5th April 2006
People present - Pete Dale, Duncan Jones

Weather: Dry and sunny with a cold wind
Cave: Wet and windy lower down

I decided earlier in the week to have a mid week trip, so I had to work my magic on Dunc which didn’t work out to difficult. So after meeting Dunc (late as usual) at the pub we set off for Ingleton, a pleasant drive there having discussed future club trips we arrived in Kingsdale and proceeded to get changed. Once all sorted and ready we set off on the short but sharp slog up the hill to the entrance wit plenty of rest stops I might add as Dunc seemed a bit unfit!

The entrance was quickly found and as Dunc went off to tend to some sheep, or wet the ropes I climbed down into the cave and shuffled forward feet first, which after some careful thought was completely wrong so I crawled out turned round and did it head first instead. A few feet further was the head of the first 16m pitch, peering over the edge of the pitch I looked down into the darkness and thought to myself why I didn’t do this sort of thing more often??

Anyway I then set about rigging the pitch, having looked at the dubious anchor points I whisked up some sort of rigging by which time Dunc had caught me up. We ummed and ahhed and eventually we decided on a mass on knots that looked safe.

I was first down so I set off and within seconds I was hanging halfway down and taking in the view which was most impressive, the water cascaded in about one third the way down right behind a rather large ‘enry! I then whizzed to the bottom only to find that the pitch landed on a spray lashed ledge!! “Rope free” I shouted after securing the rope and then as I waited in a sheltered area I got thinking how cold it was and wet!

Finally Dunc arrived and he set off rigging the last pitch, a rather wetter version of the first! Both of us at the bottom and both were getting a good soaking from the waterfall too. We had a quick look around and the headed back up and out, since Dunc was no where to be seen when I reached the top of the pitch I decided to derigg. I caught Dunc up at the top and we both derigged the pitch, then it was a short crawl to daylight and a nice stroll down the hill to the car.

I think there will be more short and sweet midweek trips to come!!