Gibson, Parker, Ryder As the Compass Pot shaft excavation had been bypassed by the streamway banging team we went for a look at a small shakehole further up the track leading to Littondale. At the bottom of the shakehole the start of a hole looked through a small gap to the bottom of an adjacent steep short shaft. At the bottom of this a rift could be seen, partially floored with run-in debris and perhaps with enough room for a … Read More
Monday 5th February. Alan Speight, Phil Parker Finally got back to this intriguing site and started capping along the rift. Good day terminated by the sun dropping behind the adjacent ridge and the temperature dropping sharply.
Friday 23rd February Richard Gibson, Phil Parker, Phil Ryder, Alan Speight Both ways into the chamber had slumped so plenty of mud and stone removal followed by floor lowering and removal from the rift of some of the capping debris from the last trip. Removal of a section of buttress means that the object of desire – hole downwards – is now in view.
Wednesday 14th March Gibson and Ryder (part-time), Parker and Speight (the 100% boys) Phil R went elsewhere for some landscaping work whilst Richard was stuffed down to the front end to clear thr debris from the bang boys visit. There was not much but there now being a little more room he was able to dig spoil and run-in from the floor of the rift whilst Alan and Phil moved it up to the surface. Eventually he opened up another … Read More
Thursday 22nd March ’07 Gibson, Parker, Ryder A time limited trip saw us digging out the floor at the furthest point forward in the rift. Attempts to pass the first squeeze were thwarted by a large stone that eventually ended up too far in to be recovered. There was a lot of water around the dale and water could be heard running beneath us. Saturday 24th March ’07 Clark, Parker, Rhodes, Smith We capped the sides of the rift and … Read More
Wednesday 14th March Gibson and Ryder (part-time), Parker and Speight (the 100% boys) Phil R went elsewhere for some landscaping work whilst Richard was stuffed down to the front end to clear thr debris from the bang boys visit. There was not much but there now being a little more room he was able to dig spoil and run-in from the floor of the rift whilst Alan and Phil moved it up to the surface. Eventually he opened up another … Read More
Saturday 31st March Parker, surface support from Phil Ryder Spent a couple of hours capping. 3rd April Speight, Parker Three and a half hours of all-out capping plus hammer and chisel work. Part of the left-hand side wall is laid in thin layers and responds quite well to a good whack. 7th April Smith and Clark They had enough drill power left after going down Compass Pot to drill and bang one and a half holes in the right-hand wall. … Read More
Wednesday 18th April Ryder, Parker, Gibson A visit to the doctors’ surgery plus the Ryder needing to get away early meant a short visit. Removal ofthe debris from the last visit was followed by a “round the clock” set of holes for capping. Resulting debris removed and Gibbo sent in with hammer and chisels to take advantage of the resulting cracks and weaknesses. After a few minutes, as he was becoming extremely excited at the possibilty of getting into the … Read More
Thursday 26th April Gibson, Parker, Ryder The Saturday visitors had removed some of the right hand wall so we started with rubble removal and floor digging out. Then we went over to a mixture of capping and hammer and chisel with the result that eventually we could more or less get into the waiting widening. Unfortunately the way on into the now obvious chamber was too narrow for immediate entry and will have to wait for next week.
Monday 30th April Mercer, Parker Alias Smith and Clarke had done the business on Saturday so some squirming and wriggling got us into a 20′ high and 6′ wide aven. Unfortunately the way onwards has not deviated from the line of the entrance rift and has degenerated into a low bedding. This suggests that it is going to a small resurgence about 50 yards away so all action suspended until there is enough water for a meaningful dye test. You … Read More