On 16th June 2015, Rachel, Ali and I attempted Disappointment Pot to Far Waters; we got a bit lost in the Far Waters. Since then, we have been to the Far Waters and Hallucination Aven via other entrances.
11th May marked my 29th Birthday and I used the opportunity to coax Rachel, Ali and Toby into a Far Waters trip, the intention to enter via Disappointment was kept quiet until the preceding days when it was too late for bailing. Ropes were packed on the Friday evening and equipment – specifically wetsuits – packed into bags for carrying up the hill. We had previously made the grave error of walking to Penyghent Pot in our wetsuits some years before, it wasn’t enjoyable. As the weather was looking good we opted for the considerably more pleasant option of carrying our gear up the hill and changing at the entrance.
A departure time of 08:30 was decided upon – although Toby’s influence in the decision wasn’t particularly positive. We arrived at Crummackdale ~09:00, this has become our favoured parking spot for Gaping Gill. The walk up was pleasant – temperature just right.
Entrance was located with relative ease and we set about changing. There were a few tents next to the main shaft for the upcoming BPC winch meet. As we were getting changed a couple of BPC members came over to check-in and see what our plans were, we agreed to come and see them once we were out to confirm all safe. Not too much long later a couple walking the 3 peaks started chatting to us and were somewhat bemused and shocked about how we were going to spend the day. Given the glorious weather, I guess we were a little bemused too.
As we went to stash our bags of surface clothes in the shakehole, I unfortunately happened across a small brown present, presumably from a 3 peaks walker or wilder camper who had no knowledge that the shakehole provided others with the gateway to an enjoyable day. The turd was negotiated only to find its associated bog roll further into the shakehole. My hand jammer unavoidably came into contact with it – clean side thankfully – I responded with several expletives about wild campers before piling a few rocks onto it so that my colleagues wouldn’t have to suffer to same mishap.
And then the trip began proper; most people associate Disappointment with the Portcullis Duck and while this is a challenge in itself the entrance passageway between the bottom of the shakehole and the ducks is somewhat annoying. It’s a twisting rift, not tight but very winding and in some places you are forced to climb up and down to negotiate the passage. This worked up quite a sweat in a 5 mm wetsuit and we were somewhat pleased to arrive at the Duck.
There are two ducks in Disappointment, I have never been totally sure which one is actually the Portcullis. The first is in a snug bedding plain with the water properly taking up a third of the vertical height. I was at the front and first attempted this on my front, after becoming wedged with my mouth partially underwater I decided that wasn’t the best plan of attack – reverse. Instead, I tackled it on my back head first going across to the right of the passage to keep my head out the water. In this position I could lie in the duck quite comfortably and pull some bags through. A short crawl then brings you to what I have always associated as being the Portcullis, a sharp drop in the passage roof to a small arch above the water about the size of a regular caving helmet. Remembering what I had done back in 2015, I tackled this on my back feet first. As your head goes through the archway it is pretty much totally underwater save your nose, mouth and eyes. Ali and Rachel came through in a similar fashion. Toby after disbelieving that this was the way on, rather impressively, managed to the come through on his side only really putting one ear in the water – very neat. The ducks were both quite sludgy and smelled and we pondered that we might be the first people down for quite some time given the very wet weather we have experienced over the last 8 months.
After a small rift section the first pitch is down on the left, some faff ensued here as although I was rigging, my manhood, wetsuit and SRT kit were not playing ball – this continued as a theme throughout the trip. Toby took over rigging. After some further pitches – all good SRT – and a bit more horizontal caving including passing under the aven where Marilyn drops in, we reached the Hensler’s Master Cave.
The route into the Master Cave is down through some boulders and somewhat obscure so we left a bottle and a bag of food as a way marker. Not before consuming some chocolate and water. SRT kits kept on for the forthcoming Echo Rift pitch.
Hensler’s Master cave is pretty underrated in my opinion and I always enjoying passing through it. As we moved up the boulder slope on the right we spotted an abandoned tackle sack with a neat note requesting it be left in place – someone must be up to something down there (JNC?). After ascending the famously bouncy ladder which marks the start of the far country, we next found ourselves at the blow hole. Again, indication that one had been down here for a while – there we very pretty calcite crystals in the small pool that collects in the blow hole. Momentarily, I considered using conservation as an excuse for turning around but it was only a momentary thought and instead squeezed through the blow hole.
My previous experiences with the fixed rope at Echo Rift have been lubricated and fast, however a decision was made the night before that an additional rope for Echo Rift wasn’t required. The rope we happened across had totally the opposite characteristics and instead I had to force it through my descender. At the bottom of this pitch SRT kits were dumped and the really aqueous adventure started.
Southgate duck is quickly reached and I normally tackle this on my front with my month under the water line and eyes just above – in this manner I find I can move quickly through the duck before I run out a breath. Perhaps my technique is no longer as good or the level in the duck was slightly higher but I was certainly glad to get to the other side and take a breath. What follows is pretty much continuous crawling to the Northern Line, this was my 4th trip to the Far Waters and I had boasted that I didn’t need a description however I was glad we decided to bring it in the end as there are a few junctions along the way – these were our demise in 2015.
After about an hour of crawling we reached the junction between the Northern Line and Rivendell. We ventured into the Rivendell side passage and enjoyed the relatively good formations and noted some random plastic sheeting and evidence of recent digging activity – long way to go for a dig. Returning to Northern Line junction we decided a visit to Hallucination Aven couldn’t be missed and started along the deeper canal sections.
There were more canal sections than any of us had remembered in the approach to the Hallucination ducks and these were met with trepidation by one member of the team. However, the rest of us made short work to display no empathy reinforcing the expectation that all on the trip should reach Hallucination Aven. The ducks into the aven itself are a little intimidating but once you’ve resigned any feeling left in your ears, and your nose and mouth have become closely acquainted with the passage ceiling, the intimation fades away and enjoyment ensues.
Having achieved the goals of our trip and now feeling a little chilly after wallowing around in cave water for the best part of 2 hours, we decided to head out. In 2016 when Ali and I first visited Hallucination Aven we managed to crawl all the way back to Echo Rift in 1 hour, I had conceded to myself even before entering the cave that the days of this rapid movement underground were now behind me. So I was presently surprised and satisfied when on this trip, 1 hour after leaving the Northern Line junction we found ourselves at Echo Rift.
Back at the connection between the bottom of Disappointment Pot and Henslers master cave we enjoyed some fruitpastels, chocolate and water. The way out caused yet more disagreements between my harness, wetsuit and anatomy but alas we emerged out into a fine evening very pleased with our accomplishments. We popped across to the winch meet to inform them we were safely out and compulsory beer was provided to us which had quite an effect after 8 hours of caving – the designated driver did not consume – quite an achievement for a Scot.
We arrived back at Greenclose where the I was greeted by a rendition of Happy Birthday followed by a very enjoyable meal courtesy of the Family Meet Group. Rachel and I were on pudding duty and it took us a little time to muster the energy and provide our crumble – I think everyone enjoyed it even if it was 10 pm!
Next year’s birthday trip…I guess it better be aqueous again, maybe Living Dead?
Preparing to leave the lovely spring sunshine and warmth for a cold, dark and wet hole in the ground.