Joining the dots for an Easegill through trip

After a tiring trip on the Saturday, we were all quite achy when we set off once again to Bull Pot Farm on Sunday, with the aim of completing the last leg of our through trip route-finding; Lancaster Hole to Wretched Rabbit. It was a beautiful morning, with sun in the sky and snow on the hills.

Taking some lessons from the amount of kit we carried the day before, we left two SRT kits tied to the end of the rope at the foot of Lancaster Hole and left the tripods in the van! The route finding went well and we made good progress.

We stopped for a quick photo at Bob’s Boss and Painter’s Palette, then passed Fall Pot, Montague East and West and Stake Pot, following descriptions we had printed out.

The highlight of today’s trip was a section of passage called The Minarets; a beautifully shaped and decorated tunnel where we stopped and took a few photos. Brendan however found that his camera lens had developed condensation on the inside from its dunking the day before, so again his photographic plans were foiled.

There seemed to be a lot of awkward climbs up and down, some with bits of muddy rope to help us. The longest of these had a long, muddy rope downwards which led to an even muddier rope upwards where I managed to get my cowstail caught on a knot and had to be rescued by Mark.

Eventually we were into passage that the boys recognized from previous trips and they romped off into the distance, leaving me to stumble my way over greasy boulders. After pointing out to them delicately and with hardly any swear words that I couldn’t learn the route if all I was looking at was my feet, they let me go ahead and soon I too recognized the way we were going.

Taking a shortcut to Wretched Rabbit we climbed out of the now far too familiar entrance. All the snow had gone and we were even out in time to join some local friends for dinner at a nearby pub. 

Bob's Boss (Photo Brendan Marris)

The Minarets (Photo Mark Burkey)

Present: Jess Burkey, Mark Burkey, Brendan Marris

Light Work in Lancaster Hole

The misfortune of the weekend continued into Sunday with Mike finding that his brand new Scurion light mounted on a shiny red helmet had disappeared from the changing room overnight. The next two hours were spent searching every possible corner of Brackenbottom, even making contact with some divers who had left early in the morning, all to no avail. Finally a late riser at the club was asked if he had seen it, and then the penny dropped. He had an identical set up, and on seeing it late the previous evening thought he had left his out and put it into his car. Reunited with all our kit and after finishing off a wonderful breakfast provided by Mark and Jess we had a feeling that the air was a little warmer than on the previous day. With the possibility of the road to Bullpot Farm having thawed out we headed off to Easegill. The road was clear and soon we were at the empty farm, ready to get changed. At this point Mike realised he had now left his Scurion battery at Brackenbottom on charge. With a good drive back to the cottage and no guarantee anyone would be there when we got back we decided to try and make phone contact. We knew of one point where a faint signal could be obtained, and after a couple of phone calls were made we had arranged with Josh Bratchley to pick up the kit so we could pick up from him later. Mark provided Mike with a spare battery for the day and so we changed and then headed over a desolate and cold moor the the warm welcoming entrance to Lancaster Hole.

Loz on the Entrance Pitch - Lancaster Hole - Photo Mark Burkey

Photos of the entrance pitch were taken by Mark, before a quick visit to Slug World was made by those who hadn't been there before while Mark and Brendan packed up the photo gear. We then headed into the cave, stopping off for all to have a look at the Colonnades as we passed nearby. We headed down to Fall Pot and dropping through the boulders to the streamway and found that the floods of the start of the week had receded well, making a journey up the Main Drain quite safe. We dropped off our gear and then headed the short distance downstream to reach the main sump. Impressed with the lovely shaped passage on the approach for the sump, the photographers hot-footed back to Fall Pot for the cameras and a couple of photos were taken.

Jess near the sump - Lancaster Hole - Photo Mark Burkey

Mike near the sump - Lancaster Hole - Photo Photo Brendan Marris

We then headed upstream along the magnificent section of streamway taking photos in a couple of the locations that we had scouted on a previous visit.

Loz in the Main Drain - Lancaster Hole - Photo Photo Brendan Marris

Mike and Loz in the Main Drain - Lancaster Hole - Photo Mark Burkey

Jess in the Main Drain - Lancaster Hole - Photo Photo Brendan Marris

After a good session of photographs and with the camera gear being a little too moist to take any more, we made the final approach to the boulder choke at Oxbow Corner. Here a tricky climb up, assisted by a muddy rope saw us climb up to the high level fossil passages. Our route was now to head back to Lancaster Hole via the upper series and soon we were stomping along the fossil passages, traversing along muddy ledges high above the streamway that we could hear below. We passed the beautiful Painter's Pallet and Bob's Boss before we reached Stake Pot which had marked the end of our trip on our last visit. We kitted up with our SRT gear so we had protection of the slippy roped climbs down and then climbed up assisted by hand jammers of the far side. We were now in familiar territory for Brendan and Mark and made good time back to the bottom of the entrance pitch. Now dark and with clear skies the temperature outside had plummeted and we quickly exited and then stomped back to Red Rose, heading off at about 8pm.

A great trip into this fantastic system, a pity we only had one day there. The weekend was saved by the hospitality of Scoff and the Bradford members. Next time a Lancaster - County through trip.

Present: Mark Burkey, Jess Burkey, Loz Appleby, Mike Bonner and Brendan Marris

Lancashire Hot Pot - A weekend on Casterton Fell

Red Rose Caving Club were holding a social weekend and BBQ over the first weekend in September. SWCC were invited as they have a reciprocal arrangement with the two clubs. On hearing of the event we enquired if the Dudley could join in, to which they extended a warm welcome. Unfortunately straight after the Bank Holiday, it was only Mark and Brendan who could attend, but we planned to make it a recce weekend for future Club trips.
We arrived on Saturday night via a nice Italian Restaurant in Kirby Lonsdale. Beer had been laid on for the weekend so we had a quick nightcap before bed.

Saturday morning saw a hive of activity with most Red Rose members doing trips into Notts II via different entrances. Mark and Myself planned for a trip into Lancaster Hole and were kindly lent a rope suitable for the pitch. We headed off in blazing sunshine across the fell and were soon rigging the entrance. The 30 metre deep pitch is a fine free hang once through the cosy entrance section and looks amazing as you abseil down into the blackness.
Once off the rope we headed to Slug World, a short diversion off the normal routes recommended by members at the club. A short bit of crawling led past some fine formations and a couple of helictites to emerge in a taped off chamber. Here some magnificent stal bosses marked the end of this series.
We then headed to Bridge Chamber and the climb up on the left to Colonades Hall. The columns are impressive and it is only when you stand beside them that you really appreciate their size.
An hour or so was spent photographing them before we headed further into the cave.

Brendan at the Colonades - Lancaster Hole - Photo Mark Burkey

Brendan in Colonades Hall - Lancaster Hole - Photo Mark Burkey

Mark at the Colonades - Lancaster Hole - Photo Photo Brendan Marris

Mark at the Colonades - Lancaster Hole - Photo Photo Brendan Marris

We wanted to navigate around the cave, finding the main passages and routes to open up longer trips in the future and we were soon on our way to Fall Pot. We descended the 8m fixed rope climbs to arrive in the bottom and then headed off along Montague East to reach Stake Pot. Here a rope down and then back up on the other side really needed tackle. As we had left our gear we decided that this would be as far as we would go. We did think we could see a bypass on the survey and spent much time looking for this non existent route before heading back to Fall Pot. The sound of the streamway enticed us to climb down the choke at the bottom of the pot and soon we were in the Lancaster Main Drain. We headed upstream in the impressive streamway enjoying every inch of the passage. Rich peaty water flowed through deep pots and the brown scalloped walls reflected the lights beautifully. We went through a boulder area below stake pot and eventually reached a choked area which we believe to be on the approach to Oxbow Corner before time was running short and we had to go back.

We were up the pitch in no time and then enjoying the walk back to Bullpot Farm under a clear blue sky. The BBQ was already lit when we got back so after a wash down of kit we ate a sausage or two washed down with a pint or two of beer. Happy Days.

Present: Mark Burkey and Brendan Marris

A Yorkshire Weekend

Saturday - Lancaster Hole 
Present: Mike Clayton - DCC/Craven PC, Emma Porter - DCC/Craven PC, Andrew Cross - DCC, Dave Williams - DCC, Neville Lucus - Craven PC, John Allonby - Craven PC, Hadi Kaassamani - Speleo Club du Liban, Firas Fayad - Speleo Club du Liban 
The projected route was into Lancaster Hole through to the main drain and exiting from Wretched Rabbit. The trip took longer underground than expected as Wilf Taylor's Passage was carrying a significant stream. At one waterfall, it was decided to turn back. On the return journey, Neville lost a wellie (never to be seen again) due to the force of the stream. We exited from Lancaster Hole. 

Sunday - Bar Pot 
Present: Mike Clayton - DCC/Craven PC, Emma Porter - DCC/Craven PC, Andrew Cross - DCC, Joanna Campbell - ex-DCC, Shepton Mallet CC, Graham Salmon - Yorkshire Ramblers Club, Hadi Kaassamani - Speleo Club du Liban, Firas Fayad - Speleo Club du Liban 
The intended pot was Swinsto Hole, but this was abandoned due to the high water levels in the Dales. Bar Pot was a suitable trip with the main chamber very impressive as Fell Beck was carrying a significant stream. After the main chamber we visited Sand Chambers, Stream Passage streamway on the way to the start of the South East Extension. After Saturday, this constituted an uneventful trip.