News

( update on additional route )

Sam and myself added a new 2nd pitch a few weeks ago ( to the route that I had previoulsy bolted see below Feb 2023 ) This new pitch avoids the back and footing across the stope to reach the top of P3. Now the 2nd pitch goes straight out across the stope from the end of P1 to a high Y hang across the stope and descends direct down to the top of P3 via a deviation. This pitch is all on stainless anchors and less fun and committting. Photo below shows Sam bolting this new 2nd pitch and installing high Y Hang. It was based on some thoughts off Jamie and Sharon.

Feb 2023

It was back in 2021 that a friend of mine Dan, called me to see if I had explored other areas of a copper mine locally known as Nant Peris East ( NPE ) my answer was no,  but always keen. NPE is a located just outside  the village of Nant Peris on the way to Llanberis and whilst not large or even a medium size mine ( whatever they are! ) the existing route is a good SRT trip and any new exploring is good in my book. 

The established route to the lowest passage ( also adit level ) had been re-bolted some years earlier. Dan was suggesting  we swing across the stope part way down pitch 2, ( not long after the 2^nd Y hang )  which is exactly what we did a few weeks later.   At this point we found ourselves looking down a winze to a lower floor. After adding a few new anchors at the pitch head and a deviation on the way down, this 20m pitch brought us to another level. As it was all on false floors and our drill bit had blown it’s tip, we headed out and decided to come back a few weeks later.

Well it was a few years later, and I was looking for local trip and some SRT, NPE came to mind. I spoke to Dan and he was fine with me heading back without him to carry on having an explore. With  Steve now in tow, we quickly got back to my last point. Heading in-bye to explore this level, I came across some old looking expansion anchor studs. It did not surprise me someone had been down here before, but I did have that slight disappointing feeling. This level quickly ran out so I  carried on down the stope.  Using a few old anchor studs and installing a few new anchors, the next floor was reached. A short level led to another pitch, and more false floors, again more old studs were used and few more new anchors and we were standing in the lower adit level. 

Having not been along this adit before,  with some flooded holes in sight, having no more anchors left and it being a lot wetter than we expected we headed back out. A month later with Steve and now Pred, upon reaching the adit level we added a few more anchors in-bye and quickly reached a dead end.  Returning and heading out-bye the original route is quickly reached. Having some spare anchors and spare rope we added a few clip lines over some of the false floors sections thus, making passing over these less serious.  

In summary, not a new exciting find, but we never thought it would be, but always good to find other possible routes , explore and make more options for other explorers.  What this route does do is make it possible for two teams to head down and rig a good SRT exchange trip.  

Worth noting,  many of the anchors are original steel studs with new steel hangers and any new anchors are steel. So more caution is required than the original route ( they are 12mm stainless ). The traverse across the stope part way down pitch 2 adds interest as you need to back and foot the stope, to reach top of pitch 3.  On your return, before setting off up pitch 2, the last person needs to thread the end of rope through an anchor via a carabiner, so they can lower themselves back out across the stope then do a pull though. Hence a 50 m on this pitch.  

Mark Richards ( Baggy ) Feb 2023

Located on the east flank of the Kingsdale Valley, Heron Pot is a gem of a trip when water levels are low. In such instances, you can complete a rewarding but never really difficult through trip. For those not in the know, a through trip is when you start at the entrance and exit at another location. Often this exit is lower down the hillside.

However, through trips are not that common in caving meaning you normally have to return the way you entered a cave system. In addition to this, through trips that have any vertical descent by abseil are fully committing if you decide to take the rope with you on each vertical section. Once that rope is pulled down the first section there is no going back. Therefore, you have to be 100% of your ability and water levels, otherwise your going to have a long wait until your call out procedure phones for cave rescue.

Why take the rope with you, is a good question some may ask. The idea being you enter one way and exit another, without having to go back and strip the rope out. Thus saving time, saving energy, having to take less equipment and more importantly giving a more adventurous journey.

The trip starts with a short slide into a reasonable roomy crawl, which soon leads to a fine winding passageway, one which you can stand up in. This passage way is a classic section of dales caving, lots of good features to see, roomy, twisting and with water flowing down. This gives a real sense of exploration without too much stress.

This leads you to the 1st pitch with the water cascading down. Two bolt anchors threaded with the rope and a 10m descent takes you to the bottom of pitch 1 and no turning back. You are straight onto Pitch 2. However, this does require some exposed climbing to reach the next set of anchors over the vertical section. This pitch is approx 15m with more water cascading down and takes you to more winding passage.

This then leads to a lengthy crawl, initially over small boulders and in water, until the floor of the crawl smooths out and makes life more comfortable. It is never really tight, but its either hands and knees or on your belly and in water.

Eventually you pop out in daylight, through a constricted and wet section of cave ( which is what the video clip shows ). So how do you know the exit is going to be passable. Well you need to check that out on the way in.

This was a 2 hour trip from car to car. Never really rushing, but still moving at reasonable pace and being efficient.

I am now a full trainer and assessor for the BCA mine leader scheme within North Wales. The scheme allows instructors who hold the award to take and lead others in underground slate and lead mines within North Wales. These mines are all old non working mines and are as the miners left them when they closed.

The mines get inspected each year or every two years by a mines inspector regards the mines safety and the inspector will inform users of where they can and cannot go.

I got a good run around around a large mine in Yorkshire, just what an assessment should be !! Hard work, enjoyalbe and able to learn.

The three main caves of the Upper Nidderdale Valley ( up the valley from Pately Bridge ) provide an excellent day’s caving. At the upstream end, Manchester Hole is a classic river cave which leads directly into the complex and sometimes intimidating Goyden Pot.  New Goyden Pot is the downstream continuation of Goyden Pot, entered via a couple of pitches, and has a magnificent river passage as well as a set of worthwhile inlet passages.

The route from upper end of Manchester Hole, through Manchester hole and direct into Goyden Pot with a good explore of Goyden Pot gives in my opinion an ace caving trip, one of the best in Yorkshire.  

Never to difficult, but with a wide range of interesting caving including accessable and interesting crawling, walking through chambers,  descending down winding streamways, vertical  pitches which can be descend by insitu ropes or insitu ladders and interesting boulder chokes. 

The trip through Manchester Hole starts with chambers and a stream-way, as this stream-way then narrows and the cave roof drops a varied and mixed section of caving has to be carried out. This involves crawling, shuffling down small vertical rifts, stooping and mixing it up through boulder chokes. You then enter Goyden Pot into an impressive main stream-way. Following this gives you access to Five Ways Chamber and then off you go again linking up passages and rifts with lots more traditional caving.

This trip is achievable for those that have never caved ( but who are taken around by a cave guide ) but are reasonably fit, agile, not scared of enclosed spaces and who love to take challenges. It this sounds like you, then get in touch we me and lets make it happen.

If you do decide to visit without a cave guide – One should note It does, require that water levels are average or below, and that water is not flowing down the entrance of Goyden Pot. The system floods drastically, in certain conditons and its in those conditions, that need to be avoided.

Credit is given to John Gardner for the use of his text and check out his very informative and interesting website https://braemoor.co.uk/caving 

On any given good condition day, then flooding is not a concern. Hence visiting with someone who knows the system.

The BCA have published a publication which outlines the factors to be taken into consideration before committing to a trip. 

You should also take a survey with you and know how to read it as Goyden has a repustion for getting cavers confused and lost.

One last key piece of information to to check with Yorkshire Water regards there reservoir scour testing. As this will have dramatic effects on the water level within the cave system.

https://www.yorkshirewater.com/about-us/reservoir-scour-testing/#nidd

Left photo- entrance to Manchester Hole

Right photo – entrance to Goyden Pot

Finally finished the observation and assisting days I require, on my way to becoming a trainer and assessor for the British Caving Association ( BCA ) Local Cave Mine Leader Award.

This has consisted of a total of 12 days, with a mixture of trainers and assessors and visiting 5 different mines in the process, both metal and slate mines all within North Wales. Its taken over 18 months due to C19 and trying to slot all the days in to suit my other commitments. My time has had to be given free, as there is no payment until you start running your own courses, once you are approved.

I have observed all courses under the local cave and mine leader award structure including training and assessments courses. In addition to this, then I have had to prepare all my own lectures and resources.

It has been a very useful exercise and one where I have picked up tips and learnt a variety of knowledge. I have also had the pleasure of spending time with a wide range of course participants who have all been very keen and welcoming.

I would like to thank all the trainers, assessors and candidates who have made this all possible and working with me in order to get all this ticked off.

The next stage is for me to be personally assessed for my CIC mine module, which is planed for later in the year. This is where I spend a day underground in a large mine, being assessed 1.2.1 on my knowledge of mines and also leading a group in fairly challenging situations. Am I looking forward to this ? yes and no. It will be good to get it ticked off and to learn from other peers, but it is an assessment after all.

• 

• 

• 

BMC seminar Back on top :

This evening I attended the above on line conference run by the BMC. My role was as an observer on behalf of the Youth and Development Group ( YDG ) I am part of, for The British Caving Association ( BCA ) .

The workshop really highlighted the difficulties university clubs are facing in view of retaining members, bringing new members on board and preventing a whole range of skill loss due to C19.

Great idea by the BMC to organise this event, as one thing that was very apparent, club reps on the call really appreciated the opportunity to speak to others in similar circumstances and share their thoughts and ideas. Those clubs attending now have a range of ideas to move forward with.

My next move is to write a summary report for the YDG and then see how we can apply some of the points raised this evening via the BCA.

• 

•