Duncan Jones wrote: Ireby Fell Cavern; a popular haunt of novice trips for many a year, a situation that has now changed
with the opening of two different routes into Ireby II and thus creating a round trip. The first to be
opened in 2008 was Cripple Creek, which is as the name suggests the harder of the two - the diggers
should be congratulated on the amount of effort put into this route, I would imagine numerable long
and hard trips took place opening this route up. Skylight Passage is by far the easier route and was
dug by a large number of cavers from both ends (the Ireby II end was dug when the sump was
temporarily drained)- this passage was connected in late 2008 and is a fine example of what
working together can achieve.
After supplies (both food and equipment) were obtained from Ingleton we headed to an empty
Masongill where a chilly change took place. I was glad that I'd purchased a new balaclava just
earlier in the day as it came in very handy on the windy walk up. On the track we got hit with a
brief, but still uncomfortable hail shower, we were glad it didn't last long especially with the
strength of the wind. Once at the entrance I wasted no time in getting underground and into the
warmth. Eventually everyone else made it inside and myself and Alex headed off down Ding-DongBell whereas the others headed down Bubbles. Not long after Pussy Pitch we encountered the
unlikely looking entrance to the Glory Holes; at first glance it would appear to be just a high level
oxbow but in fact is the starting point of the passage.
Once in the Glory Holes after crawling above the streamway you reach a junction, to the right the passage starts as it means to go on, crawling and a lot of it being flat-out. Throughout the crawl Pete kept informing us of larger dimensions, we didn't believe him, although to be fair it was larger in some places (well, hands and knees rather than flat-out!!) After passing through The Lounge we entered the sandy Turtle Crawl, we said our hello's to the residents before continuing onwards to a junction. The larger passage ahead was obviously not our way on, the small crawl on the left was.. More crawling arrived at a minor calcite squeeze and Numpty Rift, this is followed for a short distance before a
drop down enters a small chamber, here a rope-ladder climb leads up to another crawl (anyone
noticed a trend in the passage type yet?). This crawl emerges in the nicely decorated and
(comparatively) sizeable Womack's Chamber, at the far side another crawl leads to a small hole
down, a bit of faith is required as you lower yourself down and luckily find plenty of footholds. At
the bottom a reasonable sized passage is found with a few nice formations again.
After a brief pause we set off again, the way on being up another rope-ladder, a slightly awkward pitch head leads to, go on, have a guess.. Yes, you're right, a crawl, only a very short one and I found myself staring down a hole. Head first didn't seem appealing so I had to retreat backwards, trying not to kick Pete in the face, to find space to turn around so I could drop down it feet first. Me and Pete relayed the information about the drop and headed down another ropeladder climb, this time dropping into a small but pretty
chamber. Another short crawl and past some boulders brought us to walking passage, although it didn't last too
long. Follow the water was the information we had and this meant some more crawling and a few small (but not tight)
drops and what we assume is the connection squeeze. At first glance it appears very small but I made it through with my
SRT kit on so it can't have been that bad (for reference I kept my SRT kit on all the way, which is a mistake, particularly at
the start as it gets sh.. up!)
We waited for the others to catch up before a bit more passage brought us to some climbs up and
another short crawl to a fine traverse over a pit, once over we headed along a brief calcite crawl to
emerge in the large and impressive Jupiter Cavern. A short rope-ladder drops you in the chamber
proper. Keeping left was what we had been told, so Pete was sent off down a low level crawl, which
was not the right way so back out and up the slope we found another muddy crawl. Passing through
a small chamber I was soon at the top of a pitch (with some in-situ ropes, thanks to whoever placed
them). Down this and a further two reasonable sized pitches in to Escalator Rift. I got a welcome
sight at the bottom, some water to rinse off the muck. Once Pete was at the bottom we followed the
easy going passage to emerge in Duke Street II, I had a quick nip upstream to the sump before we
stomped downstream in the very large and impressive tunnel. After visiting the sump from Ireby I
we followed the chilly water downstream which got to waist deep for me, before easing slightly as
we approached the rope dangling down from Skylight Passage. A short climb and we were in the
sandy crawl and soon back in familiar territory. All that remained was a quick and efficient stroll
out via Well Pitch (with thanks to the MMMMC) and onwards and upwards to Ding-Dong-Bell and
finally emerging into a cool late afternoon with a fine view over towards the sea.
I've heard it being called a 'Yorkshire Classic' and I have to say I agree with that, a fine trip with a
good mixture of just about everything.. It took me and Pete 5hrs 45mins to complete the trip and we
did hang around a couple of times so it could be done in less time - we had a few pointers on what
to expect and where to go so I guess that helps, the others spent a little longer as they were derigging DDB.. Alex came out looking muddier than ever and knackered to boot!
