The day’s objective for our 3 man team was to head to
valentines sump and access the condition of the syphon.
Firstly I was late (enough said already) After speaking with
Mark on the phone it was agreed that Carl and Mark would head into Giants and
play in the upper series above base camp chamber while I dragged my lazy ass to
the car park and meet them at the head of Garlands around 11ish.
At garlands Pot I found a comfy spot, rested on the kit bags
and turned off my light waiting in eagerness to start the days caving. I didn’t
wait long. Mark and Carl greeted me, Carl with the obligatory array of swear
words before informing me that my punishment for holding up the team was to
carry the rope bag for the entire trip. I thought this fair and got on with it.
In minutes we were down Garlands and into crab walk. Mark
had told Carl to lead as he was suffering a bout of man flu and could set his
own pace. It didn’t take long to reach the vice and then down the bit that
hurts any man…..razors edge. From there we spent a little while looking for the
correct way to valentines Sump getting very damp in the process!
At the sump Mark explained how the syphon worked and then
asked ‘’do you understand that’’ and I said yes (not really having a clue) his
reply was ‘’good, because your off down there to get it working’’. Carl was now
feeling quite cold and was looking like he needed a Horlicks. I got in the water with a certain amount of
gusto that soon turned to hate and loathing for Mark as the water got deeper!
We spent around 15 minutes trying to get the syphon started. We thought at one
point we had cracked it only it was short lived as any suction I had felt at
the pipe end soon stopped, so it was back out of the water and bailing commenced.
Mark had mentioned earlier that he thought the water backed up and within 5 or
6 buckets and that’s exactly what happened. Carl regained some colour at this
point realising he wasn’t going to be going in the water I had just come out of!
It was decided we would head to the filthy five and look at
the state of play of the sump from the other side. We retraced our steps to the
kit which we had left a short while away before heading to Geology Pot. There
were a few sporting bits of passage before reaching the abseil which I rigged.
Mark went down first, Carl and I close behind. I was impressed with Geology
having failed to find it on a previous trip. From here my memory doesn’t serve
to well until we reached a small duck,.Carls reaction though was very memorable
and frankly hilarious but he was through within seconds, although this ice cold
soaking rendered him mute. We were soon at the East Canal. Mark traversed around
easily and I followed with not so much ease. The sight of water had woken Carl
up again and the swearing also commenced. Mark had said they don’t call this
the filthy five for nothing and he was right. As I wadded through the mud to
the first pitch I heard a almighty splash which echoed in the passage but was
soon replaced with fits of laughter as we realised Carl had fell in whilst
trying to stay dry traversing. Very funny. Mark was soon up the first pitch,
wedging himself in whilst ascending as the bolts and rigging looked suspect, I
followed and Carl was also soon up. The way onwards was a left turn over a small
traverse to the next pitch but we were all in agreement that the rigging and
state of the metalwork was at best dodgy and as we would be ascending the
pitches without having the luxury of accessing the rigging and bolting or using
our own pull through we decided to leave the climbs for a return trip.
After deciding we would now be heading out Carl who had put
in a sterling effort so far looked somewhat relieved. It wasn’t quite over yet
though. We all carefully descended the pitch back into the canal, Carl this
time mastered the traverse whilst I had decided to wade. It was at this point
Carl asked which way out we intended to go, Mark informing him the same way
past the duck then finish the round trip over the top of crab walk and out. The
duck was done with ease and we were soon at the Oxlow connection (Start of the
Chamber of Horrors). Carl had opted to
wait a little further back while Mark and I went to check out this tight
passage. I stood there laughing at Mark, thinking how abnormal this was
squeezing into the tight entrance passage arms stretched out in front as he
went on his front, feet first. I followed behind with the same technique but it
wasn’t long before Mark hit the water. I told him I was more than happy to
explore further, BUT on another day. We backtracked out and it was only the
Windpipe and Garlands left to negotiate before we could taste fresh air once
more. Carl looked like he was ready to commit murder at the entrance to the
Devils Wind pipe but the water was relatively low considering it can sump.
Mark had been vague with his exit strategy to Carl so the
traverses were an unwelcomed surprise to him. It didn’t take us long though to
get to Garlands and before we knew it we were out in the fresh air me refusing
to ‘’have a go’’ at the tight Oxbow pointed out by Mark and Carl on the way
out.
We were met by Andy and the others at the car park where we
got changed and hijacked Wal’s food. We the all headed to the pub for drinks
whilst Carl go off home for a lemsip!! A very enjoyable day, Cheers guys
Present: Mark Burkey, Carl Knott, Ben Marklew
Trip report by Ben Marklew
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