Caving: Swildons Hole (08-Mar-03)

• Swildons Hole


• 07:00 hours
• 1,205:45 cumulative hours

After our trip a couple of weekends back we headed back to sump 11 to have a look at this climb in the roof of the new chamber and also to try and survey it. Phill carried in a fleece suit so as he could try and get to the end. The trip to eleven went OK and were soon thrutching our way up this horribly tight tube. It was not possible to do any accurate surveying so as we went up the tube I took some bearings, when I could move my arms, and estimated the distances. We both eventually reached the chamber at the end and I climbed to the top dislodging lots of loose rocks while Phill hid in a small alcove. As I was approaching the top of the rift it appeared to completely close down until I reached the top of the climb and turned around to see a walking size passage heading back towards sump 12. I nearly fell out this aven as I was so excited. I shouted to Phill who climbed up to join me and we both headed off down the new passage. Unfortunately it didn't last for long and it soon closed down. We have fully explored this area now and there is no further way on without turning it into a long term mining project. An uneventful trip back to back to the streamway and then back to the surface was had.