204 - Rhino Rift
Richard Mundy
Andreas joined us, all the way from Sweden, hunting meteorites, in
order to check out our link from the previous day. A couple of survey
legs swiftly led to where we had been. Dave was thus revealed as a
prophet of some considerable power and cemented the respect of us novice
cavers. Rather an easy task compared to the 200m surveying and rigging
task of the previous day. A and B leads are thought to extend from the
top of a pitch linking "Uncomformity" to the passage linking "Shetland
Incline".
We progressed to explore 03-90A. This involved Dave cutting our old
(2003) 11mm rope into lots of teeny bits. We dropped down a very
satisfyingly shaped (rounded cross section) pitch onto a stony floor. A
climb led to a further pitch. Andreas and I were left here whilst Dave
and Ollie went back to peer at some other QM's. As I became bored, I
climbed up to watch Andreas rig. I observed that one natural in his
Y-hang was not a solid column of rock, but instead two rocks entirely
disconnected from anything. Dave had started rigging from it and now
Andreas was rigging from it. Andreas later admitted feeling considerable
fear when I wriggled the rock he was rigging off! After a change of plan
we descended. The end was dull, but Andreas kicked some mud. This
impromptu dig was hastened by the sound of water "a sump" Andreas
claimed. In fact a tiny grim loose chamber with a 2cm squared puddle! We
got out having discovered this "Spitters End". Less than the previous
day's 200 metres of survey, but still satisfying.