Caving: Nick Pot (10-Jul-2026)

• Nick Pot


• 02:30 hours
• 2,749:44 cumulative hours

After our failed trip last year because of high water levels, we thought we'd do another Nick Pot evening trip.  Much lower water levels this time.  Tim rigged the first pitch and the traverse.  I then rigged the big pitch.  It took a little while to locate the re-belay bolts, which are just after the flake, in a groove to the left (facing away from the water), one bolt on each wall.  Once at the bottom, quick look at the sump before heading back out.

Caving: Rift Pot (11-Jul-2026)

• Rift Pot


• 03:00 hours
• 2,752:44 cumulative hours

A Rift Pot to Long Kin East Exchange. Very low water levels. A baking hot day. Walked up the hill from Crummack in shorts, carrying all the gear.  Took a little while to find the correct crossing point through the drystone wall at the top.

Ollie and I did Rift Pot, whilst Tim and Mike did Long Kin East.  Ian forgot his helmet, so had to run back down the hill!

I rigged the Rift Pot route, which was all very straightforward and it didn't take us long to reach the bottom.  We could hear the others, but Tim was trying to locate bolts that were a bit hidden around the corner.  Ollie and I explored to the sump whilst waiting.  

Once the others were at the bottom, Ollie and I started heading up the Long Kin East route. Just as I was about to de-rig the 2nd re-belay, Ian appeared at the top (after fetching his forgotten helmet). Ian came down the ropes and passed me at the re-belay and caught up the Tim/Mike (who we could still see on the other side of the shaft) before they de-rigged their ropes.

It was then a straightforward trip to the surface at Long Kin East Cave.

Caving: Juniper Golf (11-Jul-2026)

• Juniper Golf


• 03:00 hours
• 2,755:44 cumulative hours

After the Rift Pot and Long Kin East Exchange, we thought we should do Juniper as it was so close by.  We roughly re-packed the bags to suit the Juniper pitches, but realised when we were at the 2nd pitch we didn't quite have enough rope.  So I headed back out to collect more rope from the surface before re-joining the others.

The rest of the trip was straightforward and we were soon all at the bottom of the big-pitch.  We took it in turns to go and have an explore down to the sump, whilst others headed out.  Ian and I then de-rigged.

A long day, and by the time we got back down the hill we had missed pub food, so had to go to Settle to try and find food (which was harder than we thought it would be due to the England World Cup game being on at the same time).

Caving: Disappointment Pot (12-Jul-2026)

• Disappointment Pot


• 05:00 hours
• 2,760:44 cumulative hours

As water levels were very low, after a prolonged dry spell, and no sign of any rain on the forecast, we thought a Disappointment Pot to Rat Hole would be good.

Ian and I headed in Disappointment Pot whilst Ollie/Mike/Tim went down Rat Hole.

The entrance pitch for Disappointment Pot was all quite loose, but OK.  The meanders afterwards were tight in places, but nothing too severe.  There were just a few places you had to find the correct height in the rift for the widest part.

The meandering rift passage then turned into a low bedding plane crawl with water.  I went first and the airspace got less and less, but the bedding plane was quite wide.  I got to the tight bit and could see an opening just ahead. I got my head through to the higher passage, but couldn't get my chest through the tight gravel/bedding plane constriction.  I reverse back out to the little chamber to reappraise the situation.  I then went back in, but dug out the gravel floor as I approached the tight bit, there was plenty of space either side to push the gravel.  It was then fine and I got through the watery bedding plane with ease and into the hands/knees canal.  

I continued and Ian followed, and we were soon at the Portcullis Duck.  Whilst this only had a small airspace, it was very short and quickly opened up the other side.  I went through head-first on my back and it was fine.  As I was on the other side, Ian decided to just free-dive it.

It wasn't long and we were soon at the first pitch, which was all OK.  When we joined the Marilyn rouet coming in from above, the rest was all OK.  Pitches 3, 4, and 5 all had fixed ropes in quite good condition, so we used these.  It was then just a case of following the CNCC description to get through Henslers and back to Bar Pot.

We met the others in GG main chamber.  Had a quick chat, and the headed off.  Ian and I set-off up the Rat Hole route.  This was very cool, with great views of the main chamber.  The rigging was all quite technical and the Tarzan swing was quite a cool feature.

Once we had de-rigged all the ropes, Ian and I then had to get four bags (as we still had some of the Disappointment Pot rope which wasn't used) between us out of the Rat Hole entrance.  This was very slow going.  None of it is particularly tight, but it is awkward and slightly uphill.  The worst bit was a boulder that had been washed in, partly blocking the passage that was already quite small.

We could soon see daylight and it wasn't long until we were back on the surface waiting in the sun for the others.