Group Caving Trip (Carlswark)

Since I started caving as you can probably imagine I've been going on about it no end. Half the people (well probably more than half) react along the lines of "how can you do that? I hate being underground? etc..." and generally have a negative view of caving. This is fine and everyone is entitled to their opinion. The other half (probably less than half) react along the lines of "wow, can I come?". Because of this I ended up organizing a caving trip for a bunch of my friends who've never been caving before. However I planned it so far into the future that everyone who came on the trip, has actually been out caving with me before! This didn't matter one bit as it just meant that we could have a quite a big group of us going down.

The plan for the day was to meet everyone (Laura, Sammy, Matt, Ronnie, Finney and Me) in Stoke then head across and park up at the lay by up from the power station in Stoney Middleton. The plan was to head down the Eyam Dale Shaft, as it's is the most exciting yet more manageable way to get into a cave system and then explore Carlswark heading into the dynamite series before coming back out of it and coming out the Gin Entrance (reducing the SRT involved).

There isn't much to say about the day really other than we all had a right laugh caving. I rigged the shaft with a normal Y-hang for those of the group who were happy abseiling and had a spare line running on an Italian hitch to back it up for a couple of the party. Sammy had never abseiled before so she got a crash course in how to make it down the hole without any problems.

With everyone down the shaft most of us took off any harnesses or SRT gear we were carrying and left a small pile of it in the passage, ready fro retrieval on the way back through. We kept the tackle bag though, which I've added a leash to so it can be dragged behind me if needs be and we set off into the dynamite series. I took up the rear so I could struggle along with the bag (and there'd be no shooting off ahead) and it gave Ronnie and Finney and chance to take charge of where we were going. I think having done so much navigation to get my ML I'm quite happy navigating underground. We've only been in pretty easy systems but it's always good to get some practice in. 

We followed the cockle passage to the t junction (left being big dig series and right being dynamite) and because I'd arrived last I found everyone standing in about of foot of water. I'd been watching the weather all week and wasn't surprised that the passage was flowing and I knew we 'd push on regardless, all I was really worried about was people trying to stay dry and moving slowly. I dived straight in and ended up almost balls deep in water (not really hard achievement when your crawling!) and we carried on through. Getting through the little area where the roof has been stablised was fun... as I watched the tackle bag float past me in the water! Once through this it was a little dried and we started the series of squeezes into the various chambers in the dynamite series.

The first was midnight chamber, which amazed those of the group who'd not been in it before. I really like how there is a completely different feel to the rest of Carlswark (Eyam Passage Area) and you can physically see the difference in how the cave has been formed. We carried on through into Success Chamber which, with 6 people, was a bit of a squeeze. We did try to take some photographs but there was way to much condensation. Andy then tried his best to fit through the connection into the next chamber, which was a small hole in near the floor half filled with water. He emerged soaking wet with helmet off saying that it wasn't possible, or at least he wasn't willing to it. We vowed to go back once the water subsides a little.

Having reached out furthest point the only thing left to do was walk, scramble and crawl out. We retraced out steps (or crawls) getting nice a wet for the second time and pushed on. We actually met another group of like minded cavers at the squeeze so all got to have a good laugh and a chat underground with them and where they were heading before carrying on with our own journey. We soon got back first passage we'd entered and retrieved the cached bags (for Finney to carry) and set off on the home straight. By this point I was pretty wet, but I've given up trying to stay dry. I've found that I have much more fun caving if I just accept I'm going to get covered in mud and wet, rather than trying to avoid it.
The home straight (or Eyam Passage) had enough water in it to breach my wellies but it didn't matter. We all ploughed forward happily until we came to the small depression in the floor which is actually an obscure connection to the resurgence entrance (that runs beneath the Eyam Passage). I dived down with Laura to have a look. Last time I was there there was a little bit of water in the sump but it was still probably passable. This time however it was flooded up into the aven almost. Just looking down at water in caves scares the life out of me, especially when I can't see the bottom but I still ended up chimneying down to it just to have a peak. I was soon up and out (as was Laura) while a few other's in our group had a look down.

Getting back up it became apparent that some of the group were cold, so we really did bug straight out this time and for the first time in a long while exited the cave in to beautiful sunshine. All that was left was the de-gear ourselves and then make it home. That isn't to say that I drove off and had to turn round 5 minutes later because I'd realized I'd left the shaft rigged up!

(Getting Sammy down the shaft, she hasn't abseiled before!)

(Matt, sporting some rather dashing pink marigolds)

(Draw me like one of your French girls)

(Ronnie and Matt in a nicely formed phreatic tube)

(Team pic, in daylight for the first time ever!)

(and this is what happens when you give Laura a harness)

I actually went climbing again...

Probably more impressive is that I've updated by blog, something I've let slip. The last few days have been a bit of a blast with regards to climbing. I'm still carrying an ankle injury (not ankle injuries though!) but I'm also sporting a possible broken toe. My foot fits into my climbing shoe, which I guess is something. Having now mentioned I'm full of injuries I've still been climbing all weekend... and Monday.

Saturday was spent at the Roaches. Both Andy and I haven't actually climbing outside in a while and with the weather report (light snow in the afternoon) we didn't think we'd get any climbing in. We probably should have started earlier as well to avoid the snow but we didn't. We stuck close to home (well Stoke) and went to the Roaches. I lead first and did Kestrel Crack (HS 4b) and had a cracking time on it. I've actually done this route before, but it was a miserable day with cold damp weather so I was happy to be able to experience the route in the dry. I think Andy really enjoyed it as well. We both ended up grinning broadly as he topped out and we could look down at the view. The broad grin's probably had more to do with all the little mishaps we'd had seeing as it was the first time out in ages. I'd managed to pull up the ropes without Andy tying in and he'd managed to leave behind a piece of gear, which I had to fish out on abseil. Andy then got lost on the walk-off.

Andy lead the next route, which was Fledglings Climb (Severe 4a). He hasn't lead for a while and this was his first lead of the year (I know, he's left it a bit late). He was in for a right treat as well because the snow which was forecast, actually decided to fall. Didn't stop Andy climbing though and he topped out with no problems. I seconded him up and we headed to the upper tier.

After a considerable amount of faffing around we finally settled on a route (via flipping a coin) which I was to lead. It was Black and Tans variation (HVS 5a). Being honest I've been looking at doing this route for a while, but I've been put off by the blank looking and unprotected start. This wasn't the case and instead I enjoyed a few moves of balancy slab climbing, above some alright-ish gear before gaining the corner crack of the parent route. This was (and always is) a joy to climb, it's just a shame it's so short. Then there was the final slab and overhang to deal with. Having looked back at the topo I was probably too far to the right but I still enjoyed what I'd climb. I got to sit and belay as the snow fell. Rather cold we descended after Andy had seconded up in the snow. We did ask the coin if we should do another route, but ignored what it told us and headed back. 

After a short days trad climbing how had my toe and ankle fared? Well I keep the ankle strapped up in a plastic brace which my physio gave me and spend most of the time during activity dosed up on painkillers so it wasn't too painful by the end of the day. It's slowly getting better which each outing but I still need to be careful on it. As for the toe, well that just got more and more painful throughout the day. The pain lessened after I took off the rock shoe, so that problem is solved. What I did notice is that because I've not been climbing much recently, I've lost loads of muscle mass from my upper body. It's kind of nice to be reduced to having to think about using my feet so much more. Another positive thing I can take from not climbing as much is that I packed my bag from empty for once, instead of just putting water bottles in a prepacked bag (generally from the day before). It wasn't filled with all the accumulated crap I normally end up lugging round with me. It was just climbing gear, small amount of food/water and a warm layer. It was just nice to have a reasonably light sack for once.

Sunday was spent doing more climbing, well actually bouldering. I spent the day walking up a treeless valley (that might be an overstatement, they've not felled the whole valley yet) to Ousal Crag. They really are doing a lot of felling work there. The trees in the area are all infected with a parasite so they're being felling and instead "proper English woodland" is being planted in it's place. This will in theory look beautiful but it'll take some time. It it going to be nice to watch all the ash and beech growing up before the oak trees take hold and the change in biodiversity and undergrowth vegetation will make the area amazing in the spring. I'm already looking forward to spending a week bouldering there sometime in the far future and enjoying watching the trees change colour in the autumn.

Instead of waxing lyrical about some romantic view of the great outdoors I'll get back to bouldering, which was good. Considering I've not been seriously bouldering for about 5 months it would probably have been quite folly to expect to get anywhere on the 7a traverse (a constant source of frustration) but this wasn't the case. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't exactly up for bouldering but after procrastinating for as long as I could I did eventually put on my shoes and start working on the traverse again... and I got further than I've ever got! Over the course of the next couple of hours I managed to climb (in sections) the whole 7a sequence. This is something I've never actually managed before.

The day ended with me being knackered and hurting across my upper body. Apparently using muscles that have gotten fat and happy over the last three/fours months means they don't like you anymore then just ache afterwards. I was really happy with what I actually got done on the bouldering and again my toe hurt a lot, but that pain went after I took off my climbing shoes.

Monday was then spent in Redpoint Climbing Centre, for around nine hours! Not all of the time was spent climbing or bouldering as there was a lot of rest needed and tea to be drunk. This didn't stop me having a pretty awesome day climbing indoors for hours and hours. I left feeling sore, tired and happy.

I guess you once you've been climbing for a while, no matter how much time you have off once you're back climbing it's like it was yesterday (apart from being frustrated by a lack of strength). It's been such a nice change to be out climbing for a weekend rather than caving. Don't get me wrong, I love caving to bits but I've felt that life has had too narrow a focus for the last few months. Staying above ground is just as fun as being under it.

Here's to more time spent on, in, under but hopefully not falling off rock, in all it's bizarre forms and varieties!