Peak District Caving

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Peak District Caving News December 2006

Peak Cavern's Styx Inlet Sump

Report FromJohn Cordingley.
Report Date02/12/2006.
Published02/12/2006.

The restriction at 45 m mentioned in the last report was actually open when found but a hanging slab of limestone in the roof made this too unsafe to get through. Over the course of half a dozen dives in the early Autumn an alternative route was dug to the left through thick silt. This was first passed on 26th October and the sump opens up beyond. So far line has been laid to a point 72 m from base. On the way in the water is crystal clear and at the end of the most recent dive a pleasant continuation was visible ahead for at least 10 metres. The direction here is 150 degrees (towards Dirtlow Rake) and the depth is minimal. At the time of writing flooding is preventing access to this area of Peak Cavern but the project will be resumed when the water settles down.

Update, 14/12/2006

After an intended return last week (thwarted by high water) I managed to get back in there yesterday (13th December). The approach via Halfway House Passage was completely flooded so after giving careful thought to the water situation I decided to risk laying a temporary line into this from the 5 Arches. After 30 m of diving the start of the normal line was met and then I went straight to the end of Styx Inlet. Got some more line laid onto the end in easy passage and then at a left hand corner the floor descended into a chamber (depth -6.5 m today - but it'll be less normally). Then a boulder floor rose steeply up to an arch which I didn't get the chance to investigate as getting the line safely belayed was the main priority and I lost the vis. This point is 100 metres in from the normal base (but 130 m of diving today).

John Cordingley in Peak Cavern's Styx Inlet Sump - 100m from base and still going!

Photo: John Cordingley 12/2006

previous related report 06/2006

Suicide Cave

Report FromDave Webb (DCA Conservation Officer).
Report Date12/2006.
Published12/2006.

There have been recent reports of movement in the large cracked slab directly above the crawl beneath the boulder slope just beyond the entrance chamber. This lower route is well used by novices and others since it avoids the pitch at the top of the slope. In the interests of safety this route will be temporarily blocked pending a long-term solution to the problem.

The entrance to Suicide Cave in Winnats Pass.

Photo: Shaun Puckering 26/03/2004

Slop Moll Restoration Work

Report FromWayne Sheldon (DCA Project Officer).
Report Date12/2006.
Published12/2006.

Restoration work has recently been carried out on a collapsed wall on the north side of Slop Moll. Slop Moll is located just beyond the Custodian's house, on the east side of the path, in the Peak Cavern Gorge. A watercourse starts just below the path where water omits from the moll, flowing along a well constructed channel to join the main river that flows from the Peak Resurgence. Slop Moll is a very powerful and important resurgence which along with Russet Well drains the Speedwell system. Over the years the water has taken its toll on the walling, resulting in the a collapse.

A team under the leadership of John Taylor, consisting of cavers from the Eldon, TSG, SUSS and a couple from the Bradford worked over consecutive weekends in October and November to demolish what was left of the old wall. Drainage pipes were installed at the bottom that will allow the water to keep its current course without undermining the wall. The wall was rebuilt in two steps up to the top of the bank stabilised with concrete.

The people involved were: Julian Barratt, Dave Brook, Alyson Brook, Marcus Crabb, Dave Cowley, Bob Dearman, Jim Lister, Chris Schofield, Ann Soulsby, Brendon Sloine, Ben Stevens, John Taylor, Sam Townsend, Tim Webber, Nick Williams, and Zack Williams.

The officers at DCA, Jo Poll at Natural England (formerly EN), and the management at Peak Cavern would like to thank everybody who took part in the project.

Slop Moll in relation to Peak Cavern.

Photo: Nick Williams 2006

Work in progress.

Photo: Nick Williams 2006

Bob Dearman working on the first step.

Photo: Nick Williams 2006

The first part of the rebuilt wall. (get that roll-up out of your mouth Taylor! You need those lungs for diving - ed)

Photo: Sam Townsend 2006

Carlswark Cavern Conservation Work

Report FromWayne Sheldon (DCA Project Officer).
Report Date12/2006.
Published12/2006.

Chesterfield Caving Club have recently undertaken a cleanup of rubbish and old digging gear etc in Carlswark Cavern. Over the course of two days, they did a sweep of the cave, clearing rubbish on the main trunk from the Gin Entrance along Eyam Dale Passage to Noughts and Crosses Chamber around to the North-West Passage; the route to Eyam Dale Shaft, and the main loop around Dynamite Passage and Cockle Passage. Further rubbish was cleared from the Big Dig Series, the Dynamite Series and the route to Pearl Chamber.

Peak Cavern NCC Shafts

Report FromWayne Sheldon.
Report Date12/2006.
Published12/2006.

The crawl at the end of the Traverse of the Spods below the roof tube still needed looking at so on the 19th November; Wayne sheldon, Denis Bushell, Brian Nolan, Mike Bottomley and John Worden went to investigate. Due to the confined nature of the passage ahead Denis swapped his helmet for a balaclava and his lamp for a Petzl Tikka headtorch. The body sized tube was pushed for 4m to a rift where it was possible to turn round. Beyond, the passage continued as before for 12m to a 5m high rift, choked with boulders. Mike & John also went through using Tikka headtorches prompting the name "Tikka Passage".

previous related report 02/2006