Shock Load Tests on Lyon Speleorope

Following the discovery of a rub point on one of the
club's ropes, members of the Bradtord Pothole Club car-
fied out a shock load test to see whal effect it had on the
strength of the rope. The rope in question was 10.5mm
Lyon Spelecrope. The rope was tested on the club's drop
test rig with a fall factor ane fall. The rope failed on the third
drop —not as expected at the rub point, but at the knot.

As a result of this test, further tests were carried aut on
‘a number of samples trom various club ropes (see fable
betow).

‘The results of these tests were passed to Ben Lyon, the
rope's distributor, who has since been in contact with both
the rope’s manufacturers, and with Ferdinand Petzl, who
has independent rope testing facilities, and we expect to
have further consultations with him as more tests are car-
ried out.

in the meantime the BPC has decided to withdraw all
Lyon Spelecrope trom general club use.

‘Whilst these lests are by no means conclusive, you may
feel they are of sufficient interest to publish them.

B. Schotield (Scoff), Leeds

| T-type cells should soon be — |
| available, ex Chaterley-Whitfield |
|

|
THE JOURNAL IS NOW BEING TYPED.
ARTICLES MAY JUST GET IN IF SUBMITTED
QUICKLY

ee ee ee
‘The BERGER has been BOOKED
by CCPC for
Ast - 10th July 1991
Anyone interested, contact
Ralph

PS Derbyshire Caving club
have got it booked
for the fortnight

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*
*
*
*
*
* commencing 24th July 1991.
*

*

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*
*
*
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Bee K ERR EEE

Notes:
‘Allsamples were of approx tm ength nadin 2mofrepe
‘Allnotes were hgure-of-ergntngntened by hand only
Allropes were mavst

‘Alcrops were alfactorone

Norecovery te was allowed between:

copsonanyotinesamoles

Rope Type No.otTrips Sample No. of Falls
Withstood
Lyon Speteorope New A a
vim
5 A 6
a 4
c 2
Lyon Speecrooe $ A 1
10 Smm 6 2
c 2
20 a 2
8 2
c 2
23 4 2
s 7
c 2
Eaeind tem 55 A 7
8 3
Bluewater Sm ExMenico A 3
Expaciuon

worn)

BenLyonReplies.....

Bradiord Pothole Club have contacted me aver their test,
results on used Spelecrope. These are naturally of consid-
‘erable concern. At this stage, while further tests are taking
place, | would just wish to make the following points:

1. None of the ropes tested fall below sate limits for SAT
use

2. There appears to be a relatively rapid decline in rope
strength from new, but this decine does not continue
swith increased use.

3. At least part of this initial decline can be attributed to
‘moisture in the samples tested —nylon absorbs water,
and loses strength when wet

4, Speleorope is made with relatively more twist in the
core than Edelrid static or Sluewater ropes. This gives
it better flexibility, but the trade-off is that its ultimate
breaking loadis less.

5. Yarn used in the manufacture of Edelrid caving ropes,
| and the Spelecrope made for us by Beal, is the same
| type. fromthe same tactory.
| four own tests confirm the results trom BPC, we will
| took at two changes tor Speleorope. Firstly switching to an

everdty finish 10 combal the effects of water (we will be

testing a 200 metre length of everdry 9mm Speleorope in

China in March); secondly, il necessary, by reducing the

twist in the core strands,

Beniyon

‘s

Caves 8 Caving $3
MACCLESFIELD 'S OWN ALTERNATIVE,

CLIMBING WALL

Someone (who shall remain nameless) sneaked out of his Sutton home in the dead of

night wearing
British Rail.

The bridge is unused and
only about thirty feet
high but presently has

two routes down and is an
ideal place to practice
self rescue, bolt
changes, getting in and
out of messes ete. It
is mainly out of public
view so you don't get too
many people ‘phoning the
police reporting
attempted lynchings ete.

It has pleasant views of
the  Gasworks and a
chicken farm and there
are plenty of old tyres,

dead
the
one
permission
there again
actually
either.

dogs etc. to keep
kids ammused, No-
has actually granted
to use it but
no-one has
refused it

The sad news is that it
is soon to be demolished,
but in the meantime it is

an excellent place to
play when the weather
is too nice to ge
underground!

To get there, follow the
a 523 (Beech Lane) down

the hill out oof
Macclesfield until it
crosses the River Dean.

There is a (free)ear park

on the left immediately
after this bridge. Park
there. To get to ‘The’
bridge, cross the read

and walk back up the hill
for 20 yards. A footpath

on the left by the side
of a games field leads
directly to it. The
bolts are in the East

(stone) side.

The car park is at the |
beginning of the Bollin |
Valley Nature Trial and |
the bridge itself is next |
to the Middlewood Way, 50 |
wives/husbands who are |
not interested in |
watching their partners |
hang themselves can pass |
a pleasant hour or so in |
Cheshires green |
countryside |
|
|
|
|
|
|
i

SELF RESCUE PRACTICE

The self rescue practices

arranged by Ralph at
Holden Lane High School
have been very well
attended and most |
people have found them |
to be both fun and
useful.

Just what technique was

being polished by Tony

Reynolds and Jane Brooks
remains a mystery,
suffice to say that they

spent most of the evening
in a close embrase close
to the ceiling.

One of the most
potentially useful
techniques practiced was
a method for safely
removing an unconcious

person from a rope.

For anyone who cannot
attend the practices but
would like to try the
technique off a bridge/
tree/stairvell, here is
an outline of the method

1) Climb up to just below

the victim (or back-
prussic down to just
above) and connect your
short cows tail to the

a black boiler suit and installed spits in a bridge belonging to

MOLEPHONE TRIAL FOR DCRO

Thanks to all who took
part in this exercise
which proved succesful
DCRO are likely to buy
two sets in the near
future, approximate cost
£1,500.

They worked well in the

locations tried and are
said to be idiot proof
(even Kevin used them!)
The only incident was
when one of our older
bretheren managed to
stumble (rumour has it
that he fell out of his
wheel-chair) on the way
down from Oxlow breaking
a £inger!

victims main million.

2) If comming from below,
remove the victims feet
from his/her foot loops
and climb past the
victim, It is essential
to move your hand jammer
up the rope first and the
whole thing is easier if
you remove the victims
hand jammer from the rope
before attempting this.

3) Climb up the rope
until the victims body is
supported by the cows
tail. Unclip the victins
chest assender from the
rope

4) Change over to abseil
and descend the rope.

Sounds simple doesnt it!
From personal experience
I would strongly

recommend having a third
person stood by with
stepladders and a knife!

2

MAD MARGH WEEKEND
SWILDON HOLE

- MENDIPS

After arriving late Friday night at the infamous "Slabhouse Pub" I soon realized

why this was

called "mad" March weekend.

The yearly get-together was in full

swing with one or two bodies already showing serious signs of wear.

After an excellent night we crawled back to the Forestry Research Bungalow which

was to be our accommodation for two nights, a brilli

at place with a big central

log fire; just the job to crash out and contemplate the next days caving.

SATURDAY am(ish)

Swildon Hole MC/SSe NGR ST55/5312.5131
Length 30,000 ft Depth S48ft ale 779
ft

After a frantic half an hour in the
kitchen in an attempt to get something
down our necks, we set off to Manor
Farm close to the cave

Swildons is the longest and most
popular cave in the Mendips so we five
soon found ourselves following another
group for the third of a mile muddy
trek (the coldest part of the trip)
to the entrance, a stone building
resembling an outside toilet. The
walk however was made a little more
entertaining as one member doning a
brand new “virgin” wet suit was
ceremoniously splattered with mud to
be made more in keeping with the rest
of this seabby Crewe crew!

The entrance dropped down into
stream passage. 1,800 ft to sump one
with many interesting scrambles and
turns. The water was quite forceful.
After a short way alternative routes
appear looping back to the main stream
passage - a choice of the “dry way" or
the "wet way" - we of course chose the
latter being of the Crewe!

The passage then opens up into a rift
and the stream gains both in momentum
and size and many formations appear
high up in the roof, with some fine
curtains.

A few hundred yards on we reached a
20' pitch with an awkward change over
from a hand loop to the top of a
ladder which then dropped down into a
3" deep pool.

A short pause
to acknowledge

was agreed at this point
Cliff and Nelv's

I
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reconnaisance trip the day before to
see if there was life beyond the
bottom of the ladder: This however
was where they had turned back as it
was reported C1iff was mubling
something about his lamp and last
orders!

continued with a few
slippery but easily managed climbs or
alternatively the quick way down and a
very cold plunge.

‘The passage

nother 15"
"Barnes Loop"
passage with

climb took us up through
a well decorated walking
many delicate straws and

other formations though sadly much
damaged from constant and careless
use

Next comes a small pool - some of us

got wet while others chose alternative
methods of crossing.

of walking passage took us to
sump 1, two of us admitting at this
point not to have dived a sump before
acetal encouragement from a 9 year
old fellow caver who promised to
f us through as soon as he

3.

cliew
finished his can of shandy which he
produced from beneath his well worn
boiler suic.

We
dive

managed this trecherous 6'0
and on reaching the other side
had our way confirmed by a road sign
stuck on the wall which read "WELLS +

MILE AVOIDING TOWN CENTRE".

The passage widened out and the water
being almost up to the roof swimming
was the order of the day. We reached

sump 2, 27'0" long. At this point it
agreed the water was much too wet

was

and further discussions were needed in
more amenable surroundings. So ve
made our way back to the surface

flying through sump 1 like vetrans.

Back to the farm where the days
activities were rounded off with a
demonstration by one member of how to
hang upside down from a beam like a
bat and fall flat on your back without
apparently breaking any bones (still
awaiting confirmation).

Saturday night was again a Slabhouse
do with fine musical entertainment
from Mendip Club - and their farcical
Annual General Meeting, The highlight
of course was Cliffs tall stories
(taken with a sack of salt). He was
duly rewarded with a prize of a pair
ef oversized green underpants (even

for Cliff) which he proudly wore fi
the rest of the night. A mention must
also be made of Zig who was a star

with his communal oateake cheese.
It excellent weekend and we
were all made very welcome, a special
thanks to the Mendip Club - I'll be
there next year for sure

was an

Lou

DIRTY WEEKEND IN WALES

ionel
visit the Great Orme Copper mines

be possible.

has organised what should be a superb

weekend trip to Llandudno to

see Lionel.

These historic mines are owned by the Mossdale Estate and have effectively
been closed to the public ever since someone removed a relic (human bones
no-less) which later turned up in Swansea Museum.
The Great Orme Exploration Society | 24 HOUR BAR!!
have now negotiated access and Lionel |
has Lased with them to arrange a | Wait ‘till you read this! No, not a
visit on the 29th Sept. 1st Oct. | smelly caving hut or a damp tent but a

| REAL HOTEL at REDUCED RATES. Bed and
For the benefit of those who speak | breakfast is usually [34 but Lionel
Welsh, the trip will include; | has negotiated Bed and Sreakfast for
Treweks | two nights and a four course evening
Pyllau Shaft | meal for £20 inclusi at th
Ty Gwyn Shaft | Wedgewood Hotel (bar open 24 lirs)!
Owens Shaft and |
Roman Shaft. | why not bring kids instead of
A trip down Kendrick's Shaft may also | taking them away this summer?

|

|

For full details,
‘PINGS AIN'T WOT THEY USED TO BE

Alunude 1,250f. Depth 495ft. Length over 10,0004.

In hollow berween Middle Hill and Peakshill, reached from track
to Peaksbill Farm. Permission required from farm.

Otd Cave: Follow stream into obvious entrance for 100 feet, to climb
tnd traverse into Upper Series—several rather muddy passages
wach @ few stalactite formations. Return to stream. Continue
down to Curtain (where rock comes down 10 9 inches above water,
fof less in flood conditions). Crawl under and First Sump is
soon reached. Retrace steps a few yards and climb into roof.
Hole on lei Qooking downswream) is Pillar Craw! for about 60
feet. Drop 8 fect into sloping passage down to Backwash Pool.

Backwash Pool Dams: Bale warcr out of pool into e series of dams
‘une access is possible through sump. On leaving drain dams or
hhext party cannoz bale into them. If they are full om arrival drain
first to get rid of excess water and then bale out (Level should
be down to outlet of first dam before baling is started). Last
man should leave can on first dam to warn other parties that a
party is already inside. On leaving the cave do not drain if
anyone else is inside.

New Series: After the dams and sumps a short passage leads to Base
‘Camp Chamber where nver is met downstream from First Sump.
Above this are chambers at high level with good formations.
Continuing downstream to Garland Por (fixed iron ladder for 30
feet) then into Giant's Crab Walk, a very narrow meandering
passage for } mile, with 15 feet fixed ladder at one point.

Extracted from “The Caves of Derbyshire" by T.D.Ford 1964, which was
several months after Giants Hole had been scheduled by the Nature
Conservancy as a Site of Special Scientific Importance and several
months before the farmer, Mr Watson decided to remove the obsticles and
create a show cave.

ee ee ee ee ed

CAPTION COMPETITION NO 1
RESULTS

Best entries received so far
(all submitted anonymously)
are:

Paddy- "B'jeses, tis d!
first time I seed so many
drips on d' one stretcher".

Victim- "Get your _bloady
foot off my bollocks, I felt
a lot safer burried in sand"

Ralph (to victim) "..and
after the doctor has checked
you out, you can go back down
for my tackle bag."

any further contributions
gratefully received.

@,@ Some PreliminaryComments 4,
® on Radonand Caver Health &@

John Gunn & Stan Fletcher

(Limestone Research Group, Manchester Polytechviic)

David Prime

(Radiological Protection Service. Manchester Universioy)

‘As most cavers will now be aware, radon has been very
much in the news over the last six months and it is now
generally acknowledged to be a major cause of lung
cancer accounting for an estimated 1500 deaths per year
in Britain. Most attention has focussed on radon levels in
houses but there have also been several reports in news-
Papers and on television concerning radon levels in caves.
Inevitably these have generated some concern amongst
‘cavers both for health reasons and because of potential fu-
ture access restrictions. As most ol these reports stem di-
rectly or indirectly from the talk which David Prime and
John Gunn gave at the BCRA National Caving Conference
in September, we felt it necessary to provide a briel synop:
sis of our work to dale for Caves and Caving. A fuller ac
count willbe sent to Cave Science later in the year

Radon is a gas formed from the decay of radium which
itsell arses from natural uranium, an element which 1s
widely distnbuted in the earth's crust, though generally in
low concentrations. Possible sources af radon in caves in
clude: (1) uranium nich shales in close proximity to the
limestone (e.g. the basal Namurian shales which are
stratigraphically above the Carboniferous Limestone in the
Peak District); (2) mineralised areas which usually contain
uranium; (3) volcanic horizons within the limestones
(toadstones and wayboards’) as these usually contain
uranium: and (4) collophane, a uraniterous phosphatic de~
posit which occurs in some Peak District and Yorkshire
limestones. As radon is highly soluble in water it may be
transported into caves in solution and then released. The
radon gas decays to give short lived isotopes of lead,
polonium and bismuth (“radon daughters") which emit
alpha-particles The radon daughters tend
to attach themselves to dust or water particies and can
thus be inhaled. The alpha-particles from the radon
daughters which lodge in the lungs irritate the lungs and
caninitiate lung cancer.

Measuring Radon
Radon daughter concentrations may be determined in
several ways, the most practical for caves being (1) the
“Kusnetz” method which is relatively quick bul requires ac-
cess lo mains electricity to process the samples within 90
mins of collection, (2) a fairly expensive (£3,500) battery
operated ‘Radon Sniffer which will give an initial estimate
in 15-20 minutes but takes 30-60 minutes to produce a reli-
able reading or (3) a ridiculously expensive (over £3,000)
Instant Working Level Meter.

Unfortunately there are several units of measurement
for radon daughter concentrations, the commonest being
the “working level” (WL). In assessing the risk to health it
is necessary to compute dose which is concentration mul-
tiplied by exposure-lime. Dose may be expressed as mil-
lisieverts per unit lime (e.g. mSv y-') or a5 working level
hours where 1 WLH equals one hour's exposure to 1 WL.
Dosemeters which measure cumulalive exposure to radon

gas and which may be left underground or wom on an indi-
vidual are available but there is some controversy over the
interpretation cf dosemeter results!

Government Legislation

(The lonising Radiations Regulations 1985 and the Ap-
proved Code of Practice Part 3 “Exposure to Radon’
1988) control the annual dose which may be received by
an employee at a place of work. Normally a worker should
recieve no mare than 1 mSv y"' (about 204 WLH) but a
classified radiation worker may receive up ta 50 mSv y"
(about 680 WLH) although such a high dose is considered
undesirable. The National Radiation Protection Board
(NRPB) recommend that a member of the public should
Nol receive more than 1 mSy y" (about 13.6 WLH) al-
thaugh over 20,000 people in Devan receive over 20 times
this amount from their homes.

The actual health risks which result from exposure to
radon daughters are not clearly delined, particularly with
respect to shor! term exposure to relatively high dases as
could happen in some cavesimines. However. recent fig-
ures suggest that exposure to about 200 WLH per year for
Me doubles one’s risk of dying trom lung cancer whereas
Metime smoking increases the risk of dying from tung
cancer tenfold, It is very important to note that exposure
lo radon and cigarette smoke has a multipicative effect
which in simplistic terms might be expressed as a2 x 10

20 rather than a2 + 10 = 12 risk. The moral is that
you are unable to give up smoking then at tne very least
you should give up smoking while undergrouna' Ithas also
been suggested that exposure to radon may \1) increase
the risk of developing leukemia and (2) be linkec to several
chest complaints,

Results from Caves

Since June 1987 we have been collecting cata on radon

daughter concentrations somewhat sporadically (rom sev-

eral caves and mines, primarily in the Peak District. Much

work remains to be done but our observations indicate

(1) that there are wide spatial variations at all scales (with-
incave: cave to cave: areato area).

(2) there are substantial temporal vanations. again at a va-
riety of scales from diurnal to season, and

(3) some caves. principally those in the Castteton area,
have very high concentrations at some times of the
year.

The first two observations are substantially in accord
with overseas experience and reflect the fact shat radon
levels vary with proximity to source (uranium). ventilation,
atmospheric pressure and. less clearly, water levels. How-
ever, our initial literature review suggests that the radon
daughter concentrations in some of the Castleton caves
are substantially higher than anywhere else in the world al-
though higher concentrations have been recorded in
mines. The highest readings to dale come from the Giants-
Oxlow system where Terry Middleton undertook a detailed

6

CavessCavinga3 37

survey over the period 20 June to 3 July 1988. Concentra-
tions at individual sites ranged from 2.1 19 24.3 WL and the
daily mean for the cave ranged from 4.5 10 17 WL. During
the ten caving trips which Terry made to obtain these fig
ures he received almost S00 WLH of exposure, well in ex:
cess of the annual dose received by the vast majority of
workers in the nuclear industry and over 70 per cent of the
permitted annual dose for a classified radiation worker.
Concentrations were still high on 14 October but had
dropped dramatically by 17 December. Further winter ob-
servations are planned and if these remain low then it is
clearly more advisable for those who wish to minimise their
dose to visit Giants in winter! On the basis of very limited
sampling it would seem that concentrations are generally
lower in the Peak-Speedwell system, P8 and Cariswark
but cavers may expect to receive up to 5 WL for each hour
spent underground in these caves. Our data for caves cut.
side the Peak district are even more restricted and all that
can be said is that in the Penwyllt area concentrations
range trom negligible (less than 0.01) to 3 WL; in the York-
shire Dales from negligible to 1.5 WL and in Devon are
generally less than 0.5 WL.

Some Conclusions

Firstly, we need a lot more data and the problems here are
that the necessary equioment is expensive and that each
‘observation takes at least 10 and offen 30 minutes (assis-
tants have commented that "Radon Sniffing" is even more
boring than cave photography — and there are no pretty
pictures at the end either). However, funds are being ac-
tively sought to enable a more systematic research prog:
ramme to be undertaken.

Secondly, itis clear that some recreational cavers may
be receiving a higher annual radiation dose than would be
permitted to miners (coal/liuorsparitin/urantum) or to work

ers in the nuclear industry. My (JG) personal opinions that
provided the individuals are aware that they are placing
themselves at risk then nothing more can or should be
done. If we can establish which caves have the highest
concentrations and at which panticular time of day or sea-
son then cavers may choose to plan their lrips accordingly
No element of compulsion is necessary as the presence
of radon would be accepted as one of the risks of caving
and we would emphasise that the risk is less than that ot
being a cigarette smoker (insurance companies please
note!). However, we would also emphasise thal the risk is
jong term and nct readily observable and in this respect we
would be interested in making contact wilh any caving
medic interested in undertaking a long-term epidomotog
cal study.

Thirdly, it seems likely that some cave instructors may
also be réceiving an unacceptably high dose. Where they
are employed as an instructor then their employer is ob-
liged by law to ensure either that they receive less than 204
WLH per year or that they are designated as classified
radiation workers (which entails an annual medical and
keeping of dose records) and receive less than 680 WLH
per year. Our understanding is that if an instructor is selt-
employed then there is no similar cbligation under law and
the above comments on recreational cavers would apply.
In addition, instructors should note that children under 16
are generally regarded as being particularly susceptible to
the effects of radiation and for this reason it is important
that their annual dose is kept as low as possible.

Fourthly, it would seem likely thal those caves and cav-
ing areas which are identified as having low radon daugh-
ter concentrations will receive greater traffic in the future
than those with high concentrations. The implications of
this for cave conservation will need to be considered as
more information becomes available.

CAVER’S FOUND .
HIDDEN DEPTHS *

AS a 19-year-old university student |
recently fulfilled a long-time ambition and
joined a local caving and potholing club.

My first trip 10 the clubhouse was obviously noted,
{for that initial delve underground was in the company
of five dishy fellas with muscles like rocks.

‘They handed me a black rubber wetsuit to wear on the trip
and straight away there were five pairs of helping hands 10
squceze my ample build into the costume. I realised this

—— ‘would be a weekend (0
remember

quid mul. Thad to keep a
and on the smo boston of

tehiad took in tars 10
squeeze me through icky

postions.
"Aner 8 while we came to 2
swarm cavern at the ceotre of

by now

inno the a

Love on rocks
puts student %
in a tight spot

is abid om beeline too Ra pring.
Tear og before twat! zl
ead Sagi vies pegs
aah ene te ae piel louie Brey tn | cy worm a
Gepyatomaaitninenn speed my went

Stripped

‘Tomy amazes, ry ve TA, es

TATA Yan a prominent (Sets wer sree eriped ad Ol at

fegnietruing Sve fot eon Be ond oy nema smvilet) FIONA: Tel him you've
eh ire oe pte level

=, Atour group leader caressed growing stalagmites Tf ever way ihe biggest til of my life

“The problem is am doing
“Then try told ine it was my geography distention on
their club duty to make sure | underground rock formaoons.

their adventurous spor senots hess my mind wanders
"You certainly neod plemy of back (omy subterranean

seaming for i. for oext they
Showed me few to Use thew The csay is dein his week
pes by lashing me firmly 04 and ii ot fits, Wat do
rock are smothering. me very Ty tm geography lacarer?
t Tk Ak Gomera

decided to ive
ftw a practical

‘west was oat in the dark,

‘ving w squirm through dss .
Lr mht hse | and you 7e bound prod

Stomplely takes py!

CAPTION COMPETITION No 2

don't have to be a caver to appear in cavers
he photo and use your skill/experience to fill
ate what this caveress/stalacmite »

Best entries to be included in a forthcoming newsletter

“CAPTION COMPETITION No 2

Person/Stalacmite

hat Gill should remain anonymous

e give/post entries to Mark Lovact

Redacted

GAPING GILL

Live been obsessed with an ambition to abseil Gaping Gill Main Shaft for about 24
years and was determined to go on the Creve trip in September. I began learning
Tout SRT at the beginning of August and went caving at every opportunity with
the sole purpose of being experienced enough to tackle Gaping Gill in September.
A couple of times, when I doubted my abilities, it was suggested I wait for the
next trip, but I'd set my heart on this one and where there's a will, there's a
way!

The only thing I then had to come to terms with was that all the people I knew
who were going seemed more keen to do Bar Pot. Then, the day before, during a
trip to Nettle with Martyn, he said that as the Otter trip had been cancelled,
he'd be keen to come to Gaping Gill instead and he'd rig main shaft. To make
sure he came and didn't change his mind I drove from Macc. to Clapham via
Biddulph to give Martyn a lift

then Martyn and I arrived in Clapham, Liam told us that tvo groups from the EPC
had already gone up to do Main Shaft so we'd probably have a long wait if we
still wanted to do it. After some discussion, we agreed to rig Bar Pot and then
derig Stream Passage Pot, Clutching Liam's guide book, Martyn and I went off for
breakfast and to study Bar Pot.

When we arrived at Bar Pot (with Jane, George and Mark) we found that Lenny had
already rigged {tf so once again a change of plan was called for! We told Lian
that we would still derig Stream Passage Pot but we'd now wander up to Main Shaft
and see what the chances of rigging that would be after all.

We'd left everything we'd brought with us to dam Fell | AN! ST u
Beck in the car thinking No. 1 that we were going to | EDITIONS ‘SPOT THE =
do Bar Pot and No, 2 that if the EPC lads were doing ! DELIBERATE MISTAKES’ = I
Main Shaft they would have already dammed the Beck. I ‘COMPETITION 1

0 1

Mistake No. 1 The EPC lads hadn't dammed the Beck, so MOST PEOPLE got these !
mistake No. 2 we thought that if the EPC lads could I quite easily and sol!

do it without damming thebeck we could too! 1 will have to make them |i
Wa little harder in 1
By this time it was around mid-day, The EPC lads li future. The correct |

were just derigging so ve decided to wait and do Main || answers were :- fl
Shaft after all. After all the doubts and changes of |i \
plan I was finally here, putting my gear on and soon 1) The difference I
T would be conquering an obsession! Martyn went to between a ‘Student! I
rig and I waited, nervous, excited, impatient and # and a ‘Student’ wast

eager to follow. 1 £4.00, 1
1 1
Around 1pm the rain started and the mist came i 2) The Training 1
down. George leaned over the pot to see what he could i Officer is not Kevin
see, and called to us that Martyn was on his way up ll Beaumont, Red |
again. A few minutes later and George told us Martyn |i Mountford — or Rod

had stopped about 100' down, he was sat in his |i Beaumont but KEVIN |
harness reading Liam's guide book! Well this kept us || MOUNTFORD "
all amused for a while. Eventually George called I l
that Martyn had gone back down again. Minutes ticked | 3) Ron, George and #
by, them Mark started talking about going back and ! Ralph repaired the §
doing Bar Pot after all. 1 said that it would be a | KNOTLOW SIAFT and have
little unfair on Martyn if he finally rigs Main Shaft ! since been thanked by I
and in the meantime we've all cleared off! Apart |i the committee of the |
from which I was still clinging on to the hope that I I D.C.A. \
was going to abseil Main Shaft that day! i

Eventually Martyn re-appeared at the BEARER ERR
top, he couldn't find the bolts. *
George went down for a look and
finally about 2.30 we admitted defeat

*

STAFFORD COUNTY SHOW

and gave up If we'd dammed the cope and Holden Lane High
stream we wouldn't have had any School are involved is the
problems! (Stafford) County Show which is

to be held on 24th and 25th
We walked back to Bar Pot with May.
the intentions of going into Gaping
Gill this way instead. Martyn and
George had had enough for one day.
They were cold and wet had only one
thing on their minds, s pint! We
said we'd see them later, At the
entrance to Bar Pot it rapidly
became apparent that the idea of a
pint was more appealing to Mark than
Gaping Gill too! Trouble was we'd
promised Liam that we would derig
Stream Passage Pot. Someone suggested
that we find the top, go down and come
straight back out to derig. Problem
here was chat none of us knew where
Stream Passage Pot was on the surface
and now the mist had come down, I
wasn't sure we'd find it, whereas Mark
‘and I had been to Stream Passage from Main Chamber before, so I thought we
stood more chance of finding it from below.

This involves a display similar
to the one we did at Bidulph
Carnival many years ago, ie.
an abseiling tower (but no 100
ft crane this time! We might
allow the public to use it

Petrol and meals are provided
but not loss of salery. If you
work for Staffs. CC this should
be no problem.

All enquiries to Ralph.

ee
ee ee ee ee

ee ee es

Mark crawled through the entrance to Bar Pot folloved by Jane, then me. laving
had three goes at squeczing through the narrow entrance to the first pitch, Mark
admitted that it would all be so much easier if someone hadn't mentioned the pub
land beer! Jane went through, successfully negotiated the tight squeeze and
Abseiled to the bottom of the first pitch. Mark was still hesitating and
although I had been to Stream Passage before I have a lousy sense of direction
‘and vasn’t sure if I'd find it again without Marks help. After some discussion
Mark had another go and this time got through with little difficulty!

Bar Pot is a great way into Gaping Gill, the final pitch being in a magnificent
chamber, I decended quite slowly having a good look round on the way.

I think it vas at this point that I began moaning because I'd so looked forward
to an exhilerating trip and so far , it vas gone 4'o clock and I had done nothing
very difficult. Little did I know what was to come!

We set off for Stream Passage and emerging from the narrow uncomfortable crawl
from South East Pot we found Liam and his group on their way to Bar Pot. Liam
said that he would meet us at the top of Stream Passage Pot later.

We set off, after Mark, worried about how long his lamp vould last, swapped to
his carbide lamp. By the time we arrived at Stream Passage Pot the carbide was
giving problems too, which he tried to sort out while we waited for Jane to climb
the first pitch. As soon as Jane called “Rope free" I followed her, and was very
glad of her assistance at the top of this pitch. There's not a lot to stand on
and I couldn't see initially how to get off the rape. Well, I managed, then Mark
followed, Jane went off in search of the next rope while Mark and I derigged by
the light from my lamp and his, by now, rapidly failing lamp.

10,
The next pitch is climbed in a waterfall, but at this stage in the day, who
cares I was cold, hungry, tired and wet but at least I was getting the
excitement I'd craved earlier on! No one ever pretended to me that caving was-a
comfortable sport and I'm forever beingtold that the more uncomfortable you are,
the more you are supposed to enjoy it. In retrospect, this is true, I think!

Again at the top of the next pitch, I made use of Janes experience to help me off
the rope. Once again, there is not much to stand on and I felt precariously
balanced while waiting for Mark. By the time Mark had reached the top of this
pitch his lamp had gone out. He tried undoing the bolts by the light of Janes
lamp, but this was almost impossible as there was nowhere for Jane to stand that
gave Mark light, not shadow. Eventually Jane took the spanner and after some
effort, got the bolts undone Jane climbed the next pitch while Mark and T
pulled up and packed the ropes. 4 climb of about 90' through a waterfall was our
third pitch and by now felt like hard work. Approaching the top, I caught sight
of another lamp and heard the very welcome tones of Liam's voice. Prussicking in
the dark was not Mark's idea of fun. Anyway, Liam stayed to help Mark and
finished derigging whilst I followed Jane along a narrow passage, traversing over
a sizeable drop, until we came to a short pitch of 25' down which Liam had put a
ladder and lifeli Climbing up was no problem, but getting off at the top vas
fun, a very narrow squeeze, and once again, not much to put your feet on. One
more cight squeeze then we thought we'd be out. Certain that we'd climbed our
last’ pitch, Jane and I took off our climbing gear and attempted to push through
(like being born was Jane's description).

After much struggling and blue language I finally made it through and was then
faced with another climb of about 25' through the oil drums which led to the

surface Before continuing, Jane and I waited to hear Mark's ‘interesting*
language as he negotiated another tight squeze! We were dissapointed, Mark got
through easily - how did he manage when Jane and I struggled? On with the

climbing gear again and prussik out. So at last we were out and I now recognised
we had the most difficult part of the journey to face -finding our way back to
Clapham in the dark, rain and mist, without getting lost or falling down a hole
or in a bog, and before they called time in the pub.

We made it, and discovered on our return that Martyn, worried by the length of
time we'd been gone, had borrowed a lamp and walked back to Gaping Gill looking
for us. Thanks Martyn!

Stream Passage Pot makes a wonderful trip and I'd like very much to tackle it
again sometime. I still have my ambition to abseil down Gaping Gill Main Shaft
to fulfil, so what I want to know is - when's the next trip planned for?!

T URGENTLY REQUIRED News, | ‘T' SHIRTS as above. |

1 views, | suggestions, li White £3.50, Coloured
0 \| stories, Libels, | £3.80 Ralph 1
0 information, ideas, I "
i WANTED Highly paid job Ii tips, photographs, i DURACELL BATTERIES
Win South Wales. Lots | cartoons, scandal, i Suitable for 'Petzel' 1
of free time essential I reports, opinions, i Headsets, £1.90 Ralph.
Offers around £25,000 |i jokes, questions, I i
considered. Liam answers, facts, lies - | STITCH-PLATE Lost.
" | What's the matter, can ii Last seen at Holden ||
 OVERSUITS For sale. ji non of you write? ii Lane High School 2lst 4
available in all sizes i Mark March. John Shenton.

Wwith a variety of 1 l

ll fastenings. Choice of || SWEAT SHIRTS With Club Ii LOST: PETZL HEADSET
I green, green or green. i Logo. All sizes £7.00 || Probably in Crabwalk,
Lionel. Ralph. Giants 20th April. I

H Mark, 4