Peak District Caving > Cave News Index > December 2007
Reports:
> Bagshawe Resurgence.
> Riverside Swallet Top Entrance.
> Knotlow Cavern pollution.
Bagshawe Resurgence (The Lumb):
Progress Report February to December 2007.
Report from: John Taylor (Cave Diving Group)
Report Date: 18/12/2007.
Published: 22/12/2007.
A team of Cave Diving Group Divers comprising of Simon Brookes, John Taylor and Simon Cornhill assisted by Chris Jewell, Marcus Crabb and the Eldon Pothole Club have been pushing Sump II of Bagshawe Resurgence since February 2007. The first point of focus was a south easterly inlet around 8m into the sump which was pushed but found not to be a distinct passage or inlet, as initially hoped, but part of a low, wide bedding choked with tabular break-down.
In July the team turned to south westerly inlet and set about the boulders ahead. To the diver’s surprise the boulders yielded, they gave the appearance of being sizable but were actually loosely agglomerated smaller rocks. These were soon transported backward and stacked above and below the tabs of rock to the divers left. With the removal of more rock an opening of 0.4m x 0.4m into a continuation of the passage was gained. The divers were prevented from continuing beyond this opening by a fallen block which lay directly ahead. During the removal of this two large blocks forming the roof of the passage were seen to drop 5cm. The first of these was removed relatively easily but to remove the second took months. Progress was also slowed by poor flow between September and October.
Simon Brookes, John Taylor and Simon Cornhill finally broke through the blockage on the 24th of November pushing past the dig and up a rubble slope to zero metres depth and air-bells. But progress was once again stopped by conditions, this time the flow was too high and a return was not possible until 13th Dec when Simon Cornhill reached the previous limit, attached the new line, arranged belays and progressed over the top of the rubble heap to 19m from dive base. Flow was very high with access only just possible and visibility poor. On the 15th December S Brookes and J Taylor returned, pushed the line down the rubble heap to a low arch to the left and into a wide low bedding to 30m from dive base at a depth of 3m with the passage still continuing and the main flow still coming toward the diver.
Work continues....
<<< previous report 08/1999
Bagshawe Resurgence.
Photo: Shaun Puckering 13/12/2007
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Riverside Swallet:
Discovery of the Top Entrance.
Report from: Martin Milner (Darfar PC)
Report Date: 08/12/2007.
Published: 08/12/2007.
After more recent survey work by Martin Milner of Darfar P.C., it could be seen that the bottom of a cave in a gully just upstream of Riverside 2 was only a metre or so away from the right-hand side of the top of the Tumbledown Aven in Riverside Swallet. On 16/11/2007, after a couple of previous visits by D.P.C. members to remove a few rocks from the clay floor, the cave was joined to Riverside Swallet by Martin and Pete Ray. Within a few minutes of arriving at the cave, a large gritstone cobble was levered out of the floor to reveal a black hole with the sound of a waterfall coming from it. The hole was quickly made big enough to get through.
After installing a ringbolt in the entrance, a quick descent to 12m (40ft) depth was made with the base of the aven (just below the current sump level) about 5m (15ft) below. The waterfall could be seen as usual entering a few metres above the 'floor'. Both were very impressed by the size of the aven, (up to 5m (15ft) long and 1.5m (5ft) wide near the new point of entry), which couldn't really be appreciated from the bottom. The ropes used by the original explorers, (of whom Martin was one), in 1989 to climb the aven were still in-situ.
On 18/11/2007, Eddie Potter, Ian Morley, Martin and Pete returned to have a proper look round inside, despite the river being in full flood and the bottom of the aven sumped to around 5m (15ft) depth. Near the new point of entry to the aven, Martin traversed out near to where the aven continued upwards and installed 2 ringbolts to allow a descent of the aven near it's widest point. This also allowed them to see up the rest of the aven. The old rope was belayed via a y-hang about 2m (6ft) above with the aven continuing up to a domed roof of sorts at least 5m (15ft) further up. By the shape of the aven and surface gully, Martin felt that a way in ought to exist at the top, (possibly choked), so it was decided to climb the aven to the top in the near future.
The first priority now though was to install a gate on the entrance to make it safe. This was started on 22/11/2007 by Martin and Pete when the cave was found to be draughting strongly, implying that the sump had dropped considerably, though they didn't actually check due to time constraints. On 25/11/2007, Martin and Pete successfully fitted a hinged gate to the new entrance and then descended to the bottom of the aven finding the rest of the cave drier than it normally is in summer! Very little water was entering anywhere and no sump was visible, despite the River Manifold being in normal winter flow conditions some 14m (46ft) above! Martin thought that this was down to the vast quantities of fallen leaves being sucked down into the main sink swallets. The new entrance was rigged as 2 pitches; the first a 6m (20ft) pitch, the second a 12m (40ft) pitch from the new ringbolts.
On 29/11/2007, while Martin continued construction work on the new entrance. Pete uncovered a new, higher way into the aven which has not only saved several hours of bolting, but will give a straight 15m (50ft) pitch to the bottom! It will also make investigating the top of the aven much easier. Martin also removed two old anchors which had been in there since 1989. The cave has now been extended by around 8m by the creation of the new entrance. Of course, the river flooded again soon after preventing any more work being done for the moment...
Knotlow Cavern Pollution:
Report from: Dave Webb DCA Conservation Officer
Report Date: 29/11/2007.
Published: 02/12/2007.
A quick analysis of records for the past twelve months, recently recovered from the base of Knotlow Climbing Shaft, show that for all intents and purposes the pollution that has plagued this popular system for decades has finally disappeared!
Air quality was variously reported as “good”, “no bad smells”, and “no problems” on all the 23 entries in the log book.
The logger at the base of “Fourways” has been taken out by the Environment Agency and the securing chain will be removed in due course. The results during the period of the test of water quality were inconclusive.
It is not possible to say precisely what has given rise to this change in the overall quality of the water flowing into the system, but two things have happened during the recent times:
1). Increased frequency of patrols throughout the catchment area by the Environment Agency.
2). A change of use of surrounding land from dairy farming to beef farming and hence reduced amounts of localised slurry run-off.
Of course the position could easily change back without warning and for that reason the warning notices will remain and the record book will continue to be in place at the foot of the shaft; I would appreciate your help in continuing to report the situation as you find it.
I would like to thank all visiting cavers for their patience and diligent record –keeping, and the Environment Agency for their valuable intervention.
Copies of the records for the period Sept 2006 – October 2007 can be had from myself at conservation-off@theDCA.org.uk or viewed on the DCA web site at http://www.thedca.org.uk
<<< previous related report 10/2005
Email your news and info to cavenews@hitchnhike.co.uk
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