The original plan was to carry on doing the Windypits having done 3 the previous day. However
due to a combination of factors we decided otherwise. These factors included:
Me being hung over, no way to rig some of them safely without ladders (we had none), risk of being
shot deliberately or accidentally by over zealous land owners, rock falls, long wait for rescue and
being covered in dead sheep etc. So I convinced Chris, who really just wanted to do some caving
anywhere that we should hit the Dales.
Do not get me wrong the pits do have their charm and are well worth a visit.
I recommend Cliff Force cave but the weather had other ideas. So Chris offered to show me around
Crackpot cave.
This cave is one of the few caves where not only is there no access issues, the landowner actually
provides you with a map and signs with which to find the cave. We parked up in-front of the gate
leading up to the trail with permission and set off up in the rain to the cave.
The blue rock of the entrance crawl reminded me of Mendip. It was a only a short 5 minute crawl
until we reached the main stream. It was a good few feet deep, Chris tells me that every other time
he had visited the cave it was only a trickle. So it was far wetter then normal.
Main stream after emerging from the crawl.
After exploring a dead end, we waded up stream into a boulder filled chamber.
Before continuing on into the more recognisable column chamber.
Ceiling of column chamber.
Onwards we went into the main chamber, where we made use of the bench to take yet more photos.
I spotted that the passage continued behind the bench, so we followed it. After an easy scramble we
arrived at the stream again beyond a sump, where a nice stal hung.
At this point we reached the end of the cave so we made our way back exploring every nuck and
cranny along the way.
Before we emerged on the surface again where it was thankfully dry, we even managed to get
changed before the next cloud burst.
