Caving
The start of a new year and we’re back caving again in the middle of winter – why not in summer when the Yorkshire Dales are warm and pleasant? Our first trip was February 14th when we visited the Long Churn cave system, with two different parties, one in Upper Long Churn with Rachel while she was assessed for her Local Cave Leaders qualification, and the other party in Lower Long Churn and through to Alum Pot itself under the guidance of Paul G and Big P.
This year we have a number of new recruits who are all going to give it a go, and we have the qualified Scouts who earned their badges last time round waiting for a bigger challenge! Just to remind you how it went……………………………..
Scouts from 2nd Atherton Scout Group have been caving to earn the Cavers badge. Our first trip was on Sunday 9th November 2003 , and our fourth was on Saturday 21st February 2004 having completed all four trips during winter – when it’s coldest and wettest. While everyone else has been sat at home watching videos on a Sunday afternoon we’ve been showing that we’re as tough as they come!
Cavers badges were awarded to: -
Adam McGaughey, Ben Gill, Daniel Stout, James Grimshaw,
Jordan Pennington, Sam Shaw, Sam Cain, Tom Cleverly
Caving Badge Qualification
Criteria
To earn the right to wear this much-coveted badge the Scout must complete the following:
Take part in at least four different trips to at least two different cave systems as a member of a properly led group.
Keep a record of these trips, and the routes followed using a cave log sheet.
Have a good knowledge of the contents of the caving and cave conservation codes, and be able to discuss with the assessor measures that can be taken by participants in the activity to reduce conflict and promote conservation.
Trip 1 – The cave, to be honest, was extremely cold throughout the whole trip even whilst wearing the warm suit and the wet suit but most likely to be the worst part for me is probably climbing down the ladder going down the 30ft drop into the water which was FREEZING cold and upto your knees or going through the place entitled “The Sausage machine” where the roof is honestly just an inch of your back so you have to do the army crawl and really it does hurt after a while. But now I think of it I think “The Sausage machine” was the worst part even though I’m scared of heights and definitely don’t like going down the ladder.
Trip 2 – This cave was defiantly the worst so far, people losing wellies left, right and center. It started off OK just a little walking with the occasional low roof and waist high water but nothing to worry about apart from the water being cold. Later on we had to go down a ladder, after the first trip I wasn’t bothered about going down it but what was at the bottom was the worst thing. Whilst going down the ladder you had water spraying in your face all the time so that it’s harder to climb down but at the bottom of the ladder is a big pool and it’s freezing cold. And then we had to walk down a tunnel where the water current is so strong you get knocked of your feet as I did but I was caught just in time. After that we went back up the ladder and out the way we came in.
Trip 3 – “THE WORST EVER” this cave was that bad there are not enough words in the dictionary to describe it one part I was really annoyed about was we were dragged up a hill to look down a hole and then inside we had to go through a very tight gap where you had to army crawl and there was water that was freezing. Also when you had to go down the ladder near the end, that was just perfect! First both my hands got stuck behind the ladder so I shaked about and went right under the water fall then I swallowed a lot of water and lost my footing and was hanging just by my hands. Luckily I wasn’t far from the floor. The favourite part for me was getting out or going to the café.
Adam
McGaughey, Falcon Patrol
We entered through the middle entrance and soon came to the first pitch, just a mere 20 foot down, landing in a shallow pool – at least it was shallow except for one spot about a foot square where we managed to persuade most of the scouts to go, telling them it was the shallow part – only for them to find it was 3 foot deep! We then went down to where the side passage met the main passage from the top entrance. We went up towards the top entrance, the roof got lower and the water got colder until it was a flat out crawl in 3 inches of freezing cold water. Through the last, low bit and then into the entrance shaft for the top entrance. Seen from below the 1-foot slot that was the top entrance had a stunning shaft below it, but we were all too brassed off to be impressed – we had to go back the way we came through the water! Back we went, and those manly bits that remained finally gave up the ghost and shrunk to nothing and before we knew it, we were at the top of the main pitch – Chapter House waterfall.
The guidebook describes it as sporting when wet – and it was wet and very sporting. 36 feet of cascading waterfalls and deep pools, broken down into four sections, each one different and challenging. The first a sloping ladder climb with the risk of swinging back under the waterfall if you got it wrong – and most of us did. The 2nd bit slightly easier if you made use of the ladder and the rocks but under the spray from the 1st section, the 3rd bit a straight-forward ladder climb with a 3 foot deep pool at the bottom, and the final ladder climb, down, under and in the middle of the waterfall when the dam (Paul’s backside) couldn’t hold it back any longer. Finally, after that, with hands completely frozen, we were out and safe in the daylight – the massive final chamber was missed as we all raced outside to get warm and dry.
Click on the pictures for a large image: -
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KMC Valley Entrance is famous throughout the caving fraternity as the entrance is through a dustbin lid set into the mountain-side, see the pictures of us entering below. The entrance passage with it’s duck wasn’t too bad today, the water level varies between the level shown in the picture and much higher so that just your head is out of the water, but today it was just enough to make all the Scouts voice rise by an octave or two. The upper series was fine and we made good progress to the first pitch and down the pitch. Then the problems started – due to the recent overnight rainfall there was a lot of water down there and the force of the stream was considerable. Whilst it was only up to waist high it was incredibly powerful and the scouts couldn’t make progress up-stream. We had a couple of attempts and managed to get about 100m upstream but that was about it – we had to turn round and go back. It was like the Jungle Rapids ride at Centre Parcs, only four times worse! With the congestion at the ladder, everyone got cold and wet and the trip was cut short in the interests of safety. We did still manage to lose a couple of wellies though – not sure how they managed to let the water wash them off their feet!
into the dustbin
lid…a sketch
the entrance
passage .
And pictures of our trip through the dustbin lid: -
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calf Holes to
Our second trip was to Calf Holes (on Birkwith, near
Horton-in-Ribblesdale,
The following picture where taken by the Scouts using a
disposable camera.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ibeth Peril, Dent – 9th
Nov 03
Below are pictures from our trip to Ibbeth Peril 1 (near
Dent,
the team all rarin’ to go!
approaching the cave entrance
doesn’t it look forbidding?
and this is what you do if it starts to flood
are we sure we want to go in there
well I’m not sure..
but in we go
only to re-appears 2 ½ hours later
Caving is
the exploration of caves. It may not be the first time a cave has been entered
but it might be exploration on a personal level by someone who has not been in
that particular cave before. Caving usually involves being part of a group of
cavers who often get as much fun out of being together as a group as being in
the cave. It might mean helping each other through obstacles, sharing the
wonder of a passage's beauty with others or just having a good sporting trip.
Why Do People Go Caving
Caving can
mean different things to different people. For some it can be escapism from the
daily grind, to others a fun way of getting some exercise. Tremendous
friendships can develop between cavers whilst underground. There are also many
aspects within caving that attract people such as the exploration of new caves,
SRT, climbing, diving, photography, even sketching and painting! It comes down
to the individual, but caving is certainly regarded as a very worthwhile
pastime to all those who participate in the sport.
What Types Of Caves Are
There
Lots -
Horizontal, vertical, horizontal and vertical, flooded, dry, hot, cold, humid,
drafty, muddy, sandy, the list goes on and on. Most caves in the
What Equipment Do I Need
The basics
including a furry (NOT fairy) suit, over-suit, caving helmet, lighting system
and belt will be hired for each trip. Modern materials like fleeces, allow the
body to warm up very quickly after a ducking and dries very quickly once you
are moving. Alternately a wetsuit can be worn as it protects against cold water
very effectively but can get chilly if you are not moving for a long period of
time. If you have a wetsuit and want to use it for caving you may want to wear
old clothes over the top to stop it getting ripped. You may also like to wear
pads to protect your knees and elbows, but these are not compulsory. All other
items such as ropes, ladders or climbing equipment will be provided.
Will I get wet or cold
Yes. That's
part of the fun... hard to believe sometimes! With a bit of forethought it is
easy to keep warm and comfortable even after a total immersion.
Is It Dangerous
The
newspapers and TV often paint a poor picture of caving if they report an
accident underground (which is a relatively infrequent
occurrence).
The reality is that many caving trips are carried out every weekend with people
enjoying a safe and fun time. Proper training and a bit of common sense go a
long way. Many cavers are members of rescue teams
and look after each other in
that way. A rescue might mean looking for a group that has become lost or
helping cavers that have become tired on long trips. It is only rarely that
something more serious occurs. Many people look forward to caving trips with
their friends and have an excellent and safe time.
