand is onlythe size ofa ladies handbag(whatever in. one of those is). I returned to Security, this time with only my coat and Kevin's almost identical bag cleared security. Mine didn't. paperwork. “You're travelling light” the man said The initial problem was the tiny adjustable spanner at the suspiciously, so I explained why I was enjoying my second top. “You can't take tools”. Minor difficulty, remove it and transit of the security system. This time, having no bags and buy another. But the security man decided to empty the bag. probably branded a trouble-maker, I was put through the I explained the contents, and after discussion with a body-scanner and searched three times. I was starting to feel colleague, then a more senior colleague, the entire contents paranoid and wondered if I was being followed on CCTV, were declared “tools” and needed checking in as hold and tried to spot the plain-clothes security staff until we luggage. Meanwhile my daysack had also been singled out boarded and flew off to Mallorca. for closer examination. This one was easy, apparently sarnies on top of binoculars equals a strange colour on the scanner. So read the small print. Airline security is essential, no doubt Just for good measure, my hand cleanser was removed for about it, but it's the incomprehensibly arbitrary nature that chemical testing. is sometime baffling! Meg Stark

Thanks again to Seán Karley for proof reading this Record – PBW

Craven Pothole Club Record 130 (April 2018) 35