Glyn Edwards and I arrived on Leck at about 4.30 p.m. on Thursday, 4th January and were able to witness a very colourful sunset whilst waiting for Gordon Batty. We soon carried most of the tackle across as Lost Pot is fortunately an easy approach and not very far from the road. The steep sides of the shakehole were frozen, and at the bottom, on the left, is the excavated shaft dug out by Batty in 1968. This was later pushed for a few feet by U.L.S.A. down a very constricted passage. On this particular evening the waterfall above this shaft was completely frozen and deep snow led to the dig proper. Ice everywhere, and up to 6 inches thick in places. Glyn immeidately began to tackle the dig with crowbar and sledge hammer, whilst I assembled the bucket and tape to haul out material. At first, Glyn's opinion was that the dig was too frozen and it would be better to wait until a thaw set in. However, once the top few feet were gone things started to improve slightly and Gordon took over, principally to place some shoring. About this time Doc Walker arrived after looking all over the fell for us. Glyn got busy with hacksaw on scaffold whilst I sucked icicles and Doc walled up the top step.

We hauled out a lot of fill, including some large boulders, under which was some old shoring. This, we think, was about the limit of a previous dig by John Conway and B.I.C.C. The wall was now beginning to shelve under and digging was much easier but it was time to return. This we did in fine starlight, and after quickly changing, headed for the New Inn.

The following week, after an assessment of the burst plumbing at Green Close, Glyn and I picked up Steve Webb and headed for Leck. A complete contrast to the previous Thursday, for it was cloudy and damp with rain threatening, but at least it was warm. It was still light as we hurriedly got changed, then ferried an assortment of equipment over to Lost Pot. The fell was soft and I soon lagged behind with my tin leg sinking deep every other step. There was still a bit of snow and ice about, but, in general, everything had softened up considerably. After a good night's work during which the hole ran in we eventually recovered the status quo, strengthened the shoring, and returned to the New Inn.

The following Thursday (28th Jan.), only Glyn and Steve went to Lost Pot. A great deal of shoring and walling was done. Digging down further, the wall shelved steeply under with gaps between boulders and full of promise they retired to the New Inn.

Glyn, Steve and I met Gordon on Leck at dusk on February 4th. We changed quickly in very cold strong wind. Carrying shoring gear the others soon left me behind struggling over the boggy ground as usual.

The first hour at the dig proved to be hard involved work and then Doc Walker and Andy Walsh arrived bringing with them more shoring material. With the arrival of Doc and Andy things became a lot easier. In the next hour a lot of fill came out as well as boulders useful for walling. Glyn went down again and, after clearing one or two blocks, broddled about with the bar and quite calmly announced that it had gone. The draught was now noticeably stronger and Batty went down and had a look, and managed to 'lob' a boulder down what appeared to be a short pitch into a chamber.

It was now getting late and it was obvious that a lot more work was needed to enable a descent to be made, so we left it at that and made our way back in a jubilant fashion. Whilst changing we swore secrecy and arranged to meet the following Sunday. The Thursday night team had done it again, proving that "dedication and tenacity are the key to new cave", (quote from Hiram K. Shizenbaum).

Unfortunately, I was he only one of the team unable to go on Sunday. The others spent a long time walling up and making safe. A huge gritstone cobble was hauled up using two pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage. Eventually the last rocks were levered into echoing space and Andy Walsh bravely descended the pitch at the end of the day. Glyn joined him but no obvious way on was found from the aven chamber discovered.

On the next trip on Thursday, February 11th, Glyn, Steve and I got an early start. Glyn re-arranged shoring, walled up and after an hour declared the pitch safe. After a brew, I descended the pitch experiencing a little difficulty at the tight start. The pitch was only 12 ft. and was climbable. At the bottom a sizeable rift led to a nice chamber with a high aven. The water disappeared down a 5 inch bedding and it was rather disappointing. However, the floor was silt so I started digging. Batty, Glyn and Steve appeared and investigated the aven, but to no avail. The tigers of the dig took charge and soon a bucket brigade was operating. Doc Walker and Andy arrived and soon all six were hard at it at various jobs. Steve, Glyn and Doc removed large sections of the bedding roof with hammer and bar. Gordon and I, in between emptying buckets, cut stemples for the pitch behind us. Andy messed about without much success. The bedding dig was abandoned and a start was made to remove all the silt from the chanber bottom. This was made difficult by water backing up and forming slurry. In between finding drainage holes and bedrock, a dredging operation ensued. Batty had a go and following the line of least resistance moved a lot of material and made drainage holes, however they all seemed to quickly block up, not an encouraging sign. Glyn took a turn and seemed to attack the problem with some determination. It was now getting quite late and perhaps a little bit of desperation was setting in. Glyn removed several blocks and quite a bit of material, and moved the dig right back underneath where I was standing. I could actually watch his progress through holes beneath my feet. A broddle with the crow bar back up the rift got rid of the water dropping on him. About this time we all felt a very strong draught and interest increased. Shortly afterwards, Glyn announced 'pitch' but he could not get through to it as a short, low bedding barred access. Gordon had a look and knocked away some of the roof and floor enablking Glyn to squeeze through. A lot of boulders and debris were pushed down a dangerous looking boulder slope at the wide end of a narrow rift. A lot of shoring was obviously needed so the job was left for the weekend. We only just made the New Inn for last orders.

Once again, I couldn't make it on Sunday. (Clever chap, Ed.) Glyn, Doc Walker and Steve were joined by Kev Millington to carry on the work. They spent all day shoring up the boulder slope in the rift and dug out the bottom. Doc dropped into a small enlargement formed by a monster block holding back small stuff from the 3 ft. wide rift. Ahead and down, boulders thrown boomed into a deep shaft, but a gardening operation was left for the following Thursday.

Glyn and I set off for Leck early again on Thursday in order to retrieve a sledge, spade and bar from Committee Pot. This task done, we waited for Batty to arrive with scaffold and ladders. Batty and Glyn went ahead. Passing through the slot into the rift top for the first time proved a bit awkward for me, then I dropped easily into a narrow rift which fell away almost vertically for 30 ft. with stemples and walling holding back loose fill. The walls were good and solid but care was necessary. I stayed at the previously mentioned enlargement by the monster block, reasonably comfortable, whilst Gordon and Glyn cleaned the top of the pitch below. I sson began to feel cool as there was a veritable gale of a draught which blew out my match as I attempted to light a cigarette. Glyn and Gordon worked for an hour or more gardening and shoring, but from the odd comment it was now close to an inspection on ladder. Doc Walker and Andy arrived making a lot of frightening noise with scaffold pole. Doc passed down the poles and tackle. They had arrived at an opportune time - the other two were asking for ladders. I was cold, so was thankful to move again and do something useful. Gordon put a ladder on the pitch and gardened lower down. I lined him and debris could be heard crashing a long way as Batty booted it down. Gordon returned and said the shaft was good and solid, but there were a couple of large gritstone blocks precariously jammed. Glyn then went down and a couple of minutes later there were two tremendous crashes as the boulders hit bottom. Four more ladders were passed down and secured and Glyn descended, gardening small stuff on the way.

Glyn was away for 10 minutes. No-one had joined him as the line couldn't be pulled up. It had wrapped itself round a boulder at the bottom. Returning up the pitch, Glyn informed us there was a large old passage at the bottom with the stream going down a deeply cut trench which eventually cascaded down a shaft about 90 ft. deep and was probably N.P.C. avens.

Gordon, Doc and Andy went down. Glyn and I waited for half an hour before I lined up Doc Walker and hten made my way out, leaving a descent of the pitch until Saturday when there would be more time for a descent by yours truly. Again, last orders at the New Inn were enjoyed.

Saturday, 20th February Bottom of Master Cave Reached

Having all met at my place at 10 a.m. we called in at Green Close to pick up a ladder and some belays. There were a number of members about and consequently one or two wondered what was going on.

Whilst changing in a freezing wind, a B.P.C. team arrived for a trip down Lost Johns'. On asking where we were bound we told them Notts Pot. The fell was frozen and I had the best walk across yet. At the first pitch Glyn descended, followed by an eager Dave Barker. Steve Webb went next, it was the first pitch of any length he'd done. I went after him and Gordon and Kev gave me a wonderful line, my foot never touched a rung. At the bottom Steve was still getting over his ordeal and I was getting jip from my shoulder, hit by a rock whilst coming through the dig, a sorry pair we must have looked. We climbed down a loose slope into a fine damp aven with a very large passage on forward. With tackle, Steve and I followed the big passage with water running 20 ft. below us in the trench. Climbing over boulders, down and across gaps, we saw Glyn and Barker below us in the trench surveying back from NPC avens. While Glyn climbed up at the end into a continuation of the phreatic passage lined by Dave, the rest of us tackled the second pitch and had lunch. Glyn returned and said the passage was solidly blocked with no potential.

Batty went over the edge of the pitch and said it looked about 75 ft. This cheered me up and I decided to go down. Glyn followed Batty down and I went next on a good line. Barker and Kev descended leaving Steve at the top to man the line. Batty and Glyn ferreted about while the others descended, then we set off for the master cave. A tight rift led to a 30 ft. climb. I had trouble on this without a rope and decided against it. Barker suggested the friable flake holds on the climb were like biscuits and stayed with me. The other three carried on down while Dave and I returned to take photographs.

Dave and I were very cold when the Bottoming team returned and their trip was not without incident. Kev had considerable difficulty in the squeeze. Fortunately Kev, like the incredible hulk, is able to widen narrow passages. In the main drain, a party of B.P.C. were met, and our three stood prone with lights out wearing the N.P.C. look of idiocy. When asked how they had arrived, Batty replied "Notts Pot". This was received without any questions or surprise, but they kindly offered the use of their ladders.

Back at the pitch all ascended except Glyn and myself. I took off my artificial leg hoping to make myself lighter, but this proved to be a mistake as I was completely unbalanced all the way up and I gave my stump a nasty bang. The lifeline also got caught behind a couple of flakes which caused me to be pulled off the ladder. I reached the top very tired and wouldn't have made it except for the wonderful line given me. Moving away from the shaft top was problematical, as my leg was down below with Glyn.

The tackle, Glyn and my leg came up, and we made our way back. I was on pilot light, Steve had no light, and Barker illuminated the way with a fag end. Reaching the first pitch, I became worried about the extra 25 ft. on this one, after the desperate time I experienced on the 75. Everyone up the pitch, I was alone with the tackle, exposed and worried. I sent all the tackle up in one go, which proved to be too much and probably tired out my pulling team. Abuse from Glyn didn't help my morale any. The line came down, I was very dispirited and now wet through and cold. I needn't have worried however, as the N.P.C. 'tug of war' machine got to work and just about pulled me up bodily. I arrived at the top triumphant and knackered.

The human chain climbed through the dig passing equipment and retrieving digging tackle to emerge into a very cold night and so to the New Inn.

Saturday, 27th February, Lost Johns' to Lost Pot Through Trip

The inevitable through trip team set off from Green Close leisurely. Bill Pybus, Simon Farrow, Iain Crossley and Fiona (a new lad), descended Lost Pot to ensure ladders and lines reached pitch bottoms. Glyn, Budge, Greg Smith and Andy Waddington descended Lost Johns' with one 50 metre rope and an assortment of retreat slings. They quickly reached Pulpit where a large party of Trent Polytechnic cavers, probably a little baffled, let them pass. Excellent large spikes are available at the top of Cathedral for line pull back. Dome has an eyebolt conveniently positioned. Water conditions were low, so on reaching the head of Battleaxe it was decided to abseil on down the wet pitch, using a sling through a very good thread.

Soon the team were wandering up the fine streamway towards Lyle Cavern, having enjoyed a unique and unhindered descent of the magnificent Lost Johns'. Beyond Lyle Cavern, the Lost Pot team were met, who retraced their steps. Further on, the water turned emerald green, tying up the unproved water outlet at the foot of Lost Pot aven. The trip out of Lost Pot was uneventful, except for a cock-up at the first pitch and Glyn shouting abuse, again!

Chester