8th July 2000
People present - Peter Dale, Et-al

Due to the large numbers of Red Rose members booking the Derbyshire meet (sorry I couldn't remember all your names!) I decided that I was not going to attend, so as to avoid a lot of people chokes and make their trip quicker. Also since I didn't go on a trip worthy of a report this weekend I have decided that I would tell you the story of how I got into caving instead.

The year was 1994, my sister was talking about her boyfriend's brother and his mate going into a cave in the Yorkshire dales somewhere one weekend. The very next day I made her take me to the place where the cave was.

It was a wet and windy Sunday back in February 1994 that we arrived at Ribblehead sometime just after lunch. I parked the car and asked my sister to direct me to the whereabouts of the cave. She pointed over the moorland to an area of grey rock and said, "It was over there somewhere!" So equipped with no more than what I was wearing I set off towards the beckoning rocks.

As I got closer to the now obvious cliff. I spied a large arched opening (how you imagine a cave entrance.) at the foot of the cliff. It had a small stream emerging from it so I decided to have a little look inside, but since I had no form of light I couldn't see to go very far into it. I entered the darkness avoiding stepping in the water, as I only had my trainers on, and waited till my eyes adjusted to the gloom. I then went a couple more feet in and then decided to return to the car as I was getting cold and the rain was getting heavier. I left the cave and made my way back to the warmth of the car saying to myself that I would return with a light next time.

That was it, I was now hooked I spent the next couple of days thinking of nothing else but that arched entrance and the enticing darkness of the continuing passage and what lay beyond. My next trip was a sudden but well planned event as I was on day release from college at the time. I informed my friend Bruce that we would skive off college in the afternoon and go and have a proper look at the cave.

It was Wednesday lunchtime and me and Bruce set off for Ribblehead. After a stop in Garstang for some food and to get some batteries for our torch we arrived at Ribblehead, parked our cars and set off for the cave I was at a couple of days before. Luckily the weather was warm and sunny this time so the walk over to the cave was quite pleasant. Upon reaching the entrance I could tell that Bruce was impressed, as he was the first to enter the cave. As we progressed through the system we followed the winding stream upwards to who knows where?

After an exciting exploration through a place we had never been or even knew existed we emerged in a depression where another passage led off down into yet more cave. We then explored the other cave and stood mesmerised at the wonderful formations. We retraced our steps back to the surface and got excited at the distance we had travelled underground.

The pair of us decided to explore the surrounding rocks for more caves and in doing so we met a group of proper cavers all dressed in yellow with helmets and lamps (Did I mention that we where just wearing jeans and T-shirts!) I asked the leader of the group if there where any more caves we could have a look at in the area, I told him "we've just been down that one there!" And he replied "ah yes that's Runscar Caves, there's not many round ere you can go down dressed like that, but you can ave a look at Thistle cave! Which is where we've jus been." He pointed the entrance out to us and told us about a couple of shops that specialised in caving in the nearby village of Ingleton, and after thanking him we disappeared down the cave. After a couple of hours or so exploring we made our way back to the car and dried off. We thought we would have a look at the caving shops in Ingleton where we found out that you could hire caving lights!

That night I visited my next-door neighbour, since I had found out that they had done a bit of caving a couple of years ago. He told me tales of his antics and lent me some photocopies of cave descriptions and a map as to where the entrances where. I studied them night after night until I chose a suitable trip for the Saturday.

Friday came and I went round to Bruce's hoping that he would come on a trip with me. I told him that we would have a go at Roger Kirk Cave as you could come out somewhere different to where you went in. He liked the sound of that and was up for it, and after reading the description of the cave his brother was too. I had to work sat morning so I said that I would pick them up after lunch. Here's a bit about what happened.

It was a wet day when I finished work and after I'd eaten I drove round to my mates house to pick them up. Excitement grew as we approached the dales and moral was high. We piled into a café in Ingleton called Bernie's and acquired our caving lights and belts. A short drive down the road saw us parked up at Ribblehead. Transforming ourselves from clean normal looking lads into grubby looking moles in our make shift caving gear, which consisted of a pair of old jeans, lots of jumpers, a pair of wellies and a caving light. We looked like proper cavers in our eyes but I don't know how we looked to the other people who where watching us! We then left my, none to happy girlfriend in the car with an estimated time of our return and where we were, with instructions of to do something if we didn't turn up! Grasping a photocopied plan of the area with the entrance marked we set off to find the cave. After a few investigations we had found the entrance which was a short drop down into a tight-ish low passage. After a couple of hours of crawling and sideways shuffling in water we emerged into a large depression where again another passage led off into the depths of the underworld. We decided to explore the passage as it was supposed to emerge into daylight again but after another hour or so of crawling in an ever-decreasing passage we decided to turn back.

Reaching the surface we inspected the distance we had travelled. We where shocked at only covering a distance which took under a minute to cover on the surface but 3hrs underground! By this time however we were getting very cold and due to the weather being none to nice some food and warmth was required.

Well that was my first proper caving trip and although Bruce and me carried on with our hobby his brother didn't show much enthusiasm in it and consequently hasn't been since. After that trip we explored valley entrance, Great Douk and most of the other caves in the Ribblehead area. My other friend at the time Simon seemed interested so I took him caving as well.

Having arranged with Simon to go caving one Saturday afternoon, I quite fancied a look at Marble Steps pot. Finding an old polypropylene rope and purchasing ex-army fig-8 from Bernie's we arrived at Marble Steps Lane and donned our caving gear and traipsed to the entrance to find another group down it using ladders, wow I thought what a good way to get down these potholes. After tying the rope to a good looking spot and improvising a rope harness I found out that I had no idea how to use a fig-8 so I improvised again.

Simon came down the ladder and we met at the bottom. Finding another ladder we descended it onto a boulder pile in the main chamber with no way down! While Simon was climbing down the ladder I had a look around the upper chamber and found a short passage down on the right, which I followed and emerged at the bottom of the chamber where I shouted up to Simon! After a few minutes of exploring he found the way down and we carried on to the start of the 240ft rift. We then headed back out only to find the ladders gone!

Great I thought but we managed to free climb the first short pitch to the bottom of the gully where our rope was. After the first vertical 10ft the rest of the ascent wasn't too difficult. We reached the surface pleased with our efforts and headed for home. I told Bruce about our adventure and the very next day saw us back up at Marble Steps where we got down as far as the top of Pillar Hole! We even had a look at Low Douk Cave on our way back.

By now I was seriously hooked on this pastime and got very frustrated when I couldn't go. Then one weekend I found out about a Gaping Gill winch meet on the May bank holiday. So I booked the week off work, as I didn't want to miss going down a cave as exciting as what it looked like on the photos.

We had planned to go on the Sunday but plans change so it was the bank holiday Monday when we finally arrived at the tent next to the entrance shaft of this astonishing 110m vertical drop. Unfortunately Bruce had to work so it was just me and Simon going down, anyway we paid our fee and waited our turn in the chair. Simon went down first followed by me, incredible I thought as I whizzed down the shaft. Reunited we set off exploring first looking up north passage and then Mud hall and finally Sand caverns we then waited for 3 hours to get back out!

I went down again on the Friday and it was then that I noticed the signs for a caving fair near Austwick. Which I thought would be interesting to attend.

Arriving early at the fair I was surprised that there wasn't many people about but as time went on more and more appeared. After watching a few videos on safe caving I found a place booking caving trips so, as you would expect I put my name down. I was informed that we would be going down county pot, which was in an area I hadn't been before so I was looking forward to it. Once at a place called Bull Pot Farm I met a couple called Pete and Julie Morr and the trip leader Phill Luff. After an interesting trip we returned to the farm and we were given an application form to join the Red Rose Cave and PotHole Club, which at the time I never got round to doing. I thanked Phill for an enjoyable trip said good bye to Pete and Julie and made my way home. I never thought I'd see Pete and Julie again but I was wrong, as u will later find out.

After that trip I didn't get much caving done over the summer months due to having to work but I did take Bruce down GG at the August meet. It was then just a case of doing the same caves again and again. I forgot to mention that on the may 96 winch meet Bruce and me made our First descent on rope and our fist ascent on ladder in and out of Bar pot! 1997 saw me having a year off due to not having any transport and when I did get a car I was involved in a bad crash, which resulted in more time lost, but 1998 saw me coming back with vengeance!

After A few trips here and there at the start of the year, we arrived at Bernie's one Saturday enquiring about joining a caving club. It was at that point Steve pointed towards a table in the café, with a few members of the Red Rose Cave and Pothole club sat around it. I introduced Bruce and myself and realised that they looked familiar. When they told me their names I realised who they where and we got chatting. It was Pete and Julie Morr and Ian Eales. They agreed to take us down County pot and upstream to Easter Groto via upper Trident. After an excellent guided trip around the upper area of Easgill we chatted at the farm and got our application forms to join the RRCPC. Pete told me to be at the farm for about 10am on Saturdays and I would get on a caving trip. Meanwhile I mentioned about the GG winch meet, which they were attending on the Monday and I told them that I might see them there.

Now I was a probationary member of a caving club and all I had to do was attend two official club trips! Having read Jim Erye's 'Easgill' and now knowing an easy way to get to Stop pot I wanted to go and have a look at Corne's Cavern. So the following Saturday Bruce and me set off to Bull pot farm to find our way to the said place.

After parking outside the farm someone said "you can't park 'ere unless your members!" to which I replied "we joined last week!" and that was that. We eventually found our way through to upper Trident but not, without first spending a considerable amount of time looking for the crawl up to it! Once at the top of Stop pot I was in new territory and we just followed the well-worn path till we reached an area of nice formations and cave art 'Mainline Terminus'. Reading the guidebook, Corne's Cavern was to the left so off we went.

All I can say about how I felt when I descended into the cavern was gobsmacked! I'd never seen another cavern as large as this other than GG main chamber, but I had only seen that when the flood lights where on, but this was something special. Not being able to see the other side of the cavern with these powerful fx3's was amazing to say the least I mean when your used to being able to see everything in small passages and chambers normally and then enter a space as huge as this was just incredible!

We spent a considerable amount of time looking around the enormous caverns, and staring transfixed at the elegant looking stalactites hanging delicately from the wide expanse of the roof, sparkling in the beams of our lights. It was a magical experience and I feel the same way every time I venture into them.

Failing to find the way into The Minarets we backtracked through the chamber climbing over the large boulders and hopping the small ones, that littered the floor. After a bit of route finding problems in the Battle of Britain area we emerged into daylight at the entrance to county pot.

Two days later we where once again at GG wearing new harnesses eager to test them on Bar pot, after we had climbed back out of bar pot on ladders we took our tags back and met up with Pete and Julie who then introduced us to Alan Kerr. We arranged a pull through trip down a cave called Swinsto, which was another entrance into Kingsdale master cave, and an exit out of Valley entrance. This sounded ideal, as I wanted to take my caving skills to the more challenging vertical trips in the dales.

The day had arrived, a trip with 7 pitches down and one up. Bruce and me met the others at Bernie's café and then followed them to west Kingsdale. Apart from the long crawl it was the best trip I had been on all year and I wanted more! The only way forward now was Single Rope Technique which was going to cost a bit of money but I wasn't going to let that stop me from doing what turned out to be the thing I enjoy the most.

At the time I flew model helicopters which understandable cost a considerable amount of money, so you guessed it I sold one which raised just enough to cover the cost of my S.R.T. kit which, I purchased on my next caving trip. Unfortunately Bruce couldn't make this trip which was to be Simpson's pot.

I arrived at Bernie's, yielding enough dosh to equip me with those shiny metal things, cavers who like string can't live without and after a few minutes going through all the relevant parts of the system. I left the shop £150 lighter so to speak, as the S.R.T. kit weighed a lot more than pound notes. Anyway I was now a happy chappy all I needed to know now was how to use this equipment I had just bought. After an hour or so playing on the climbing wall at Inglesport Pete said I was ready for the trip, so off we went. An exciting trip through Simpson's and out Valley taking in the delights of the duck left me wanting more. So my next opportunity would be the Rumbling hole club trip, where upon meeting slug at the working weekend I put my name down for it.

Entering the farm I was to find how much enthusiasm the club had about club trips, as I was the only member to go on it! (Read previous newsletters article 'A Rumbling Adventure'). That was my first real S.R.T. trip and my initial go at rigging! After that there was no stopping me I was up at Bull pot every weekend without fail. During my 6 months probationary membership I descended and bottomed a formidable amount of caves and potholes such as Juniper Gulf, Rowten, Sell Gill, Alum pot and Flood Entrance to name but a few. Some of most memorable trips I shall tell you about.

My first trip down lost Johns was a solo affair needless to say I didn't get very far. The next time was with Simon and Bruce and saw us venturing as far as the start of Centipede route where we found it to be rigged with rope. Simon wanted to go down so off he abseiled to the bottom had a look around and then told me to rig our 10m ladder so he could get back up! I can safely say that he was relieved when we finally emerged out on the surface. The next time I was to visit Lost Johns was on a club trip where Bruce and me did an exchange from Dome to monastery and accomplishing that we then repacked the bags for a descent to the bottom of Valhalla. Well we got to the top of Valhalla and decided unanimously to head for home as we where both absolutely knackered. A few weeks later after some good trips we bottomed Notts pot, Jingling pot and Bull pot.

Another trip was one down Car pot near GG, which must have been one of the worst I've done for a long time. I'm not saying it was horrible, in fact it was due to me feeling very ill that day and I vividly remember hanging at the top of the rope on the last pitch, with the water pouring on me not having the energy to get off the rope. An experience I don't ever want to re-live.

Upon reading the club newsheet I had noticed a couple of months back about a club trip to Peak cavern in Derbyshire. Well after putting Bruce's name and mine down for the trip the date of the trip was looming, and the day before I thought we would brush up on our S.R.T. skills ready for the big pitches of John Halls over engine shaft. So the Friday saw us having a play about in Marble Steps pot and upon taking the ropes back to the farm we met Slug and helped him pack the ropes for the next days trip.

My alarm woke me at 5.30am ready for this epic trip in foreign land. Bruce arrived and after some breakfast, we set off to Derbyshire. Once we'd reached Castleton we found the T.S.G. hut and entered. Walking into the kitchen we met quite a few other Red Rose members who'd turned up for the trip and as we waited they just kept arriving, in the end I think there was somewhere in the region of about 30 members possibly more!

As our group walked towards the entrance of Peak I was awe-struck at the sheer size of the entrance passage and after a ridiculous yet enjoyable slide down some sort of wooden contraption we arrived at the mucky ducks which weren't really ducks, more like a short crawl in water. We where at the start of colostromy crawl, a tight muddy wriggle up a slightly ascending passage where you advanced 2m and slid back down 1m. After that we descended an iron ladder where we followed the streamway to where it appeared out of what looked an in-climbable hole in the roof from where the water thundered. Slug assured us that there was a ladder in there somewhere and disappeared into the spray.

I looked at Bruce and he looked at me and we said simultaneously "I'm not going up there first!" We tried to persuade others in the group that they should climb up the invisible ladder but without success. So it was up to us, Bruce strode off into the waterfall and didn't come back I left it for a couple of minutes then I entered the white wall of water. Sure enough there was a ladder and it was surprisingly dry at the bottom of it but not at the top as I found out. Climbing up with my head down, I advanced into the powerful spout at the top where, the Speedwell water surges over and down into the previous stream. After frantically holding on as hard as I could as well as climbing I felt a reassuring hand grab the back of my caving suit and give me a helping tug.

A few others tried but only a few made it the others turned back. That's when I met Duncan Jones for the first time. We waded through the speedwell streamway, which just kept getting deeper and deeper until we resorted to holding onto a ledge and traversing around the sides to avoid getting wet! Eventually we reached a climb up through a boulder choke into a chamber, at the bottom of the leviathanth pitch in J.H. I was first to ascend this gigantic pitch and was sometime, waiting at the top of the pitch, before another member caught me up. After we where both at the top of bitch pitch we stayed together as we negotiated the mine level to the bottom of the entrance shaft. All back at the surface in freezing conditions we made our way back to the cars.

Since I had started caving I have to say that this was the best trip I'd done and it's one I will never forget. Although when I did the same trip this year, but J.H. to Peak, it just didn't have the same appeal, as my first excursion into the heart of the Peak District. Probably due to the water levels not being as high as last time but still it was enjoyable.

The next trip that sticks in my mind was an exchange from Rift pot to Large pot, (No not the one where Duncan abandoned Bruce and Sam!) It was a couple of weeks before Christmas and I arrived at the farm looking for a trip and was volunteered to join a party for the exchange. A very tiring trip with a few route finding problems along the way as neither of us knew were we were going, and the only directions Pete Hall had given us was to keep going left! We met the other party at the duck where we exchanged screams of delight at the icy cold water. A squeeze followed by some navigating through boulder chokes found us standing in the large caverns of Necropolis. After what seemed like an eternity, waiting for Mark to prussack up the Colossus pitch. We where soon slithering through the passages in search of a rope for our escape. A lot of fun was had on the tight pitch and then we had escaped from the earth again.

Not much caving was attempted over the Christmas period so my next exciting trip was Knock Fell Caverns in January 1999 a very different cave indeed. It was more of a maze than a cave system but very interesting with lots of formations to look at. The thing that sticks in my mind the most was when we exited the cave into thick fog which mixed with the foot deep snow to confuse your senses into not knowing where ground and air met, a very weird feeling, I can tell you. Nothing of any interest happened then until one weekend in March. When a revisit to the Marble Steps area for another exchange trip between Large and Rift. This turned out to be a not so well planned trip as a bit of confusion between the rigging party's left Bruce and Sam abandoned at the bottom of the big pitch in Rift. I don't exactly no what happened and I'm not saying any more on this subject (It was Duncan's fault!) One of the more scary trips that year was down GG with Sam Carradice and Alan Kerr.

We'd planned a trip down GG Dihedral route (Jib Tunnel) and upon reaching the main shaft we met another group already rigging. They had already started rigging Jib and where about to rig the main shaft this is where Alan and me stepped in and I asked if we could rig it for them they kindly obliged. Sam said that he would wait till they had rigged Jib and then come down and meet us at the bottom.

Off I went following Alan into the traverse before the big pitch. He rigged the rope and set off down to the bottom, which was over 300ft below me. A few minutes later I heard the signal for me to start my descent. Inching my way down the rope I took in the views that where on offer, taking a couple of minutes looking across to the rigging team on Dihedral. I then carried on down and soon I was abseiling in the full force of a not so dry Fell Beck waterfall as it cascaded off Birkbecks ledge. The ground regained beneath my feet I met up with Alan again and off we went to look at where Stream passage entered.

Climbing back down into the main chamber no one was to be seen so off up the rope I went. A lot of stops where taken on the way up to admire the views (honest) and after passing the last deviation the top was in sight but something didn't look right since the rope was hanging in the stream and against the cave wall but I thought nothing of it. About 3m or 4m from the top, I pushed myself away from the wall and water, to avoid getting drenched. As I was taking a little rest I felt something give, which urged me to make a quicker exit.

As I started to prussack up the rope I realised that I wasn't getting any higher, strange I thought and then the horror of what had happened hit me. Pushing myself clear of the water and wondering what the problem was I just happened to glance up to the top and saw a sight that would put fear into any caver. The outer sheath of the rope had worn through and slipping down, and that was the reason why I wasn't gaining any height! You can't imagine how I felt and I can't put it into words but I was soon straddled across the shaft with a foot on each wall. I tried climbing but the weight of the rope was too great and it wouldn't pass through my jammars so I unclipped both of them as my faith in the rope had somewhat vanished.

I was now poised 350 feet above the floor with water gushing out of the passage above me. My situation was serious one false move or slip meant death. I shouted to Sam but there was no answer, the only thing left for me to do was, free climb the last few feet to safety. I didn't like the idea of free-climbing the remaining few feet but as not surprisingly it scared the shit out of me! Anyhows I composed myself and started inching my way up being very careful to choose my foot and hand holds carefully. After what seemed like an eternity I reached the top and quickly clipped my cowstails into the nearest hanger. Sam then appeared from around the corner and I explained what had happened. We both then tried to sort the rope out for Alan. After sorting the rope I shouted "Rope free!" and Sam and me sat and waited for Alan.

Fifteen minutes later Alan hadn't appeared so I returned to the head of the pitch and looked down expecting to see him. Not a sign of Alan! I shouted down to him again and could here no response so I thought if I abb down to the traverse on the Main shaft pitch. I should be able to see him since, he was only on the ledge at the end of the first pitch. Sure enough he was spied on the ledge and after trying to communicate over the noise of the waterfall. I had only one choice left, go back down and find out what the problem was.

There was no way that I was going to use the army rope again so I rigged the pitch properly and abbed down to Alan. I landed on the ledge where, a not so happy fellow was waiting. I found out that when, Sam and me had altered the rope it had left it too tight for Alan to use. By this time Alan had become very cold so off he went up while I waited. Strangely I felt a lot safer climbing up a rope I knew was rigged correctly! Eventually we where all reunited at the surface where we talked about what had just happened.

Well that must have been the scariest thing that has happened to me on a caving trip yet. What would this tale be like if I didn't include this trip.

It was the May 99 GG winch meet and Duncan, Bruce and me had decided to do the mother of all exchanges. Disappointment - Bar, Stream - Flood and Stream - Bar. Once we had booked in at the control tent we set off towards Diss where all three of us entered. Everything was alright until we reached the duck! Bruce dived through first and tried to persuade me to follow but to no avail! Duncan then squirmed through and they both tried to entice me through the mucky water but as much as I wanted to follow them I could not bring myself to do it. "Sorry lads!" I said "but I can't do it" they both came back through and we made our exit.

A quick walk across fell, we entered flood where we descended to the bottom and made our way to the main chamber to have a quick look. As we headed back to Bar we noticed Bruce was keen to make a quick exit and upon asking him why he replied "I need the bog!" Well we were speechless and astonished as Bruce said "Life line me up the ladder, I can't wait for that slow b!###!d to reach the top!" I've never seen anybody climb a ladder as quick in my life! Once Bruce was safely up I made my ascent using the rope. Upon arriving at the top I was surprised to see Bruce waiting, strange I thought, he couldn't have been, and got back here in 10mins but he swore he had! (Me and Duncan think differently on this matter!)

Next on the list was Stream - Bar. It was our first time down Stream and all three of us enjoyed the descent. Arriving at the bottom we unanimously decided to exit via Stream instead of Bar since we were a little tired. An uneventful exit was made and we returned over the fell to the control tent to hand our tags in and then strolled back down to the cars which, where parked conveniently at Clapdale farm, while discussing how Bruce managed his miraculous trick!

That's it really for the interesting trips of that year the next trip worth a mention was Milwr Tunnel in north Wales on 3rd Jan this year. A 10mile long mine adit from the sea to drain the lead and limestone mines of the area very impressive, especially the mined limestone caverns and underground lake. What wasn't so impressive was the 400ft climb out, on wooden ladders!

That brings us nearly to the present time where I have now gained my place on the committee, even if it is only as Meets Secretary. Being on the committee though, I feel part of the club. As before I felt like a spare wheel and didn't feel like I was involved in anything except on club trips. Which is what provoked me into volunteering for the job as I new I had the enthusiasm to do it. So I hope you are all happy with the trips I'm organising, I only wish you the members had the motivation to turn up for them! If they seem a bit to hard or nasty just tell me and I'll get some easier trips booked after all I'd rather be on a big club trip than struggling down some horrid place hauling tackle bags about on my own! I hope you know me a little better now after reading this and join me in the future for some epic trips.