Doing things the Wet Way in Swildons

It’s a little known fact that Wells Museum has an excellent Caving Exhibition, and each summer a photographic competition of Mendip caves is held. Mark and Brendan have both been placed highly in previous years, so Mark and I headed down to the Mendips to see if he could get any decent shots of Swildons Hole for this year’s competition.

Within feet of the entrance Mark had me climbing up and down through the water to position flashguns  (“Well there’s no point in both of us getting wet!”)  until one of the guns took on some water and blew up.  With some of the older flashguns also refusing to work, Mark’s original plan of taking photos of me lying in Sump 1 was abandoned, (Yay!) and we decided to try for a pitch shot on The Twenty.

We followed our noses along the dry high-level passages until we came to the stream way. When we got to the pitch we were surprised to find a group of young military personnel practicing their SRT, so while we waited for them to finish Mark sussed out a vantage point for the camera.

Whilst rigging the ladder pitch Mark tossed me the end of a rope to hold, and called something out, but I couldn’t make out what he said. To my surprise, he then pulled the rope out of my hands and threw the whole thing down the pitch! Apparently he’d asked me to attach my end to the P bolt… Good job we had another rope with us, and once we had retrieved the first one we were ready to start the photoshoot.

While Mark hung around with the camera I was Up the ladder, Down the ladder, Along the passage, Up the rift, Under the water, Up the ladder, Down the ladder.. . Smile! My worries about getting cold as I was already wet through were completely unfounded.

With time moving on and the mill to get back to, we derigged and made our way back out of Swildons along the Wet Way.

Swildons Hole Entrance Series

Swildons 20ft pitch

Present: Jessica Burkey, Mark Burkey

Who Ate All The Pies?.......This Little Piggy Did The Swildon's Hole Round Trip

For Sunday’s trip we had Myself, Jess, Chloe, and Mark Burgess  in attendance. Ian deciding that one day’s fun was enough for one weekend. 

Our original plan had been a very sedate pootle in Singing River Mine, but as we sat having a Priddy good breakfast other plans were hatched and a Swildon’s round trip was decided upon.

Jess led and we were soon making our way in to a surprisingly dry entrance series to the head of the twenty foot pot where Jess rigged and life lined us down. 

We took Barnes loop in and paused for a quick photo on the way through before heading up Tratman’s Temple where again we stopped for a photo opportunity. Here we stashed the camera gear to speed our progress through the aqueous sections to come.

Jess had no problem navigating through St Paul’s series, Paradise Regained and the Troubles, with only a short navigational blip in St Pauls where she headed for a dig. 

No one had any problems getting up the Greasy Chimney or through the Double troubles.

At the unnamed squeeze I quickly realised that I would need to get back on the diet and had been indeed eating far too many pies of late. With Jess and Mark wedged behind to push off and Chloe ahead to pull they eventually managed to assist me through, though not before I managed to dislocate my toe pushing off the rock. 

On the other side, the Wellie was removed, my first aid training was invoked as I applied traction and popped said big toe back in place. This would prove something of a hindrance as it began to bruise and swell, and the others would keep having to wait for me as I hopped my way up the many cascades.

After sliding down The Landing we got to the Wookie Hole sign where Chloe pointed out sump one to an unsure looking Mark Burgess. Somehow we had managed to neglect to tell him there would be a short free dive on the trip. Although a little uncertain he plunged through with no bother.

Fortunately for me we exited in time for  a couple of pints (purely medicinal) of Pot Holer in the beer tents before heading off. 

I once said on another trip report that this trip requires both guts and determination, though a little less gut would ensure a much easier trip......back on the diet for me! 

Mark Burgess in Barne's Loop

Jess and Chloe at Tratman's Temple

Present: Jess Burkey, Mark Burgess, Chloe Burney and Mark Burkey

Swildon's Hole Short Round Trip

We decided to start a little later than usual and arranged to meet up at half past ten at Priddy Green with Mel, Chloe travelling down with myself and Jess.

With rain forecast Friday, Saturday and Sunday we were unsure if the Swildon's round trip was the best idea, but upon arriving at the green I was pretty sure the numerous minibuses and cars meant that Swildon's would probably be fine after all.

We begun gathering our kit when Mel let out an expletive as she realised she had neglected to pack her wellies!

As Mel raced off to see if she could grab some from Wells, Chloe, Jess and Myself retreated from the rain to enjoy some of Chloe's excellent home baked almond slices.

An hour later Mel arrived back with a pair of boots she had managed to borrow from Mr Sparrow at caveclimb.

Jess led us in via the dry route to the head of the 20ft pot where a ladder was already in place. There were hordes of other parties on their way out and it took some time before and we were making our way over Barne's Loop and up at Tratman's Temple.

We met a couple of cavers on our way who told us the ducks were quite high and they had needed to spend some time bailing to get through.

After a slight navigational blip which saw me going needlessly through a very muddy duck to a dig face, we were back en route and at the greasy chimney before we knew it where everyone shot up the obstacle on first attempt! 

Chloe recognised the junction on to the rift over Blue Pencil Passage, which I wanted to check I could find my way through before we continued on to the first of the double troubles.

I could see the girls weren't looking too eager as they peered at the frigid duck which had only a few inches of air space. Chloe and Jess began to take a look at the syphon system, but as I had only done these last year I managed to convince them there was plenty of space to navigate through. 

I went first to demonstrate. The water was indeed as cold as it looked and was well over your ears as you tilted your head back around the various obstacles before emerging the other side. 

Jess followed but in her rush decided to water board herself as she rushed through. 

After promising Mel and Chloe that as long as they took their time and didn't rush the same fate wouldn't become them, they both came through without any problems. After this the rest of the troubles had far more airspace and posed no issues. 

We were soon at the unnamed squeeze which I had run Mel through the previous week. Now I'm not sure if it is all the almond slices or the wetsuit fabric under my Meander suit, but half way through I found my suit just would not slide any further. I wasn't exactly stuck as there was plenty of breathing room, but I wasn't going anywhere either and had to get Chloe and Jess to tug on my wellies and pull me back out! Deciding that it was something to do with the wetsuit and Meander I pulled the top of my over suit down to my waist and squeezed through to take a couple of pic's from the other side before everyone joined me for the last of the troubles. 

Mel recognised the drop down to The Landing and we were soon diving through Sump 1 to make our way out. 

Between the 3 girls they had managed to navigate the whole round trip which meant I had plenty of time to play with my camera :)

All that was left was to gobble up a few more almond slices and for Mel to return her wellies!

Mel on the ladder pitch

Mel traversing the 2nd of the double pots

Chloe in Barnes' Loop

Chloe coming through the squeeze

Chloe slides down at The Landing

Present: Chloe Burney, Mel Bell, Jess Burkey & Mark Burkey

Sploshing around Swildon's Hole

Again splitting in to two teams for Sundays adventures I led Mel, Rich, Tony and Rob for a jaunt in to Swildon’s Hole for a trip to Sump 2, whilst the others headed to Burrington Combe to have a play.

There were a large number of cavers and adventure groups in the upper part of the system so we headed in via the wet route and were all quickly sploshing our way through to the head of the Twenty Foot Pot.

A ladder was already rigged so we un-bagged our kit and left it on a shelf in-case the other party exited before us. 

Whilst I belayed the others down another group arrived and begun chatting with Rob. I heard them ask where we were from and when Rob replied Dudley the other chap grinned and said “Ah the video guys”, he looked over at me and said I thought I recognised you.” Rob just looked blankly at me and then made his way down the pitch.

On we went around the Double Pots, well aside from Rich who seemed to want to test the depth of the 2^nd one ;)

I pointed out the climb up at Barnes’ loop and said we’d descent via the rift and come back over the top. Continuing I pointed out Tratman’s and on to Sump 1.

We arrived just as another group were coming through.

“Excuse me, are you Mark the Caver from the Video’s?” a lady asked. We then went on to discuss how tight Darren Cilau was and if the now famous Caving girdle was real…fame at last…. shame it’s for cross-dressing!

After this exchange I explained about the ‘Tight Cave Large Caver Video Series” to the others and that it was because of Mr Edwards Video’s that I was being recognised by these complete strangers.

So now it was time for the sump. I explained the procedure and then dove through to take some shots of the others. 

Again everyone did admirably with only the odd squeak & squeal ;)

After the usual giggle at the Wookey Hole sign we went off to take a look at Sump 2, then headed up the Landing to see if we could find the unnamed squeeze. After heading off in completely the wrong direction I eventually got us on route and was soon ducking through the last of the troubles to the ‘Not Birthday Squeeze.’

A few of us had a play slipping through the smooth calcite before reversing our route through sump 1 and heading back out. This time I got Rob to lead and he had no trouble till he continued in to the tight rift, missing the climb up at what used to be the old Forty Foot Pot. 

To round off we all exited out of the tree roots before having a wash off in the stream.

 

Mel in Sump 1

Rich in Sump 1

Rob in Sump 1

Tony in Sump 1

Present: Mell Bell, Tony Ferrun, Rob Campbell, Rich Gibbons & Mark Burkey

Swildons Hole; Too greasy for Chloe and a close shave for me!

With Team 1 heading down to take a look at sump 2, Mel, Jess, Keith, Chloe and myself headed off to do the round trip.

It had been some years since Keith had done the route and I had been a little preoccupied worrying if I’d get through the squeeze the last time I did it to take much notice so wanted to use the trip to learn the route.

Allowing the others a head start, we ambled down the lane and followed in at a leisurely pace until we could hear the unmistakable shouts from Mr Grimes as he verbally assisted his team down the pitch.

I’d remembered Steve finding a bypass to the rift on a previous trip, so at this point Keith and I popped over the top whilst the girls took the lower more awkward route.

Soon we arrived at Tratman’s Temple and on to the Greasy Chimney where Jess managed to defeat her nemesis and got up without issue. Mel and Keith followed with Chloe playing snakes and ladders before finally admitting defeat and treading all over me…….again!

Soon we were at the first of the troubles, which was nothing more than a damp crawl. Continuing on we were offered a number of alternatives. Splitting up we each took a route to see if anyone recognised anything and after going a short way up and down some slippery slopes I turned around, sure I hadn’t been there before. Re-grouping we continued to retrace and search for the way on ‘till Keith took a look at the way I had been and announced that he had us back on track…Doh!

Down the slippery slope and around the corner we found the drop down to Blue Pencil passage. I had heard tales of this awkward, tight route and fancied giving it a go. We all made our way down the steep climb to the head of the rift where Keith dropped down first explaining the way through was on your side, legs first, then once around the tight dog leg bend you needed the turn face down and make your way on to a tight ledge (on Keith’s first visit he had gone head first through the rift and had a very scary moment having to lean out in to thin air over a 15ft sheer drop, hence the advice of doing the passage backward)

After a little grunting Keith was through. I followed shuffling my way down the passage until firmly wedged with my kneecaps bent slightly the wrong way. Fortunately I’m getting a little more used to this type of predicament and so little by little I wriggled this way and that, shaving a little here and there until eventually my legs released and I was around the corner. The aforementioned ledge proved too tight for me to get fully on top, but I managed to get one half of my bulk on the ledge and one leg in the tight rift, then shuffle backward till Keith called out that I was at the precipice of the drop. Fortunately there is a chain to assist to the stream way at this point.

Mel followed; as usual skipping through spaces that I had struggled and making the obstacles look easy!

Once in the stream way we ran up and down to take in Sumps 3 and 4, as well as the aptly named Cowsh Aven before making our way back to re-group with Chloe and Jess.

At this point it was decided that with the lost time navigating and the time spent doing Blue Pencil Passage, the other team may be concerned if we continued on and exit late. Happy we had learnt the route to the main ducks, and having ticked off Blue Pencil we made our way out to be greeted by the rest of the team, who were indeed not far from worrying about our timings.

Present: Keith Edwards, Chloe Burney, Mel Wakeman, Jessica Harding & Mark Burkey

Swildon's hole to Sump 2

Chloe had messaged a few weeks back asking for a trip toward her new neck of the woods. The lads were also aching to get back underground so for something a little different I offered up a Swildons trip to the sumps.

Recruiting Wal as a second experienced caver I arranged to meet everyone at Priddy on Sunday morning. Wal hadn't been in to Swildons since the movement at the entrance, so after kitting up in the barn he took the lead and we were soon stomping over the fields. In fact he was so keen he kept stomping straight past the entrance  ;)

After giving everyone a good soaking getting in, Wal took the lead up through a dry route crawling over pots before dropping back down to a part of the entrance series I recognised.
Crawling through water and descending cascades we soon reached the head of the 20ft pitch which was already rigged. Everyone negotiated this with ease and we were soon making our way down the rift (Wal climbing over) and on to the double pots and through to sump 1. The water at the sump wasn't the highest I've ever seen it, but was definitely still a sump. Before anyone could talk themselves out of it I dived through so I could take pictures and was soon followed by the entire team.
After pausing for a pic at the Wookey hole sign we continued on to take in sump 2 and on our return climbed the slope to have a poke around before heading out.
Half way back through the sump I snagged a pulley on my belt and had to re-arrange myself and catch my breath before pushing back through, I must say it was quite amusing seeing the look on everyone else's faces whilst they made sure their belts were tightened with nothing hanging loose:)
On the return Chloe began to tire until half way up the ladder pitch her strength deserted her.
Fortunately said pulley that had caused me grief earlier came in to its own here and we set up a hauling system to assist her up. Ben and Grant helped Wal at the top of the pitch with a second line belaying whilst Carl and I stayed at the bottom to haul. After a quick rest and some of Carl's chocolate, Chloe felt ready to give it another go and was soon at the head of the pitch. Although tired she had no further problems.
Arriving at the last climb up I glanced to my left to see Chloe disappearing after Wal down a tight rift passage. After a little coaxing Chloe and Wal decided to re-join us and we were soon getting a good soaking as we exited.

The team at the entrance

All in all a great trip. I would just like to say a quick thanks to Graham and Emma who had only done an exercise on options for this exact scenario a few weeks ago at the club. It meant that Wal and I could deal quickly with the situation and ensure it caused as little problem at possible.

Chloe coming through sump 1

Present:
Steve Wal Wallis, Ben Marklew, Carl Knott, Grant Wilkes, Chloe Burnley & Mark Burkey

Swildon’s Short Round Trip

Trip Report by Mark Burkey

After a trip earlier in the year to sump 1 and then the greasy chimney, Andy, Mel, Jess and myself had been planning on going back to have a go at the short round trip.
This time we were minus Jess (after she decided to jump off her new scooter before actually stopping) and plus Dominic.
We knew it was going to be busy as soon as we arrived by the number of cars at the green. Sure enough as soon as we got in the entrance cavers begun appearing from everywhere!
We made swift progress to the pitch head only to have a half hour wait as there was a traffic jam of cavers waiting to descend.
At Tratman's Temple we again caught up a group who were also doing the short round and as we had already lost a lot of time we decided to tag along rather than jump ahead and risk navigation errors.
Everything went smoothly with no surprises to the greasy chimney. Andy went first.....grunt, grunt "I'm nearly there"...THUMP!! “Strike 1”...THUMP!! “Strike 2!”... Fortunately Andy flew up on the fourth attempt as I’m not sure there were anymore swear words left for him to use!
Again with our guides we swiftly made our way through to the Troubles where the other group decided they wanted to get some pictures of everyone going through. Andy was first up.....”Exactly how long IS this?”.......”THAT’S not much airspace”.....”What do you mean on your BACK?!?!”  In the end Andy showed us how it was done and just treated the whole thing as a sump and swam under it! Next went Mel and then Dominic who, after a ‘moment’, took to the ducks like, well like a spluttering duck to water. I myself had been so focused on the Birthday Squeeze ahead that I hadn’t even given any of the other obstacles a second thought. At least not until I wedged tight through one of the later ducks with my head half submerged and had to be dragged through. It was at this point I decided I really, REALLY wanted to fit through the squeeze and not have to do the Troubles in reverse.
Andy and Mel flew through the Birthday Squeeze, and I followed family tradition by first stripping off down to my furry. Following advice from Paul (an experienced caver who swore he’d got “corks” through the squeeze before)  I eventually went in on my back and was just thinking to myself how well I was doing when everything came to an abrupt halt. I’d reached the tightest part of the squeeze and no matter how hard I pushed I wasn’t going anywhere. I would just like to say that I was very manly at this point and took it in my stride, but unfortunately I can’t.  I begun to panic, making some very un-macho noises! However, with Paul wedged in behind me to push against, & Andy telling me there was no way he was going back through those bloody troubles and to suck it up, I eventually popped through like a champagne cork through to a slightly wider part, managed to turn full circle, and actually wound up having Andy pull me feet first out of the squeeze. I’m reliably informed this is a manoeuvre that has never been performed before and certainly gave cause for a few giggles!
With nothing more than a couple of minor navigational errors we were through the sump, back up the pitch and out with no further events.
In conclusion I think it is important for a caver to approach such a challenge with guts and determination, though I do feel a little less guts on my part would have made the whole experience far easier :)
My thanks go to Dominic, Mel, Andy & my new foot-rest, Paul, for getting me through my hardest challenge to date. The ribs are a little sore and tender, but I couldn't have done it without the whole team.

Present: Dominic, Andy, Mel, Mark & around 200 other cavers popping out from everywhere!!!