C.C.P.C.

Newsletter.
Jan. '99 No.60

A

Slow Way of doing Provy-Dow!!!

You have probably all heard by now that on Sat 26 September CCPC had to call out Upper Wharfdale CR to
extract Max from Providence Dow. Max had decided to do the trip in his thick divers wet suit which caused him
to overheat and suffer from fatigue. Being over dressed meant that he had to strip off to pass the squeeze close
to brew chamber at which point he got stuck! Being only partly dressed he cooled off rapidly and by the time he
extracted himself (with considerable effort!!) he was suffering from hypothermia. Leaving Max in a bivvy bag
(very cosily with Andy) and Nicki the other side of the squeeze also in a bivvy bag Darren set of for help. It took
around 4 hours for the rescue team to arrive. Reports state that they were incredibly efficient and having been fed
and plied with hot coffee Max was able to reach the surface with only the minimum of assistance.

Donations of around £200 have been sent to UWCFRA.(As a result of this I believe they are banking on rescuing
Crewe on a fairly regular basis in order to swell their funds!) CRO have been called out to "Crewe" about 4
times (in 40 odd years) Lancaster Hole, Giants (A Crewe team completed the rescue) Giants (Youth service
instruction) and Hammer. Statistically this should be the last one for a while but don't get complacent. Always
carry your bivvy bag, first aid kit, spare food and other bits and bobs that experience has taught you are useful.

Training,

Things have been active on the training front since our last newsletter. There have been two sessions in the
HLHS Tower with Dave Edwards, one on “Self Rescue" and one on "Rigging". Several members attended the
DCA/NCA/(Nigel Atkins) "workshop" weekend at Pindale either as instructors or students, DCRO held training
days at Alderley and Whitehall which members attended, unfortunately our own CR training session had to be
postponed (see meets list) due to Xmas "festivities" (or “outside pressures!!) Please try to attend the next
practice ... its a carry from the "Eating House" to where we started last time. If members want sessions ASK
Sharon. There is no point her putting on courses no-one wants,

Have a look at the photographs of practices "yesteryear! !"

While we're on the subject of training Ralph has detail of First Aid course run by Nicola Pickering DCRO who
can provide certificated courses at all levels.

New Members.

lance. If that's not worth fifteen quid I don't know

(setting up/lifting/changing to absei)l, rescue from pitch head, dead lift,

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, Mao system,

contained; SRT rigs, failure of jammers

, contact rescues, rescue of casualty from rope.
, counter balance techniques, moving casualty along a traverse with/without counterbal

"An Evening with Dave Edwards"
abseil with these systems.
pulley jammers.

what is!!

Article from the Journal of the Derbyshire
Pennine Club - No 1 - Nov 1935 - pp 1-12

NETTLE POT
by G.L.Travis

My first recollection of Nettle Pot is
fortunately that of its discovery. A
somewhat abortive Oxlow meet was held in
1930 but lack of energy and organisation
found us on Sunday with only sufficient
ladder to do the first shaft: possibly the
meet was only held in order to do repairs
for I recollect spending several hours down
below, attempting to build a wall to catch a
perilously perched block. Seville was there,
and Matthy Birmby and I worked under his
direction, while the brothers Sissons worked
on the top shaft. As the day wore on we
emerged bored and with unimpaired energy
which must surely have led the older and
wiser members with questing noses onto the
plateau above Oxlow. It was, I think, Matthy
Birmby who first saw the incipient pot,
overgrown with nettles and filled with
debris. It was Charlie Baines who
confidently announced it was water worn and
would go. It was Walter Sissons,
characteristically enough, who bent down to
pull away the first stone and it was
Seville, soon to go to his heroic end, who
miraculously produced gelignite and laid the
first shot. I recollect our excitement as we
crouched behind a hummock, heard the first
dull explosion and rushed madly forward
cheering beneath a _ barrage of falling
debris. We peered down through the smoke and
sure enough, the hole, was deeper. Nettle
Pot had started on its downward course to
depths we little dreamed of,

My impressions of the following weekends are
vague. Hardy pioneers dug away the first
rocks and soon bucket and rope were in-use.
John Hind, Douglas, Sissons, Snelgrove and
Joe Wells were among the early- stalwarts,
and as far as Ll recollect, frequent shots
were put in both by Seville and Snelgrove,
culminating in a mighty effort by the latter
which was reputed to have shaken the windows
in Cast.leton.

In 1931 the hole was assuming such
dimensions, that Snelgrove petitioned for a
hut to cover the entrance and the noble
edifice now existing was erected under his
direction. Such reckless extravagance
provoked a strong outburst among. more
conservative club circles for those were the
days of caution, economy, gold standards and
such like, and the treasurer could little
foresee the hundreds of feet of rope ladder
and miscellaneous tackle he would one day
have to pay for.

J recollect making several visits after the
hut was built. Streaming wet days with a
biting wind cutting across the hills and
inside the hut, muddied members Jaboriously
hoisting buckets of stone and depositing
them outside the hut in a convenient fold of
the ground; Walter Sissons without collar,
tugging at the filthy rope, Douglas lovking
even more disreputable than anyone could
have dreamed possible, Billy Amies, even

At the Dec. meeting a
decision was made to
buy a "bilge pump"
with a view to lowering
water levels in "The

"Valentines Sump"

Sydney Turner doing his bit and John Hind
emerging from the hole, looking like a
bedraggled Skye Terrier. I made several
descents that year and I recollect well how
miserable they were: struggling on the
confined floor with greasy boulders, using
crowbar and hammer in a space about as big
as the inside of a wardrobe and constantly
being warned not to touch this or that,
piled up in convenient corners, for fear it
came down and flattened us all out. Those
however were epic days and if the pioneers
broke their finger nails and bumped their
heads, at least they never despaired for the
draught came ever upwards and the floor sank
ever downwards.

A few amusing incidents remain of these
days. Two ramblers arriving at the hut to
enquire the way, just as a _ blasting
operation arrived at zero hour. The hut rose
gracefully on its foundations, and the
hikers taking one hurried look at their
chosen mentors, departed without delay. Once
we attempted an electrically fired charge,
though even now no one is clear whether the
charge was fired. The next week, Douglas
roping in the mud found what he believed to
be the detonator complete with wire, and
climbed to the surface with anxious care.
However, his detonator turned out to be a
lump of mud and those present breathed once
more. I recollect excavating bones which
John Hind sent to Manchester for
examination: they were remains of red deer,
reminders of a day when Peak Forest was a
Royal Preserve and death the penalty for
poaching.

1932, was not, I think, a very great year
for progress, but it was notable because
fresh blood was transmitted to the club.
Chantry, Chatburn, Thrippleton and Maurer
joined the D.P.C. and their fresh energy and
enthusiasm were immediately diverted to
Nettle Pot. Like lusty young giants they
flung themselves into the battle and once
more the hole pursued its downward course.
Douglas had been first through the upper
narrows and John Hind first through the
narrows proper; the Alcove and Chamber were
reached later in the year after considerable
blasting and very strenuous work. The year
of grace 1933, therefore “ opened with
operations in the Chamber and it was at this
moment that I renewed my acquaintance with
the Pot. In Aug 1933 John Jenkins and his
Birmingham braves came to the Bagshawe Meet
and the following day, Sunday, the entire
party was conducted to Nettle Pot where an
attempt was made to render some assistance
to Chantry, Chatburn and Thrippleton. In
those days one descended Nettle Pot
cautiously and with considerable timidity.
One forced ones way downwards to the alcove
privately wondering how a return journey
would ever be effected and inwardly cursing
one’s foolishness in having come so far.
Worsi far worse was to follow.

One listened at the Alcove to the sounds of
exertion and profanity proceeding from below
and eventually on was permitted to creep a
bit lower and, hanging on a ladder braced
against a rickety stemple, survey the scene
from one’s perch in the roof of the Chamber.
There were, I think, three stemples in
position when I paid my first visit and I
felt three were but a tenth part of what
safety demanded. The walls were walls. That
is to say they were stones laid one above
the other and all quite ready to discuss the
situation with one. Above, the great
chockstone hung menacingly ready to close
the tiny chink which lead back to the warm
world above.

The floor was a loose mass of assorted
masonry, and in the dim candlelight one
descried a hero with one arm through the
rope ladder, waggling a crowbar in the
debris at his feet and inviting the rest of
us to listen to the stones crashing to their
unknown floor a hundred feet below. At any
moment one confidently expected both hero
and debris to disappear completely from
sight, and this opinion became in no way
altered when one’s turn arrived to take over
the crowbar. The walls descended gracefully
from time to time and the pioneers ascended
the rope ladder with the agility and
celerity usually associated with absconding
bookmakers. Such was the nerve racking
ordeal of the Chamber and those who took
part in it are not soon likely to forget.
Even now one feels the menace of the
chockstone overhead; though it be tested a
hundred times, and recalls at each passage
of the Chamber, something of the early days.
Week after week work went forward making the
place safer and safer, putting in stemples,
cleaning down the walls, listening to the
debris thunder down the great drop below.
Excitement grew to a fever pitch as it
became clear that the floor could be dropped
and, after two very hard weekends work, the
opening was cleared and the ladder lowered
into the unknown cave, now called the
Bottle. It, is said " fortune favours the
brave," and it also said that " fools rush
in where angels fear to tread", either of
which could apply to the party first to
enter the Bottle. On that memorable
September afternoon, John Hind, Joe Wells,
Maurice Chantry and Henry Chatburn, spent
some happy hours admiring the wonders of
nature and if their ladder was too short to
take them to a further landing, one at least
of the party was thankful to make a landing
on the floor of the hut and return home a
wiser man,

Thus warned 1934 opened with further
intensive work on the Chamber in which the
indefatigable moles, Chantry and Chatburn,
as usual, performed prodigies. Snelgrove and
myself encouraged by the Springtime, also
ventured forth and assisted in the good
work, our united endeavour succeeding in
inducing a block weighing one hundredweight
to descend and choke the neck again, thus
greatly increasing the difficulty of this
Passage. It was however, virtually
impossible to shift the block and so on May
27th 1934, Maurice Chantry was lowered
through the narrow neck, down the Bottle and
landed on the unknown floor now called the

Flats. I joined him a few moments later and
shall not soon forget our excitement and
triumph as we realised the magnitude of the
discovery, the culmination of almost years
of work, by so many patient helpers. We
peered wondering into the chasm and listened
to the stones we threw, crash _ below,
realised the further depths waiting to be
explored. Those were indeed moments lived at
the peak of excitement, and we returned like
conquerors to the Chamber, feeling as indeed
Balboa must have done when first he saw the
Pacific. Henry and Snelgrove in turn made
the descent. Excitedly we planned further
expeditions into the unknown, sitting over
the teacups and parkin at the little tin hut
over on Mam Tor.

Snelgrove’s energy now knew no bounds and a
mighty offensive was organised for Sunday,
June 3rd. Further rope ladders’ were
acquired, and on the Saturday another
descent was made to the Flats, and rope
ladders were lowered in preparation for the
following day. Sunday dawned bright and fair
and the big battalions were assembled at
Nettle Pot in good time; that morning I was
first to reach the floor of the chasm,
closely followed by Henry. We discovered the
hole, now called Elizabeth, and Henry
Chatburn undertook the first descent. He
climbed down to the full extent of the
ladder, only to find himself still in
midair, the ladder operating like some
gigantic spring and moving up and down, he
clinging to it, a most uncomfortable
sensation. By slow degrees we eased him up
on the life line and landed him exhausted in
the chasm. We tied on more ladder and
Chantry undertook the arduous adventure and
again found the bottom still out of reach.
Evidently Elizabeth was more difficult than
we thought and likely to remain virgin till
yet another assault could be organised.
There was no more ladder available, and now
the business of getting out had to be
undertaken. Those were early days and we
had not then developed the technique of
drawing six hundred feet of rope ladder
through the tortuous and difficult exits to
the surface. We were raw recruits in those
days, unaware of the sorrows of Nettle Pot,
sodden ropes, recalcitory ladders, jamming
rungs, and the hundred and one trials and
tribulations out of which the club tigers of
a later date were to be made. Hazy
recollections still remain of that famous
June 3rd 1934. John Hardy obliged to undress
to get through the narrows, after spending
patient hours in the Chamber. Sydney Turner
stuck fast for 20 minutes and bawling for
Douglas to descend and pull him through.
Bishop conveniently deaf. George Hyde and
Snelgrove tying on ropes on the Flats, Colin
Christie patient and efficient: Walter
Sissons and Smith doing herculean work at
the surface, while the faithful Dinah chased
cows and greeted each emerging explorer. So
the day ended and Nettle Pot kept its
secrets.

The next assault was fixed for July 21st but
in the interval there was little peace.
Parties laboured hard at knocking away knobs
and protuberances in the Passage down:
Snelgrove and I, conscience stricken by the
big block which still choked the chamber,
made an effort and at last succeeded in
shifting it. At last Saturday July 21st
arrived and during the afternoon, ladders
were placed in position and 250 feet of rope
ladder were lowered to the flats and coiled
there, a feat which seems rather wonderful
looking back, besides being very
unnecessary. Maurice and I, who had
performed this fearsome feat of coiling
ladder, prospected the flats, and reached
the grotto above Firbeck Hull passage. The
party then retired to the Nags Head for
supper, a true account of which Douglas
Yeomans could possibly supply. Next morning,
the party being evacuated from the pub still
intact, the flats were quickly reached and
the chasm again descended. The ladder stored
the day before, was lashed and lowered down
Elizabeth, and George Hyde volunteered to
make the descent. His naturally bright and
sociable disposition, allied to his
exceptionally strong arms, fitted him for
this feat of strength and his running
commentary during descent, landing and
ascent, so overwhelmed those present that
they were only concerned in hauling him back
to a place of safety with all possible
despatch. George was the first to set foot
in Elizabeth, and if his report of what he
saw there was a little hazy, it is little to
be wondered at; he did, however, find a
further passage leading to yet another
descent, so honour was satisfied and we
realised that other methods would have to be
adopted if exploration of Elizabeth were to
continue,

Besides this feat, the fact that two of us
pushed the Stalagtite Passage to a point
some distance up the stream, is only of
historical interest. More memorable to those
who assisted, was the drawing of the tackle
and those unfortunates who remained on the
surface spent a happy hour toiling at the
600 feet of ladder, wafted by the ceaseless
flow of profanity from below.

Up to now our main efforts had _ been
concentrated on Elizabeth, but the passage
explored by Chantry and myself on July 21st
still awaited investigation. On August 26th
John Jenkins and his Birmingham braves
arrived in force, and strengthened by this
reckless gang of desperadoes, it was decided
to make this passage our chief objective.
About. twenty men were put down to the Flats
in record time, the Birmingham men proving
themselves to be true Tigers and moving at
speed, urged on by ourselves at strategic
points; cannily led by Maurice Chantry and
Alan Thrippleton, the rope ladder was
dragged by Birmingham efforts to the hole,
fixed, and Maurice was able to descend some
60 feet and enter a gallery which led into a
fresh system of passages and drops. The
Birmingham braves were now in their element
and pushed the assault with reckless
determination. The Matterhorn drop was
negotiated and finally the party entered
Firbeck Hall, an imposing chamber, difficult
of access and fraught with danger. On« of
their number interpocod his head in the path
of a falling bo::.der, but bore his hurt with
stoic calm until a doctor at Castleton was
able later to stitch him together . Alan led
the party back again, and we congratulated
ourselves that no more harm had befallen

such a cheerful gang of ruffians.

The season was now approaching its end, and
the club was sufficiently exhausted to
mutiny at the mere mention of Nettle Pot.
The winter was therefore spent in planning a
winch to overcome the appalling climb in
Elizabeth. Henry Chatburn undertook drastic
alterations to the hut which had done three
years service and was in parts beginning to
show signs of wear. Assisted by Maurer and
Chantry, Henry relaid the floor and
increased the floor space, the work being
completed by April 17th 1935. In the
meantime he and John Hind had designed and
built the winch.

The Easter Meet. April 20th 1935, stands out
as one of the most miserable and abortive
expeditions ever attempted at Nettle Pot. A
violent thunderstorm raged on the Saturday
afternoon, and the shaft soon resembled a
shower bath. It was all but impossible to
keep a candle alight. It was bitterly cold
and all were literally soaked to the skin.
We shivered on the mud flats and only an
academic discussion on rose petals
restrained our tongues from more pungent
observations. The winch which was being
lowered in parts, stuck in the shaft, and
finally we lost all contact with the
surface. One of us eventually climbed the
dripping Bottle and we emerged to willing
friends who stripped us naked, rubbed us
with towels, and poured whisky down our
throats. Next day it was still wet but work
was continued. The winch was eventually
lowered and John Hind and Henry Chatburn set
to work to assemble it in the dripping
depths of the chasm, There in the flickering
light of candles, casting strange shadows on
the tortured walls, resounded the clang of
their hammers while the helmeted figures
bent to their task like inquisitors in some
medieval dungeon. The rest of us dragged our
weary way to Firbeck Hall and attempted to
explore in a desultory fashion. Chatburn and
Hind joined us later and managed to reach
the bottom of the drop at the start of the
Passage, but I do not recollect that anyone
else had enthusiasm enough to follow them.
They reported a further drop, as_ yet
unexplored. The next day Monday, found us
with still less enthusiasm: indeed the
ordeal of putting on sodden clothes and
entering the still dripping depths, was
enough to cool any ardour. The shaft was
wired and a Little work was done at the foot
of the Bottle, clearing the passage from
Bottle to Lip ( a typical D.P.C.
connection)., a passage which hitherto had
been perforcedly performed in the prone
position. Thanks to these efforts, it was
now possible to move ina stooping position,
great advantage when falling stones rendered
speed a necessity. The telephone has yet to
function. The day degenerated iuto an orgy
of profanity as the ladder.: were drawn and
proceedit.;s brought to a close.

Whitsuntide drew near with fairer prospects,
though mutiny was in the air and only the
Club Tigers could be induced to appear. Paul
Maurer was away, SO we were denied the hot
soup which his dextrous handling of the
Primus had produced for us at Easter. Walter
Sissons, Chantry, Chatburn, Thrippleton,
Grainger and myself turned out on the |
Saturday and lowered the ladders. On Sunday
we were reinforced by Walter Smith, John
Hind, George Hyde and a stalwart visitor.
The ladder was lowered down Elizabeth and
attached to the winch, we floated down like
fairies to the bottom, scarcely bothering to
Place a foot ina rung, a tremendous saving
of energy. Only George Hyde had been there
before and a more detailed examination
yielded some results. Henry, Alan and I
climbed a rock slope and surmounted the
chockstone, leading to a second narrow
chamber, receiving a nasty fright en route
when a large stone fell out of the roof and
crashed between Henry and myself. Maurice
had a look at the Rat Hole found on the
previous visit by George, but drew back when
the floor ran in and crashed into the
unknown depths below. We decide further work
was necessary before we could safely venture
forward and discreetly floated upwards to
our friends 170 feet above. The winch at all
events had proved its worth, and another
time a ladder would not be necessary. Monday
found us with Walter Sissons, Chatburn,
Grainger, Chantry, Thrippleton and myself to
draw the ladders. Necessity being the mother
of invention, we improvised a hitch with the
winch to ease the stern effort of lifting
the 200 foot ladder out of Elizabeth, till
the tangle of ropes and ladders in the chasa
defied description and made us all roar with
laughter. We ate our lunch in the comfort of
the little Tackle cave, and rested ourselves
for the ordeal of getting the gear to the
surface. Henry went up and joined Walter on
the surface, and these two supermen set to
work in grim earnest to lift, assisted by
ourselves, set at strategic points in the
shaft. The never ending succession of
ladders disappearing slowly upwards, now
catching and having to be lowered and eased,
jerking and grinding against the narrow
walls, to the shouts, curses and
instructions of the weary men. We came out
at last into the June evening, with a sigh
of relief.

John Martin

(01625 428914) or Ralph

at short notice. Simply attend
open or ring

the meetings/keep your ears
organise something yourself

Don't forget, these are the
planned trips only. Other
trips often take place, often
(01782 515753.) Failing that
and pass the word around.

If there is something you
really want to do then ring
John. It's not been included
because you didn't ask!! The
rest of the year is almost
finalised so RING NOW.

itn @ « ele Yo SF
12/5in WR | Castleton | 9am TSG hut £4

The hills, range after range lie before us
as we strip off the sodden overalls and wet
clothes beneath. The air is warm after the
damp caverns below, and we dress leisurely,
savouring the flutter of the wind about our
tired bodies. Pipes and cigarettes are aglow
and we linger by the hut, chipping the
surface gang as they stow away the last
jadders and coil the muddied ropes. We turn
towards Mam Tor and the promise of tea. To
our left stretches the long line of Rushup
Edge, in front the battlemented mound of Mam
Tor, dying away on the right in the ridge of
Back Tor and Loose Hill, while behind it
looms the Mass of Kinder grimly stark in the
dying day. To the North West, Win Hill looks
like a trifling hillock set on a level
range ,while behind, Derwent Edge stands like
a great fortress frowning over the miles
between. North East, the valley runs grandly
into the distance, carrying the water whose
source we so vainly search for beneath these
bare limestone uplands. We linger a moment
as the hut is closed, then shouldering our
sacks, stumble downwards across the fields,
leaving Nettle Pot and her secrets locked in
the deep bosom of the great limestone hills.

Max 6 Max 6 1030
Rock + Fountain
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March 13
March 21
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5

It was agreed at our last meeting to donate £100 to the DCA bolting programme.
TANNE DE TROIS BETAS

Reprint of an article written by Kev. "years ago!"

Well it all started sometime in early October, Liam Kealy phoned me

up at work to tell. me that Alphonse from the Speleo Club of Liege (Belgium)
‘who is a friend of ours had organised a trip through the Bel Espoir to

the Grotte de la Diau. I went silent for a few seconds, I think Liam
thought that I had gone speechless because I was so impressed, actually I
had never heard of the name and I had to ask Liam if it was a cave that he
was talking about. "Yes, it is. Its near to Amecy". "Great$" I replied
"Where's Annecy and which country is it in?" Ten mimtes later and after
finding out that it was in France, I agreed to go.

Two days later Liam contacted me again to tell me he could not BO,
and the only reason he could give me was that he was married!! With my looks
and my receding hairline I do not have those setbacks in life. So that
following weekend I went up to Yorkshire and visited a pub and met a few
cavers, After a few pints of best bitter I had forgotten the names of the
caves, so I just told them that it was a through trip in France near to
Annecy. Straight away Paul Vale said "That sounds like the Bel Espoir,
I'll come with you. When are you going?" So we headed for Annecy on the
23rd October, but Alphonse and his friends were not planning to arrive
until about the 27th, so Paul and I spent the spare time finding the
Grotte de la Diau and exploring it to the far sump. The next day we spent
all the time on top of the plateau above the village of Aviernoz. After
about six or seven hours Paul managed at long last to find the entrance to
the Bel Espoir. The entrance turned out to be the other side of the plateau
from where we had started looking. The next day we met Alphonse in the
village of Thones where he explained, mich to out amusement, that there
was a new cave called the Tanne des Trois Betas that they were planning to
do instead which still joined up with the Grotte de la Diau. Four of
Alphonse's friends spent until 12 o'clock that night rigging the cave down
to the sixth pitch so that the next morning there would be no hold ups and
80 that we could descend the entrance pitches without any delays. ~

From here on Alphonse takes over! ws

From the village of Aviernoz go down the side of a telephone cabin
in the direction of Chalet de l'Anglette. This is a small tarmaced road
which climbs with S bends for several kilometres, the last 3k. are
unsurfaced. It is a rocky road which cavers can take if they go very

6
gently. This last bit seems rather long and you eventually arrive at a
chalet at 1500 m = last point for cars. The cave lies one hours walk from

here.

Take the little footpath which is by the chalet. After about } hour
of steep walking uphill, at the top of the ridge there are two directions.
Take that marked "Grotte de l'enfer". Follow the red marks which are
straight ahead (not the red and white marks to the left). Pass in front
of a sign marked "Grotte du diable". Continue straight on as far as a big
rock where there are two red marks. One path leads straight ahead to the
"Bel Espoir", the one to the left leads to an area of clints where one
soon finds cairns each marked 3B. It is essential io follow these cairns =<

ideally on a bearing of 140.

There is little vegetation here, but one eventually comes to a
depression with pine trees and vegetation = cross this climbing out on the
far side, You can see the very small entrance to the Tanne des Trois
Betas 50 m. further on.

The entrance is tight for several metres leading to a pitch of 88 metres.
After 20 metres a bolt is required, a small traverse on the left leads to
aniche. At this niche a sling is needed with a deviation 4 m. further
down. The second part begins at a larger niche which again needs a tape
of sling, The last part of the pitch leads to a chamber.

Follow a meander part way up for 15 metres to reach a 22 m. pitch
(tape sling). This is followed by an 11 m. pitch. (These two pitches can

be treated as one).

A short meander is followed by water which can be avoided by means of
a hand line.

A 10m. pitch is followed by a short meander at the end of which is a

short handline leading to a 63 m pitch. First drop of 12 m. to a bolt
followed by 50 m but there is a mb point 1 m. below the bolt.

At the bottom follow the large descending passage in the direction
of the current of air. It is bouldery underfoot, some can be climbed,
others one is forced to crawl underneath, Traverse round the pools of
- water (le basin des pieds). Do not go down the next 13 m,. pitch. Part way
down a ledge on the right has a hand line. 5m. pitch, 23 m. pitch, 6 m
climb.

7
One reaches a larger area when several metres further on a line leads
up a@7m. wall. At the top the draught is very strong. Re-descend to
the "Salle des Rhomboedres". “Follow the right hand wall into a gallery
then follow the black telephone wire. This corridor should be followed to
the "Puits des Echo", 3 m. 20m. 40 m. The top is tight but the bottom is
more pleasant. There is a severe rubbing point 4 m. below the last bolt.

From the base of the "Puits des Echo" follow the mud banks for some
metres to a breakdown area where there is a climbdown of 26 m, to an active
streamway. Follow this streamway down a series of climbs:

5 me climb
7 m. pitch
5 m. climb (wet)
12 m. pitch - follow the streamway (1a rue d'eau)
Down 4 further pitches
8m. pitch
5 m. climb
30 m. wet pitch (equipped with hand line)
P12 = cascade on
A large meander leads to an'11 m. waterfall pitch

The streamway soon joins the collecteurof the Diav. Follow the large
pools of water to arrive at the "Salle de Chaos", a vast gallery ending
with a lake which sumps. To the right the "Labyrynth" is no problem since
the way on is obvious = follow the current of air, Once again there are
pools of water as far as the rapids fixed with a metal ladder (Cascade
Tremeau)., Cross the deep pool followed by a streamway, cascades and lakes,

shirts £6.50, CCPC tee-shirts £6, Peak Rigging Guides £5, second hand

(Cascade Bocquet and Cascade de la Toupie). At the sump take the route
with moonmilk, (la Savonette = the Soapdish). On the right bank eventually
climbing a rift on the left using wooden stemples, climb down 2 metal

ladders and take the passage on the extreme right to join the river.

The passage enlarges before one reaches the "Carene" with fixed ladder
and deep lake which can be traversed to a second ladder which enables one
to rejoin the streamway. Pass close to a flood level warning - if this is
over 40 you shouldn't be here! There are 2 further ladders before reaching
the entrance of the Diau.

For Sale. All the usual stuff DCRO tee-

SRT gear (see Ralph)

Entirance to bottom of "Puits. d'Echo" with twelve people = 5 hours.
Three hours from here to "Collecteur",
Further two hours to exit.

8
Sudden flooding can occur. Check limiograph jin the Diau first - if
above 40 DO NOT DO the trip.

2x 50 m. ropes are sufficient.

Some ledges are small = the system is cold, avoid large parties with
long weights.

To find "Grotte de la Diau" take the road from the village of La
Verrevie following the right bank of the river as far as a car park.
Several »aths lead to the head of the valley on the entrance of the Diau -
about 20 mimites walk. (X905,80 114,10  x962).

The caving trip from the Tanne des Trois Betas to the car park at the
Grotte la Diau took us twelve hours but it could easily be done in about
eight hours depending on the size of the party. The reason it took so long
for us to descend was tHe fact that Paul and I had to wait at least one
and half hours when we were only three hours into the cave, so that all of
the Belgian cavers could change @ither into wet suits or into ponténiers
and to have a cooked meal e.g. Bacon, eggs or potato and meatballs with a
hot drink, This meant that they all had to carry large tackle sacks 211
through the cave, whilst Paul and myself only carried one small personal
8.R.T. sack each, with just S.R.7T. equipment in them plus spare water, two
bars of chocolate and a couple of tins of pate. Paul also carried an
emergency brew kit. Both Paul and I thought what we carried was sufficient

for such a trip. We both used wetsuits and would do so again if the cave
was visited again sometime in the future. It is an enjoyable trip with
the water in the La Diau making it even more enjoyable ard sporting if one
wears a wetsuit. There are also plenty of other good caves in the area
to keep you busy.

That dreaded word "Digs"!! The whole world now knows that the recently opened Whalf Shaft collapsed!

continues on re-opening/stabilising it.

T.Pot told Ralph about a new top entrance to Lumb Hole but attempts to elicit it's whereabouts have not been

terribly fruitful up to press.

Whilst involved in a "pub crawl" in Buxton (all in a good cause for a change -DCRO, £250 raised! !) Ralph was

asked if CCPC were interested in digging out the top end of Pooles Cavern. It would seem that we do have some
takers!!

Work

By the time you read this Ralph and Darren will be packing for their trip to
Aconcagua (The Andes) Before you complain ... you were invited. Ralph will
probably running a trip to K2 base camp/Gondogora La in July/August '99
(see Newsletter Sept'97) If anyone is interested the trip will cost about £2000
So start saving NOW. For details see Ralph or contact "Himalayan Kingdoms"
direct.

You will see from the meets list that CCPC proposes two trips to France this
year, one to Grotte de Ja Diau (articlefrom previous journal enclosed) and one
to the Pyrenees. We may meet up with "The Belgians" on these trips.

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Rigging.

Avoid; hazards such as stone fall and water.
anything that makes the ladder difficult to climb e.g. tight constrictions.
sharp edges.
having the rungs flat against the rock.
Try to; rig the ladder within easy reach.
have enough rungs at the top to make getting on and off easy.
Always; coil spare rungs at the foot of the pitch.

Tension produced in sides of tether with various angles. (ref. Diagram 2)
150degrees = 200%, 120 degrees = 100%, 90 degrees = 70% 0 degrees (parallel) = 50%.

Aim to keep the angle at 90 degrees or less.

Tethers are normally of wire with an "eye" at each end equipped with either a "C-link" or
maillon, However tethers of nylon rope or even tape have their place, they are stronger but are
less hard wearing. Maillons are stronger than "C-links" but fiddly and easily lost. Ladders
should never climbed without the use of a safety line.

Spreaders are short wire tethers with an additional eye at their centre and are used to improve
the angle produced by the short "tails" of the ladder as they leave the final rung. They are
more versatile if the central eye is replaced by a maillon and eye splice arrangement.

The "tails" of the ladder are its most vulnerable point since constant flexing, when fastening
after coiling for example damages the wire particularly if they are galvanised. There are two
schools of thought on coiling ladders.

Ladder climbing is hard work! The weight should be kept on the feet with the leg muscles
doing most of the work. The rungs should be gripped from behind and the ladder climbed from
the front not the side. Some cavers find placing one foot onto the rung from behind (heal first)
makes climbing easier on free hanging sections. Some means of resting such as a carabiner on
a short safety cord. is a good idea. Rungs are inherently weak and the carabiner should be
clipped round the wire not the rung.

If the ladder rests against the wall then keeping the rung under the instep, the toe against the
rock and leaning backwards slightly while grasping the rung from the front helps. Twisting the
body at 90 degrees is another option.

Care must be exercised when passing the safety rope down the pitch to prevent it becoming
entangled or worse still passing through the ladder. The rope should be loosely coiled and
thrown well clear of the ladder unless a "pull-back system is" used. Static caving rope is
preferable to dynamic rope for use on ladder piches since the sheath is better designed to
prevent the ingress of gritty particles, the forces involved in the event of a fall are relatively
small and the rope performs better if abseiling or one has to resort to hauling techniques.

Harnesses .A caver suspended on a belt around the waist has not got long to live! Anyone
contemplating climbing a ladder should wear a sit harness.

Ralph Johnson
October, 98 f
Document2

10

Ladder and Line- Safety Rope.

Some form of mechanical device is far superior to the good old fashioned "round the waist" or
worse still "over the shoulder" belay and there is no doubt that a "direct" belay (where the
belaying device is fixed directly to the rock and not to a tethered caver) is superior in every
way to an "indirect" belay. There a large number of such devices on the market designed
specifically for climbing but it seems logical to limit our choice to equipment already carried or
that can be put to other uses underground. It goes without saying that all anchors should be
"bomb-proof". Never trust your life to a single bolt, not even an "eco-hanger"

Choice of Tope has already been mentioned, an 11 or 10 mm static rope is preferable for

Toractioe and is open to “user error", the most likely error being
too slow in releasing the brake.. This system can be readily

converted to a hauling system should the need arise. A friction
krab should be ready should the need for a lower be required.

friction krab must be ready in
place in the event of it being
required.

Pulley-Jammer. This system is ideal for life-lining a caver
ascending a pitch, particularly if assistance is likely to be required. Unlocking this can be a
problem since slack has to be generated in the system to release the cam.. With a small team at
the head of the pitch this is no problem, the team simply hauling in the rope while the jammer
is released. Before doing this the rope must be backed up to a "bomb-proof" anchor well
Ralph Johnson

October, 98

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back from the pitch head using an Italian Hitch or other suitable device. With a lone
caver at the pitch head the method of release takes practice. Clip in a long "cows tail" and
connect your "Stop" to the dead rope, lock off the Stop. A "bounce" on the descender while at
the same time opening the cam on the jammer is all that is required. Gently abseiling allows the
top caver to descend until his weight is on the "cows tail" at which point the "casualty" will be
lowered gently down the pitch. This does take practice!

A pulley jammer system once installed is very useful for sack-hauling.

Communication. This is best kept to the bare minimum. A
standardised set of calls is in existence and it is advisable that
these be adhered to.

1. "Take in." NEVER "TAKE IN SLACK" particularly mid-pitch when only the last word
"slack" might be heard producing the opposite to the effect desired.

2. "Taking in."

3. "That's me."

4. "Climb when ready."

5. "Climbing." ... but don't actually start climbing until you hear the reply
6. " OK"

If communication is difficult it may be necessary to use whistle blasts. These should obviously
be discussed beforehand. One blast STOP, two blasts UP, three blasts DOWN.

Self -lifelining. It may be advisable for the leader to line himself up pitches. If so then some
"means of escape" should be considered should the ladder fail. This normally involves
changing to abseil or prussik, in which case it might be preferable to SRT the pitch in the first
place since all the necessary gear is already being carried.”

Ralph Johnson
October. 98
C:\My Documents\Riggingcourse2.doc 12
Ladder and Line. Suggested Rigging for a "Typical" Pitch.

1 2 é 2

Bowline on the bight or Fig 8 otb. OR bowline
or fig8 to "bomb proof" natural anchor.

2. Alpine Butterfly or Cavers Butterfly.

3. Butterfly OR Bowline/Fig8 OTB to produce
two loops for optional method of hanging
ladder.

4. Butterfly OR fig 8.

5. Spare traverse line coiled up out of way. If only
a short end remains tie a stopper knot.

6. Butterfly, fig 8 or overhand knot for abseil
down ONE side of life line.

7. Fig 8 knot to climber.

8. Italian hitch to protect leader whan ascending
pitch. Twin bolts OR "bomb-proof™ natural.

Traverse line should be rigged TIGHT at shoulder
height using ledges as appropriate to facilitate use
of cows tails. Consider how to protect leader while
rigging.

Ladder rigged well away from water. Bear in mind
levels may rise.

Life line close to ladder.

Spare ladder coiled.

Lud bance SARI atom?

JR Johnson
October, 98
Document3

1 3| Crewe C+PC Ralph Johnson 01782 515753 Rjohncavye@AOL |

HISTORIC RESCUE TRAGEDY

Whilst out walking on one of the few dry Sundays of last summer, I visited St Bartolemew’s church,
Butterton. A memorial on the South nave wall caught my eye; it read:-

“SACRED
To the memory
of
JOSEPH WOOD
ROWLAND CANTRELL
WILLIAM HAMBLETON
JOSEPH SHENTON
The three first of whom(e) gave
their lives in an unsuccessful
but heroic attempt to rescue
from death the last named; a
youth who had descended an
unused shaft on
Aug 30th 1842.

“Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord”

This tablet was placed here
by an eye witness of thi
noble Christian deed.”

Who were these forerunners of DCRO? Were they miners or perhaps farmers? Did they possess any
knowledge of the mine (or even mining?) What were the circumstances of this tradgedy? Who was
the ‘youth’? What could have gone so horribly wrong that the rescuers also met their demise? A
series of correspondence revealed the following awful tale.

During the beginning of the 1840s, the area was gripped by a kind of ‘lead fever’. People where
excavating small mines (called ‘Tam Pits’) all around the village to extract what lead they could. It
was in one such Tam Pit, a few yards upstream of the ford in Butterton on the Grindon side of Hoo
Brook that this tradgedy happened (the current edition of ‘Caves of the Peak District’ refers to a
‘HooValley Mine’). The Staffordshire Advertiser, on 3“ September 1842 reported thus:-

On Tuesday last, two boys
were amusing themselves
near the shaft of a lead mine,
which had been closed about
three months, owing to the
dryness of the season. The
pit’s mouth had been closed
up and made quite secure
and a quantity of loose
stones had recently been
removed from it by Mr
Rowland Cantrell, the
surveyor of the township, to
repair the highways with.
The boys rolled away some
large stones which were
over the pit’s mouth, and
were descending the

Loss of Four Lives

ladder which is placed on
the first “bunding” or
landing; when the foremost
of them, named Joseph
Shenton, had got down a
few yards, he said to the
other who was immediately
above him “I am dying,” and
he fell down to the bottom
of the ladder; he [Cantrell]
went down after him, while
the boy proceded to Mr Wm
Hambleton’s the step father
of Shenton, who was dining
with a party of his friends, it
been Butterton Wake. He
lost no time in repairing to
the spot and

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT NEAR LEEK

descending into the mine to
assist Cantrell in bringing up
the boy; but he like his two
unfortunate predecessors fell a
victim to the foul air. In
consequence of their not
returning, a fourth person,
named Joseph Wood, a farmer,
about 50 years of age, being
little aware of the fate of the
three others, willingly offered
his assistance, and he also
descended the ladder. When
none of the four returned to tell
the sad tale of woe; an awful
pause took place, and the
fearful reality was soon
discovered.

The graves of the four unfortunates lie by the North East corner of the church, all buried close
together on 2™ September 1842. Joseph Wood had been 56 years old, Rowland Cantrell, 40, William
Hambleton, 31 and Joseph Shenton was just 11.

I would like to thank the Reverend James Marsh, Mr Barrie Wilkinson and Margaret Bury for their
help, time and trouble in researching this article.

Mark

The above incident highlights a much ignored danger in lead mines and

recent reports of ‘bad air’ in certain mines around Monyash should be

taken very seriously!

Kogues Gallery.

How many of these villains can you recognise from 20 and 25 years ago? Many are obviously in disguise, ....
..... wearing wigs and beards!!

1974. Dave Alsop. Malc. Holmes. Pete Steadman. Mick Stratford. Alan Walker. Rus Barrat. John Preston.
Alan Burns. Jeff Fox. Tony Reynolds. Rob. Heath. Steve Knox. Brian Mather.
Odin Rescue Practice. Sadly Rob and Mick are no longer with us.

1978. John Gillet. Pete Heath. Eric Rogers. Rich Wilson. Liam Kealey. Tony Reynolds. Denise Pinnington.
Heather Beach. Tony Gamble. Dave Riley. Alan Scragg. Bob Panton. Paul Holdcroft. Malc Jump. Paul?
Ralph Johnson Knotlow Rescue Practice.

co a