SRT
Fire!
SilvaBeck is born.
Since my move to the Bourne I have not owned a boat, instead borrowing from the Mad River brigade. With lockdown behind us and half term ahead I began my search.
Early April, I spyed an ex-demo with astonishing discount but kept my cool. It had everything, ash gunnels, light weight and was laced and bagged. Silvabeck was born roadside in late May and headed immediately to the Grand Western canal with my oldest son.
Just off of the motorway Sampford Peverell is the service centre with dual pubs, shop and steps galore. We asked for a quiet access and slipped silently early evening.
She ran beautifully in tandem, light, responsive, stiff but tactile. Promise 1; to return soon and head out east.
I needed solo next. Huish Episcopi delivered and the slither to the Parrett was rewarded with hubbub of lock up – the easing had begun. Downstream Langport beckoned, an abandoned trade centre, too shallow, undervalued – saloon doors creaked.
Three options are available as the Yeo meets the Parrett here, I had paddled to Mulcheney; and peered from Long Load. Yeo next. After all, this river rises north of the Bourne and the mouth would achieve completion.
The bank holiday weekend would be more challenging; an opportunity to elbow bump with paddlers. Spetisbury was selected but the off-road version.
There is a play spot and pool and whilst the take away hummed the field beyond the beach was distanced. We paddled, played, explored and my appetite was whetted with the main channel. Swans abound and wildlife teemed into my boat. I will return; imagination captured.
The siren sounds on project 50
The ideology was a simple one; one cave per week with two weeks off for good behaviour – project 50. It began in December 2017 and ended where it began in Lionel’s Hole.
I didn’t achieve my primary goal but learnt a lot about Mendip and friendships have blossomed.
My List
1. Lionel’s
2. East water [Dolphin Pot]
3. Mangle 1/1/18 – the full crew
4. Swindon’s 2 14/2
5. Bath to Rods
6. Reads 19/2
7. Solo in Swindon’s – bows 25/2
8. Cuckoo Cleeves 26/2
9. Goatchurch Dexion series 5/3
10. Sludge pit 12/3
11. Drunkards 26/3
12. Lower bows – Swindon’s 2/4 solo
13. Bos Swallet 9/4
14. Hilliers 5/5
15. Fairy cave – through trip [cpc]
16. Swindon’s round trip / blue pencil 6/5 [cpc]
17. Hunters Hole 12/5
18. Goatchurch 13/5 main chamber squeezes
19. East Twin – spiderville
20. Spar pot
21. Avelines Hole
22. Waterwheel 21/5
23. Welshes Green 28/5 dolomitic crawl
24. Pine tree – double focus [mcg]
25. Reads – Browne stain
SOLSTICE ; and half way!
26. Balch Cave
27. Conning tower
28. [Coral grotto] Avenue Chamber 23/7
29. Withy hill [W/L]
30. Pretty and short dry – long dry high level stream passages [Kev]
31. Dexion series & Rods pot [Jay]
32. Old approach series
33. Swindon’s 40 [smcc]
34. Rods round trips
35. Crapnell
36. Hunters Lodge Inn sink [smcc]
37. Honeymead
38. Pierre’s Pot
In addition the alpha crew – TimBen achieved the following:
Red room
Attboroughs
Pewter pot
Spider
Hillwithy
Horrifice
W/L
Coral = 46 …
The original goal of encouraging a weekly trip was exceeded and without my health issues we would have made 50, we were certainly on track at solstice:
A) make the effort to go out weekly, caves always reward
B) drink beer and decide the next weeks trip
C) have a ridiculous hit list, you will get through it, well 70% of it …
D) Mendip has an astonishing array of caves, I would recommend every single one I have visited, just save the CO for mid winter.
E) join a club to access a CSCC key, ask about led trips, there are warden who will come out midweek, thank you Dave
Looking Forward:
We still have seven caves on our hit list for the new year; personally I would like to teach more rope work and explore some of the new vertical venues. I ran a part two course – rigging in October and have a Grab and Snatch course [part 3] early in the new year. Simple rap and haul systems could be used far greater on Mendip.
Not sweet, or alcoholic
Honeymead Hole is neither sweet nor inviting. It is a cave which is easy to access with fixed ladders, parking close by and few restrictions. The write up in MU5 is misleading in places as the equipment list is far too long but it is a pretty cave.
After the initial concrete pipe we dropped another shorter fixed ladder reaching the head of the first pitch. This is easily free claimable and the kit was left at the top. The 6m hand-line is useful but with good bridging could be managed without, this is followed by the first harder section. With Somervillle hall ticked the move over Keens pot is a key point. Initially we moved onto the balcony, again, no kit needed. Tim and Ben thrutched about as I headed along to Kate’s calamity and then stepped up into the Gods.
Whereas plenty of pretties abound there is no real,connections between any of these parts and you feel as though you are in an unconnected maze.
The real trip,is straight down Keens Pot, a lovely pitch initially ledgy but flailing out into a good chamber. Chalice well,is below this, but adds little, we headed to the Mud meanders. The name says it all, it has been a while since we got wet, muddy and squeezed flat out up hill. The obvious turning point were some cave pearls, small and insignificant.
This is a cave where the side passages were done for completeness and a better approach might have been a loop of the final roundabout and return via the meander. Return to the surface was quick, I found the head of the pitch awkward but the watershed could easily be rope free. Take this rope [5m] in the top of a tackle bag with 25ft ladder on a long sling and 30m of lifeline and head straight for the Mud meanders.
A pint at the George at Croscombe afterwards was much appreciated.
Photos from http://sasworldofadventure.blogspot.com/2012/03/caving-honeymead-hole.html
HLIS
A sink in a pub car park may not seem the most attractive proposition but time was short for some, it was close by and on my to-do list.
Hunters Lodge Inn sink was dug open in 2001 when the foot and mouth contamination pinched tightly and reduced diggers access. More recently controversial damage has seen the fixed ladder removed and possibly less visitors.
It is a great cave, once the typical downward dipping entrance crawl has been completed. A ladder now needs to be added to the first section and there are one or two leads on the right.
The scaffold box marks the end of Pub crawl and straight across Bar Steward Passage is the key to Happy Hour highway, large, open and fantastically decorated.
Rocking Rudolf had an inviting hand line.
After some beautifully stacked deads the damp pinch points indicates a change to uphill progression. MU5 paints a poor description of the calcite cemented climb. Another rope but with care this is a secure climb.
The barmaids bedroom is the best decorated and whilst some of the damaged is noticeable the repairs have been professionally done. In one place the calcite is reflowing.
After a dip down the final gour pools are revealed up on the right. The tapes come to a cul-de-sac and it is time to turn.
Peter led out and progress was quick. At the pitch I had a go at free climbing it. Jay and Mark were waiting at the surface as we exited, good to see them both.
This is a fab little trip, care must be taken but next time we may get down to the avens and hangover hall. Time for a pint.
ALL PHOTOS BY JASON & MIRANDA …
Little Crap
Nell Swallet swallows oxygen mainly such that the deeper you go, the faster you breathe. The Dickensian theme and impending Halloween sets a sober route towards Hades but as least deviation from this downwards trending skirmish is not necessary.
The hand line down speedwell (must look up that novel) is not needed and the Great Expectations are short lived; indeed Uriah Heap was something of a relief. Conversations this weekend had persuaded my buff back onto my bonce and a cooling was needed.
The potholed streamway is the piece de resistance and the tight test is doable and enjoyable. Most problematic was the relentless nature and head first drop offs. If in doubt, go feet first.
I stopped before the end as my migraine indicated CO poisoning was taking place. I sat still as the fitter pushed on for ten minutes but didn’t stop panting.
On return above the wallow suddenly oxygen returned; a great little cave, challenging but doable and thirst quenchingly dehydrating.
Tim made up for it in the George at Croscombe as we gorged on subterranean literature.
String rigging
Following a request from Jason I ran a two day course this weekend for Toucan Outdoors. I stayed at the Mineries, HQ of the SMCC and we were ably catered for by the Castle of Comfort and Blue Bowl.
The first day began with a deeper understanding of the SRT system and particularly the advantages of differing set ups. Difference was commended as long as the reasoning behind decisions could be explained.
Prior to commencement some prep. had been set, most especially mastery of the 8, cavers butterfly and bunny ears knots. We utilised these to set up two traverse lines ‘up top’, which got more complicated.
Findings for the first day included the importance of cleaning, loving and checking your kit and also having safeties and footloops well adjusted.
After a good nights sleep, day 2 focussed on Hunters Hole right hand route. We copied out topos, stuffed bags and rigged up in the sun.
Miranda took the first pitch, switching at the bridge whilst Jay traversed right and had the harder long reach.
Switching back at the bottom the routes were stripped and the need for continual practice identified to generate experience.
I identified a few improvements needed in the teaching order and also added more holes to the newly developed caving wall. I look forwards to the next course; already a moving onto rope course has been identified.
(Donation to cave rescue made)
Thanks to K-C for the photos.
TOUCAN offer three courses:
Wet, tight and High – intro to Caving.
Moving onto the vertical – intermediate cavers requiring rope skills.
Rigging String – securing ropes for vertical caving and basic rescue skills.
Most courses are twelve hours, offered over a day and a half; or three sessions including evenings.
The Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning course (NAM) identifies times when the underground experience is quieter, the Mendip beautiful and some quality down time can also be integrated.
Cave, Canyon, Canoe ... 