76 - Atomic
Jenny Black
Olly's knees were recovered enough to cope with prussicking, so we returned to Keg Series
with the now happily calibrated distox2. Started surveying in to get the pitch done, in case it
rained later, or it took a while. Happily got it first time and in 1 leg. From the bottom
followed the stream to the drop, and Olly rigged down. *IMPORTANT: this hilti is not properly
set*. I've marked a nil polish slash across it. If anyone goes there again, please set it
first, or else rig from higher (probably better).
The rift continues beyond this, at stream level it is tight, but higher is much
wider. Shortly the roof drops down to the wide level, and it becomes the phreatic roof tube of
a very tall keyhole passage. I stopped following this when it reached some loose looking
perched rocks above a climb. I retreated and wriggled along at stream level, down a drop and
through some bits narrower than my helmet. Reached the base of the climb I'd looked down on,
and ascertained that it was climbable and the rocks were well wedged Climbed up to get the
survey kit and Olly. Again followed ledges above the stream until the roof dropped down, and we
reached another drop. This was wider but not freeclimbable.
Surveyed out. I derigged to Keg Series and left the rope bag at the Tap Room. Took the drill
bag all the way home.
As we were ascending Follow Through Shaft, we heard a low rumbling noise, it sounded like
people coming - I wondered if we had a callout mix up, and people were coming to rescue
us. Then the rumbling got louder, and louder and it became apparent it was raining. Fortunately
we were past the Tap Room and Keg Series, so had an uneventful exit.