Have recieved a large scale survey of Ireby II. What was not clear on other surveys but you can see on this one is that the passage off Jupiter Cavern heading back over the sump where there is a 25ft pit to be negotiated has an active inlet. From the bottom of the pit, at the base of the rift passage an inlet comes in from the left and appears to have been followed for 30ft or so following the … Read More
Tony Rooke (CUCC), Neil Pacey Adulterers Bypass lies in roof passages above Rope pitch and was originally explored by the NCC, since then work has been carried out mainly by Pete Hall and various RRCPC people. The passage is heading towards New Rift ends in a tight bedding, with the stream coming out of Adulteres Passage. A visual and vocal connection has been made and the bypass would get you beyond the extremly tight section at the start of Adulterers. … Read More
What are the possibilities of taking the roof off? I mean big time. Is there enough room to start a drill hole in the roof and angle it to then allow a 1m bit to be driven forward, maybe with a second to one side? If so, could be resolved in one trip and I have a volunteer to sort it!
I remember the place well having spent many an hour with Pete H. Probably the best way forward is to continue digging the far end, those last few feet seem particlary miserable though. You can always “TIDY” the base camp chamber by moving the boulders round to stay warm when not a the sharp end Paul
>I agree… you could cap the roof, but you would have to start at least 5 metres back from the current end. Also if you take 2 lumphammers, the second person can lower the water, making the end less miserable Neil
Sunday 23rd saw myself Dave and Simon make a return trip back to Cripple Creek. The intention was to concentrate on the upstream dig in Cripple Creek beneath the aven. We took in full capping gear and a set of ‘L’ plates because Dave was giving lessons…. Spent the first hour or two digging the hard calcite out of the way, this gave us enough room to start capping at the far end on both sides and on the LH … Read More
Sun 30th Jan, Dave,Simon & Neil We returned to the upstream dig in cripple creek, and spent most of the time capping out the walls and trying to smash the hard calcite floor. Had some success when we managed to break through the floor and dig a hole into about 17 inches of sand. Also built a kitchen in our spare time. Sun 6th Feb Dave, Yassan & Neil Dave continued capping while me and Yassan fitted the kitchen with … Read More
The food fest began with a splendid breakfast at chez Tracey ,with the traditional full belly bulger , extra grubs, no pudding. Washed down with lashings of hot tea and the melted butter drips of the fresh hot crumpet Hot Hugh arrives demanding pole services from Mr Pacey and gets cold shoulder as he is reminded of dig responsibility ettiquette… No trip for you Mr Hugh.. His day is all washed up. In fact similar to mine, as I faced … Read More
yo mud folk, Was intending to join Messers Ramsay, Pacey & co for the next installment of Hell’s Kitchen down Ireby, but the bastards asked me to cover for a colleague on holliday, both saturday and Sunday, cooking Sunday dinner with all trimmings, rather than the classic french cuisine of Monsieur Ramsay…. Decided to stock up with Worscester sauce though to remind me of the mud though. Have a good one. Y.
Ho Mud Folk, Was NOT intending to join Messrs Ramsay, Pacey and Co for the next instalment of Hell’s Kitchen down Ireby, but the bastards asked me to cover for a colleague on holiday. Cooking Sunday dinner with all the trimmings and the classic french cuisine of Monsieur Ramsay…..Decided to stock up with Turtle soup to help me forget about the mud though. No Chance. From: Yassen Roussev To: mmmmc@yahoogroups.co.uk Subject: [mmmmc] cooking Date: Fri, Feb 18, 2005, 8:48 pm … Read More
Sunday 27th February Visited my kitchen to see how the chefs (Neil, Bill, Ruth) were getting on. Starter didn’t arrive, I was told the chefs ate it all because it was disgusting, I would have liked to have tried it though. Main course was nouilles avec boue, while the boue was pretty much as I would have expected (possibly organic) the noullies were overdone and certainly not ‘Al Dente’. Dessert was gateau de gingembre, pleasant enough washed down with the … Read More
12th March 2005 Neil Pacey, Tanya Savage, Richard Bendall, Jim Stevenson, Mick, Shaun, Henry Carke. Pre-dinner appetiser called for so off to extend the menu at the restaurant at the end of………the will to live. Good bucket service, excellent company, and a generous serving of hot soup(lacking description) and Fruit Tea beverages. Not one FUCK to be heard from the servery hatch. Two meters progress to definate left hand bend. Out for 6:30 and rush to place pits for anticipated … Read More
Thursday 14th April 2005 Dave Ramsay, Neil Pacey, Ruth McDonald Ireby Fell Caverns A return to check on the rope situation and look round for this seasons summer projects. Ropes: Ding, Dong, Bell Rope has been stolen together with all of the alloy MR’s except two which I had to remove using a spanner, the hanger which we used to create a dry rebelay on the Bell pitch is still there. Pussy pitch is still rigged, complete with hanger and … Read More
Sunday 17th April Ruth McDonald, Dave Ramsay (with porterage by Bill Sherrington) The Glory Holes – Stolen Streamway? A trip with Ruth to begin capping the first lead spotted during our recent inspection of the left hand branch of the Glory Holes, combined with a tourist trip to the bottom (the rope on rope pitch is still present). Not much to report, we capped out the roof untill we had run out of battery power (this did not take long … Read More
Very interested to hear of your fruited tea cake with marzipan centre. Onwards to Bratworst highway and Sauerkraut Junction! —– Original Message —– From: dave ramsay To: mmmmc Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 8:39 PM Subject: [mmmmc] Stolen streamway Sunday 17th April Ruth McDonald, Dave Ramsay (with porterage by Bill Sherrington) The Glory Holes – Stolen Streamway? A trip with Ruth to begin capping the first lead spotted during our recent inspection of the left hand branch of the Glory … Read More
Ireby Fell Cavern Glory Holes Update Sunday 8th May – Glory Holes (Three-in-One), Dave, Ruth, Bill & Neil. We had the following plan for our grand day out in Ireby 1) Climb the aven in the LH branch previously entered by Dave & Hugh. 2) Cap the tight stream way inlet in the LH branch previously pushed by myself. 3) Return to Ramsay’s Kitchen and continue digging. We split into two teams; Bill and myself went to climb the … Read More
Sunday 22nd May Bill S, Simon J and Dave R Ireby Fell Caverns, Upstream cripple creek Dave and simon place the bolt at the top of the Best A Man Can Get then join Bill for sand removal. 60 Buckets later we left having made some progress. We still keep popping up into rifts where there is a draught. Dave
Ireby Fell Caverns Glory Holes Updates Thursday 19th May Dave & Neil This week we continued capping the squeeze at the end of the tight crawl in the left hand branch of the Glory Holes. Dave drilled and fired two or three rounds. This destroyed the first squeeze and enabled him to move towards what looks like a small chamber. Conditions here can only be described as extreme. I waited and ferreted behind, lying in the streamway, freezing; … Read More
Dinner for two and Mr pacey and mr Bill attend for teas and noodles. and Tunnock’s. More spoil removed dig seems to be getting easier as the sand and clay seem less dense.
Sunday 3rd July Ireby Fell Caverns, Cripple Creek Dave Ramsay, Paul Windle and Bill Sherrington A return to the end to dye test the stream which dissappears below Womacks chamber to see if it is the same stream which is seen later on in the cave. ……………… Yes it is! But why does the draught flow out from where it dissapears but not strongly into where it reappears? An inspection was made of the calcite ramp at the far end … Read More
Neil and Paul’s trips to Cripple Creek the Final Calcite Choke. Sunday 28 August My first digging trip into Cripple Creek. Trip to work on the calcite blockage. Taking in lots of kit, capping set shiny new long chisel and a lump hammer plus lead acid battery and drill. Started work drilling holes in the calcite after a twelve hour trip we had made little progress. Even 2 caps placed in the rock above the calcite failed to do any … Read More
September 10, 2005 Saturday Cripple Creek Paul Neil More capping another 12 hour trip with not much progress. September 12, 2005 Monday Cripple Creek Paul Neil Sent Neil to the sharp end to some digging while I removed the noble at the entrance to the tube. Which we where going to remove 5 weeks ago. Whilst doing this I chiseled of a rock which landed on my head breaking my lamp and creating a cut which bled every where. Nurse … Read More
Cripple creek September 17, 2005 Saturday Sam Allshorn ULSA Tom ULSA Paul Slightly delayed start due cam belt on Neil’s van expiring. Replacement team found in the café and caps eventually arrived. Continued capping very squalid progress to the end of the tunnel. Passage now turns left again and the top is flat calcite. September 19, 2005 Monday Dave Paul Returned to the dig and reduced the water level. Dave managed to drill up into the calcite roof and there … Read More
September 18, 2005 Sunday Down stream Cirpple creek Neil and PaulThe last trip for some time so we had to decided if it was worth continuing. Last week was a little negative. Started chiseling and capping up through the roof but we where unable to get the right angle and where not able to make much progress. Then noticed a small hole in the roof on our left. This was an old gour pool and the side around the hole … Read More
Sunday 27th Nov S. jobling > B. Sherrington with new , fresh victims Bernice and Geoff Beaumont Attended Kitchen with fresh brew making equiptment and Tunnock’s. Pulled out enough buckets to reveal a new void in the roof , further progress is forwards and downwards . Mud still continues to give off petrol fumes. Simon also threw his tackle sack down a tight rift causing difficult retrival. Bernice seemed to enjoy herself and as the dig progressed a familiar cafe … Read More
Monday 24th April 2006 Dave Ramsay, Richard Bendall. Not even being able to function as a human-being yesterday with a cold, jet lad and massive post wedding hangover why did I commit to this type of trip? Fat boy could not get through first serious squeeze so hour spent battering and eventually I popped through. Too the end where quite obviously characteristics tell cave is indeed the continued extension of the Glory Holes. Too Dave’s “must see” dig site where … Read More
Announcing previously enjoyed cave as new entrance series in Ireby fell caverns is excavated. Simon Jobling and Bill Sherrington given going lead by Andy Walsh and Jack Pickup . We scooped up a connection between the pit in the entrance series above Red Climbinmg rope announces the arrival at the head of a 25 ft pitch{ most probably chamber of Dark sound. Climbs named as above thanks to Mr Bubbles and his mild greenness coating the passage in fairy goodness.The … Read More
Sunday 7th May 2006 Dave Ramsay, Ruch McDonald. Holes drilled and cleaned ready for resin bolting.
Sunday 7th May 2006 Dave Ramsay, Ruch McDonald. Holes drilled and cleaned ready for resin bolting.
Whilst Messrs Pickup/Walsh examined the head of Ding pitch and carried on the cement routine Messrs Parker/Speight had a look at the new series. Very nice – an entertaining way to keep out of the ways of the hordes. On the way back from the pitch head the (straight ahead) inlet was examined and led to definite possibilities. Through the initial rift led into a small chamber and to the left was a gritstone run-in ending at a small vertical … Read More
A small active sink between the Chamber of Dark Sound and the connection point with the normal route down Ireby was spotted during one of the many trips to rig Bubbles Route. Thursday 11th May 2006 Dave Ramsay, Richard Bendall After rigging the pitch we started to dig, easy digging with an echo ahead which is now noticeably closer. While I stayed in the crawl, Richard ran around into all the nooks and crannies of The Chamber of Dark Sound … Read More
Thursday 18th May 2006 Dave Ramsay, Richard Bendall, Chris ?, Dom?. Disturbed to see quite alot of water comming in to PoDS under the righthand wall from the main Ireby stream passage. A bit of rearrangement of the water course all but turned off the water to allow Dave a wallow. At LH corner another inlet enters from right from main streamway causing puddle. Excellent decission taken to dig back towards entrance and leave forward progress to when it’s a … Read More
Thursday 25th May 2005 Passage of Dark Slime Dave Ramsay, Richard Bendall, Pete Hall More slow progress. The roof pendants were capped out allowing easier digging and the floor was dug out forward untill the water drained. Ahead was just too tight but left the roof tube continues much larger. more capping required to enable easier access to the roof tube. Dave
Passage of Dark Slime Sunday 29th May 2005 Dave Ramsay, Ruth McDonald, Paul Windle Capped out roof pendants to allow access to roof tube and dug out spoil at start of the roof tube, removing many buckets of muck. It looked like one more trip of just digging, floowed by more capping and more digging etc. before real progress could be made, but…. Monday 30th May Dave Ramsay, Richard Bendall I went in first and dug till I was tired, … Read More
Thursday 1st June 2005 Dave, Richard and Ruth After taking out the awkward bend at the end of the roof tube we capped open the thin bit ahead, this led to a small enlargement with an inlet on the right and a sump on the left. Monday 5th June Dave, Richard Dye tested the sump while digging in North East Inlet Right hand branch. Ater 5 hours the stream appeared green from the inlet 30m downstream so Passage of Dark … Read More
Sunday 16th July 2006 Dave Ramsay, Ruth McDonald Ramsay’s Kitchen All mouldy food and rusty cookers removed. Inspected end and section where passage turns left. It’s my opinion that best place to continue is where passage turns left, by capping into draughting rift Foot of bubbles route checked out ‘frozen’ cascade between bubbles and overshadow. This is blind as had been found out previously by MUSS although Richard thinks that he can see space of possible passage above, best bet … Read More
Ireby Fell, Whirlpool chamber inlet Thursday 12th October Dave R, Dom Hoare Rebolted the climb up into the inlet, no more rub points and hopefully easy to get off the rope at the pitch head. Since my recent visit surveying with Ruth, all of the wooded sections had sprouted the most marvellous collection of mushrooms! All of these were removed as best we could and buried in sand at the bottom of the pitch (at bit more work burying the … Read More
Sunday 29th October Whirlpool Chamber, Ireby Fell Dave R, Ruth McD, Tim Allen Drag tray, Ropes and rubble sacks installed and two hours of digging and stacking gained 5m of progress. Now 2m away from lsat survey station and 20m from current bitter end. More rubble sacks required. Dave
Sunday 12 Nov. Ruth Mc Donald , Neil Pacey , Dave ramsay , Bill Sherrington. Paid a visit to inspect new works to start my tokens for this project and progress the mud mining operations on a few more meters. Looks like an excellent long term project with options to establish our new head quaters in Duke street cavern. Possibility of overnight digging looming . And in time access to Duke street 2 without bottled air.
Monday 13th November 2006 Dave Ramsay, Richard Bendall Another 2-3m progress and a nice piece of stacking if I say so myself! Definately need to get another drag tray or two in to aid removal further back or even out and down the pitch. Hard work for just 2 but if we can keep a rolling team approach we will all see progress and keep up the momentum. It’ll go, just needs the dedication and effort.
Ireby Fell Caverns, Whirlpool Chamber Sunday 12th November Dave R, Bill S, Ruth McD, Neil P Two more ropes taken for with second drag tray when we get one. 4ish metres of progress made. Monday 13th November Dave R, Rich B Rope for lowering bags down pitch and 28 bags and one trowel taken in. A few more metres of progress made. Current stock is 3 trowels (1 nearly broken), 28 unused bags and 15 plus used bags, two ropes … Read More
Ireby Fell Whirlpool Chamber dig Sunday 19th November Dave R, Ruth McD, Neil Pacey Tim Allen, Hugh StLawrence Another few metres dug out and fine cakes provided by Tim. Sunday 26th November Some turned up but not me, see separate report by someone! Monday 27th November Dave R, Rich B, Emma Martindale 70ish bags removed about 15 went to a final resting place at the bottom of the pitch. We are just short of the first cross rift. Dave
Sun 26 November Tony R, Neil P, Stuart B and Petr ? (Hungarian bod of Bill’s he made in the lab) Impressed by the staircases above and below the entrance. Bubbles pitches also preferable to old route. Removed some sand from the ‘front’. I think i can say its the only civilized dig i have ever been to! Tony Rooke
Sun 26 November Tony R, Neil P, Stuart B and Petr ? (Hungarian bod of Bill’s he made in the lab) Impressed by the staircases above and below the entrance. Bubbles pitches also preferable to old route. Removed some sand from the ‘front’. I think i can say its the only civilized dig i have ever been to! Tony Rooke
Monday 12th Dec, Andy walsh, Bill Sherrington. Pleasnt walk acros the mire to put in a bag of cement in the top of Bubbles route. Mission accomplished then Andy did a little bit of proddling ,bringing out more looseness. More solid rock now appearing at the top of bubbles.
Saturday 23rd December – Cripple creek – Ireby Fell George North, Neil Pacey Made good progress down to the ‘Arse end of Ireby Fell’,carrying just two batteries and drill. Capped off the roof at the far end first, then the left hand wall, successful capping this week, no rods getting stuck. This made the opening into the void a lot easier. On closer inspection the ‘void’ is a step up in the passage, can’t quite get both shoulders into it. … Read More
Dave Ramsay, Ruth McDonald, Simon Jobling, Bill Sherrington, Hungarian Pete (briefly), Neil Pacey. Started off with six but arrived at the dig with five. The Hungarian had retreated after a brief episode of being stuck at the start of Bubbles Route. He decided to take a sharp exit, “I am leaving the cave”. Made good progress with five, but a team of six would be more efficient, the final tally was 6.1m away from the final flag. Lots of bags … Read More
Saturday 30th December 2006 Ireby Fell Caverns Whirlpool Chamber Dig Dave R, Ruth McD, Neil P, Martin Holroyd, Becka Lawson, Julian Todd, Sam and Mike (ULSA), Simon Jobling, Mark Middleton, Richard Bilton (I think that’s all). Martin Dived thru to the other side while we all dug. The other side exists, but it is nearly full with sand/mud, about 12ft up the passage. 3.75m to go. Dave
Cripple Creek – Saturday 6th Jan George North, James Carlisle, Neil Pacey Left the van at around 11.00am and arrived at the mudface at 2.00pm, enjoyable trip in. James investigated the dig, while me and George set the rest of the kit up. Concentrated on capping the roof and the left hand wall, encountered difficulties with capping due to the thinness of the roof, couple of inches of rock with calcite next to it. Perservered untill either fumes or general … Read More
Sunday 14th Jan Ireby Fell Caverns, Whirlpool Chamber Dig Dave R, Ruth McD Just the two of us made the trip which saw us reach the 2m to go mark before we started pushing by removing just enough spoil to make awkward progress, result,the cave is now longer by 2m. Unfortunately there is a lot of spoil in bags which needs pulling back. In future visits it will be possible for one person to push while others advance the main … Read More
Earby Pothole Club have commenced project to potentially drain the Ireby Duke street to Ireby 2 sump. So far a dam has been built at East Inlet to take water down through Bolton extensions . I understand a return trip is planned for this Saturday or Sunday.
Back in the dim and distant days of last year: T “Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 13:40:13 +0100 On the way back from the pitch head the (straight ahead) inlet was examined and led to definite possibilities. Through the initial rift led into a small chamber…..to the right and appearing to take the draught was a pair of small tubes……t’other having smallish stones and mud and might just be large enough to get through (without capping) to what looks like … Read More
Tuesday 24th April Mercer and Parker A lot of water coming down the streamway but the dam system soon cleared the way for entry to Bubbles route. Unfortunately not only was the expected small stream running through the small chamber but both the dug passage and the side passage had small streams running. Lying at the junction of three streams whilst capping, not to mention the cold strong draught, meant that we didn’t stay in for long. —
Sunday 06 May 2007 Phil Rowsell (MadPhil), Emms, Simon Crornhill, Neil Pacey After our camping trip down in Daren, Phil volunterred his services to come up north and help out with our dig in Cripple Creek. On the Friday night he sorted out what was required with the help of xxxx. After picking up the stuff from xxxx on Sunday morning we made an efficient trip down Bubbles Route, leaving the cars at around 11.00. A brief stop in the … Read More
Ireby Fell caverns – Whirlpool Chamber Sunday 13th May Dave, Ruth & Neil. Main purpose of trip was to dig out and enlarge diiging stations. This should give us more space to stack bags without having to pull them all the way back by hand. By the end of the shift things looked good, can now use the tray to pull back from station to station, with stacking space for plenty of bags. May still need to enlarge the station … Read More
Mon 27th August 2007 Cripple Creek – Phil Rowswell, Emms, Neil Ireby II – Simon Cornhill Phil had sorted out the bang with xxxx and was set on a second banging trip to take part on the Monday of the bank holiday. Simon and Beardy had previously dived the sump and climbed the ropes up into Jupiter cavern, from there they found the pit and rigged a travers across the other side into the passage which is belived to be … Read More
Sat Sep 15, Cripple Creek – Blissful Ignorance George North, Tom Clayton, Neil Pacey Time Underground 10hrs. Another trip to the ‘Arse end of Ireby’, this time to clear out the bang debris from the second banging trip. Arrived and the good news was all of the slabs had gone off, this left us with a mountain of spoil to clear. Several hours later the job was done. The blast had removed all the calcite and the rock pillar which … Read More
Yep, I’m now much more optimistic about the prospects of success! It’s still not looking as though a breakthrough is going to come easily, but at least we’re now making good progress in a proper passage. It’s a shame that the dig has become much more squalid, but hopefully we can drain the water somehow. It could be interesting to take some joss-sticks down to check that there really is a draught. I also think we should take something more … Read More
Cripple Creek, Saturday 25th Sept 2007, Paul Windle, Neil Pacey. Paul wanted to top up his shares this week, so we had two choices. Attempt to pump out the sump in fairly heavy water conditions or return to Criple Creek and try and improve the current digging conditions. We opted for Cripple Creek and got off to a fairly efficient start (missed out on a 2nd pint of tea). Paul was in extra thick furry (best) plus two oversuits and … Read More
Hello Niel, Jim Newton here,we’ve just been clearing out Ron Blisses garage & lo & behold, what should be there but a 1 foot 6 inch chisel. I took it home & sharpened it up. If you want it call round its yours. Best of luck with the dig, Jim
Cripple Creek – Blissful Ignorance (Sat 30th Sept). George North, Neil Pacey Just a quick resume on a trip from the other week. The previous week myself and Paul W cleared out the trench and generally improved the working conditions of the dig. We also made some progress digging the calcite at the end. This week we concentrated on removing the calcite, the 3″ think layer was getting the better of us, but with some strategic long chisel work and … Read More
Cripple Creek – Blissful Ignorance (Sat 27th October). Neil Pacey, George North. We managed to get underground before 10am for another light and fast digging trip at the arse end of Ireby. On the way in it was noted that the shrimp in the pool at the start of Turtle Crawl has multiplied. There are now two, or possibly three shrimps! Once at the front we made steady progress through the sand and calcite layers for another 3m or so. … Read More
heard a rumour that an attempt to pump the sump in Ireby was to take place this weekend. If true this would be a good opportunity for dry cavers to have a crack at the Whirlpool’s arse. I can’t make it this weekend but it seems a good idea for those involved to get together for a push, bringing the cripple creek round trip a bit closer. good luck
To assist in the continued safe exploration of the three Counties system and Ireby round trip I am now advised the Ireby sump 1 liquids will be removed on Saturday 10th Nov and subsequently replaced with fresh air vapours. In the past the sump has stayed open for more than 48 hrs .Anyone caving Saturday and Sunday should be able to pass the sump area unhindered by breathing difficulties and continue into Duke street 2. All this weather permitting of … Read More
Waters removed after a huge effort , a few scary moments enjoyed . If it doesn’t rain heavily it should stay open.Dive Line freed from silt. Blue pipe not leaking too much all seemed to work well.New more robust dam will be needed in future pumping missions and on the basis of co operation to ensure dry route over sump. “There was plenty of oxygen but it was still connected to its hydrogen atoms.” Glup.
Ireby – Blissful Ignorance, 10/11/07 Neil Pacey, Tom Clayton and George North Tom and I met Neil at the water treatment works slightly after 9.30, due to the irresistable lure of a cooked breakfast. Once there things went smoothly and we were underground by 10.30ish. Progress as far as the lounge was slightly slowed by a mystery package that I was carrying, although I feel that this was worth the bother. The shrimp at the start of Turtle Crawl was … Read More
Sunday 11th November Dave R, Ruth McD Half the team failed to materialise due to various reasons (drink?). When we got to the sump, it was indeed, a sump so we started pumping until the end tube began sucking in air. A look at the sump revealed that it was now open as a very low airspace duck. With just two of us and time running out it was not likely that we could gain sufficient airspace and still go … Read More
Attachments : 02/12/07 – Blissful Ignorance, Cripple Creek Neil Pacey, Tom Clayton and George North. We met up at the relatively early time of 9.30 for more fun at ‘the arse end of Ireby’. Torrential rain nearly put an early end to the trip, but having not been down to the dig for three weeks we decided that we needed to get on with it. Fortunately the rain stopped as we were walking over the fell. After inspecting the dam … Read More
The season of goodwill is upon us bruvers and I’m hoping to enlist support for a weekend long assault on the Whirlpool dig in Ireby two? This is a sand filled, crawling sized tube estimated to be only 20m away from the Whirlpool chamber passage in Ireby one. Digging from the Ireby two side is easy and significant progress could be made over a weekend if access could be maintained through the sump. It might even go. The whole operation … Read More
Dear Moderators and site owners. Regarding the recent request to work together to sort out Ireby Whirl pool Chamber. It would be helpful if my contacts were offered the choice of access to MMMMC to assist in exploration and the co ordination of the efforts that will be required from all of us . Can one of you contact me to discuss this so that I might give you the email details. Kind Regards
Let’s get this diggers railroad back on the tracks. We have a great opportunity to forge an easy new route to Ireby two if we all work together, it should be great fun too and a fine end to the year. This is what it was all about in the first place. Please can the moderators do the necessary – this thing is going to happen. More on planning later, all offers of help are noted, thanks Tim A
Cripple Creek – Blissful Ignorance (Sun 23rd Dec) George North, Neil Pacey – Cripple Creek Simon Cornhill – Ireby II Plan for the day was for Simon to dive through and start digging from the Ireby II Side, while myself and George go down Cripple Creek to see if we can get a vocal connection from the end of Blissful Ignorance. We decided to take a drill and two batteries to have a go at ‘peppering’ the calcite at the … Read More
We have been doing the following: Yesterday (Wednesday) we recovered 3 pumps from Hurnell Moss pot, and spent today repairing and renewing them. We plan to install them at the sump tommorrow (Friday). The aim of Friday trip is 3 fold. Firstly to transport extra kit to the sump, then to set up a super-efficiant pumping system,and finaly to build a bomb proof dam, ready for the weekend. In light of Dave’s report it seems that conditions are not currently … Read More
Hi All With the horrendous rain over the last few days water levels are fairly high. After consulting with the pumping team, who have been down Ireby today (very wet), we think it prudent to postpone the event for 24 hours. The forcast from saturday teatime onwards is dry so hopefully the worst will run through quickly and pumping can start in earnest on sunday morning. The pumping team is meeting at 10am Sunday where you park for Ireby on … Read More
All welcome I think the gist of this event is now going to be – ‘the more the merrier’. It’s difficult to guage the level of pumping difficulty at this stage but hopefully the rains will stop by the end of the day and the worst will flow through overnight. We can only go and see. At the moment the teams are; Sunday: The four man pumping team are heading in at 10am. A five man NCC team will follow … Read More
What a grand day out it was. 35 or more people turned up throughout the day. The sump was pumped out in record time – just over an hour I think – and was completely dried up by the end of the day. Some 12m were dug out of the whirlpool dig with up to eight people digging at one time. Several folk disappeared off to the cripple creek end and were still there when I left. The bad news … Read More
We went again. Bill was there first and had been pumping for around 15 minutes when we arrived at the sump. After five more minutes I went for a look and it was almost dry, by the time I had collected my gear and re-inserted myself it WAS completely dry. Digging commenced in a disorganised fashion! after a while Bill got us organised and went to collect another drag tray. After about 3 – 4 hours we had gained 5m … Read More
Ireby II – Cripple Creek Simon Cornhill + 5, Tanya Savage, Neil Pacey This was part of the Ireby II ‘Grand Day Out’ trip. We met up with Simon and his associated crew from Preston in Duke Street II and headed off up the pitches in Escalator Rift and the route into Jupiter cavern. The ropes are less than ideal and could do with rerigging and bolting if this is to be used as a trade route on a regular … Read More
Indeed thanks to all who attended, I’m afraid I didn’t recognise half the folk who turned out so can take little credit in the end. What a dream it would be for this spirit of co-operation to spread to other projects via the pages of the mud miners. Tim
Hi, In the history of the Ireby sump at least one attempt was made on taking the roof off but the explosives failed to go off. At least that’s my understanding. Another attempt to lower the sump involved placing explosives in a line in the sand bank the Ireby II side to create a channel. Again I understand the explosives failed so watch out if anyone decided to dig in the sand bank. Although a long time ago and much … Read More
Would it not be possible to create an airspace above the sump using capping or more large scale chemical persuasion. The working conditions seem to be very comfortable especially with a totally dry sump. Teams could work from either end towards each other in terms of capping. The pipe work would have to be protected if larger scale methods were used, could this be done with sand bags in a similar design to the dam? This may just be a … Read More
Saturday 5TH JAN. Tim And Jane Allen. Have derigged ropes from Ding, Dong, Bell & Well. Fairly wet conditions. Dam full and overflowing into frothy sump. Dam at East Inlet has two leaks about the size of a tap each coming out about half way up. Not sure if this is normal – may need a repair. Despite my best attempts at being pessimistic those who I have spoken to are still keen to continue. How about we have another … Read More
Greetings, Well done to all those who assisted in the pumping out and subsequent digging in Ireby Fell Cavern over the New Year Weekend! Cracking day out Grommet! The Ireby United Sump Busters are doing it again! Can you (Tim) Get the digging sorted?? (Dave R says Bill S got them organised last trip. Maybe liase with him.) Weather permitting we are thinking about 16th/17th Feb. Johnny p.s – Feel free to fix any leaks re. east inlet
Hi Johnny, Your main dam now leaks quite a bit from the left hand edge and underneath the right hand side. We built a second dam in front and this was filling about every two – five minutes. The ropes that were on the escalator rift are now on on the upstream side of the sump. Not sure if anyone owns them, if not they could be used for drag trays.
Cripple Creek – George North, Neil Pacey Ireby II – Simon Cornhill, Paul Swire, Sam Allshorn, Tom Baker, Arthur Vause, Diane Arthurs, Neil McCallum Following on from last weeks `Grand day out’… With the smell of chicken soup and the discovery of the blue earplug in Ireby II, the plan was to try and establish some sort of smoke or sound connection. The test equipment consisted of nine plumbers smoke pellets, a £3.99 penny whistle and two bottles of 29p … Read More
13/01/08 – Cripple Creek (Pacey’s Patio) Dave R, Ruth M, Neil P and George N. The day didn’t start too well for me when I turned up at the cave and realised that I’d left my furry suit at home. I thought that this would get me out of another CC trip but (un)fortunately Dave lent me his spare (and holey) one that he had back at his house. The start of the trip was therefore slightly delayed but I … Read More
I understand that last week when the sump was pumped out it took 4 and a half hours. I would like to know who was the first person to the sump and some data on the site please. Was east inlet overflowing? Was east inlet leaking? Was there any water ponded behind the dam when you first arrived and if so how deep was it. It took us 1 hour and 10 minuites to break the sump on the weekend … Read More
East inlet was not over flowing, I didn’t notice any leaks but a close inspection was not conducted. There was a very small trickle going towards the Ireby I/II dam but I don’t think that it was pooling. I wasn’t part of the sump pumping effort as I dived through first, so as not to delay making contact with the Cripple Creek team. However I believe that the pumping itself didn’t create a problem, it was the rate that the … Read More
Hi Simon, Apologies for not asking to use your pumping gear, I will ask in future. The east inlet dam was not leaking although it was only half full and there was no more water flowing along Duke Street than on the weekend of mass digging. There was no ponded water behind the dam when we arrived. When pumping started it was noticed that the dam was leaking a fair bit so a second dam was built in front of … Read More
Monday 21st January 2008 – Blue Monday Dave Ramsay, Richard Bendall. Jim Stevenson, Emma Martindale. Notwithstanding the horrendous weather, flood after flood after flood on the A65, it just happened to be Blue Monday. A doubtful team met at Inglesport café for 10am with the rain continuing to fall. Jim announced he was just there for a coffee before driving to Sleets Gill to witness the torrent no doubt gushing out and away down the hill. 12 noon came and … Read More
Cripple Creek (Sun 27th Jan) George North, Ruth McDonald, Tanya Savage, Neil Pacey – Cripple Creek Simon Cornhill – Ireby II This week the plan was to cap out the left wall on the Cripple Creek side and for Simon to continue drilling and chisselling the calcilte on the Ireby II side. Unfortunately Dave couln’t make it due to a suspect trapped nerve, but Tanya and Ruth were keen to help carry in some extra batteries. All went well on … Read More
Plan was to cap open entrance more as last time we left it a bit of a thrutch. Had everythiung to hand except firing pin so job scuppered. Couple of hours therefore spent moving boulders and mud, hammering calcite in an effort to reduce the slope of the debris cone obscuring the hopedfor continuing rift. Surprisingly, we got an outward blowing draft through a fist sized hole hinting that indeed there was a rift to be chased.
Friday 22nd February 2008 Richard Mercer, Richard Bendall. Return to sort out entrance. 4 holes suitably placed opened up the top part of the entrance and decission to leave the lower bedding in place to aid free climb out. If you can’t get through this bit you won’t get through the next squeeze! Plenty of battery power remaining so on into Blue Monday Chamber and 6 holes saw off the large offending boulders in the debris slope allowing more hammering … Read More
25/02/08 – Cripple Creek Neil, Madphil, Simon and George. IT WENT! Quite an epic trip – time for some sleep I think. George.
Congratulations to all involved – what an epic of exploration!
Yep, congratulations one-and-all. Just reward for all that effort!
Congratulations from me too. I feel as excited as you all. Looking forward to the write-up!!! Made my day. Y.
good effort,pete o
Cripple Creek, Monday 25th Feb George North, Phil Roswell, Simon Cornhill, Neil Pacey Phil had to hang on to get the bang from Bob, while Simon and myself made our way down Cripple Creek. George and Phil joined us just before the bottom making quick progress of 1 1/2 hours from the cars. Spent some time chisselling before Phil banged it. Due to very strong draft blowing from Ireby II, we had no choice but to suffer the fumes and … Read More
Saturday 6th December. Becka Lawson, Dave Harley, Robbie Shone, Mandy Foo and me. Not wishing to make excuses we parked the car where it slid off the road and crunched our way up the fell. This was to be a bag hauling trip only with no attempt made on the end. According to Robbie, who counts such things, we moved 138 bags, many several times. This is the total of bags left in the dig at present. Some of these … Read More
Great news. That means the survey must have been pretty close too. Next weekend for the final breakthrough then? Who said shifting sand was tedious? Tim
Morning Mudminers, I’ve been asking Sam and Mike about this, and the attached item from Mike explains how this (rather unexpectedly) came about. Not with the sort of Channel Tunnel handshakes and champagne event, more ‘at least we won’t have to go back out through Cripple Creek’..! With numerous 10-14 hrs bag-hauling sessions in Skylight behind them no-one can doubt that they’ve put in more than their share of graft. It also reflects well on the survey – with two … Read More
Mike and Sam with Ian, Liz, Tim, Geoff, Mick and one other who’s name i don’t know helped for a bit. Another 10 hours of digging and bagging the tight connection. Most of the tight bit has been moved 10m down the passage and all in bags and the low bit is now only 6-7m. Sam
More visits, more holes, hundreds of caps. Mearly tokens of our affections. The courting is over as she begins to open up. Such persuasion.
Ho Ho Ho Folks, As the day after Boxing Day is almost a year to the day since the first GDO does anybody fancy (weather permitting) a festve fun trip into Ireby to retrive all the pumping equipment ie. bags, pipes, drain rods, foot valves, filters, polythene sheeting, vimto bottles (empty) etc etc. It would have been cracking to co-incide this Anniversary / gear removal trip with the whirlpool dig breakthrough as it was so close! But that’s been done … Read More
Thank you to who ever dragged the bags to the Ireby 2 streamway. Another 11 hour trip for Mike and I whilst Tom jacked it in and left early probably due to my moaning. More bags have been filled and the remain constriction has been moved down the passage some more. The connection is how hands and knees not a flat out grovel. Johnny if you don’t get all the bags out to either end could you leave the drag … Read More
Hi All, Ruth and I did the Ireby round yesterday Saturday, points to note for interested/concerned parties. Ramsay’s kitchen was closed down on health grounds, a drag tray was left at the Turtle crawl/ Cripple creek junction. The aven is still rigged, so we left a rope at the bottom to leave in place of the rope ladder and Neils rope. Mike Coopers water bottle was removed and will be at Inglesport for collection soon. The tuck shop was also … Read More
Sunday – Tim, Mick, Geoff & Dave Frink chamber – re-rigged the rope on the pitch up to Frink. Bolted the aven marked on the survey going up from upper Frinks. To get to the aven is a 20ft uphill squeeze, now with rope attached. Aven ascends 40ft to boulder blocking the way on. A squeeze past this leads to ‘four man’ chamber. From here passage leads for 50ft to draughting choke. All left rigged for anyone who wants a … Read More