Mike wrote:
After almost 12 months of trying, Craig finally managed his first trip with the
legendary Black Rose Caving Club. Accompanying the regular motley crew was a
neighbour of mine and keen crag rat called Paul and Alex’s new found friend – Daz of
Caving (who came complete with “BADASS” wellies with flames on them LOL),
talk about two peas in a pod!!!!!
The Barrow contingent met Rick and Craig at the usual haunt of Inglesport café for a
pre-cave scoff. Dan turned up shortly after and joined us while he waited for Pete to
arrive (they were off doing deranged things hehe). Alex appeared next with the
infamous “Daz of Caving” who appeared to have emerged from the same mould as
his compadre – a kindred spirit of sorts LOL.
With the motley crew assembled and armed with snippets of info from Dave Ramsay,
we left Dan and the recently arrived Pete and headed back along the A65 to a
decidedly busy looking Bull Pot Farm.
Once changed we set off across the fell, slightly bemused at the newbies in the group
and their respective (yet individual) decisions to fully dress only to begin peeling off
all various layers as body temperatures began to soar LOL.
I had been mulling over the route for a few days and being happy with entering
County and emerging from Wretched Rabbit – I fancied a new challenge. Today
we would enter Wretched Rabbit, drop into Spiral Staircase and head down to
Holbeck Junction.
Rick and I entered County Pot (blissfully escaping the ravaging hoards of midges)
to rig the ladder for our exit whilst the others made their way up to Wretched
Rabbit entrance – with Alex doing his usual scratting about along the way.
The Northern Boggarts had rigged the first two Wretched climbs with ladders which
made the descent for the novices slightly easier. Alex as usual, deciding to take an
alternative route in.
Having only been up Spiral Staircase once before and now attacking from the
opposite direction some things appeared familiar en-route, whilst others didn’t.
However, between Alex and I, the group eventually arrived at Holbeck Junction.
From here we headed along Thackray’s Passage and up into Easter Grotto where plenty of
ooooh’s and ahhhh’s were heard from those who were making their first visit to this area. After
photo’s we headed along the connecting crawl to gypsum Caverns (grateful thanks to the
Northern Boggarts for their timely assistance at this point – I
hate that exit LOL)
More photo’s were taken in Gypsum Caverns before we completed the circular route
back to Holbeck Junction. From Holbeck Junction, a straightforward trudge down to
Eureka Junction and up into the now familiar lower and upper trident
passages, with a quick look in Whiteline Chamber (a mere trickle and the Showerbath, non-existant!)
saw us back at the ladder for the ascent to daylight (eagerly awaited by some hehe) at the County
entrance.
On exit, the weather was still sunny and warm (and thankfully the midges had departed!!!) so we made haste back to the
cars for a quick change and a brief chat with those likeable fellows from the Northern
Boggarts again before making a beeline for the Whoop Hall to take on some much
needed liquid refreshments.
