115 - Wave 2 115 Rigging to Big Chamber
Dave Brindle
Well the sun was shining so wave 2 only reached the cave at half three. God I hate this strenuous boring entrance series. Down the Ramp, mucho improved. Incidentally, we passed wave 1 at the Bell Pitch - we we late or were they early ? Chas had rigged a fine free hanging bolt but it was removed and the old route taken down to the inlet. After much indecision whether to go over or under the boulders we bolted out under, and on each successive wet pitch we traversed out as far as we could, using the rope from the pitch above as aid, to bolt. This made the changeovers strenuous but the pitches are dry. At last we dropped down the fine pitch into the Chamber, still as big as ever, the stream seemed quite high. Andy didn't say much (his first trip) but I coukd see he was enjoying it really. We dumped rope, food, hexy burners, sardines etc. and had some tomato & beef soup (yeurgh). Hastened slowly out. Emerged at about two in the morning. Andy got really pissed off as his Petzl Stinky needed twice as much carbide as mine despite having a 14 litre jet anstatt the usual 21. 11 hrs.
The furry suit is starting to niff a bit after only two trips.
Dave
11 hrs