Pen-y-ghent Pot

Saturday, 8 September 2007

9am, Settle - It being some years since the majority of the group had visited PYG, there was some trepidation as the trip began. Would the Settle Down still be in business? Would the bacon still be as deliciously fat as a gammon steak? Fortunately things had not changed a great deal, the only difference being that the staff were younger and slimmer than before, unlike some of the potholers!

In an attempt to embrace modern spelaelogy, a permit had been obtained and hence it was decided to park at Dale Head as directed on the permit. Having negotiated the farm hounds and duly deposited the relevant paperwork at Dale Head House we trudged off, over the hill to the entrance. These innovations in access did not seem so beneficial to cavers.

At the entrance the trip took on the tones of a descent into Hades as we were greeted by the baying of Cerebrus. Tonk attempted his dog whispering act but, despite a credible performance, the mad rolling eyes and continual barking clearly fingered the hound as a mad Alsatian leaving the group to conclude the likely presence of a notorious northern diver in the cave.

On entry to the system due penitence was paid in Pilgrims Way and at the first pitch the ropes of the other party were encountered. The die cast for a multiple-party, multiple-rope confusion but Cooper manfully rose to the occasion and raced on to rig the pitches. The cave was so full of bits of tat that no one really took much notice of the spare chest harness discarded at the top of the big pitch until much later in the cave when Cooper indulged in a little Wattyism and betrayed, in a slightly extrovert fashion, that he had left it there by mistake.

The descent was indecently smooth, all things considered, and a couple of hours later the day’s achievements were toasted at the main downstream sump with a couple of cans of lager thoughtfully supplied and transported by the wise and competent Sam.

The trip out proceeded equally smoothly for a few yards right up to the first climb. At this point there was an almost imperceptible dip in the performance of one or two of the group. Perhaps the tiniest alarm buzzer may have sounded at the back of Sam’s brain at this point. Myers Leap was ascended without undue concern however the start of the rift climbs confirmed the style in which the exit would be made.

The cave had been rigged according to the excellent caving guide by Mike Cooper “Not for the Fainthearted” that had proved to be completely accurate on the way down. Some confusion in the definition of a pitch must have arisen around the Eighth pitch as an easily descended rift had been left unrigged and on return this presented at least one of the sub-prime potholers with an enormous challenge. Fortunately Sam’s light shone and he gently wafted up the climb and rigged the required rope. From here on Sam acted as a steadying foundation for the exiting potholers, for which I am particularly grateful.

Meanwhile the notorious northern diver and his team, whom had been encountered at Hunt Pot inlet, had elegantly exited the cave at warp speed. A slight miscalculation (perhaps the wrong word) had resulted in them derigging the second pitch and not dropping the pre-rigged ULSA rope in place of their own. A serendipitous delay saw Phil arriving several hours late for the bottoming trip but exquisitely timed in order to re-rig the second pitch and thus meet up with the main group at the big pitch. Never let it be said that proper organization is any substitute for blind luck.

A steady exit was made and everyone was out after a trip of around 7 hours. The arduous walk back up and over the fells to Dale Head was somewhat alleviated by the lovely evening weather, the fine views and the imminent prospect of foaming ale and good company in the Helwith Bridge.

Thanks to all those who came on the trip.

By

David Brock

Trip members

Andy Tharratt
David Brock
Hogin
John Cooper
Phil Howson
Rob Murgatroyd
Sam Allshorn
Steve Tooms
Tony Cook

Pen-y-ghent Pot

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