107 - bottoming trip
Wed 16 Aug 1978
Vic Brown
Well, we got off to our usual crack of dawn start (9 am) and wandered up. Dave and Jont went off to do a surface survey to 82, then surveyed down to the head of "our" pitch. The Meisterplan failed and they had an hour's wait here due to gross slowness in prusiking with heavy tackle bags....however, I run ahead...
Rod and I went down to the previous end. I surveyed the bottom passage while Rod put a bolt in, then I abseiled down. Not a pleasant abseil as I had to stop, hang on the rope 100' down, tie the other rope on, pass the knot and carry on, hoping that the second rope reached the bottom. Due to our incredible efficiency in calculating the tackle needed, it did. Ice cold water all down the pitch did not help either - nor the failure of both electric and stinkie.
Chap. II "The End". Well, there is a big wide rift that ends in a fairly conclusive choke sans draught. The water disappears down a rapidly lowering tight passage of the more sordid Yorkshire variety, which I followed to the limit of my patience (it got even smaller). Much relieved, I exitted, collecting a chilly Rod on the way out, who did a hero's job with 60m of wet 12mm Marlow up the 95m pitch.
And all in 7 hours. Geriatrics rule OK ? Vic.
Previous trip/ Final trip
Vic Brown
id1978-107-9
.
Well, we got off to our usual crack of dawn start (9 am) and wandered up. Dave and Jont went off to do a surface survey to 82, then surveyed down to the head of "our" pitch. The Meisterplan failed and they had an hour's wait here due to gross slowness in prusiking with heavy tackle bags....however, I run ahead...
Rod and I went down to the previous end. I surveyed the bottom passage while Rod put a bolt in, then I abseiled down. Not a pleasant abseil as I had to stop, hang on the rope 100' down, tie the other rope on, pass the knot and carry on, hoping that the second rope reached the bottom. Due to our incredible efficiency in calculating the tackle needed, it did. Ice cold water all down the pitch did not help either - nor the failure of both electric and stinkie.
Chap. II "The End". Well, there is a big wide rift that ends in a fairly conclusive choke sans draught. The water disappears down a rapidly lowering tight passage of the more sordid Yorkshire variety, which I followed to the limit of my patience (it got even smaller). Much relieved, I exitted, collecting a chilly Rod on the way out, who did a hero's job with 60m of wet 12mm Marlow up the 95m pitch.
And all in 7 hours. Geriatrics rule OK ? Vic.
T/U 7 hours
.
Previous trip/ Final trip