December 1989 XMAS 1990 - SPECIAL EARLY EDITION! CHRISTMAS COMPETITION Something to do while you are lay belching in front of the telly on Christmas D. instead of caving. Solve the following clues to disclose the Christmas message Deceased horse pot 7 (4,6) see eid fla Cave, boyo. moe fc) He Re Highest waterfall in England (6.4) mois 8 Goliath's orifice (6,4) = - Not a short hoe mine (4,4) -- fe} --- Cavern below Pevril's keep (4) fos — Petzle non-start ) pase ee Manifold copper mine. (5) ae Mislaid Jack's cave (6,5 ise ed Spanish, the Mr (5) Rea ete Bobby extracted from malachite. (6) ee Frantic lad @) Meet Red rose city hole. io) _- ey ena) Get up rope like the vr does (6) _- bown rope German way. 6) on Mee Climb before descent by snake (6) -. = Set Pitch with 100 feet. 9) ee Sick French pig meat cove. (6) abi Satans bum, now Peak Cavern (6.4) —— Unexpected view in above. M - Bovine burial mound ©) ee Tom Pula mixed in Yorkshire 4,3) we han nn Exclude cannabis G3) . Perifoot Medie's cave (8) . Write correct answer on the back of a five pound’note and send it tovthe Newsletter editor. PEAK CAVERN 1959 : A PERSONAL VIEW It was two weeks before Easter, 1959. I first heard about the ‘incident’ in Peak Cavern when I arrived at school on the Monday morning but few details were available until I got home and tuned into the 6 ofclock News on the radio (No TV in those days!) It appeared that a call had been put out for assistance, particularly for small agile cavers so I called Castleton Police Station and was asked to put together a team. The club had few phones in those days so those who had were contacted and the message passed on by word of mouth. Cars were even less common than phones but by 9 pm Brian Griffiths had borrowed his mum's Austin something or other so we two plus Mike Scott (the very first CCPC secretary), Peter Owen and Innes Lumsden set off for Derbyshire The sight in Castleton was unbelievable - hundreds of vehicles littered the streets of the village with uncle Tom Cobbly and all in attendance We waited in the cave entrance for what seemed an eternity before a call came for "small cavers". In ‘59 I was a mere shadow of my present self so I must have been close to the front if not at the front. of the queue arriving at Victoria Chamber 1 was signed in by a fireman in full regalia, asked to transport an oxygen cylinder plus a flask of something hot and to accompany « menber of the Civil Defence (younger readers won't remember this reference to a renmanant of ‘Dad's Army') whose job it was to carry in and wire up a field telephone (a wire had already been layed). I felt quite sorry for this poor guy dressed in his smart uniform and beret, hardly dressed for caving but this was 1959! The upstream passage was ‘damp’ but must have been quite frightening for my companion, especially withoue a light! Pickerings crawl was unbelievable. The humidity was so high that visibility was almost nil and a number of the precious oxygen cylinders were let off to try to improve conditions. They seemed to mak little difference. The entrance to *#*##** Chamber was blocked with mud due to the ammount of traffic but a ladder had been dropped down the by-pass which 1 managed to climb - my companion couldn't manage this but was eventually dragged through the squeeze into the chamber. The mud slope was gradually liquifying due to the ammount of traffic and threatening to bleck the exit. Tears came into his eyes when he learned that he hadn't reached the final chanber with his telephone - merely half way. He could go no further so I was given a quick lesson on telephones before setting off with ‘phone and flask on my own. 1 negotiated the eyeholes scmehow but managed to break the flask passing it to someone or other on the next vertical climb. At last I reached ‘Moss Chamber’ where I connected the telephone. Unfortunately although it worked, everyone using it got an electric shock when trying to ring out! Oh well, physics was never my strong point! After some discussion it was decided that I should have a go at reaching Neil and to attempt to attach some large metal hooks to his clothing - his original lifeline had broken, I took off my boiler suit leaving myself clad only in woollen long ochns, shirt and sweater (men really were men in those days!) I set off down the narrow vertical tube made even smaller by a ladder, hauling rope, 2" air line plus my safety rope and smaller air line to the mask I wore around my neck. Oxygen cylinders were in short supply so mine was only turned on when I felt giddy and demanded it! The draught from the 2" air line made the tube very cold. After a short climb I found myself standing on the trapped caver who was unconscious but still alive - his heart beat could be heard even in the chanbe above. I could only feel him with my feet - no chance of doing much else. 1 marveled at the acomplishment of R Peters (later to get the George Cross for his part in the rescue attempt) and June Bailey who had apparently achieved so much - I later found that their exploits had been wildly exagerated. From what I can remenber, his right arm was extended and his left arm was wedged across his chest. I was asked to try to move them even if it ment breaking them + they had to be joking! After what seemed a lifetime I was told to return which I did gladly. I dres: sat around for a while then went out. It was by now 3.30 am (Tuesday) At about 4.30 am Mike Scott went into the tube to look for signs of life - there wern't any. The rescue was abandoned and the time of death put at 2.30 after a short kip in Castleton Youth Hostel we breakfasted and headed bac school - after all the cross country championships were due to take place today and three of us were in the school team ‘THE RECOVERY ATTEMPT. ‘PHOTOGRAPHIC COMI Get out the old box browny and get yourself down P8! John Shenton is resurec the ‘Photographic Competition’ If there are enough entries, he might ren public ‘phone box to hold an exibition in RULES, Photographs aust be taken by the menter of the club making the entry. Photographs must be taken underground. Photographs must be taken since the Last compet ition. Entries may be in black and white or colour. must be prints (not transparencies). Entries may be of any size. Ente of the person ye gntry, mist be written on the back o| TNE PROTOSt OAR APER HS TRLSEISH SPCiSOSEYCIMES RRSMTLSRET om the back of ng sha 2 count of voter east by nenbers present on the event BPE Stat ane fee % * m re 9. Each club menber may enter ony munber of photesrephs. 10. In the event of a dispute, the organiserts decision is final, so there! Closing date, venue etc. to be announced “Is this the way to Simpsons Pot? ‘A CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY CARLSWAIX has numerous ghosts victims of the plague 1750. A Scots peddlar was license to trade there and was a bit miffed to a regular visitor to Eyam Wakes in mid August It was supposedly used as a burial ground for from nearby Eyam but the best story started in the year He held a find that his business was being taken away from him by unlicensed traders, so he grassed to the village bobby and they were moved on Later in the day, travel to Stoney Middleton. from Bakewell. They were bad news. sent one of the Scot told the landlord of the Bulls Head that he had to The landlord knew the other traders, a local gang He was so concerned for his safety that he the bar staff with him as a bodyguard. incident and the bodyguard returned to Eyam, The journey passed without The Scot went for a jar in the Moon Inn and was confronted by the other peddlars. He tried to ignore them but they said that they would forget the whole thing and persuaded him to join in a game of cards. The game seemed quite pleasant until one of the five peddlars accused the Scot of cheating. They then beat him to death whilst the landlord looked on. They hid the body and carried on drinking until midnight. They then tock the body on horseback to Carlswalk Cavern and two of them carried the body several hundred yards inside. The moonlit funeral procession was witnessed by two drunken miners but their tale was not believed. Some twenty years later a young couple in Eyam village were entertaining visitors, The cavern was at this time known as the ‘Wonder Cave’ and the guests expressed a desire to go and explore it, Their host was not too keen, he had been. troubled by recurring nightmares about —_ the cavern. They eventually persuaded him and off they set with a bunch of candles. The entrance in those days was like a smaller version of Peak Cavern and vas a favourite abode for tramps and thieves. This had kept most visitors away since the miners had departed. The party braved the abuse and threats of the inhabitants and set off down the cave. After several hundred yards, the leader of the party went to touch an unusual formation, It turned out to be a human skull! They fled in terror. The police didn't arrive until the next day and a huge crowd had gathered to see the grizly remains being removed. They were identified as these of the Scotsman by his unusual handmade shoes which had been beautifully preserved. -As noone came forward to claim the body, the remains were “stored in a chest in the North aisle of Eyam church until they vere buried almost a century later. The shoes were taken by the bell-ringer, Mathew Hall, whe wore them for several years. None of the murderers came to formal justice but as often happens in the Peak, all died mysterious and hideous deaths. A pretty female member of the gang developed cancer of the face and became a hideous young hag whilst the landlord of the Moon Inn lay for months’ in agony and. could only die after he had been removed from the pub. The barefooted ghost of the Scotsma was seen wandering around the cave beckoning people to see see his Yesting place “and presumably looking for his shoes Even the tramps deserted the entrance and the council used this entrance as a rubbish dump until it was. eventually filled in, Mark if (coetseans sptrtee) 5 x THE DIARY OF AN EARLY CAVEMAN (Part II) IT1073. Knotiowe Min Aw Farat START AT hAsT, 2 0' Croce , ALAN Raaen Me OP With BYRON = AWO Bauncke ALREADY on BOARD READY To Go. L was READY Fea THE OFF FoR ONCE , WHEN ALAN kNodéD , Amp Awe WENT. A Quick WALK Aaountd Leck WHiKE WE WAITED For KEN And Pair, ALTOGETHER By HALF Past Eight Awd OFF TO Ton4Ash Bxaton Fetaied The KRY Fro THE Faar fro ArreR A ComPucAmeD Piece OF GAC Tercking WE CAHE To TWE Tanck LERoING, Wo “ME ENTRANCE, ATS VERY Rougt Amo WITH FouR on Boaad THE ‘Bertie’ Took A Bit oF A Pounsbing, EventuRy AWE Tanck Cane To A HALT Moctt To THe REUEF OF ALAN Aad Torr, Crnsqig, 1a TRE OPEN Pia AgAIN, A hor WARMER “TRAN Lest tac, Bot STL Comp, Aus AT Last A wet Suvt To Gb Daas i. Acrost Two Renns To THE bo! GuiGIng SHAFT, THE SHAFT 15 CovERD By A STEER Luo Por THERE Fra Saety REASoNs 84 DEREHSMIRE Crug REALE, YOORASTINDARLE Fea THE Swart DRORS STRAIGHT. AN ALLAN KEY 13 OSED -To UnGo THE CouER'S fonicd Piso Makes A Goon StponG Beitty Pots. We LADDERED THE PATCH Foa Te ReturRN Tre Amo Aesraied Doon) To A Ramen Toot Bort. SCAMARLED THRoogt ‘To THE 25! Fam. A Quick hoo Ar THE WererrFALL CnanBer . A Roy WE coULBN'T Be THE Taian Pret, St THere's AUSAYS OTHER TIMES, THEN To Tae Drenved ‘Bung’. PAW WAS Fest To Qo, LAvart, Bost kKeeTON Couon'T Hene Hea yr More Fowsy, Heute Asqu€ He Cane STAGAERING Back “IL. NEVER GET Through THERE" ET A SiqnT. WR AFTER Ths BeLtET Ano BATTERY OFF HE SusT MANAGED 17, BYRON TuaT SAT Back AND LAUGHED His HEAD CFF. ITS ONE ALHIGNM TIQhT Herne fo GET TrRoUgit, AWD A ThqnT Camatr Owce YooR TeRoogir. WE AlL CoLECTED con Preece of ‘Gavena’ 0a Pei Got Lone Down sitit ooR REced. ONCE Meas THe LAHP FRRKED Mm, | WondeER IF I'm THE ont ome, OR IF Not Tere CAN'T BE Too HANY of of wie Hue CRAWLED ThRougt “THE Borg” Buwin, we Dio AW ACFUL lot OF CRAWKING UNTIL WE CAHECRINBOVEIN'. IT WPS Te ing To Fouls THE VEIN THAT BYRON GeT STOCK IN THE HOB. Baomce Poured Bin RAck OOoT AND THAT EAS FNOUGt FoR THe DAY. 6O0' 15 THE Biggest LADRER CHNB Ermer Ria oR HYSELE HWE Dowe. 'T Dina’ T SEEM HALE AS Fra Doon AS IT Ds Back, OP. Got WRF CHANGED WHEN Pame KO RAMGLERS DecineD To Cum oveR Tre CATE AND Come Strong on Frat BHRON WAS THAT CoveRD In HOD, HE RAD A BATH IN Ar [HORSE TRoe=. THE NET TRIP Down) WELL. HAVE To Do THE | WATEREALL Fito, (IT LOOKS A wey Gob AND INTERESTING Piacy . Time Down lb. (fan. Time OoT 3 3opH Tota Time SF Liles, Pre :- BYRON, BRONCE, Pai, KEN, ALAN AnD MHDELe P8 - THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME! For those who missed Jackpot during the dry spell and the subsequent article in” Descent I'd like to point out just what you missed! The mainstream sumps, 1, 2 and 3 led to a very impressive rift terminating in sump 4, the vertical section being fitted with fixed ladders. Up to the point of writting (Oet 89) this sump remains unopened but it's cross section suggests that only a short dive remains and perhaps even this will open up despite the water level remaining constant for several weeks. The upstream inlet, sump B3 was passed (and subsequently a diving line installed) to a muddy climb up to a boulder choke with a rather inviting (!) hole. The level in sump C2 had dropped about 15 m to reveal a steep passage leading co a 5m pitch into water. The previous point reached by divers was about 5 m short of the top of this pitch, no mean feat since the passage leading to it must have been torturous to say the least when wearing diving gear. Hopefully someone will by now have donned a bottle and followed the outlet to its pool before normal conditions return. Just as a matter of further interest, the hole in the floor 30 m down from top sump (B3) was followed to its conclusion, a silted blockage, and on one of our visits the small trickle falling down the second pitch was dissapearing down a hole up a short passage on the left a short way downstream. Ralph =- 000" CAVE TRAINING COURSES, DCA These were heavily subsidised by CRO to the tune of £300 and lost about half as much again due to poor attendance. Because of this, it is net known whether the experiment will be repeated. Those who did go recieved a bargain at {5 per course. From the CCPC, Kev, Sarah and I covered three of the courses, ie Cave Surveying, Ladder and Lifeline Techniques and Advanced SRT Including Self Reseue. Kev and Sarah report that the Cave Surveying course was an explaination of the BCRA booklet, Cave Surveying. It was very good but highly technical and it would be difficult to write a meaningful report on it Kev and I were mind boggled by the SRT course. After spending what seemed like most of the day suspended from the celling/each other we managed between us to learn enough to be useful. The course demonstrated how with little equipment and a big brain you could haul 20 stone cavers up 100 ft pitches ete. It also raised a few interesting questions about the kind of equipment we use. In a later Newsletter I will try and list some of these. When we've rehearsed a few times, we will attempt to pass on this knowledge via a training session. Sarah and I did the Ladder and Lifeline Techniques on different days. 90% of the course covered familiar ground but the other 10% was quite horrifying. I have covered these in a separate article. IE these course are ever run again, I would strongly advise anyone who can spare the time/money to goon them. They are very instructive, a bargain, a chance to meet cavers from all over the country and above all else, fun. Mark LONG RAKE MINE, YOULGREAVE 12th October 1989 Kevin told me about this one. few months chasm This one wasn't in ‘The Caves at least 200 ft deep (I had one of the most spectacular pees of m of Derbyshire’ and I decided to return with a Whilst on a circular walk in the Peak District a ago, I jumped over a wall to have a pee and was confronted by a vast lif 1} bolting kit sometime in the future and have a look around. one night Kevin told me about this really spectacular mine entrance with endless xickerty ladders and that this was the chasm I had peed down. up to the picnic area above changed and tried to All we could and a few bottom of We drove Youlgreave, follow Kev's directions. find were piles of sand horrible shafts at the funnel shaped depressions, It was pitch black by this time. We decided to split up (rather foolishly, Inga has no sense of direction). I wandered off, found the entrance then went to find Inga. Key had said "Look for a flat bit and walk staight accross it." Inga had done this and the flat bit had turned out to be a pond. Not very happ: The entrance is situated about half way along the rake. The handrail Kev had spoke of was like a bannister - luxury caving. The first six ladders zig-zag back and forth accross the rake, landing on unstable little platforms. At about - 120 ft the seventh ladder dissapears through a hole in the floor. Every time you think you've reached th bottom, there's another ladder, The thirteenth ladder lands in a hauling level at about -260 ft The place {is absolutely brillaint Everything is in place as though the miners have just finished their shift (maybe they had and we were in the wrong mine!) Amongst the artifacts are kibbles, buckets, shovels, a miners coat hung on a nail, rails and sleepers still in place and two toilets (Liam, please note) Parts of the mine look a little unstable and there has been quite big collapses in several places. Although the floor appears solid, it is in fact false and holes reveal a further fifty foot drop at the very least. Numerous seven miles of passage. I looked on the map and realized Creal ere shoots enter the passage and the gates have given way on some, partially blocking the passage with rubble. Kev's advice not to touch anything was well observed A stroll of about 200 yds leads to an inclined plain and the maintainance shed complete with fuse boxes, a generator and Women's magazines (not Men's!) A little further on is a cage and the next shaft can be descended via three ladders to the lower workings These contain an ore cage and ladders to even lower workings. Back in the top level a ladder can be climbed into the working part of the mine which is a to the surface contains some including straw long excellent suited for To sum up, this is a evening trip especially anyone interested in recent minning, techniques. v seven miles of passageway it can be as long or short as you want. To find it, drive along the Buxton Ashborne road and turn off at the si for Arbour Low. drive past Arbour Lo (heading East) unti see picnic area a couple of miles down road Walk back along the road for 100 yds to where the fence on the left gives way to a wall. Climb over and follow the vague path te a bannister at the edge of the chasm. is a boiler suit, lamp and helmet, Don't put too much faith in the ladders or platforms (one person at a time) The access arrangement’ seems to be don't let Happy caving! All you need anyone see you. Mark Ir's just as well that the photo's not too clear - you would bring you're Xmas dinner back up! Study the photo and use your skill/experience to Fill in the caption to indicate what Iain / Wendy was saying/chinking Best entries to be included in a forthcoming newsletter GAPTION COMPETITION No $ Iain/Wensy Iain is adirey gfe [LI Please give/post entries to Mark Lovatt Redacted 10 Beste oie sie oie ste bie HK RESCUE REPORTS 2K os ots ote tc 2s ote ot ots te oe 199. P.8. (JACKPOT), CASTLETON. Thursday 6 April 1989 Six novices with one professional instructor descended P.8. in glood. They ‘went as far as the first pitch which all the novices descended. When they were all down, the process was reversed, and they began climbing up once again. All went well until it wae the turn of the fifth novice who, in spite of a number of attempts, was too cold and exhausted to manage the climb up the waterfall. The instructor left four of his party at the top of the pitch and two at the bottom wndlst he went out to the surface to summon assistance. He then went back down the cave, The first team members down met two of the novices st the foot of Idiot's Leap, cold and suffering from the onset of exposure (none of the novices Were wearing wetsuits). Following team members took them to the surface and helped them up to the road (they could only walk with difficulty). Two more novices were found at the top of the first pitch and sent on their wey to be met nd assisted out from Idiot's Leap. Contact was made with the remaining two Who were still in the wet and spray at the foot of the pitch and a team member 4escended to find both very cold and one semi-conscious, When more manpower arrived the two were hoisted up the pitch and helped to the entrance, where Dolythene sheeting had been put in place to partially deflect the water 200. _EYAM AND STONEY MIDDLETON AREA. Thurs. 11 May to Sun. 7 June 1989 on Sunday 7 May Michael Boulton (16) disappeared after leaving his part time job in the middle of Eyam. On Wednesday, the police wished to extend the area of search and asked D.C.R.O. and P,D.M.R.O. to assist on Thursday. A twelve strong D.C.R.O, team searched all the caves and mines on the North side of Stoney Middleton Dale (including The Delf and Eyam Dale) while the surface was swept by s P.D.M.R.O. team. Nothing was found and further help was requested for the seekend to check out known holes over a wider area, and also investigate holes reported by the police and M.R. teams during their surface searches. In the svent, this pattern of working became the norm for a total of thirteen days oF part days throughout the search period as teams varying in strength from two to twenty-five checked out approx. 334 different locations making 57 shaft descents a5 well as entering and investigating many caves, culverts ete. Eighty three >.C.R.O. members from all teama were involved on the search, many turning out nore than once. Radios were used on loan from the P.D.M.R.O. and D.C.R.O's recently approved Land Search and Rescue Frequency callsign ("Caver") was used por the first time. By the time the search was wound down, a circular area one mile in radius from Eyam had been searched in detail and ribbon searches had been carried out 100 yards either side of all roads and tracks within a five mile radius. Absolutely no sign of the missing youth was found and his disappearance continues to remain 3 complete mystery. 201. SHELDON, TADDINGTON & MONYASH AREA. Sat. 27 May to Sun. & June 2989 Dn Monday 15 May the body of Colin Grindley was found by police in a layby near rhe top of Taddington Dale, He had been shot dead and a murder inquiry was started, The police considered it likely that the murderer(s) had disposed of or soneealed the murder weopon and other items in the area - probably down @ nineshaft. Initially Magpie Mine and the other mines near Sheldon were onsidered the most likely sites and D.C.R.O's assistance was requested. On Saturday 27 May twenty members from two regular teams and the P.D.M.H.S. met at tagpie Mine and commenced work checking out the shaft caps and, where necessary making descents. By the end of the weekend 16 shafts hed been descended and Interest centred on 3 deep flooded shafts (Magpie, Hardrake and Mandale). During rhe following week Hardrake was pumped out, Mandale dived, and (most difficult s¢ all) Magpie was checked out using @ remote control submersible video camere The following weekend further mines etc. were visited bringing the total number sf locations checked to 70, including 23 shaft descents over the eight day seriod of the search. A total of 62 members were involved from most teams. Yiu 202. WELL AT BRACKENFIELD. t Tuesday 6 June 1989 ‘he police asked D.C.R.0.to look at a well at Brackenfield as part of the ngoing search for the missing Taddingten murder weopon. The well was approx. 3 ‘t. in diameter and 12 ft. deep with 6 ft. of water (and other stuff). The well jag laddered and a diver went down to search the bottom. Nothing was found. 203. TADDINGTON & MONYASH AREA. Tuesday 21 June 1989 sain in connection with the search for the Taddington murder weopon the police \ad compiled a list of shafts etc. that needed looking at. Ten Central Team embers arranged an evening turnout and inepected thirty six locations, lescending twelve shafts varying in depth from 20 to 120 feet. STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS 200 TO 203 -~ SEARCHES AT EYAM & TADDINGTON Jetween 11 May and 21 June 1989 (42 days), 117 members turned out 236 times on out 2 days for an estimated 1850 operational hours. Including time calling feams, organising equipment, planning, collating information, writing reports ind lieising with police, mountain rescue and others, the total (excluding rembera' travelling time) would exceed 2000 hours (or 250 x 8 hr. man days)- Muping the four operations Ui locations were visited to investigate caves. ‘ines, mineshafts, mineshaft caps, soughs, open rakes, culverts, wells, drains, onds and even an ice-house and a lime kiln. Caves and horizontal mines were ‘oymally investigated to just beyond the limit of daylight penetration. Some lineshafts were investigated using powerful lights but 92 were descended, some 1ore than ence (many in excess of 300 ft.), Two long soughs were traversed (one ice), as were 14 stream culverts (some hundreds of feet in length). Three deep flooded shafts were investigated, one by diving, one by pumping out 60 ft, oF fater, and one by uging a remote control submarine (with video camera) in 105 't. of water commencing at 595 ft. below surface. Three other mines were sarched in detail using metal detecters. 204, ODIN MINE, CASTLETON. Zaturday 24 June 1989 n 411 equipped party of three novices descended at about 22.00 on Friday night Ind descended the first internal pitch to a ledge at about -lO ft. They did not lave sufficient tackle to descend to the bottom (a further 100 ft. or so) and so © Of them climbed out. The third member of the party was unable/unwilling to imb back up on the rope they had (now knowing how deep the pitch truly was!) iis companions tried to encourage him for some time before giving up and leaving telephone for help at about 03.00 on Saturday morning. A small number of ntral Team were called out and four members descended, rigged tne pitch with ladder and lifeline and brought the marconed man out. 205. DARFAR POT, WETTON MILL, STAFFS. Sunday 20 August 1989 wall equipped and experienced caver slipped whilst climbing Pedigree Pot. His foot slipped out of his footloop and he could no longer reach his upper scender. In spite of trying for some time he was unable to recover to & limbing position and became exhausted. Hia two companions were unable to haul im bodily up the pitch ag the rope was too muddy so he had to hang eround inilst help was summoned. The rescue was effected by a small number of Central eam who lowered a rope with footlccps down to the marooned man and hauled him ip. He was then helped out to the surface without undue difficulty. 206. P.8. JACKPOT, CASTLETON. Tuesday 29 August 1989 lose to midnight D.C.R.O. was contacted by the police with a report that 4 cave iver was overdue in the downstream sump complex. The Diving Team were called ut together with an initisl dozen Central Team members, Yorkshire divers were 1s0 put on standby. However, as the first team members entered the cave they ot the overdue diver on his way out. It seems that he had been doing some work in the dron ladder on Budgie Pot and had then gone to investigate Sump 9 and the rip had taken rather longer than he had anticipated. Dear Aunty Marje I have recently been digging in the area around Plantation Pot. A couple of weeks ago I was driving through Wetton in somewhat of a hurry when I ran over a dog which was on the end of a lead held by an old lady. As I didn't have time to mess around with vets and suchlike, I took my shovel and hit the dog over the head to end its misery. Imagine my amusement when a week later I was driving through Wetton and I saw the old lady again. The dog was walking in front of her with a huge bandage on its head! How I laughed! Marje says Next time, take it down Plantation Pot with you and do a proper job on it. Dear Aunty Marje Whilst caving in South Wales, I found a colony of bats. As no-one was around and it was close to my cat's birthday, I slipped one into my tackle bag and took it home for 'Tiddles' to play with. Unfortunately, the bloody thing was vicious and bit Tiddles. He has now started to behave in a very perculiar manner, sleeping in a shoe box and wearing a black velvet cloak with a red silk lining etc. Is this condition dangerous? Marje says At the moment” the condition is not serious. However, as your cat is a ‘Tom’, look out = for further developments. If hé starts driving around in a ‘Skoda’ and trying to exchange currency with foreign cavers at extortionate rates, have him put down immediately! 3 Dear Aunty Marje 1 have this compulsion to ask other cavers to hold my tackle and sometimes I can't find the right hole. Is this serious? (CONTINUED ON PAGE 196) WARNING - THIEVES! On Wed. the 20th September a group from Derby based Viking Venture Scouts rigged the Eyam Dale Shaft of Carlswark and then walked down to do the through trip from the lower entrance. When they reached the bottom of the shaft all their gear had gone! . This happened between 7,30 and 9.00 pm. They later discovered that a car parked nearby but unconnected with their group had been broken into at about the same time. The theft. of the gear has been reported to the police. The equipment stolen was 2 Caving Supplies ladders (pressure bonded) 10 Ft and 25 £t, 10” spacing 25 m of lim Edelred rope 1 spreader 3 steel serewgate crabs, 11 mm offset 2 alloy snap crabs, 11 mm 'D' offset Troll “belt hanger “ard ©“ beleing spanner. All gear except the rope is stamped or tagged 'VWU'. If you are able to help, please inform Mr Mitchell, 3 Hollies Ré. Allestree, DERBY (Tel 0332-559745). This particular cave is very vunerable to theft as ladders must be left in place rigged from the surface and near to the road. No thief would feel too guilty. as his action would not actually strand anyone. On a weekend University in early November, a minibus was completely cleaned out by theives at Stoney Middleton, Everything was taken, including the cavers cloths A car nearby was stripped of all caving gear unyet climbing gear was thrown into nearby bushes Perhaps Nigel can device for electrifying something! come up with a ladders or STARI HRAD Stari Hrad is the deepest cave in Czechoslovakia. Situated in the "Low Tatras" near the town of Liptovsky Mil it i 424 metres deep, and five kilometres long, with several large chambers, impressive pitches, and a roaring streamway in the lower reaches. In the summer of 1989, the Detva caving club, who control the access to the cave, hosted us for the day and guided us.en a trip to the bottom of Stan Hrad, In addition to the caving trip,they fed us and took us oa a tour of the local places of interest. Our day out with the Detva was the most enjoyable and exciting day of our Czechoslovakian ‘expedition. We rose at 5.0.a.m., the usual start time for a busy day in the Tatras, above or below ground. Our rendezvous was at 7.0.a.m. in the national park near Liptovsky Mikulas, several miles away, and we had to hurry breakfast to arrive on time. At the park, we waited for the arrival of our guides from the Detva caving club. About ten minutes later, a new red Skode,sished into the ear park, and drew up alongside. A very large person emerged from the driving seal. This was Pets, our guide! Tom, our bost and the Brno chi president, introduced us. Petr was the discoverer of Stari Hrad, and obviously well built for that task. Petr stood six foot seven on a pair of legs like tree trunks. His ruddy. face was split by a large smile of welcome. As he shook hands, each of us felt the strength in his grip, and I noticed that his arms were about the same size as my legs. A genial giant of the Tatras! His wife Helena was diminutive in comparison, but oae could not help noticing that she {oo was well muscled and extremely fit looking. Neither of them could speak English, so it was difficult to converse properly with the meagre Czech that we could muster, but they were so clearly pleased to see us, and so welcoming, that their actions spoke better than words. ‘After a brief conversation, Tom, and Pavel, his companion, drove off with Petr and Helena to try and obtain access, permission to the park roads, Although we had permission 0 ai the cave we need a speial perm Lo allow bur cars to enter the park, and since the cave was about three miles from the roadhead, and about two thousand feet higher up the mountain, we wished them success. Blanca and Ivosh, two english speaking members of the Brno club, stayed with us. They were both considered to be fit enough for the descent ‘of Stari Hrad, and would accompany us underground. ‘About half an hour later, Tom and the others returned. They had obtained the park access permit for us, but as ‘Tom sad Pavel were no considered fi enough for Stari Hrad, they left us to take a walk nearby, I wondered exactly at we: were in for! Petr and Helena signaled that we should move off, so we boarded our cars and followed them along the forestry roads into the valley, Mel and Adrian in the Fiesta; Jane, laa, me and Kevin in the Cortina, and Blanca and Ivosh in their blue Skoda, We eventually drew up alongside lrg clearing in the forest, Hundreds of tees had been blown down in the spring gales, and the forestry workers had been bard at work clearing up the resultant mess. We parked our cars fongside a deep ditch, out of the way of the foresters heavy tractors and equipment, and unloaded our rucksacks. Tom had warned us that the uphill walk was qt arduous and would take at least an hour, so we had packed the minimum of food,light and clothing. With no delay, Petr hoisted a large rucksack to his shoulders and strode off up the hillside. Helena explained that we need not try to keep up with Petr, as he had to go ahead to prepare for us, Nevertheless, we followed hin up the hill at a fair speed, leaving Helena, Blanca and Ivosi to follow at a more Icisurely pace. ‘The track narrowed as we entered the trees, and ran alongside a small stream. Petr stopped to point out a hunter's hide in a large pine tree. We managed to ask him what it was for, and received the reply that it was for shooting bears. As far as I could make out, they had recently shot a bear weighing about four hundred kilos. If that was correct, that was a very big bear! None of fancied mecting such an animal, so we stuck closely to Petr’s heels. ‘As the track became steeper, Petr tried to explain that we could rest if we wished, and paused long enough for Helena and the others to catch up with us. I explained that we would prefer to keep going, "Pomalu, pomalu” until the (op, even though we were by now feeling rather hot. On we went, the gradient “becoming ever steeper, and the path more slippery as we encountered the limestone. Eventually the way zi -d up a precipitous slope among the trees to a substantial ledge running beneath a limestone cliff, Petr indicaved that we were acarly there... it had taken just over half an hour! las, ‘The ledge widened, and as we followed it around a right hand bend in the cliffs, we came to a wooden bunkhouse: built into a cave entrance. The bunkhouse looked well built and perfectly sited to avoid snow and rock falls, The timber and ironwork must have bent many a Detva caving club member's back in heavy portages up the steep hill now below us, Petr withdrew a set of Allen keys from his rucksack, and started to undo a multiplicity of locks on the bunkhouse door, The locking system was designed to keep out the most determined burglars. To gain entry without the specially cut keys would have required explosives! Once he had opened the door, Petr entered and started the "Preparations" that Helena had referred to earlier. Inside the bunkhouse were several bunks, a stove, and neatly organised shelves and cupboards. Water was available, piped from a siphon pool in the cave behind. Petr pulled out a large bench and positioned it under the overhang In front of the bunkhouse for us to sit on. Before I could sit down, he placed a sheepskin rug on the bench as a cushion. | sank down in comfort alter the sweaty climb whilst Pett busied himself opening draws, rummaging in cupboards, and performing other chores. All of us were amazed at the superb accomodation and facilities. On the Sunthouse door was a table of weights carried by the Detva club members. What a great deal of work they had put in to construct this haven! Petr unearthed some wood shavings and stuffed them into the stove. Uncorking a bottle of meth, he sprinkled it ‘over the shavings, Recorking the bottle he put it back in the cupboard, and lit the fire, Several logs were added next, and soon be had a roaring blaze going, The little chimney spouted smoke up and across the roof of the overhang, the occasional sparks being quenched in the process. Everything had been well thought out; even the avoidance of a forest fire. Petr motioned for us to take off our sweaty shirts and hang them to dry on an airer aver the stove. Then, with most of the "Preparations’ complete, Helena and the others arrived. If we had not followed Petr so closely, we would have had an even greater surprise. Blanca and Ivosh were wide eyed in amazement at the lavishly furnished bunkhouse, the welcoming seats, and the warm fire, Helena, after a brief word with Petr, put a kettle on the stove. She then disappeared under one of the bunks, and emerged with two electric cap lamps,’ Even in this relative fortress, she had hidden their valuables as an extra precaution. Whilst we changed into ous caving clothes, Pets and Helens pottered about preparing sandwiches and unpacking various items from eit Kitbags. Once the kettle had boiled, Helena prepared hot lemon tea for us all and seated comfortably, we sipped it cautiously, a superb view across the forest to the distant mountains in front of us. The day had started well indeed. Time passed quickly, and as soon as Petr and Helena had changed into their overalls, the various cups and utensils were washed and our surface clothes and all easily removable items returned to the but. Petr relocked the door, and then one by one we filed along the ledge and uphill to the Stari Hrad entrance. The name Stari Hrad means "The Old Castle”, A particularly apt name, as we discovered. A narrow ledge led Usrough a portal in the limestone into @ medium sized chamber which had one side open toa superb view, making it into a limestone belvedere. Well appointed as usual, there was even a rail to prevent people falling off and a smal seat for the older members to st and admire the beautiful scenery. Dowa ina recess atthe far side was the route (0 the underworld. Petr lit his lamp and started the descent, One by one, we followed him. We entered a small steeply descending passage, about one metre wide and two high, where it was difficult to move quickly, especially hase of us with tackle bags on our backs. Uneacumbered, Petr nioved very rapidly, and we had to hurry to keep up. Soon there was a staircase of dried mud steps dropping down steeply to a twisty turning narrow meander. One or two small drops which followed were equipped with short wooden ladders. The tortuous passage ended al a twenty metre pitch, here we qucued to descend. Most of the Czechoslovakian caves that we had seen so far had been equipped with assorted metal and wooden ladders, soit was no surprise to fiod that the pitch was already rigged, However, the fixed aid here was ofa type that we had not encountered before. An alloy and wire ladder was in place, but instead of hanging freely, it was tensioned by bolts at top and bottom, to make the descent easy. I thought that it would be very helpful on the way out The pitch was about (weaty metres deep in a roomy shaft that was dry, so the descent was relatively easy. At the bottom, Petr did not wait, and set off again once the first wo had landed. However, as we were aot a large group, the last person to descend was not far behind, and we spread out in a convoy along the passages that followed, Three small pitches, equipped with wooden and steel fixed ladders led to the bouldery Svepou gallery and we eventually came to the thirty five metre Hlavna shaft. This shaft had three sets of the tensioned ladders, with awkward crossovers between cach. ‘The last and deepest section of tensioned ladder had an additional aid, metal hoops to stop cavers falling off. The hoops were made of alloy strip about three inches wide, bent into a circle about four feet liameter, and provided with two tension wires on the side opposite the ladder to allow climbers to lean against the hoops and have a rest. Descending was not so casy with a tackle bag slung from a "Cowstail, as the gaps between the hoops were at four foot intervals, just enough fora bag to slip between and jam the descent! Since T vas the only one of our party with a tackle bag slung Hike this, everyone else thought thathe hoops were a magnificent innovation, in spite of my regular cursing. “The way on from the bottom of the pitch was via a narrow rift where we had to chimney down on rough limestone Occasional enlargements meant delicate manoouvres to avoid falling, or kicking rocks on to those below. A complex route through the rift led to a meander and thea to the top of the deepest pitch in the cave. The “Tristarska’, forty four metres (1300.) deep and in a wide shaft was equipped with tensioned ladders and hoops ‘The begianing was at an angle of about forty five degrees, and after about fifteen feet suddenly became vertical which made the abyss below very impressive. We descended the ladder three at a time so, in spite of being a large party, there was minimal holdup. By now, I had devised a way of preventing my tackle bag from snagging so made a rapid and exhilarating descent. 1S Helena descended last, and we waited for her at the base of the "Tristarska” before following Petr into the huge "Prieskumnikov Hall”. Here we climbed a steep slope and filed along a small path to a viewpoint where Petr sat on a large rock to address us. With some translation from Blanke, he explained that this had been the end of the eave up to 1980 as there was a siphon ahead which had been passed by divers. The Detva club had blasted the siphon so that ordinary avers could gain easy access to the rest of the cave. ‘The Czechs do not mess about the niceties of sport, and Petr justified the demolition of the sump as a scientific necessity. After a brief pause to coo! off a little, we clambered down the rocks and stooped through the blasted sump to gain the Biefu gallery beyond, On the left, washed by a steady shower of water from above, was a large boss of reddish coloured flowstone; "Etna", In the roof interstices were several beautiful crystal flowers of Aragonite, After a pause to inspect these formations, we descended to the "Buffet pod Ema’, a sort of tearoom equipped with a shelf on which stood a stove, kettle, and tea making and cooking uteasils. We were now about 270 metres below the entrance, and feeling quite hot from the rapid descent, so this was a most weleome prospect. Petr, however, who seemed to have had instructions to give us a “sporting” trip, was kecn to keep on the move, so all thoughts of a'sit down and a brew-up were shattered. The gallery became larger as we continued our descent, and eventually apened out into the huge "Revajov Dom’, where it was difficult to discern the roof. Petr paused to explain that this was the largest chamber in the system, that we were now 300 metres deep. He then strode on to the brink of a steeply descending canyon at the far end. ‘The way down was quite hairy in places, with several difficult climbs and loose boulders. At the bottom of the first section, there was a huge block on the lefthand side of the canyon. Here we gingerly inched out over a considerable drop and had to grab a piton at arms length, swing out over the abyss and thea clip into a handline that ran behind the block and into a vertical, relatively tighter, rift. After all of the precautions taken with the previous pitches, it seemed incongruously dangerous. ‘The remainder of the rift had walls of rough limestone, and was fairly easy to negotiate until we reached the "Riecnow" pitch, The "Riecnow” pitch had a large stream flowing over the lip, forming an impressive waterfall, which made a deafening noise. Once again we were amazed at the ingenuity and care that the Crechs had taken to provide for our safety. A heavy steel tube had been anchored across the rift, Welded to the tube at convenient intervals, were several steel imesh 'footplates’, enabling us to walk casily above the torrent and reach the pitch-head without getting wet. The twenty meire pitch was equipped with tensioned ladder, with restraining hoops down the first ten metres, and the bottom unrestricted to allow climbers to get off the ladder and into a rather awkward rift descent alongside the water. Even here, the comfort of the caver had been catered for. A large PVC pipe had been installed to take the main volume of the water. However, this pipe proved to be an obstruction and made the descent rather tight and difficult with a tackle bag. At the bottom of the rift there was a deep pool, where a rather sporting traverse around a large rock caused some of our party problems. Blanka, who seemed to be averse to falling into the water, took a lot of coaxing and some rather aman bel, beh: paie toe ease Dae phohldeh and rahe eros I ‘comparatively professional manner. We were now approaching the bottom of the cave. In a small chamber that followed, Petr showed us a turbine, riven by the water through a series of pipes and valves, that powered a generator. He explained that they were still tng to ‘extend the cave through a tight section further on, and that the electricity was used for drilling shot-holes. The neat time we came the cave would be deeper! After the generator chamber, the rift began ta contrat, until we came to an enlargement where here was 3 small crossrift above a very narrow canal. Here, we stopped where there was room to sit down. Petr explained that this ‘was the bottom of the cave. At present, the canal was impassable without recourse to chemical attack. The depth below the entrance was 424 metres. Our descent had only jaken two hours. Petr and Helena had sandwiches inside their overalls, 1 had food for Jane and myself in my tackle bag, and the tubers had various items of food secreted about their persons. We shared nuts and chocolate and sipped waler from a bottle that I had also brought, Petr produced some ripe plums for us to share as « dessert. In spite of the noise of the water, and the damp atmosphere, it seemed quite cosy in our rocky niche. We exchanged conversation between mouthfuls until all ofthe food had been consumed. Petr shook the erumbs off himself and prepared for the ascent, The rest of us did likewise, suddenly realising that it would be a bit harder climbing out than dropping, The ascent, however, went very quickly, apart from the long climb up the “THistarska" where Blanka became very tired. Petr, who had hung back, motored up to her to provide physical and vocal assistance. The hoops wore, as expected, a considerable help to her, allowing occasional rests to recover, and it was not long before she reached the top, puffing and panting with the exertion. From then on we went at a more scdate pace and it seemed like no time at all before we were struggling through the narrow entrance passages. We emerged on to the ledge of Stari Hrad, steaming from our exertions and blinking in the bright sunshine. The trip had only taken four and a half hours. ind Yo Petr went aliead to unlock the bunkhouse, whilst the rest of us paused to extinguish our lamps and admire the view. ‘When we finally caught up with him, he had already opened the door and perked up the fire to warm some water. Helena took off her overalls and disappeared inside for a wash whilst Petr led Kevin, Ivosh and Lan down hill to a shower supplied from the sump in the cave behind the bunkhouse, Since the water was icy cold, only these hardest (and dirtiest) had a shower, the rest of us preferring to wash in a bowl of warm water outside the hut, Soon all af us were clean and dressed in our surface clothes. Helena, who had beew very busy ins the hut, emerged with some soup, bread, and salad. What excellent hospitality... she and Petr must have carried it up the hill especially for our benefit. We all tucked into a most pleasant and welcome meal, washed down with more lemon tea, With the meal, the superb view at our ect, the Comfort of the bunkhouse stools, and that warm sensation flowing in our muscles that results from a good trip, it was a blissful moment, Through the medium of Blanka, Helena explained that we would now go on a short tourist excursion to visit some ies, who lived a nearby valley. Petr wanted to buy some goats cheese, and thought that it would be interesting for us to do the same. We all helped to wash up and clear the things away, and it was not long before Petr was locking up the bunkhouse again, As we started the stcep trail dowa to the valley, I took a last long look at the idyllic chalet nestling under its, lift and wondered if any of us wondd ever return there inthe future. The route that we took down was shorter than that which we bad used for ascent in the morning, so we were soon back at the cars agaia, Alter a few photographs, we sct off behind Petr and Helena’s car and drove to an open field about two miles away, where the gypsies were camped with their herd of goats. We parked the cars and walked over to some of them 'who were sitting on the grass near a wood pile, A filthy old gypsy emerged in a cloud of woodsmoke from a ricketty wooden shack and spoke to Petr. After a brief conversation, they both disappeared inside the shack and soon re-emerged bearing carved wooden mugs, of dubious cleanliness, which contained curdled goats milk. We were expected to drink it! Casting caution to the winds, Jane sipped some and declared that it tasted a bit like liquid yoghourt. To prove the point, she swallowed several mouthfuls of! We had three mugs to emp, so I tasied some and discovered that Was not at all bad, provided that I did not look at the mug too closcly. 1 drank half a mugfull. Adrian and Kevin also drank some, but Mel aad Ian decided that discretion was the better part of valour as Tar as a dose of the squits was concerned. Helena, Blanka and Ivosh helped us to polish off the rest of the beverage, whilst Petr negotiated the purchase of some goats cheese. We had tasted some Czech goats cheese before, and, in my opinion, it was quite delicious, However, the gypsy had only two cheeses, each weighing about two kilogrammes, and looking fke large footballs, This was ait too much for any of us to contemplate buying. Petr decided to buy one nevertheless; he reckoned that he could sell it off piecemeal at the office, At least the gypsy seemed to be satisfied. After wiping his cheesy hands on his milk stiffened trousers he waved us farewell, grinning toothlessly. We bade the other gypsies goodbye and returned to the cars for the next part of the “tourist” trip... a visit to what seemed to have been described as a sort of sauna, Petr headed dow the valley ad into the outst of «smal village. ‘There were crowds of people about, obviously in a holiday mood, and lots of cars were parked at the roadside. We managed to park with some difficulty, and walked over to what seemed to be the centre of attraction, aware of a frightful pong in the air. | wondered if the goats milk was having an effect on someone, but the fartlike smell seemed to be a purely local phenomenon, We ‘were approaching a fine of sulpburous springs! ‘The springs were volcanic in origia, and apart from the dreadful stink, were supposed to have healing powers There were several places where one could bathe in them, and a sort of Buxton spa building where one could even drink some. I suddenly realised that this was where we were to have our “Sauna”! We soon stripped off our outer clothes, and, choosing the pool with the least accumulation of sulphur around it, walked down some steps and immersed ourselves to the chin. Apart from Ian, who had a hole in bis pants or something, we all enjoyed a communal bath. ‘The water was surprisingly cool at first, and felt rather soapy. Sulphurous bubbles, erupting from below, kept the water moving. After a while, the warmth became more apparent, and it was relaxing and quite pleasant. We sat, chin deep, in'a circle around the pool, intermixed with two hefty middle-aged women who were there before we arrived, Adrian was a bit disconcerted to discover that he was playing footsie with one of these when he mistakenly thought that it was with Blanka. He nearly had a date with a female tractor driver! However, luckily for him, we all decided that we were clean and relaxed enough, and left the pool to get dressed. The locals must bave thought that wwe were an usinhibited gang as we capered over the grass in our soggy and, in some cases, transparent, underwear, to reclaim our clothes. By the time that we were all decently dressed again, the evening was closing in, and thoughts of food were discussed. We did not want to return to the “Hotel” where we were staying at Pribyling, but wanted to treat Petr and Helena to the best possible dinner somewhere else. Blanka interpreted this for Petr and Helena, and they were able to recommend a good restaurant, about twelve miles away. It was unanimously agreed that 'this would be ideal, and so we drove there in the gathering dusk to be met at the door by the patron, who was a friend of Petr’ 7 ‘A few beers later, in a rosy atmosphere, we ate one of the best meals of the holiday. A really convivial evening followed and Petr pave us several books and pamphlets about Stari Hrad and other local cave systems. Eventually the celebrations had to come to an end, Petr aad Flelena fad to work next day and had a long drive back to Detva ahead of them. We said our goodbyes in the darkness, and watched the red lights of their car disappear into the. distance. Two remarkable people, who had given us an unforgettable experience. All of us hoped to see them again sometime, John.E.Gillett GREAT ORME WEEKEND What a superb veekend! Everyone who went thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We drunk the bar out of beer on the second night and Robert and Lenka suprised everyone by turning up out of the blue. The Great Orme Exploration Society went out of their way to provide superb entertainment by taking people caving, skiing, climbing, boozing and providing two excellent slide shows explaining the history and exploration accompanied by a very professional commentry. all night, Barry and Yvonne were very tolerant, ser. cooking excellent food at give-away prices and putting up with muddy ng booze cavers rambling around the building without complaining once! The trip that I went on (Ty Gwyn Shaft 1 think) was led by Phil, a super guide who only got us lost once. It started with an abseil of c 150 ft and a swing-off into a side passage. This vas followed by a walk/stoop/crawl through a maze of passages. The place has a powerful atmosphere of time and mystery about it. Parts of the upper workings have been dated as bronze age and these may well be the eldest underground workings in Europe Phil pointed out what is believed to be evidence of early fire- setting techniques vhere rock has remained blackened for 3,000 years. Numerous artifacts have been left in situ Iwas fascinated by the stone hammers, huge hard pebbles, which were used to work the mine A reminder of the rock's pagan past (2) was the remains of a sacrificed cat surrounded by other relics of paganism. This is similar to the one which now resides in the three Stag's Heads and is thought to be evidence of ritual sanctification of the mine. The GOES have been requested to remove the cat for safe keeping in a museum, buc no one would volunteer Taped off ware the imprints of miners clogs, clearly visible in the mud. Some of them were very small indeed and can't have belonged to a very old person. After passing the cat for the third time (‘Does this stemple ring a bell?" "It might 1f you hic ic hard enough") we descended a couple of fixed ladders and were confronted with a crawling size passage At the end of the passage was what must be the deepest shaft I have ever seen. This kept the parcy amused for a while, seeing who could lob the biggest rock down it. Up another ladder and a small scramble and we were into the workings. These displayed =a completely different mining technique and were much more open than the rest of the mine. For my money, this was definitely the best part but some of the traverses were a bit on the loose side. A short climb up of 40 fr brought us out into brilliane sunshine and back to the ‘Wedgewood’ for a pine Mark A CONGRATULATION To ROBERT and LENKA On the event of their marriage at West Finchely on 11th November 1989 and the subsequent blessing of the marriage at St Edwards in LEEK on Saturday 16th December Apart from a fair contingent from the CCPC, the Blessing was attended by Lenka's Mother and Father, who anyone who was on the Czee trip will remember made us very welcome with their home made Slivovich and also Eva who helped with the financial transactions. Mr and Mrs Bentley put on a superb spread at the farmhouse whilst Phil managed to get 24 tickets for his works Xmas party for night time knees-up. Robert was true to form and got lost on. the way back from the church ee ee ee ee a 3 ‘THE FIGURE OF EIGHT STOP Here's an idea from Czechoslovakia which Robert passed on to me. Its a different way of using a figure of eight so that it incorporates the safety feature of a Petzle stop; ie if you render yourself unconcious during a descent, you stay fixedonto the rope rather than plummeting to the bottom. Whether this is a good idea depends upon where you happen to be when you loose conciousness. Personally, I would prefer to take my chances and break an ankle than drown by being suspended under a waterfall, but there again.. The mode of operation is to use the figure of eight as a lever to open and close a friction knot. The large ring of the figure of eight is threaded onto the rope as in the diagram by threading a loop through the ring, twisting the loop through 180° and passing the loop over the small loop. The figure of eight is the attached to the main mallion of your sit harness by the big ring. The small ring is fitted with a length of tape (via a Crab if you have a spare one) and you're in business ¢ wer (derinitary re seme) To descend, simply pull downwards on the tape. To stop, let go of the tape The reason for the tape is that the figure of eight tends to get too hot to touch after any distance. Wether you use a Crab or a Mallion to attach the de to your sit harness is up to you but I remember a crab coming undone on Liam at the top of a pitch. This method does work, I tried it suspended from a bridge and it was a complete success. It still twists the rope just as a figure of eight used in the conventional manner and probably doesn't do the rope an awful lot of good if you do it too often. I don't know how an insurance company would view a claim if you happened to mention that you were using the device sideways instead of in the position it was designed for and I would not like to personally recomend it until it's been tried and tested by a few other people. For chose brave persons whe enjoy a novelty, that is how it is done. Used at the head of a pitch, ic may have an application in lifelineing or for lowering heavy tackle sacks. Mark L 20 SOME THOUGHTS ON LADDERS AND LIFELINES After of wisdom David Baines and Nigel cavers are very set in their ways so as to than ‘traditional’ round the waist / shoulder / neck lifeline. attending the recent DCA run course I thought I would pass on a few pearls Ball, who presented the course warned us that a lot of They will scorn the idea of rigging a ladder avoid water or lifelining anything under 40ft or using anything other They then went on to demonstrate that such cavers are potentially lethal and should be avoided like a dose of pox! Ladders with if the water rises. Apart from the quick ‘Round Trip’ in Giants or something similar, the time you are most likely to use ladders is when taking relatively inexperienced people who don't possess SRT gear down holes. These people often have blind faith in your abilities and judgement. | Consider that they might be knackered on the return journey and rig accordingly. If the water rises, a real danger (which had never entered my mind) is that rocks and stones can be washed down streamvays and over pitches. These could quite easily reak a hand / leg / head or sinply knock a climber off a ladder As for not Lifelining short pitches, this is potentially fatal. Modern thinking is that the ladder is a of equipment used to to move people up secondary piece aid the lifeliner and down pitches. It is without doubt the weakest part of the system. A new ladder should break at around 700 Kg and vill absorb just about bugger all in terms of shock forces. A well used ladder may not even support the weight of two cavers. Some new ladders tested on behalf of the OCG broke at around 90 Kg (less than 14 stones, see letter next page). Always assume that the ladder is going to break when lifelining. We were told ef cases where people have been paralysed by 6 ft falls and people have even died following 10 ft falls Anyone who insists on ‘traditional’ lifelining techniques should be sent for a compulsory go on the drop machine before they next go caving This machine simulates the effect of a 124 stone caver falling. Even when Their case went something like thi that, but bear in mind 1) the limitations of your par rigged down waterfalls are quite often fun, I think everyone will agree and 2) what happens the rope is taut, you are helayed expecting the fall, it is quite horrifying A person of 14 st was lifted 2 ft from the ground! This clearly demonstrates that all lifelining should be ‘direct’ ie so that the shock is transfered directly to the rock via an Italian Hiteh, Petzle Stop, Figure of eight or similar device instead of through the lifeliners body! It is wise to belay yourself to something solid whilst lifelining but it is, safer not to bother rather than to belay yourself to the same anchor as the fricti devise. If the bolt comes out, will drag you over as well Of all the devises we cried it was agreed that a Petzle Stop was the asiest to operate (and the most expensive) with an Italian Hitch coming a close second (knots are pretty cheap). The latter does require a pear shaped crab or the knot may fail to operate if it canni reverse itself. It is also necessary to be able to lock the devise off so that you can go to the cavers aid. If a caver has climbed 90' up a 100‘ pitch it may be move desirable to haul him up 10’ than lower him back down This requires a good selection of SRT equipment (why are you using a ladder if you have SRT equipment?) J will explain this in a future article. A problem that I have always encountered is a lack of belays at the bottom of pitches. Whilst the cop is normally peppered with spits, I can never remember seeing one at the bottom. The solution, I was told, is to instal them (I'm sure a lot of 2 purists will cringe at this). I£ you look hard enough they are probably there anyway. A more ‘cave friendly’ idea is to use natural belays. The most obvious ones are large rocks that can be threaded with a tape. They do not have to be monsters provided that the lifeliner or a friend sits on them during use. Another rather cosy idea is to connect several people together via their belts using crabs and use them. This could be good fun in che right company! The speed of elimbing should be governed by the lifeliner, NOT the climber ie you can't be lifelined too slowly, only climb too fast We looked at a case where a youth had slipped on a ladder and his leg had become jammed between the rungs. What would You do? The usual answer was lower “him off. This would be impossible if his leg was well jammed. © Any attempt to do so would Tesult in him hanging upside down This is a very dangerous position Only Superperson would have the strength to haul him back up. The only answer is to lower the ladder which would be impossible with a conventional wire belay under load. Anyone who caves vith me in future may notice that I now use a 9mm rope spreader (tied through the loops, not the 'C' links) and carry the means to cut this! Whilst mentioning 'C' links, these are traditionally regarded as the weakest part of the ladder. Normally this is true of new ladders (although this was not so in the case of the ‘Orcus' ladders). | With older ladders, they tend to snap anywhere above the first rung. The reasons given for this are 1) water becomes trapped inside the talurit and corodes the steel and 2) the traditional way of fastening rolled ladders by linking the ends through the loop puts strain on the ends. The solutions are 1) a regular squirt of WD4O in the talurit and 2) don't fasten rolled ladders in the traditional way, bind them with a sling instead. Ladders may also be damaged by being trampled underfoot. any spare ladder PROBLEMS in conruction tase teen found in caving ladders sl byG. Fowlerof Doncasict. whoa ered ttt sale onthe Pot Pout pave of Descent in vue 88, These fave been highlighted. by Orcas Gaeing Group. who arranged for theirtenime whenimembers nouced 2 non-standard techmngue had been sed forthe C linkatachment They faa she inks tested by a qualified fnincer who reported that these fad not been secured by an ap provedtialarn, but witha stra eve Bt aluminium tung tobe, throurh Sct the cable had beer passed Shu thea doubled back. This tube had men been creased 91002 Tenesh wun a hormmer and chive! “Fhe inks were tested to faire sippage heyanat S9Kg.and eink Pulled oat at 89 Tee on one, and $o aby and 90.65ky on the other “The sung atthe point of oad di not sh ', Wilding af Orcus CG noted shatitese taiares represented sbout 2 sone person standiae of the inddcr = along pitch. 2 slightly taveer than average eaver. andor laddersudesnnqure evenly loaded. bed the local esc team are «9 0F Thess muah Me Fowier wascontactedhy OCG andy an view of the possiblity of prover with other ladders he M35 TOM, he will either arrange forthe replacement of the talunt by of Sfpraved fin of wall efund the | rmey on return of the lauder. ME Fowicr can be contacted at 29 Fembank Onve. Armthore, Don- fonter 5. Yorks DNS 21D. DESCENT OCTINOY 1989 | ere at the bottom of a piteh should be rolled up in such a way that it hangs a few inches above the ground. This will prevenc it from being stood on Modern thinking says thi should be rigged well clear of water via a traverse line necessary. _ Lifelines should ideally be rigged from-a 'Y' hang. The las person down abseils and first person up prussiks. A Petzle Stop is the ideal tool to lifeline someone up a pitch and at least one jammer is required to haul a tired caver. Belay belts should be replaced by sit harnessess and cows tails should be used when appropriate. This leaves one last question. Apart from when taking people down who don't have SRT gear, WHY USE LADDERS AT ALL? uasaid o7e sieq uoys paptone ‘9q off prmoys saonoerd anasoy rev} UF sye0or Teq OVNT sopzed abre[ oe) 10u og ‘seq asnore wes “soumy pu yeoy oip Jo osneDaq eiqensapun Ajremuoured axe sdure| 21 eo “soor req Mh scarey opiates enn oud yy, semore ro8tin me 10g 98 pure 1y6q] oy) Nog “seq WO Siq871 s9811q oupys 100 og hw. esnore asneo 0} juaroqymas st ye3y more Aa “Buyqamrp Azan oq wea sunbyseLt wag Butis0or udesSovoud sou o@ ae OsTy “seq orpuey jou og apoD uonearasu0y Y burmor® Mey ay pure sieg ome pet eet sogranog re, — pumoxBrapim "sm ‘uonerpéyap 4 ¥ armbar osfe = sepa yrea-Bu0y sommyerodua, ‘AINNOWTETANT STV Site grading Caves, mines and other underground sites Grade 1 (fewer than 10 sites) Sites used by bats throughout the year Grade 2x: Sites already gated or grilled, id access by arrangement with ider during the summer or 83 by agreement between the keyholder, NAMHO or NCA or other ‘ving body during the winter. ment may cover activities such fer visits and blasting should be avoided unless agreed with NCA/NAMHO. ff bats during the winter. No formal access control but proceed with cs and follow the conservation code. Avoid winter visits if practical. Report numbers * Of bats seen, Grade 4 (many sites) Sites not known to ba used by bats o with only occasional records. Follow the ‘conservation code and report any bat sightings, Site Protection In the past, some sites that would otherwise have beer ther reasons but incorporate 5, Mos jority wil and common sense of Site protection for bats normally consists of human access is accept safety reasons, a small g 5c will allow a site not riown to be used by bats, to be grilled, gated or sealed, ‘conservation, access arrangements for other interes m0 p ajep 3 'd 25 Current Members nt) Phil Marsden Geoff Millington Steve Mills Lionel Park si Tony Reynolds Mark Riva Alan Sera Marcin Soliman Paul Shenton John Shenton John Smith Peter Steadmar Alan Steele lan Walker Paul Wi Zig Wozasec Past Members: fy ine Sctagg Redacted .Some of looks a bit 1 in de adding/c important th letter or most important of all, miss out PS I circulated a copy of this for correctior neeting. Please bare with me March Sun 28th Lancaster/Easegill Sat 10th Sun 25th February April Sun 11th Penyghent Pot Sun 15th Sun 25th Out Sleets Beck Sat 28th s list is kept at the last ail Swinsto's Juniper Gulf Christmas Pot/Grange Rigg Little Neath River Cave callout, ssing. I ng needs not get will try