Clare Mackey took some photos on her new "Christmas Present in Advance" and there are a selection of them below. Its a short technical series working at a pitch head with my good friend Dave Magnall:
Sunday, 16 December 2012
New Photographer
Clare Mackey took some photos on her new "Christmas Present in Advance" and there are a selection of them below. Its a short technical series working at a pitch head with my good friend Dave Magnall:
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Marble Steps
Weather: still, dry, sub zero, clear night
Where: Ireby Fell, Yorkshire Dales
It was a fine cold late afternoon and evening in the Yorkshire Dales yesterday, its not very often that just Ferg and I get out for an evening cave so we decided to do something interesting.
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| Looking west From the Top of Masongill lane
It was about half four by the time we had finished packing ropes and began the trudge up the lane & on to the fell. By the time we approached the copse of trees that surround Marble Steps pot our caving headlamps were switched on.
The rigging guide refers to the extra traverse line that is necessary to descend the steps from the surface in snow or ice conditions, it was certainly icy - like a skating rink - as Ferg began to rig the first section. Our chosen route was the so called "sidewinder" in which the exposed shaft is traversed around above ground in a box like pattern, its an excellent traverse over an intimidatingly big hole.
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Above: Starting the Descent of the Steps, its difficult to see just how slippery it was
Once the traverse is complete a short climb up leads into a short section of fossil passage where a Y-hang allows descent through a vertical squeeze. I took up the rigging here and on dropping down this small tight slot it crossed my mind that it would be worse coming back out. I've done this part of the cave once before and don't remember it being so tight. The other thing I don't recall was just how much loose rock appeared to be readily disturbed and fell down the main gully pitch, real care would be needed here if any other folk were in the gully.
Some "tightish" meandering passage leads to a high traverse and the approach to the main sidewinder pitch. We used a 65m rope here (and used just about all of it to get to the bottom) it starts with an uneven Y-hang that drops to a single bolt re-belay which is all but free hanging followed by a fine descent to a rocky slab. Here a natural provides a further re-belay point before another Y-hang, the final abseil requires two deviations to keep the rope away from the angled rock and lands in a rocky chamber with plenty evidence of flooding in the form of lumps of trees. I believe this cave can flood quite spectacularly under the right conditions. For tonight an exploration of this area was to be journey's end. On previous occasions I have carried on via Stink Pot and done the next big pitch "the ninety"; also we once did an exchange trip from here exiting via Gully route - both of which I'd strongly recommend.
We used the exit to test for the first time the Petzl Pantin (a foot jammer which is attached to the inside of the ankle). Its a technique that will need a bit of getting used to (at least for me) but looks like something I'd like to investigate further.
Ferg grabbed a few decent photos of my ascent of the first part of "sidewinder" around the deviations:
We emerged to a fine cold evening on the fell.
A mixture of too much talking and not enough concentration led to us walking straight past the stile that leads back on to Masongill Lane, so the need to relocate and tramp around in the dark for longer than planned was unwelcome, however, it was a good evening underground in one of my favourite Yorkshire caves.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Aquamole
Weather: Frequent sleet showers; bitterly cold wind
Where: Aquamole Pot, West Kingsdale, Yorkshire Dales
Not a long write up today folks. Just a few pictures from a first visit to Aquamole Pot in West Kingsdale. We didn't get to the bottom on this occassion so will have to return - no hardship here as this vertical encounter was pretty good!
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| Wintry Panorama In West Kingsdale |
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The Mole Emerges After De-Rigging  |
Sunday, 2 December 2012
As Good As It Gets: Blencathra; Blue Sky & Snow
With: Team In2venture
Weather: Bright Blue Skies; Below Freezing; Snow Above ca. 2,000'
Where: Blencathra, Northern Fells
What a day!
After seemingly weeks of endless damp and cancelled or re-arranged activity the weather finally settled for a few days bringing dry cold conditions and snow topped fells. A bit of additional overnight snow on Friday night just served to make things even better.
Myself, Alan & Graham met up with a group of guys for an In2venture day out (there is some mnore on this on the In2venture website & facebook pages). As such a group of nine set out just after ten o'clock from Threlkeld and made our way along the foot of the southern flank of a snow topped Blencathra. Suprisingly Clough Head & the Dodds looked relatively snow free.
Its not far to Gate Gill which is clearly the site of some historical mining operations. In his book "The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide" Ian Tyler refers to an ancient 16th Century German hand chipped level here. There was some discussion regarding this area and we agreed it was yet another of those many locations that would merit further exploration on another day.
The climbing quickly steepens once Hall's Fell is engaged and it was warm work in the wintry sunshine. What followed once above the snow line; on the occassionally narrow arete; under bright blue skies and with the snow covered massif of Blencathra as a background was a classic Lake District day out - as good as it gets!
The summit almost arrived too soon!
We hung around at the summit for a short while soaking in the big views to the south, sunlight green valleys; Derwent Water and snow topped peaks everywhere.
Considering the day there weren't as many folk at the summit as might have been expected, perhaps the lure of Christmas shopping was just too great!
We set off West along the ridge with more big views, Skiddaw covered in snow; The Knott & Great Calva, however, decorated with only a dusting.
Before the ridge begins to rise again we dropped off to the North in the direction of Roughton Gill for some winter skills practise (arresting falls with ice axes etc) and a walk in the wilderness as our preferred exit route.
After tracking roughly parallel but higher than the gill we eventually reached the Cumbria Way and a short walk on the road past the Blencathra Centre saw us back at the cars.
Great day, great company!
Approx 6 miles and 2,500 feet of ascent
Weather: Bright Blue Skies; Below Freezing; Snow Above ca. 2,000'
Where: Blencathra, Northern Fells
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| Me on Hall's Fell Ridge |
What a day!
After seemingly weeks of endless damp and cancelled or re-arranged activity the weather finally settled for a few days bringing dry cold conditions and snow topped fells. A bit of additional overnight snow on Friday night just served to make things even better.
Myself, Alan & Graham met up with a group of guys for an In2venture day out (there is some mnore on this on the In2venture website & facebook pages). As such a group of nine set out just after ten o'clock from Threlkeld and made our way along the foot of the southern flank of a snow topped Blencathra. Suprisingly Clough Head & the Dodds looked relatively snow free.
Its not far to Gate Gill which is clearly the site of some historical mining operations. In his book "The Lakes & Cumbria Mines Guide" Ian Tyler refers to an ancient 16th Century German hand chipped level here. There was some discussion regarding this area and we agreed it was yet another of those many locations that would merit further exploration on another day.
The climbing quickly steepens once Hall's Fell is engaged and it was warm work in the wintry sunshine. What followed once above the snow line; on the occassionally narrow arete; under bright blue skies and with the snow covered massif of Blencathra as a background was a classic Lake District day out - as good as it gets!
The summit almost arrived too soon!
We hung around at the summit for a short while soaking in the big views to the south, sunlight green valleys; Derwent Water and snow topped peaks everywhere.
Considering the day there weren't as many folk at the summit as might have been expected, perhaps the lure of Christmas shopping was just too great!
We set off West along the ridge with more big views, Skiddaw covered in snow; The Knott & Great Calva, however, decorated with only a dusting.
Before the ridge begins to rise again we dropped off to the North in the direction of Roughton Gill for some winter skills practise (arresting falls with ice axes etc) and a walk in the wilderness as our preferred exit route.
After tracking roughly parallel but higher than the gill we eventually reached the Cumbria Way and a short walk on the road past the Blencathra Centre saw us back at the cars.
Great day, great company!
Approx 6 miles and 2,500 feet of ascent
Monday, 26 November 2012
The Last Few Days
Apologies for the lack of regular posts just lately its been another of those very difficult passages of time. Kay hasn't been very well and is in the hospice at the moment, we are hoping & praying she'll be out in a few days when they get symptoms under control. Thanks to all for the huge support you have offered throughout this illness and especially of late.
Getting out & about and doing "stuff" in the outdoors seems almost trivial at the moment. However, it does have (for me at least) a real therapeutic benefit, its good to do the things that seem "normal" and to share those experiences with friends.
The recent persistent rain hasn't helped much with planned trips to the fells & caves having to be cancelled in favour of indoor activities and mine exploration. There are a couple of paragraphs & pictures below:
Indoor SRT / Ladder & Lifeline Training
Alan Rainford and myself spent an evening in the Barn at Blaithwaite House doing a bit of training on: rigging for SRT; SRT progression; SRT rescues and ladder & lifeline rescues.
Mine Exploration
We've visited Nenthead twice both on particularly wet days, Alan, Paul Rich & myself did a "tour" of Smallcleugh followed by a pull-through to exit via Prouds Sump and Rampgill level.
A visit to Nentsberry Haggs was a first for all of us (again Alan, Paul & myself)
The weather was foul - we made just an initial trip into the mine via the portal on the Nenthead to Alston road. Folk must have worked pretty hard to clear a way through not long after the entrance.
We spent about 2 hours underground: the water was deep (chest level in places); cold and the mine looked pretty fragile in one or two places (several collapses in the shale). Our next visit will likely be from the Brownley Hills end.
Getting out & about and doing "stuff" in the outdoors seems almost trivial at the moment. However, it does have (for me at least) a real therapeutic benefit, its good to do the things that seem "normal" and to share those experiences with friends.
The recent persistent rain hasn't helped much with planned trips to the fells & caves having to be cancelled in favour of indoor activities and mine exploration. There are a couple of paragraphs & pictures below:
Indoor SRT / Ladder & Lifeline Training
Alan Rainford and myself spent an evening in the Barn at Blaithwaite House doing a bit of training on: rigging for SRT; SRT progression; SRT rescues and ladder & lifeline rescues.
Mine Exploration
We've visited Nenthead twice both on particularly wet days, Alan, Paul Rich & myself did a "tour" of Smallcleugh followed by a pull-through to exit via Prouds Sump and Rampgill level.
A visit to Nentsberry Haggs was a first for all of us (again Alan, Paul & myself)
The weather was foul - we made just an initial trip into the mine via the portal on the Nenthead to Alston road. Folk must have worked pretty hard to clear a way through not long after the entrance.
We spent about 2 hours underground: the water was deep (chest level in places); cold and the mine looked pretty fragile in one or two places (several collapses in the shale). Our next visit will likely be from the Brownley Hills end.
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| Portal - I did say it was wet |
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| Bunkhouses looking good |
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| Apologies for the camera shake it was freezing (and deeper in parts) |
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| The Distant Alluring Light |
Monday, 19 November 2012
In2venture
I've just posted an article for In2venture on their website click here to read it and take a look at their Facebook page to view the full photo album.
There are a few extra photos taken by Adrian Wintle that I've "borrowed" with his permission (!) posted on my own Facebook Page (link in right hand tool bar)
I've never really written a lot about In2venture on this blog, just referring to the organisation in passing from time to time so thought it might be a good opportunity this week to rectify this. My personal involvement with the charity goes back to 1993, a lot has happened since then!
In 1983 the vicar of West Pelton, Rob Bianchi, set up the West Pelton Activity Centre as a non residential centre for activities as a means of reaching young people both locally and across the North of England. The centre existed as an office and store for outdoor equipment, with activities taking place wherever suitable. Many of the young people were either unemployed or social service referrals, which meant that the Centre also ran probation courses. 1987 saw the formation of the West Pelton Centre charity.The work mainly relied on volunteer support.
In 1989 the work had grown to such an extent that Church Army Captain Alan Rainford joined the Centre as assistant manager. From this point a training course in outdoor activities was started and schools also started using the Centre. During this period various outdoor activity clubs were started.
In 1995 Rob left and Alan took over the running of the Centre. Also that year the Centre started to run activities for the Barnabas Trust centre Whithaugh Park, in the Scottish Borders. This work developed and in 1997 Whithaugh Park became the main operating base.
Due to the need for an Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) license, various groups started to affiliate to the centre during this time. Cockerton Outdoor Activity Club (COAC) started at this time, later to become a full project running under the centre in 2002.
In 2001, Church Army Captain Paul Little joined the centre to support Alan as the youth worker at Whithaugh Park. After joining Paul developed an underground tunnel system called the Walk of Life at the Park. This gave us the opportunity to discuss various topics of faith, such as creation, choices, valuing people, and life after death.
In 2002 the name West Pelton Centre was officially changed to In2venture to signify the growing scope the work that the charity was undertaking; COAC became COAC In2venture in 2003. Paul Little started making links throughout the Scottish Borders and beyond, and in February 2003 the Grafted Project started to form.
From the end of September 2005 the activity contract at Whithaugh Park came to an end, with Barnabas moving in the Barnabas Adventure team to run the residential activities. Alan’s role changed from being activities manager at Whithaugh Park to general In2venture manager, and the office moved into Newcastleton itself.
From April 2005 In2venture began to offer and run activity programmes at Blaithwaite House which is situated just to the north of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria. This saw a further period of great change within the organisation as technically the Centre began a transition from a largely water based organisation (principle skill set being in Canoeing & Kayaking) to a more land based focus, with new skills developing in Mountaineering, Cave & Mine Exploration. Seven years on this transition is well on the way to completion.
Furthermore, during this time In2venture for the first time in its history took on the management of a residential centre (Blaithwaite House) and 2009 saw the formation of In2venture Community Interest Company to manage the tenancy at Blaithwaite.
In2venture today sees the principle focus of its mission as:
- Schools Ministry (both residential & non-residential)
- Youth Ministry with local groups in North East England and Cumbria
- The support and development of a Christian Community Committed to the Exploration of Faith Through Outdoor Activity.
There are two In2venture "satellite" groups: COAC In2venture, based in Darlington, County Durham & FOG In2venture based just outside York.
To keep up to date with In2venture visit their website at www.in2v.org
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Ingleborough Hall & Alum Pot
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| Ingleborough Hall |
The morning focussed mainly on:
- flooding & a review of recent incidents
- current access issues
- radon gas
An afternoon practical session took place in two groups of four in Alum Pot, the weather was fine & dry with clear blue skies, however, as seems to have been the case for some time now conditions were quite damp underground. We worked on the Dolly Tubs pitch looking at best practise in pitch head rigging (well tensioned; high traverse lines; knots; and belaying).Particular emphasis was given to the use of Petzt Traxion devices especially how to lower a climber when using these pulley-jammer systems. We emerged from the cave to a cold, dark showery evening
It was time well spent to take a step back for a day & look at some of the key issues involved in leading groups in a vertical environment underground - a good day.
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