Belfry Bulletin Number 278

79

THE BELFRY BULLETIN ____________________________________ Number 278

October 1970

(VOLUME 24 No.10) ____________________________________ CONTENTS Caving Penyghent Pot Monthly Notes N. 36 Second Tier Cave

80 85 83

Climbing Letter from the North Climbing Report

81 83

Club Business Notices Publications Report Notes on A.G.M.

82 82 85

Miscellaneous Monthly Crossword 86 ____________________________________ The Belfry Bulletin – Monthly Journal of the Bristol Exploration Club. Hon. Sec. A.R. Thomas, Allens House, Townsend, Priddy, Wells, Somerset.

Hon. Editor, S.J. Collins, Homeleigh, Bishop Sutton, Bristol

Editorial OUT OF THE RED A year ago, after the A.G.M., some of us thought that it would be possible to raise enough money to get the new Belfry built – although possibly at the cost of driving the club into debt for many years. Even the most optimistic people thought that the club was in for a few years financial stringency. The idea that, within a year it would not only be paid for, but that there would be a small surplus would have been dismissed as quite incredible.

At the A.G.M. just over, questioners were told that, after paying completely for the new building including paying back all the loans, the club had a surplus of about two hundred pounds. A formal vote of thanks to the Treasurer was deflected by him to include all those who had helped to produce this happy state of affairs. Without in any way being smug about it, we have cause to congratulate ourselves and each other on this fine achievement.

THE END OF THE SIXPENCE Whatever happens nationally to the sixpence, our own Thursday sixpence that Bob has wrung from us for so many years at club bow ceases to be extracted. The new club committee has implemented Bob’s suggestion (see Hon. Treasurer’s Report) that it should be dropped. When it was first introduced to help club funds, it bought half a pint of bitter. Now it buys considerably less. Still, we shall miss trying to avoid paying it in the future!

“Alfie” A hundred and fifty seven people were counted at the club dinner by the management of the Wookey Hole Restaurant. The Hon. Treasurer’s books count a hundred and fifty two as having paid. If you are one of the missing five people, please get in tough with Bob and settle up with him. The alternative is for us to have tickets printed next year, which are bound to add to the cost of the dinner.

Club officers and committee members as at present elected are as follows: Members of Committee

R. Bagshaw; S. Collins; N. Petty; A. Thomas; P. Franklin; R. Wickens; T. Large; T. Hodgson and P. Ham.

Club Officers

Committee Chairman, A. Collins; Hon. Sec, Alan Thomas; Caving Sec, T. Large; Hon. Treasurer, R. Bagshaw; Hut Warden, P. Franklin; Tacklemaster, N. Petty; Belfry Engineer, P. Ham; Minutes Sec, R. Wickens; B.B. Editor, S. Collins; B.B. Printer; B. Wilton; B.B. Postal Dept, J & V Ransom; Editor Caving Publications, G. Tilly; Caving Publications Sales, B. Ellis; Hon. Librarian, D. Searle.

P E N Y G H ENT POT

80 One can almost hear the groans! But wait! Read on! Saturday, 27th of June saw a party of nine B.E.C., Shepton and Grampian members preparing to descend a somewhat well known hole.

Those in the party were A. Jefferies, B. Craig, B. Cross, B. Mahew, B. Woodward (what a lot of B’s – Ed.) M. Webster, M. Huaun and T. Large. The sight of nine naked bodies leaping over the fells would surely corrupt anyone’s mind, but to those more acquainted with caver’s way, it would not be an uncommon event – they would realise that it was a certain group of hard men trying to keep their feet dry!

…..by Martin Huaun An advance party comprising A. Jefferies, R. Bennett, B. Cross, and M. Huaun preceded the divers in an attempt to ladder the pot, so making delays as small as possible. However, the divers and sherpas caught the advance party up at the fourth pitch, From here on, one just slid down the rifts leaving someone else to ladder it. At the sump, M. Webster and B. Woodward kitted up. Webster won the toss and was given the privilege of diving first. After a couple of minutes, Martin returned saying it was still going. Brian dived next, but the diving had to stop owing to some faulty equipment. The divers then packed up, and R. Bennett; B. Craig and A. Jefferies proceeded out carrying the bottles (diver’s – not alcoholic!)

Then the floods came.

Flood waters first hit Bennett and Co. in the Main Chamber. They hit the other party a couple of minuses later below the sixth pitch. We first became aware of the rise in water level when a bewildered B. Cross and M. Huaun failed to locate a climb up. No wonder! The climb, which had been dry on the way in, was now a roaring Niagara. The pitch turned out to be very aqueous. Once out of this, we found a large ledge where we could have a rest and no sooner had we sat down than the main flood waters arrived in a peaty brown tidal wave. The hours were helped along by various verses from ‘We are the exploration club’ and ‘I am a music man.’ The credit for the last feat must go to Bob cross. Mind you, at the end we weren’t sure which was worst – the floods or Bob’s singing. When the waters first arrived, a marker stone had been placed in a cull-de-sac so that we could tell if the waters were rising or not. Every now and then, someone would go and have a look at the next pitch to see what it was like.

After some hours of waiting, it was noticed that the waters were going down, but by looking at the marker stone, we could detect no change. No wonder! For the last couple of hours we had been staring at a pool!

As we set out, we met some C.R.O. blokes above the fifth pitch. With the extra sherpas, the journey out was a lot quicker. Some of the pitches proved to be very interesting. Coming through the canal, one could not fail to see the foam compressed against the roof. All of us were out by 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning and so ended 13 hours of unforgettable caving. Full credit must go to the C.R.O. blokes who turned out, fearing the worst. The next morning we had a whip around and produced £10. This was doubled by the addition of Bennett’s and Craig’s fees for appearing on TV. _______________________________________________________________________________________ EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE

If any members have supplies of this material – particularly in the form of apple boxes – could they please donate it to the Belfry, where it will be used for insulating the roof? Please bring any supplies to the Belfry and dump them in the loft.

RESCUE PRACTICE

There will be a full scale practice rescue from St. Cuthbert’s on DECEMBER 8TH. Meet at the Belfry at 11am. If you have not been on a practice before, please try to turn up, as it is a most useful and valuable experience. If you have been on rescues before, please turn up and lend your expertise to the exercise. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Although the B.B. is not too badly off for articles at present, it is the usual custom to print a bigger B.B. for Christmas. This has to be planned well in advance to avoid putting too great a load on the B.B. staff.

81 PLEASE send in anything you might feel could be used for the Christmas B.B. as soon as you can.

Humorous articles etc. are accepted for this number. Why not see if YOU can make us laugh?

LETT ER FROM THE NORT H

Editor’s Note: This article was, in fact, written as a letter to the Editor, but it seems better presented in article form. I hope that Steve will not mind my choice of title, as it seems to describe his various activities….

Some two years have passed since the last letter from the north hit the pages of the B.B. but I will try to contribute more regularly in the future. In this letter, I will give just a brief resume of the events and go into some of them later in rather more detail as separate articles.

During April 1969, Mike Luckwill and I had our Easter meet in Scotland again.

After an early start from my house in Fife, we arrived in Glen Coe at 8 am and set off to do Deep Cut Chimney (five hundred feet of grade 3) on Codre nam Beith, but the seemingly unsupported tongue of ice protruding from it dissuaded us from starting up

….by Steve Grime the thing. This was very fortunate, as I later discovered that my super new Grivel ice axe was not sharpened.

On returning to the Glen, we decided to head for Skye, as I was keen to do the ridge – having been repulsed the previous September by lack of training and a broiling sun. We arrived at Mallaig too late to catch the ferry, so we went and camped on the shores of Loch Morar – Scotland’s deepest loch whose maximum depth is 1,017 feet. It was very pleasant there and I can really recommend it to members with a couple of days to spare on a Scottish tour.

Clear blue skies above us as we finally pitched our tents in Glen Brittle on Monday morning and the whiled away the day with a mixed snow and rock ascent of Sgurr Alasdair by Collies Route (800 feet diff.) followed by a short excursion along the ridge and then a return to the glen by the Sgurr Alasdair snow chute.

That night, a bunch of guitar playing yobs from Edinburgh University kept us awake for hours. The next day, we tried to blast a way to the ridge in the region of the Bhasteir tooth, but got hung up on a very steep series of iced up slabs and had to give up or we would have been benighted. An exhilarating glissade – standing; sitting; rolling; in that order – took us down to the glen whence we hitched a lift back to the car.

The Slig ran out of draught that night, so we boozed in Portree in a spit; sawdust; darts and telly bar.

The next day, we left Glen Brittle in a hurry as rain had set in and I still hadn’t done the ridge.

Summer holiday, 1969 was rather unique as I spent a week with the wife, baby and dog strolling round Perthshire camping and pram pushing.

In September 1969, I managed to get the job up at this school and have done quite a lot of climbing since then.

During January this year, I spent ten days in the Cairngorms and had a hell of a hairy time skiing on frozen sastrugi-like stuff on planks with no edges! We, my colleague and I, did all the four thousands on ski where possible, in twenty four hours; climbed steep wind slabs in gale force winds; got lost on the top of Cairn Lochlan and nearly took the headwall off Corrie Cas straight! We also snow holed in Garbh Chaire and plopped off on Grade fours.

Apart from a couple of sallies in the Black Corries at Bein Bhan, five miles from my house, I didn’t do anything until mid February when I set off with one of my friends from London – one Terry MacManus from Glen Brittle – to have a go at a winter traverse. We managed a five hundred foot v. diff. but the ridge didn’t go as there was heavy powder snow on hard ice covering the rock. Back at work in March, we managed to get to Skye with the boys and walked them into the Corries. They were suitably impressed. Since then, I have been strolling along at three thousand feet in an electrical storm shepherding fourteen year old Glasgow

82 schoolgirls. I have also been ‘caving with the lid off’ in semi-flood conditions as well as running before God knows what force winds in the boat – a thirty two foot dipping lag cutter and trying to push routes up the magnificent buttress of Coire Mhi Fearachear on Ben Eighe in Torridon. This last is a mere hour by road and then a further one and a half hours walk from my house. The other attractions round here are the Corries at Ben Bhan just an hour away and a magnificent rock buttress A’Cioch – a thousand feet and again, just an hour away. We have some Darness Limestone fifteen miles away and I think it might be worth investigating as I noticed a few resurgences when I was there in March but there was a heavy covering of snow so the sinks were less easy to spot. We were snowed in for four months last winter by the way.

If anyone fancies a trip up here in winter – or any time for that matter – we will be very pleased to see them. Just give us plenty of warning, as the nearest supermarket is eighty miles away in Inverness. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Caving Publicati ons Report

This year has been a dormant one for publications; partly due to other activities at the Belfry, and partly because of my four month – now increased to six months stay in the U.S.A. The manuscript for Roma Mines has now been edited an prepared for publication and should be in Gordon Tilly’s hands next week. The Cuthbert’s Report is plodding along slowly – too slow for some; but Rabbit Warren, Rabbit Warren Ext, and at least two other parts are nearing publication stages. Dr. Derek Ford promises to let us have the MSS for the geomorphology in the next few weeks. Except for the water tracing and the flora and fauna, all other parts are being worked on by several people in the club.

Sales for the year have been down quite considerably on 1968-69 but the reason should be obvious to all – the lack of cavers at the Belfry site during the building period – particularly guests who are our greatest purchasers.

Since leaving England, Gordon Tilly has taken over the series, and I expect he will be able to answer any further questions. It just leaves me to say that I hope this meeting is a good fiery one and that all enjoy a good dinner this evening.

Dave Irwin, Caving Publications Ed. This report, and that received from the Hon. Librarian were both presented at the A.G.M. but were received too late for inclusion in last month’s B.B. All that is wanted now is the report from the Climbing Secretary, which we hope to be able to print soon. Latest news from “Wig” is that he expects to be back in time for Christmas. Editor. _______________________________________________________________________________________ The Westland Caving and Rock Climbing Club have hired three French Caving films, one of which has an English commentary. B.E.C. members are invited to attend if they so wish…at… Westland Sports Club, Westbourne Grove, YEOVIL, Somerset….on…Thursday, 12th November 1970…at…7.30 for 8pm. _______________________________________________________________________________________ NOTICE Members who bought part one of the Spelaeodes may well be wondering when they are going to see parts two and three. Owing to Dave Irwin’s sudden and enforced departure to the States on business, records of sales of the first part are not yet in, and the club committee could not thus see its way clear to authorise the production of the next part. However, an offer has been made to the club to print the spelaeodes commercially as a single volume including all the material which the club was going to print. This offer has been accepted by the committee and members will be able to purchase the complete set after December 1st in George’s Bookshop, Bryants, etc. Copies will be available to club members at some discount and the details will be announced later. In view of this offer, it was felt that members would rather have the opportunity to buy the complete volume, which will have a colour cover, than carry on with the club’s scheme. _______________________________________________________________________________________

83

Articles

Response for the appeal for more articles has met with SOME success. In particular, Steve Grimes has sent in some useful material. We could do with more so that we can keep the B.B. up to date. How about it?

S E C O ND TIER CAVE

High up Cheddar Gorge, along a thorny, grassy, ivy clad, slippery ledge – partially concealed by a small tree, is the new club discovery.

Originally found and investigated by Arthur Cullen and Derek Targett two years ago whilst looking for a new route, it recently became the subject for an enthusiastic digging team consisting of Zot, Pope and White.

Tools were taken up the chute below Reservoir hole and along the vegetated ledge, at times almost over the traffic and “souvenir souls” creeping up the road.

…by Bob White The original passage was only about ten feet long and the digging was easy in gravel except for the horizontal somewhat congested positioned at the face of the dig itself. Rocks and gravel were soon being moved out, and great care had to be taken to place this spoil safely on the cliff. This operation continued until a stout barrier of stal brought us to a halt and there was no space to lever against it.

The next day, Zot and Pope chemically removed this obstruction and the way into virgin territory was cleared.

While Zot widened the entrance to the small chamber beyond (to assist ‘Podgy’ to get out) the system was explored.

One rift to the left, through a loose tight squeeze (what a marvellous language English is - Ed.) seemed promising but became choked with some gravel, loose stal and same rocks as the rest of the cave. The whole roof is solid, being fluted and scalloped in places showing vigorous water action which one would associate with larger caves. This cave may well be very much larger, but, unfortunately for us, it has been filled almost to the roof with infill. Recent small animal and bird bones are scattered over the cave, and one bat was seen to fly in. The only other possible way on is an aven, which Derek climbed for ten feet but which closed in small inlets. To find a cave having such strong indications of water flow, yet to be so solidly choked is disappointing but its an enjoyable dig with a view!

Editor’s Note: The impression is given above that Derek was not in the digging team. This is due to the difficulty which the Editor had in deciphering the manuscript. A plan of the cave will be found on the next page of this B.B.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

CLIMBI NG

Editor’s Note: With the publication of this report, all the Club Officers reports for the club year just ended are in the hands of club members generally. At the last committee meeting, it was learned that ‘Fred’ Attwell is willing to continue as Climbing Secretary, and he has thus been co-opted to the committee in that capacity.

The Climbing Section of the club has grown during the past year, and now includes a good percentage of club members.

R E P O R T There have been many visits by the club to North Wales and to Cornwall with a few visits to other districts including the Lake District, the Gower and the Dorset Coast. On weekends, many members have been climbing in the Avon Gorge and in the Wye Valley. The Climbing Section also meets on the Avon Gorge during the summer months on Thursday evenings.

Climbing tackle obtained by the club during the year includes two Stubai ice axes and two sets of crampons. Our thanks are due to Val Luckwill for donating one of these ice axes and the crampons to the club.

In addition, five guidebooks are on the Lake District, two on Cornwall and Lundy and the remaining one on the Gower Coast. _______________________________________________________________________________________

84 SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL CLUB LIBRARIANS, ARCHIVISTS AND THE LIKE!!!

Owing to what can only be described as an unprecedented clanger, last December’s B.B. – No.261, was followed by the January B.B. – numbered 269! This numbering with a blank of eight missing numbers has been continued since.

We are indebted to Mr. A.D. Oldham for pointing out this mistake to us. Having thought about the matter, it has been decided that the only way to avoid creating even more confusion is to continue the wrong numbering. The annoying thing is that the error crept in when changing over to a system designed to prevent this type of error occurring! Please note, therefore, that NUMBERS 262 to 268 INCLUDED OF THE B.B. DO NOT; NEVER HAVE, AND NEVER WILL EXIST. With regret, this must be added to the list of quaint and unusual facts of Mendip caving!

_______________________________________________________________________________________

85

86

Monthly Notes Number 36… ….by ‘Ben’

From the Log As well as multitudinous caving trips on Mendip and in South Wales, members have been pushing several sites on Mendip with varying success over the last month or so. Most important of these is Second Tier Cave in Cheddar, where a dig in the short, pre-existing rock shelter has revealed a small chamber and about sixty feet of cave passage. Work continues with good prospects of further extension.

Some digging has also been done in St. Cuthbert’s Rabbit Warren as well as some climbing in Pyrolusite Series.

The Tuesday evening diggers are at present sorting out Sump I and generally cleaning up the bottom of the cave.

Members also took part in trip to Swildons. This included Cowsh Aven, where an eventual link with Priddy Green is hoped for, and a diving trip during which about fifty feet of passage was found in Swildons VI in addition to a possible bypass to Sump VII. The latter party used air to exit through Sump IV which is now heavily silted and dangerous to free divers (i.e. – don’t).

North Hill Swallet.

This yielded thirty feet of caveable cave during September and the N.H.A.S.A. team are optimistic about further progress.

Cuthbert’s Leader’s Meeting.

This year’s Cuthbert’s Leader’s Meeting will be held on SUNDAY the 22ND of NOVEMBER at 2.30 at the Belfry.

This meeting controls most of the policy regarding Cuthbert’s so anyone interested in this cave should try to attend.

Practice Rescue.

The B.E.C. annual practice rescue has been arranged for 11am on Saturday, 5th of December. Meet at the cave – St. Cuthbert’s. Although the rescue will be used to try out new techniques and alternative routes, its main function is to familiarise as many people as possible with the actual job of moving an injured person through a cave. THIS INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE ON A FIT PERSON WHO WILL POINT OUT ANY MISTAKES ETC. SHOULD NOT BE MISSED, so please turn up for this rescue if you possible can. _______________________________________________________________________________________

NOTES ON THE A.G.M AND DINNER

The Annual general meeting got off to a good start – almost exactly on time – in the main bar of the Seven Stars. Business was very much simplified by having nearly all the club officer’s reports previously published in the B.B. and a full version of last year’s minutes. Business was also simplified by our not having and election for the committee although this cannot de said to be a good innovation and it is hoped that next year sees a keenly fought election again.

The Chairman (Sett) successfully untangled the Hon. Treasurer’s report for the benefit of those present, and it appears that we have a small cash surplus even allowing for the repayment of all outstanding debts and loans in connection with the new Belfry. The remainder of the Club Officer’s reports aroused little comment and the meeting passed quietly and happily (beer was available right through the meeting from the bar) through the rest of its business.

One of the quietest A.G.M’s the B.E.C. has ever held.

The Annual Dinner followed at the Wookey Hole Cave Restaurant. Speeches followed the usual pattern with a new joke from Alan (‘Absent Friends’) Thomas, together with a quip which got a mixed reception and a presentation in the tradition of the B.E.C. – this time a very fine stuffed fruit bat to the Hut Warden, the fruit bat being supplied by Norman and Jill Tuck. (History does not relate who stuffed it). A newcomer to the B.E.C. speechmaking team this year was Zot, whose joke also got a big laugh.

The proceedings went on in B.E.C. fashion with the somewhat tight announcer described as a right pantomime called Puss in Boots or some similar title. This was, on the whole, enjoyed by the audience and was produced by the team of last year’s ‘Oliver!’ fame – Peter Franklin and Alfie. Some clever and original songs by Fred Wedlock closed the evening. Not, perhaps, one of the really great vintage type B.E.C. dinners, but one which was well within the traditions of B.E.C. dinners.

Editor’s Note: Members may like to know that the committee are making a provisional booking for the same venue next year. If you have any great objections to going to Wookey again, please get in touch with Alan and provide CONSTRUCTIVE alternative suggestions. We sit down nearly 160 people nowadays – so don’t suggest some cosy little restaurant!

87 MONTHLY CROSSWORD – Number 5.

Across:

1

3

3

4

5

6 7

8

9

10

11

1. One can describe a caver’s state or his relationship with a tight squeeze (3) 4. Found in Club – a trade mark! (3) 6. Dear’s Cave? (5) 7. ‘Warm and 7 across and 1 down’ (3) 9. Member of B.A.C. cavers? (3) 11. Yet eel can provide light (9) 12. 10 across is no use without a pair of this (3) 14. Describes well know grotto (3) 16. Veer N? Not ever in the case of Cuthbert’s (5) 17. Perches’s Pot? (3) 18. Unusual gathering (1,1,1) Down:

12

13

14

15

16 17

18

SOLUTION TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD

C R A C R G R E A A V L A E L A D D E I R T Y S H

K U P I I N T T V A D O S E I N R E R S D E N S E C A T T E R

Stencils completed 3.1.70

1. See 7 across (3) 2. Attempt 3 points (3) 3. Garden bottom hole? (5,4) 4. Caving body in Clubs Amalgamated (1,1,1) 5. Ours has 5 across (3) 8. Cuthbert’s boulders (5) 10. Breathe rapidly for this Welsh cave (5) 12. Go wrong in merry hearted manner (3) 13. Should come last (3) 14. Green on Mendip (3) 15. Mad reversal over Cuthbert’s sump (3)