tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69337311516355557412024-03-13T00:19:45.551+00:00FerretBothKneesFerrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-57335048613258242782017-11-12T13:00:00.000+00:002017-11-28T13:42:55.106+00:0050 Shades of SlateA certain Welshman has been pestering a couple of us to visit this mine for some time. Max and Richard picked me up on Friday night, stopping for a pub dinner on our way to the hostel in Corris.<br />
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This is a very pretty mine, the open chambers give a different perspective to most other underground slate quarries.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">100ft Ladderway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunchbreak</td></tr>
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Top day out, thanks guys :)Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-87391891578208214612017-04-20T21:00:00.000+01:002020-04-17T14:42:58.670+01:00Milltown Quarry, AshoverA last minute, mid week drive out to Milltown Quarry, in Ashover, Derbyshire. Nice place to spend an afternoon...<br />
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Some nice BBQ'd sausages too!<br />
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<br />Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-32724490582139454492017-04-15T22:00:00.000+01:002020-04-17T15:06:09.628+01:00A Mine in Bonsall<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard in a large chamber (by Derbyshire standards)</td></tr>
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Today started with no real plan with the exception of being told to "be ready for 9.00am."<br />
After a little discussion beforehand, and some indecision, we headed in the direction of Matlock, with half an idea to do Jugholes cave/mine. However on the way there we formed a better plan.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I had recently been reminded of a mine I've read about before, at Bonsall near Matlock Bath. Access to Ball Eye mine was uncertain from looking online, but I had it on good authority from a fellow mine explorer that it was open and worth exploring. We found a suitable parking spot and kitted up warily, we didn't want to come across any angry locals. Much to our surprise, a happy chap who lives in the little cottage on the Via Gellia below the mine approached us, and we had a quick chat about the quarrying. No problems there then!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max admiring the MINERALS!!</td></tr>
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After a sweaty walk up to the mine entrance, we spent some time faffing at the adit and unfortunately, Max stepped in some poo. Not a great start considering the entrance is a bit of a crawl! After cleaning as much as possible off his welly, we were off. Ball Eye is a great mine with plenty of crawling, climbing, a sketchy ladder, and some decent mineralisation to ogle.<br />
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It was a gorgeous day, far too nice to be going underground for nearly 6 hours, but then I always say this, and have no regrets! It would have been nice to take a look at the quarry too but there was a lot of barbed wire to negotiate and the Rising Sun pub in Middleton was calling.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max exiting a crawl</td></tr>
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Great mine, top day, many laughs, thanks again lads!Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-65549844453928515262017-04-14T23:30:00.000+01:002020-03-17T00:48:00.763+00:00Tiviot Dale Railway Tunnel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tiviot Dale station and tunnel began operation in 1865 with the opening of the
Stockport, Timperley & Altrincham Junction Railway. The tunnel was 225 yards, or about 206 metres long. It is now filled in almost to the roof at both ends, and open to full height in a 75 yard long middle section, where a series of supporting girders have been fitted. There are also several alcoves along the tunnel, carved into the sandstone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1961, Tunnel just visible far left.<br />
Stockport Image Archive</td></tr>
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Tiviot Dale station was situated immediately to the East of the tunnel. The station closed in 1967, and was demolished
in 1968; leaving just 2 of the 4 through lines running for the high
numbers of freight trains using the route. Most of the passenger services on the line were
axed by the Beeching Cuts of the previous three years. This left only one
main railway station to serve Stockport town centre - Edgeley station,
which is now known as Stockport. Tiviot Dale Station was built on the
site of an old calico printing works. It was originally called Teviot
Dale, named after a place in Scotland, but apparently everyone referred
to it as Tiviot Dale, so in 1874 the Cheshire Lines Committee changed
the station's name. Sections of the old Westbound platform bay
can be found in the overgrowth next to Lancashire Hill road bridge over the M60. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">40129 coming out of Tiviot Dale Tunnel, 12th March 1978<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/deadmans_handle/6284157955/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/deadmans_handle/6284157955/</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1984, single line still in place<br />
<a href="http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/stockport_tiviot_dale/index2.shtml"><b>http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/stockport_tiviot_dale/index2.shtml</b></a></td></tr>
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Tiviot Dale Tunnel was first closed temporarily in 1980 due to the cutting of the M63 motorway (now
the M60) exposing the line; despite record of the contractor taking
every care to protect the tunnel. The closure, along with nearby Wellington Tunnel, was made
permanent in 1982. Having done without the line for two years, and with the ongoing demise of the Woodhead line, British Rail decided not to
reopen it. One line of rails was lifted in 1983, followed by the
other in 1986, with the tunnel eventually being partially filled in at either end.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2017</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2017</td></tr>
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This was my third visit to the tunnel, with Moose this time, I thought it deserved a proper write up, and certainly some fact checking. There are loads of reports on this place, most of them are missing bits of information or have inconsistencies. My last time here was three
years ago, access has changed a bit since then. Glad there were no
needles there this time. It was nice to finally spend time getting some
half decent pics of the place, and it was a decent chill spot for a Friday night. Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-79531800480655153092017-04-02T23:40:00.000+01:002017-04-19T02:01:29.358+01:00Nenthead, Spring 2017<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max has arrived.</td></tr>
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It's hard to believe that it's been over a year since I was last here. I love Nenthead, every time I go here here it's to stay for the weekend, and we always get a decent amount of exploring in, and this would be my fifth visit in seven years. Each mine has something completely different to offer. This time, for the first time, I would be the only one there who has been to Nent before, and as such, kind of, sort of "leading" the trip. Maybe. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Saturday morning saw me out of bed for a criminally early start to collect Matt, and head North. Two and a half hours later, we arrived at Mill Cottage Bunkhouse to be shown around by our kind host, and wait for the others in the sunshine. <br />
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Richard, Max and Gabby arrived in true mental style, and in exceptionally high spirits. Everyone was pretty hyped to get underground, and I was looking forward to showing the Nent noobs what Rampgill Mine has to offer. With Gabby leading the way and me following, it didn't take long for exclamations of delight to start echoing up the adit behind us, and we were soon seperated from the others. Leading and route finding underground gives you a completely different perspective on any extensive cave or mine. Even though Rampgill is very straightforward we were unable to find the horse gin even with Ed's directions (which I read completely wrong)!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/BraLSId.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/BraLSId.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard at the top of a shaft in Prouds</td></tr>
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When someone else is doing it you don't pay as much attention to where you are going, the focus is just not there. Max and Matt were extremely pre-occupied with the shiny things everywhere, no matter how many times I tried to explain it gets better the further in we go, that the mine tomorrow would be even better again... alas to no avail they would not listen to me and we didn't get further than the Engine Shaft. By 5pm thoughts had turned to getting out and enjoying the last of the sun, a chippy tea, and a pint at the Miners Arms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Rampgill</td></tr>
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A good portion of Saturday night was spent star gazing and photographing. Nenthead and the surrounding area is England's only internationally recognised dark sky area. On previous trips I have seen the milky way clearer here than anywhere else I've been, it's truly stunning. We walked up to Smallcleugh, took some more photos, then lay back and switched the lights off for 10 minutes to allow our eyes to adjust. Magic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max Stargazing at Smallcleugh</td></tr>
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Sunday came bright and early, with a plan to be underground for 11am latest. We took the opportunity to enjoy the morning sun on top of the water wheels, and had some fun climbing on them. Phil from the bunkhouse brought us breakfast in the form of bacon and sausage barms. We could not fault the Mill Cottage, it cost £20 each for the night in the most comfortable and roomy beds I've ever experienced in a bunkhouse. It is in an ideal location for mine exploring, and plenty else to see in this highly picturesque and quiet part of England. Plus we were able to wash and dry all our gear ready for the next days exploring, always a big bonus on these sort of weekends. There is nothing worse than having to put on a slighty damp undersuit the next day after a sweaty mooch underground!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/kOxqbOi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/kOxqbOi.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard on one of the Waterwheels</td></tr>
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After much packing and many faffage later, we were finally on track for getting down Brownley Hills by midday. This I had planned to be more of a chilled mooching day, one where we could park ourselves in the flat and spread out, explore, hunt for minerals, and take photos. I have never taken my camera in Brownley Hills before so I was looking foward to spending some time getting shots, so often on underground trips, and actually most things we do, you are rushed, pushed for time, conscious of others, etc. Being able to properly take your time in the company of another photographer is a luxury.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabby at the Blue Lagoon</td></tr>
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Despite going to Nenthead with little intention of collecting any rocks, I still ended up with some quartz stuck in my eye. An hour later it hstill not come out so I tried to wash it out with water but no joy. Several hours later it was still bothering me when we got out of the mine but not enough to stop me driving. An hour or so from home it was getting painful, and my eye began to water uncontrollably on the motorway. Apart from a quick stop I drove straight to Stepping Hill hospital, arriving at 9pm, to be told there was a 4 hour wait to be seen in A&E. This soon turned into an agonising 5 hour wait; my eye was swelling up, I couldn't see anything but blurred light, and every movement caused intense discomfort. Finally, almost 6 hours after arriving, I was seen by a nurse who checked out my eye using a slit lens, and confirmed I had tiny pieces of quartz stuck in my cornea. He tried to wash it out, it didn't work, so he called for a doctor. The doctor looked at it then told the nurse to anaesthatise my eyeball, he was "going in".<br />
Me- "What does that mean?"<br />
Doctor- "It means doing something that makes me feel sick."<br />
Me- "Makes you feel sick? (doctor putting gloves on) "...that doesn't sound good, what is it... how do you... what are you doing?"<br />
Doctor- "We will have to pick it out with a needle."<br />
Me- "What? Seriously?"<br />
Doctor- "Mmm. You need to stay very still"<br />
Me- "Whoa."<br />
Doctor- "Put your chin on the rest and clench your teeth."<br />
Me- "Oh god...."<br />
<br />
Then followed what has got to be the most sickeningly unpleasant hour of my life while the doctor held my eye open and slowly picked the quartz out. Being poked in the eye with a needle is a very weird experience. I
couldn't feel any pain, but I could sense, or almost hear the flicking
sensation, and it is fucking freaky, at first I just couldn't not blink everytime the needle touched my eye. Trying to stare at a spot and not move my eye at all while he was digging around my cornea with a needle... just uffff. After each bit came out the nurse would wash my eye out, give me time to try and blink the rest out, then re-anaesthatise and go in with the needle again. This was repeated three times until at 4.30am he gave up and I don't blame him. "Right, 95% of it is out, but I can't do anymore. You will need to see optahmology in the morning, they have better tools there." Once the ordeal was over my jaw was killing from clehing my teeth so hard for so long.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, I have experienced pure pain many times greater than
this, however this was exceptionally uncomfortable, incredibly annoying, and moreover just very scary. Losing your vision is a terrifying thing
to deal with, even just for a couple of days. Sat in A&E on my own for 6 hours, and driving home with one eye was awful, sleep was difficult, I couldn't close my eye properly and kept waking up in pain with a soaking wet pillow. The next afternoon I went back to opthamology and saw a specialist who managed to get out the last tiny piece of quartz, lodged where the cornea meets the iris. Although the consultant didn't know what quartz was (?!), he managed to anaesthatise and get it out within a minute, giving almost instant relief. The quartz has permanently scarred my eye, but fortunately not he said, in my line of vision. My iris now has a tiny, unnoticable dent in it. Ah well- alls well that ends well.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Safety goggles guys!</b></i><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/ZvZ0D4A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/ZvZ0D4A.jpg" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Brownley Hills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many thanks to Julie and Phil at the excellent Mill Cottage Bunkhouse.<br />
<a href="http://www.millcottagebunkhouse.co.uk/">http://www.millcottagebunkhouse.co.uk/</a>Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-9689187614175054612017-03-17T09:00:00.000+00:002017-04-19T01:49:49.101+01:00Bruntwood Hall<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2886/32701804613_c4043a86d2_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2886/32701804613_c4043a86d2_k.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stained Glass false ceiling in the Main Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was a completely new experience for me- a pre-arranged guided tour around a building with the security guard, who turns out to be one of my friends that shall not be named. We rocked up late at night, expecting Bruntwood to be in darkness but the place was awash wish workers trying to hit their deadline for this new boutique hotel.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Bruntwood Hall was built in 1861 as a private mansion for John Douglas, a merchant from Bradford. It was used as Cheadle and Gatley Town Hall from 1944 to 1959. It was then sold a number of times, at points being one of the most successful racehorse stud farms in the North of England, and also home to a film production company and offices. The Hall has been empty for the last few years before being sold to the Oddfellows hotel group for about £1million. They have spent around £3.5million converting the hall into a 22 bedroom boutique hotel. Set in nearly 100 acres of public parkland, Bruntwood Park is a well used and valuable asset to the local community, and there was a fair amount of opposition to the building being used as a hotel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3666/33516558955_9d21839447_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3666/33516558955_9d21839447_k.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roof Turret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tim Groom architects of Manchester have retained some of the original features, but unfortunately as is the case with the majority of these projects, many have been lost. It was nice to see 3 original ceilings, two fully restored, and the glass ceiling in the process of being cleaned. I would like to see this the ceiling again once this has been done, it will let so much more light into the hallway and staircase area. Speaking of the carved wooden staircase, which has done so well to survice nearly 160 years... sadly it has been completely wrecked with the addition of glass and steel banisters attached to the outside of the original wood. I guess this has to do with health and safety regulations, but there really is no need for it and looks awful!<br />
<br />
We had a good couple of hours mooching around the place, stepping over workers sanding floors, painting ceilings and installing things, while trying not to get in the way. The basement seemed cavernous, with very little left to distinguish the old building's cellar. We were also lucky enough to be taken up to the roof turret which was still accessible from the new unfinished wedding suite via ladders up from the bathroom. I'm guessing they are not turning this into a feature, a massive trick missed there in my opinion.Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-80949384775420919102017-03-07T10:00:00.000+00:002017-04-16T15:26:05.776+01:00Kraków<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCadXsAviVHZPDXFtmX6_pmATHNaH9CrWkr7u76W2LH6yNI6zF7p8XhTkQC20RAw3vmwie53WSNRK7P98owtnstrr2-DQoazXNRnk3c0su4xWWQDCKiYCBzdKPQwwYRhSsc2zv0V78i2ZZ/s1600/33220723321_345d4e3848_o+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCadXsAviVHZPDXFtmX6_pmATHNaH9CrWkr7u76W2LH6yNI6zF7p8XhTkQC20RAw3vmwie53WSNRK7P98owtnstrr2-DQoazXNRnk3c0su4xWWQDCKiYCBzdKPQwwYRhSsc2zv0V78i2ZZ/s320/33220723321_345d4e3848_o+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel of St. Kinga, Wieliczka</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Damian has had this trip in mind for years, so many times he told us about the salt mines in Poland; the size and grandeur of them is a must see for underground enthusiasts. The cheapest flights available to us northerners was Doncaster - Katowice, and ten of us ended up on this particular flight. There were also five others going from Luton, and two from Liverpool. This made our group in Krakow eighteen, as Damian's lovely cousin Karolina would also be joining us on our excursions. The weekend started well, with me passing my driving test the day before, I would be driving to Ed's house on Friday afternoon, and leaving my car there for the weekend. Five of us would be going to Doncaster together to meet five more at the airport. <br />
<a name='more'></a>The rest of the group would be united at Katowice airport; Joel in true style, appeared lying on the baggage collection conveyor. Our transfer minibus had the world's angriest driver. He shouted at us for singing the wheels on the bus go round and round, he shouted at us for singing along to Michael Jackson on the radio, and he shouted at Tom for needing a wee and trying desperately for ages to ask him to stop the bus. He didn't speak English, but a very patient Polish lady eventually took pity on us and made him stop. He did pull over at an actual serviced toilet, however this fact was sadly lost on Tom, and more unfortunately Emily. We did finally get to Krakow, and our hostel at around 1.30am on Saturday morning, successfully pissing off more angry/sleepy Polish people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYtl8TDLGzOfA_jQ-HbFIFl467cMrifDOqxq2P7QuC8SG3wTHNSAl-0kcfk5p1AJPImxwGp80CG_XF5TFxmr4Sg9IenD-5Ozd1ta4napFZB9WAoTV2y9si3EhPQBglmV0-fZj4HthePeT/s1600/37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYtl8TDLGzOfA_jQ-HbFIFl467cMrifDOqxq2P7QuC8SG3wTHNSAl-0kcfk5p1AJPImxwGp80CG_XF5TFxmr4Sg9IenD-5Ozd1ta4napFZB9WAoTV2y9si3EhPQBglmV0-fZj4HthePeT/s320/37.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rynek Główny Market</td></tr>
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The next morning we were up at a not unreasonable hour to find breakfast, and catch our train to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine. On the train out of Krakow centre, a few of us were spying old locos and tons of retired rolling stock, getting excited about the prospect of taking a closer look at these. Wieliczka is about 30 minutes away from central Krakow by train, interesting to note that Wiki says the first settlers in the town were probably Celtic, later driven out by the Slavic population. However the town very quickly became known for it's huge deposits of salt, with the mine becoming a key focus of "white gold" as it was once considered. Wieliczka is one of the oldest salt mines in the world, and is absolutely bloody massive. You could not fail to be blown away by the sheer scale of the place. 1.2 million people visit this mine every year, and it's easy to see why. The tourist trip started with a walk down a long wooden staircase shaft, if our tour guide told us how deep this was, unfortunately I don't remember. Our tour guide then led us through a series of air lock doors, passages and chambers dating from the 11th to 14th centuries. The chambers were quite amazing to us, decorated with salt rock sculptures by the miners, plus various models and artefacts to illustrate the methods of working through different time periods. Our tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable, and it has to be said very patient with the more childish members of our group, and I don't mean Damian's children!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tQTRTrVbAun9ddOCVHAZHyahOpD8Tm1eTTJGp8Opao8CEQaP9uFoMMeG_XFvjmUWY5XH2NhGLLwGqJcRBSwCwLkvLHkz_mpTzJTxynLg2f3yVDhqr-wm74WwD5rtFoZpoR-agHR_pwmO/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tQTRTrVbAun9ddOCVHAZHyahOpD8Tm1eTTJGp8Opao8CEQaP9uFoMMeG_XFvjmUWY5XH2NhGLLwGqJcRBSwCwLkvLHkz_mpTzJTxynLg2f3yVDhqr-wm74WwD5rtFoZpoR-agHR_pwmO/s320/25.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel of St. Kinga, Wieliczka</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We descended further down more beautifully crafted wooden stairs, through shaft bottoms, past winches, equipment and more big chambers. One of Wieliczka's main attractions is the huge Chapel of St Kinga, the patron saint of mining. This is the main chapel of many in the mine located 101 metres underground, and it is possible to attend mass, concerts, or get married in the church. It is quite jaw dropping, big, detailed sculptures, reliefs, the floor, and the altar all carved out of the salt rock. We were allowed around 15 minutes to photograph and wonder at the marvel of St Kinga's Chapel, before being ushered onwards to more impressive chambers filled with too many marvels to try and describe on here. The photographs and videos we took simply do not do this place any kind of justice, it must be seen to truly appreciate the scale and majesty of the chambers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQoe8ByUKOSR3s5K28J4FMdjJcpwy2IjOGXYC8PP9aawQ6v7lb60VZ0yhYnrsprRjqmsniqGR2vNFsx6ChlagD5JfZ3lsU1ItUbA69OghMjlDKWZ2AqKB-eTTcyLtDmITTdQ0R6zcp2S9/s1600/32505495094_7e47bcde71_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQoe8ByUKOSR3s5K28J4FMdjJcpwy2IjOGXYC8PP9aawQ6v7lb60VZ0yhYnrsprRjqmsniqGR2vNFsx6ChlagD5JfZ3lsU1ItUbA69OghMjlDKWZ2AqKB-eTTcyLtDmITTdQ0R6zcp2S9/s320/32505495094_7e47bcde71_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casimir the Great Chamber</td></tr>
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<br />
After we had been underground in this wonderland, it was time for dinner. A three course dinner to be precise for some of us! We were shown to a table in the restaurant already laid out to seat 18 in the Budryk "Miner's Tavern" Chamber. We were all surprised to find free wifi popping up on our phones, and some of us took this opportunity to call and facetime family members back at home in Britain. Quite a novelty 125 metres underground! We were served wine, beer, and traditional Polish cuisine, with plenty of time for the mineral collectors among our group to go and buy some crystals from the well stocked souvenir shop. Our guide then led us on to the museum, which houses historical artefacts and documents, artwork, specimens of very large coloured salt crystals, and more salt sculptures. As the tour was coming to an end, our guide said to the group "You have the option here, there is one more chamber to see, or you can choose for us to end the trip here..." Of course we chose the latter and she led us into a chamber with the biggest horse gin I have ever seen, and I am willing to bet will ever see. Our trip down Wieliczka ended with a modern elevator ride back to the surface, and many thanks to our (now slightly harassed looking) tour guide.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTbtmXG12-F69lCN2av-adU3u_SIJDcjcPx9e7baTdA6636y-zViGSksCz5WhHe4BzfFf_52sh4NGhl_-epC_9x_C6N9Uc9VGl-R6WFuG9ybCBSfqlAYDviUfXui3pm57ySd167CGNhnC/s1600/33307768696_fe8d325bd7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTbtmXG12-F69lCN2av-adU3u_SIJDcjcPx9e7baTdA6636y-zViGSksCz5WhHe4BzfFf_52sh4NGhl_-epC_9x_C6N9Uc9VGl-R6WFuG9ybCBSfqlAYDviUfXui3pm57ySd167CGNhnC/s320/33307768696_fe8d325bd7_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michalowice Chamber</td></tr>
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<br />
After our trip, a few of us were feeling tired, I was still recovering from a bad flu and aching, needed to lie down for a couple of hours, most of us retreated to the hostel. In the evening we went for pizza and a few beers, then walked around the city, taking in the sights. I was most impressed by the statue of Smok Wawelski outside the castle, the seven headed Wawel Dragon of Polish folklore. As I approached the dragon there was a ticking sound followed by an explosion of fire spat from it's mouth! Woooow, I loved this! We stood and waited around 20 minutes to try and catch the fire breathing on camera, but sadly it didn't do it again and we couldn't stand around all night. It is only later after some googling I found that you can trigger the natural gas fuelled fire by sending a text to the dragon! On the way back to the hostel me and Phil found an open door into a empty apartment block. We had a quick look around and concluded it would be a perfect squat. I loved the buildings in Kraków, there is very little modern architecture to be found, and it gives the city quite a unique feeling for me, compared to other cities I've visited. Apart from some of the group getting chased by the police for jay walking, and a slight issue for three of our group involving a power station, most people we encountered were very friendly and happy to help us. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6ley4c17InYV1mAF_f134K8Qcw920WO5zoqj8FeVc25APKqJUFmWmEnI9CTQH5Ms6Gk8ngJ3CrBbH1nQRxIeBp_ifd8hStLtJ6mSQkOXvSMUJuEQ_Om_KqXzoKVDm_FTCRmjw5I061OK/s1600/17192064_10154281066882256_4080288789881568137_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6ley4c17InYV1mAF_f134K8Qcw920WO5zoqj8FeVc25APKqJUFmWmEnI9CTQH5Ms6Gk8ngJ3CrBbH1nQRxIeBp_ifd8hStLtJ6mSQkOXvSMUJuEQ_Om_KqXzoKVDm_FTCRmjw5I061OK/s320/17192064_10154281066882256_4080288789881568137_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bochnia Salt Mine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was a case of early(ish) to bed, early to rise for all but 5 of our group. Bochnia Salt Mine on Sunday was an altogether different experience, we would be surprised and amused by this mine and our fabulous tour guide Jakub several times during the course of our day underground. This started with a cage lift down to 70 metres deep, I love these lifts, the darkness and swoosh of air gives a real sense of speed descending the shaft. Then the real fun started as we discovered we would be going on a train ride, the excitement among our group built as we waited, listening to Jakub's warnings safety information. The miner's man-riding train carriages are basically just wooden benches that you straddle, with a bar that comes down on either side. It's very loud and rattles your bones, but so much fun we had to contain ourselves; we were warned don't scream too loud or the driver might think there is a problem and stop. At the end of the train ride we were shown another access shaft, not normally used for public trips, and inside the air lock doors, a deafening multimedia exhibition about the beginnings of Bochnia and the mine. The mine trip took in various exhibits about the history and methods of working the mine, as we worked our way through passages, stairs and chambers. Bochnia is one of the oldest salt mines in the world, and certainly the oldest functioning salt mine in Europe.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7iqsHOkSHLbrXVjmON8SqI0AaHV7kS0Q6xPz8E4doo4Mr-0tbCfOOVLsh_j3pm153GP5D-pVNdWIlPw-zwr1tiKjKQrF49iL7kFWc4afzuTfW2VaLVEwpAUyrHkWwB4zyQNoD3vuP8WK/s1600/33348901345_a6a21a188a_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7iqsHOkSHLbrXVjmON8SqI0AaHV7kS0Q6xPz8E4doo4Mr-0tbCfOOVLsh_j3pm153GP5D-pVNdWIlPw-zwr1tiKjKQrF49iL7kFWc4afzuTfW2VaLVEwpAUyrHkWwB4zyQNoD3vuP8WK/s320/33348901345_a6a21a188a_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bochnia Main Passage</td></tr>
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<br />
In Bochnia Mine there is another Chapel of St. Kinga to be seen, which must surely be the only functioning church in the world with a real live railway line running through it? Jakub told us that they hold mass in this chapel every Sunday for up to 200 worshippers. We were led on to an attraction in this mine which was completely unexpected- the world's longest underground slide! It's made of polished wood, looks much like a bench, is 140 metres long, and 65 metres high! After listening to the supervisors translated safety instructions, it was time to dump our bags, grab a mat and go for it... Some of us definitely went further and faster than others! Afterwards I had a quick spot of footie on the sports court, and we grabbed burgers and chips from the excellent cafe. The last adventure of our day underground would be a boat trip 250 metres deep, floating down a brine flooded passage that's saltier than the dead sea. This was easily the most atmospheric part of the mine for me, Damian and Karolina translated the boatman's narration for us, as we passed petrified sculptures and half sunken vessels in the quiet dark. After this it was time to start making our way out, and have a good look at the steam engine housed on the surface. Once back at the lift shaft, we waited with 2 other groups of visitors for around 40 minutes watching the engineers go back and forth making phone calls and looking slightly worried. We realised that there was a lift full of people stuck in the shaft, and were told with apologies by our Jakub that we would have to get back on the train and use a different shaft to get out. We thought this was an excellent idea, another train ride, and a new shaft! Win win! Off we went, crammed onto the train this time, and up the shaft which I gather is normally used by staff and the miners. Upon exiting the lift out into a different building, 2 sad facts became apparent to us; we weren't seeing the steam engine and we wouldn't get to thank our guide Jakub properly and tip him for being awesome. Damn.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxzu8_38xB-lTYdFZIlgaQhBVR7RfexaZnBe0a5UhhMSuO_Vc9yzL3GxhyphenhyphenWqWwl0eI-_v7klwy7pgIKQfIEInG5MmmPi8Nn8EQ6vszD2b14hx4txxmEgEu-ABMAzfoP-9uaZDSGiEiqSf/s1600/17159099_10154281067302256_3851525189599192961_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxzu8_38xB-lTYdFZIlgaQhBVR7RfexaZnBe0a5UhhMSuO_Vc9yzL3GxhyphenhyphenWqWwl0eI-_v7klwy7pgIKQfIEInG5MmmPi8Nn8EQ6vszD2b14hx4txxmEgEu-ABMAzfoP-9uaZDSGiEiqSf/s320/17159099_10154281067302256_3851525189599192961_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chapel of St. Kinga, Bochnia</td></tr>
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Back in Krakow, Damian had a table booked for us all at a cool basement restaurant serving traditional Polish food. We had a bit of a mooch around the city again but the rain soon saw us back at the hostel happily drinking cherry soplica wodka. Monday morning came around far too early and quickly, the majority of us looking worse for wear and fighting the wodka induced haze. Most of the group would be going to visit an underground market before heading off to the airport. However, me, Emily, Joel, Phil and Rob would be heading in search of disused trains. The rain was not enough to put us off, and after a 10 minute train ride we found oures walking amongst hundreds and hundreds of abandoned trains and carriages. Most of the doors were welded shut, but there were a handful of accessible carriages. We also went up an old concrete tower of some description, right next to the railway lines. I don't think any of us quite worked out what the tower was for, it had the look of a silo about it, and offered a good vantage point to watch the trains, and rail workers doing a spot of welding below.<br />
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For me the highlight of Monday was finding the steam locos. We had spotted a couple from the train on Saturday, but weren't sure where to find them. Thanks to Joel-nav and google maps, we found them just as the rain stopped. Massive, old, rusty, dirty, beautiful things! I wonder when they were last used. After playing on the trains, and some new(ish) tampers, we headed to the nearest station and back to the hostel. Time to meet the others, say goodbye, and reluctantly make our way to Katowice airport.<br />
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What a properly amazing weekend! Damian was an absolute star in organising this whole trip- the airport transfers, hostel, trips to the mines and meals too. I found myself wishing for more time in Kraków, to explore the beautiful city, for the extended mining trips, and to visit Auschwitz. Sadly money and work constraints meant that a return trip is most definitely in order at some point in the future. Thank you so much, in no particular order to: Damian, Karolina, Magda, Filip, Tom, Ed, Max, Joel, Emily, Jodie, Phil, Matt, John, Robert, Anton, Gina, and Jack.Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-4923595391922069172017-01-22T10:00:00.000+00:002017-04-18T15:43:00.909+01:00The Co-operative<br />
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-22247669819964852982017-01-14T23:00:00.000+00:002017-04-19T01:52:22.502+01:00James' 21st Wood Mine Challenge / Celebration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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It's hard to believe James is 21, he has always seemed older than his
years, that was until alcohol became involved a couple of years ago!
James has been a regular at Alderley Edge since he was kneehigh to a
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<a name='more'></a>After his 18th birthday party and assault course in West Mine, it was fitting that something of a similar scale should be done for his 21st. There was a race called the Animal hunt which involved teams dashing around the mine to collect animals from set locations, as fast as possible. First we had to collect a rabbit from Rabbit Caverns, then a duck from the Blue Lake, followed by a mouse from the Mouse Hole, a crocodile from the Crocodile Crawl, and a bat from Birthday Chamber, plus retrieve a beer hidden in one of the various crawls along the route. The other challenge course was an SRT route but sadly we never completed this due to confusion and getting stuck behind other people. There was also a coconut shy, steampunk style lightbulbs, hippies, fairy lights, beer and brews. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Cavern, Wood Mine by Max Holman</td></tr>
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Many thanks to Pete, James and Heather for a brilliantly fun day, and for all the food and drink, also to the Tearooms for another great party.<br />
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-78360179943719024272017-01-07T19:00:00.000+00:002017-04-16T15:32:06.560+01:00Moss Chamber, Peak Cavern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A hastily arranged trip to Derbyshire saw me and Richard up early and wolfing down bacon butties at the TSG, many thanks to Alan for his patience with us! It wasn't the best of starts to the day, I forgot my knee pads, which is an incredibly stupid thing to forget on this trip.<br />
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As it has been a few years since I've been to Moss Chamber, I asked Alan to remind me how far down the main streamway it is until you get to Pilkingtons Crawl. Alan also reminded me to take the turn off in the crawl. Of course we forgot that bit, missed the turning and ended up doing the Cohesion Crawl. During the crawl I was saying to Rich, "I'm sure I don't remember it being this long". <span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">After an hour of crawling we reached the Toadstool Aven and spent a while climbing around the boulder choke, looking for routes down and ending up in circles.</span></span><br />
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So back we turned, to find the junction for Moss Chamber, both of us feeling rather unfit and cold at this point, not very much in the mood for the photography session we had planned for Moss Chamber. Anyway, I managed a couple of half decent shots. Thanks to Rich for helping with lighting.<br />
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By the time we had got back to the main streamway I hadn't warmed back up from the crawl, apart from my thumping knees. My feet were more numb than they have ever felt, and as I noticed in the showers at the TSG, the tips of my toes had turned grey, (they have since made a full recovery). All in a good days crawling, although I fear that Richard's first trip to Derbyshire could have been chosen better!</div>
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-82854808139699155922017-01-01T16:35:00.000+00:002017-04-21T22:05:20.686+01:00High in LondonMany thanks to Joel and Emily for inviting me to head South for New Years Eve. You guys really are the best!<br />
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-59118087224298317132016-12-26T20:00:00.000+00:002017-04-19T16:47:03.568+01:00Boxing Day in West Mine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following on from Christmas Eve, I was back in West Mine for the traditional DCC Boxing Day celebration. This involved decorating the poor Holly Bush mark II with shiny wrappers and mince pie tins, bubbles, and building a giant sandcastle with a moat, drawbridges and turrets. Behold our creation!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie, Me & Sean, photo by the fair hand of Mr Richard Bullock</td></tr>
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-59765069306167929752016-12-24T19:00:00.000+00:002017-04-19T01:36:26.779+01:00Christmas Eve in West MineI met up with Richard and Max today for a Christmas photoshoot in Frank Shaft involving rope, tinsel, fairy lights, santa hats and a couple of beers for good measure!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLI4AZxDlHXUyFmvMw4KpVeUGf1le-UQeLSrmp1TEr5DljW5wZ0GyTFHH_e4jRTx2uD-SszCBiTlHnSQyURkoNU-vkO_jKhcjo36YwcjtKghhZltNC7Hm9GcD-HsDy7SPuXKMh60pkU1-D/s1600/15626138_1178616985591182_3594221825722218838_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLI4AZxDlHXUyFmvMw4KpVeUGf1le-UQeLSrmp1TEr5DljW5wZ0GyTFHH_e4jRTx2uD-SszCBiTlHnSQyURkoNU-vkO_jKhcjo36YwcjtKghhZltNC7Hm9GcD-HsDy7SPuXKMh60pkU1-D/s320/15626138_1178616985591182_3594221825722218838_o.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Richard Pryce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-90746913500063549972016-12-12T19:00:00.000+00:002017-04-16T15:03:33.754+01:00Photobook with Saal Digital<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q0GVktoeqjQbWM4vM6kVBS4nr07imzAOkz1Pd69mqHp_LMnNxrO-r-akQwa7wU6xmoMo54ax6O4wH3OY3_Yqmacsz-5a8r3XkoFcHzLyEK8vFtEsbIka99ifZE7c2LH3O8Ks5gTVySIW/s1600/IMG_3839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q0GVktoeqjQbWM4vM6kVBS4nr07imzAOkz1Pd69mqHp_LMnNxrO-r-akQwa7wU6xmoMo54ax6O4wH3OY3_Yqmacsz-5a8r3XkoFcHzLyEK8vFtEsbIka99ifZE7c2LH3O8Ks5gTVySIW/s320/IMG_3839.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a name='more'></a>My photobook from Saal Digital arrived today, and I love it! Saal digital very kindly offered me a free photobook up to the value of £40.00, so I happily accepted their offer and started thinking about what photographs to include. I used their free software to design the book, this was very simple and straight forward, plus has some great features included. I decided not to use any of the pre-loaded templates and instead set out to use the most of each page by maximising the size of the images. This was an easy and fairly quick process, I have used other free editors that take a lot longer and are not as user friendly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9PM05QSe-7dpCFsIGjRJHMiRePIp5ZA1DIW4xXuGd6kHujDmjt_ADWPVey5BB4ba1lTbU6WJYC07KjrUslac6NZnWb1X2k-7GNYj4uUHenoGZSOzDXcUbaQ8nPFfuqzOLu_ipsd8QZf_/s1600/IMG_3840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9PM05QSe-7dpCFsIGjRJHMiRePIp5ZA1DIW4xXuGd6kHujDmjt_ADWPVey5BB4ba1lTbU6WJYC07KjrUslac6NZnWb1X2k-7GNYj4uUHenoGZSOzDXcUbaQ8nPFfuqzOLu_ipsd8QZf_/s320/IMG_3840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manchester Goodness</td></tr>
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I chose a selection of my photographs I have taken over the last 3 years of exploring some of the lesser visted corners of the UK, but for good measure there are also a selection of shots from Paris, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium. Most of the images I chose were shot on my Canon 700D, but there are also some 35mm film shots from different cameras.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-YhTpKC65zNEISTATWIzHglzHOAkkrw1qBm4J8cfgQXwHbW13ehuyVyIfnfGk2K0uUy9-TmF_Xgsh8NttGAacprb0GSoOl2eF3KKC61BJrUWoWrq6kR9mjEkLx_IxI-9hM1muPJAEorK/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-YhTpKC65zNEISTATWIzHglzHOAkkrw1qBm4J8cfgQXwHbW13ehuyVyIfnfGk2K0uUy9-TmF_Xgsh8NttGAacprb0GSoOl2eF3KKC61BJrUWoWrq6kR9mjEkLx_IxI-9hM1muPJAEorK/s320/IMG_3841.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London Goodness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I ordered the book on the 2nd December, so it's taken 9 days to arrive
which is wholly acceptable considering it has come from Germany. Upon
arrival the first thing I noticed is how well wrapped the package is,
the book is protected from knocks during transit with a foam sleeve,
inside a sturdy cardboard box. The photo book is of a very high quality
all round, and there were no nasty surprises with the editing, as can
often be the case with designing your own photo book. The hardback
cover, the paper and the lay-flat binding are all of professional
quality. I would not hesitate to order another photobook from Saal. <br />
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Thank you Saal Digital!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OqJPXS-jvEz4vwgRRFYguni32nRSoH5zrfctmcOsLBox6hWqQGmYKVQDLUuSRNU3ilAURT-TUujBiJjA-5ZentDBDrMrXvafxLE9pvM_X7jI7mEyPxIekI9LINJFWuOkV0LP7K06_RP/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-OqJPXS-jvEz4vwgRRFYguni32nRSoH5zrfctmcOsLBox6hWqQGmYKVQDLUuSRNU3ilAURT-TUujBiJjA-5ZentDBDrMrXvafxLE9pvM_X7jI7mEyPxIekI9LINJFWuOkV0LP7K06_RP/s320/IMG_3844.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-85929603201098032832016-12-10T22:00:00.000+00:002017-04-16T15:04:11.270+01:00WinningtonTop day out wandering around an old soda works with class lads, cheers guys :)<br />
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<br />Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-41843535705732793112016-11-20T18:00:00.000+00:002017-04-19T12:36:12.710+01:00DCRO Practice at Alderley Edge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApxiNOfXxMjYV9LTQOWCgfJI3Us3jM2TpnsJwtCVzC5fO0jauP_cVQ57ZHh9MfI8kRoHhFhcAeWQ4aH8JdqJ3Ex9eimGuUEuTMRB7V4drhVdMFpG9Fj2Wa7m0RCNHZJGnSJDuZKtvnQQl/s1600/15168845_10153978896237256_7438829815152308303_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApxiNOfXxMjYV9LTQOWCgfJI3Us3jM2TpnsJwtCVzC5fO0jauP_cVQ57ZHh9MfI8kRoHhFhcAeWQ4aH8JdqJ3Ex9eimGuUEuTMRB7V4drhVdMFpG9Fj2Wa7m0RCNHZJGnSJDuZKtvnQQl/s320/15168845_10153978896237256_7438829815152308303_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My nephew Dylan</td></tr>
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The Derbyshire Cave Rescue Association usually does a practice session once a year at the copper mines in Alderley Edge. I have missed the last 5 years practice so thought I better make the effort to go this year, and I'm really glad I did. We had a full days practice down Engine Vein copper mine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fractured arm?</td></tr>
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The day consisted of practice rescue scenarios involving various underground casualties. I worked with groups tackling a man with a possible fractured arm, one having an asthma attack, and a broken leg. I learnt what sort of equipment to take for each situation, initial questions to ask a casualty, and the correct treatment process, under the guidance of the cascare qualified members of the team. Some of us also learnt how to handle gas bottles and administer oxygen for the first time, to the casualty suffering from asthma. We also strapped up a casualties leg using a telescopic pole, and transported him using a vacuum stretcher.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxygen</td></tr>
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This was a fantastic opportunity to practice these scenarios with the DCRO on our "home turf" at Alderley Edge. I learnt a lot and have decided to join the team as a probationary member. I hope to become much more active within the organisation in the near future.<br />
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<img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApxiNOfXxMjYV9LTQOWCgfJI3Us3jM2TpnsJwtCVzC5fO0jauP_cVQ57ZHh9MfI8kRoHhFhcAeWQ4aH8JdqJ3Ex9eimGuUEuTMRB7V4drhVdMFpG9Fj2Wa7m0RCNHZJGnSJDuZKtvnQQl/s320/15168845_10153978896237256_7438829815152308303_o.jpg" style="left: 358px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 63.59px;" width="96" /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken Leg</td></tr>
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-3850533893337969472016-10-01T20:00:00.000+01:002018-06-06T23:08:32.863+01:00Italy, Via Ferrata and The DolomitesMy first via ferrata was at Ramales in Spain last month. Despite the heat, I found it fairly short and not too challenging, but I wanted more! Scott gifted me with a set of lanyards for my birthday, and so we decided to book a trip to the Italian Dolomites - the home of via ferrata. Most of the flight from Manchester to Milan was spent poring over the guidebooks and trying to figure out what routes were accessible to us. At this time of year, the summer climbing season is drawing to a close, many of the popular chair lifts are closed, and the Dolomites start gearing up for the skiing season. The upside to going in late September is the weather is usually calm and the climbing routes are nice and quiet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65gDB2KNVoaz70uC2WGWtsG4K6ssc4gSyN0vPV66Z-dw2MOtbt0K5XiBCnPS0F46Q42PXsK80f0-5naK_toVnJj9FGNXESjFnqNzJDyVVUp4ckQ_cak6N-IuJ-RfynZYt7wGgyyK40EmF/s1600/14543805_10153850425897256_9017064758338089873_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65gDB2KNVoaz70uC2WGWtsG4K6ssc4gSyN0vPV66Z-dw2MOtbt0K5XiBCnPS0F46Q42PXsK80f0-5naK_toVnJj9FGNXESjFnqNzJDyVVUp4ckQ_cak6N-IuJ-RfynZYt7wGgyyK40EmF/s320/14543805_10153850425897256_9017064758338089873_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duomo</td></tr>
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Upon arriving in Milan we collected the hire car, checked into our apartment and went off to explore the city by night. We went to the Duomo and walked around all the designer shops feeling like complete scruffs in our north face t-shirts around all these beautiful people. I am almost certain the tramps were better dressed than us! We had a fairly early night, wanting to be up at a good time in the morning to head to Lake Garda and start our via ferrata adventure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-Ksizaj0J7SC1GqyoAvUDubR1HE0PC4zrjQ_r9e0XXydR3tcynqZvA-V3HbdZoJpqHQEhPdachcY-SEaXgotiAXnnJkqsV9zuz9jf33a1TeWGylbB4tnj_WOVoGNvqCwL3ZEeSWM772n/s1600/14409547_10153835478217256_4837812760911806464_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-Ksizaj0J7SC1GqyoAvUDubR1HE0PC4zrjQ_r9e0XXydR3tcynqZvA-V3HbdZoJpqHQEhPdachcY-SEaXgotiAXnnJkqsV9zuz9jf33a1TeWGylbB4tnj_WOVoGNvqCwL3ZEeSWM772n/s400/14409547_10153835478217256_4837812760911806464_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Garda</td></tr>
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The drive to Arco at Garda took around 4 hours, with a stop off at Decathlon and a supermarket near Brescia to grab some camping supplies and food. Upon seeing the lake the mood completely changed, and we started getting excited. Now the real holiday starts. The first via ferrata route we chose is called Sentiero Attrezzato dei Colodri, described as a 2A (this is a little over the top, lanyards are hardly needed). It's a very easy introductory VF, around 300 metres long. From the finish, there's a short scramble to the summit of Monte Colodri at 97 metres above the surrounding terrain, or 400 metres above sea level. Despite starting the climb late in the day, around 5.00pm, it was still incredibly hot on the mostly exposed south facing route. At the summit was a large metal cross, and a log book.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me writing in the log book, photo by Scott</td></tr>
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The views on the hike down were stunning, I really wanted to walk to the castle, but we didn't have all day to find a camp for the evening, and were getting hungry. We found ourselves emerging at the back of the town, and walking past lots of amazing ice cream parlours and ice cream shops. Alas both of us had left our money in the car, and we did not end up going back into Arco. Instead finding a nice campsite further along the road, pitched up and made food just in time before it went dark.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monte Colodri</td></tr>
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Wednesday started later than planned, which was not good news as we had a much harder day of hiking and climbing on our hands. We would be starting the walk in at midday, so heat would be sapping us early too. After a short drive to Riva del Garda, and finding somewhere to park, we set off on what we expected to be an hour or so of hiking to get to the VF route. Ferrata del Centenario SAT - or Via dell'Amicizia, is graded a 3A climb, around 650 metres long. We severely underestimated the amount of time it would take us to reach the VF; it was around 4 hours of fairly intense hiking and scrambling. There is respite at 560 metres up in the Santa Barbara rifugio, which had just closed for the year. We took a break here and admired the view over Riva del Garda before slogging on ever upwards. Much sweat expired, much bemoaning of mountains, and a little wondering what the hell we were doing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a well-earned rest at the top</td></tr>
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Eventually, after about 3 hours we reached the Via Ferrata, absolutely shattered. It started easy enough, with short sections of cable, but then snakes upwards quite sharply. There are some very exposed ladders, 110 metres of them in total, and these I found to be the most enjoyable part of the route. I have never experienced that level of exposure before, and there is nothing else quite like it. Hanging off a ladder hundreds of metres up, with nothing but air between you and the ground. It's odd and I did have to "give my head a wobble" at one point, found myself constantly stopping to admire the view, then working hard to catch Scott up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2MKxjkz2Ky6XdGae9U2qW_IMolfRY7BbLEdbRloZXsX5mz8Sevp_GDhTSZqkAmffmaB_nbhF9DrN8HguLb9ucHh77_Ja1x8QwyV9n7mqI6_B7Nujmye-jkEDiW3EzR_PBwP7J7iZGV-f/s1600/14468175_10153838544702256_4737933463633594554_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2MKxjkz2Ky6XdGae9U2qW_IMolfRY7BbLEdbRloZXsX5mz8Sevp_GDhTSZqkAmffmaB_nbhF9DrN8HguLb9ucHh77_Ja1x8QwyV9n7mqI6_B7Nujmye-jkEDiW3EzR_PBwP7J7iZGV-f/s320/14468175_10153838544702256_4737933463633594554_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott on a ladder</td></tr>
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The summit at Cima SAT is 1245 metres above sea level, complete with Italian flagpost, and another log book to sign. It was an amazing summit, the views were spectacular and I would say totally worth the effort to get up there. Now we had to wonder, how long is it going to take us to get down from here? The answer was another 3 hours, all downhill with lots of scrambling, making our day on the mountain about 7.5 hours long. On the descent, we saw some old buildings left over from the war and the Santa Barbara chapel with huge shells mounted outside. We got back to the car just as it was going dark- thirsty, hungry and wondering where we went wrong, the guidebook said 5 hours. Nevertheless we came down from there with a real sense of achievement, and some awesome photographs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cima SAT</td></tr>
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Afterwards we realised that guidebooks can be misleading. The "Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites Volume 2" guidebook gives an estimate of a 1.5 - 2 hour walk in, with a total route time of 4.5 - 5.5 hours. Afterwards Scott had a look on the UK Climbing forum, and saw that a few others have complained of being misled by the book, and some people taking anything up to 10 hours to do Centenario! We stayed for pizza and ice cream in the postcard town of Riva, and for me a much needed glass of red. After feeding some ducks we drove off into the night, up into the real Dolomites. We needed to find somewhere to wild camp near our next destination, the Fassa Valley, and time was trickling away. The drive in the dark only hinted at the size of the mountains above us, I could make out the shadows looming high above the narrow twisting roads, and couldn't wait until morning to see the real Dolomites. After a long time of driving around several villages, we found somewhere quiet looking enough to pitch the tent off the side of a dirt track. There was some kind of unsettling drop next to us, but I was too tired to think much about it, finally falling asleep to the faint sound of water rushing far below.<br />
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I woke up far too early, quite cold, and to discover we had camped on the edge of a 30 odd metre high ravine with a river. Very high, snow-capped peaks were visible through the pine trees, and I enjoyed the early morning calm alone in the sunshine. Later as I was packing up some bits in the hire car, an Italian in a pick up stopped next to me and said "no camp", pointing at the tent. I apologised as best I could and said: "we go now". Yes, go now he says.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInbspDsJoOCx5yOsZM7Kyxhsznooe6KMVw6LABZD16emNg7vluJ2CpgjU37NERDBOxvLZ6WGUbLSQ8NWW4QzOhWryZrLJ8bP8q1tS57Wqx13GuCo4a10SPHsRRTq_DCBJAjwpM1VdP7hb/s1600/14480604_10153850446677256_7357703086968801513_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInbspDsJoOCx5yOsZM7Kyxhsznooe6KMVw6LABZD16emNg7vluJ2CpgjU37NERDBOxvLZ6WGUbLSQ8NWW4QzOhWryZrLJ8bP8q1tS57Wqx13GuCo4a10SPHsRRTq_DCBJAjwpM1VdP7hb/s320/14480604_10153850446677256_7357703086968801513_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Col Rodella</td></tr>
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After drying the tent we packed up and headed to Val di Fassa. It has a big lift up to the Col Rodella, the area is popular for skiing in the winter, and there were plenty of paragliders making their way up with us. This was much more like it, get a ski lift to do the hard work getting up the hill, then a short walk over to the VF route. This was a well rigged, short, yet strenuous climb, and I had overdressed for the occasion so was very hot. I found 2 parts of the climb to be especially challenging and committing, yet completed the route with no issues. The views up here provide an incredible overview of the surrounding peaks. At 2,178 metres now we were talking mountains! After the climb, we walked down to the rifugio Friedrich August Hütte, which was open and busy, for much needed chips and ice cold cokes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZFeUvoXdMkkBoMbXlfyLNK7weHzaTxPQ0rV4CgiYxcqG4mCvGn5Wh4pFmTH1ixMzqeGPLhjTb7yXiu2pc09RbCTJPXxj9kzGw30sEIZubGb8oi5MBmk7t01r2P62SX-7ybxZiUEUGQgL/s1600/14481997_10153850448677256_4453194957823583709_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZFeUvoXdMkkBoMbXlfyLNK7weHzaTxPQ0rV4CgiYxcqG4mCvGn5Wh4pFmTH1ixMzqeGPLhjTb7yXiu2pc09RbCTJPXxj9kzGw30sEIZubGb8oi5MBmk7t01r2P62SX-7ybxZiUEUGQgL/s320/14481997_10153850448677256_4453194957823583709_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Col Rodella viewing area</td></tr>
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After this short half day of climbing we went to another chairlift at Lagazuoi, but sadly no Via Ferrata this time. At 2,835 metres this was to be the highest point of the trip and has the amazing panoramic views to show for it. The mountain is famous for the tunnels constructed by the Italians fighting Austrians during the First World War. I thought it was a shame we weren't doing the VF route here, as it would have meant seeing more of the tunnels and actual preserved relics.<br />
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To be continued...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lagazuoi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lagazuoi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lagazuoi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paolina Chairlift</td></tr>
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2,125 metres<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog in Carezza</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funicolare Como-Brunate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufBbxbo9ZwrTbZaoAtv-SwOKw-3cRVvtSLRYHMS6FfT1I58ppVdkRxRn0hrqRahsZYTFpIueHKl3SEDhyluyDCmhvXkeP2g7voZ3gNdS5YBXIA-mvATNpU_dsG9OR5P-N_2Hbl1TOFKrv/s1600/14566442_10153850461472256_9201115459066077982_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufBbxbo9ZwrTbZaoAtv-SwOKw-3cRVvtSLRYHMS6FfT1I58ppVdkRxRn0hrqRahsZYTFpIueHKl3SEDhyluyDCmhvXkeP2g7voZ3gNdS5YBXIA-mvATNpU_dsG9OR5P-N_2Hbl1TOFKrv/s320/14566442_10153850461472256_9201115459066077982_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Como</td></tr>
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-21416314587707825452016-08-30T10:00:00.000+01:002017-04-18T15:44:23.568+01:00Paris, August 2016Catas Birthday Weekend Oi Oi!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galerie des Promo </td></tr>
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One long weekend in the planning for months. 2 nights underground, 3 cars, 15 people, one big party in the Catacombs! This was my third trip mostly underneath Paris, in what is now looking very much like a yearly event...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anton!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLIgFMbsq6frJuKpYPYClosp0DfRVoKMhhb_KIpPvn_szACZSjnXRDSJztEvh1EcrdXCMvwet3V-dXhdBsqLdxm7Czr4XgriAYd_UdkAlnDI-N9z7PkXlYoiLTrZTCVWha6f8Jw_hqI6D/s1600/14380177_10153820706407256_1991329364772634154_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLIgFMbsq6frJuKpYPYClosp0DfRVoKMhhb_KIpPvn_szACZSjnXRDSJztEvh1EcrdXCMvwet3V-dXhdBsqLdxm7Czr4XgriAYd_UdkAlnDI-N9z7PkXlYoiLTrZTCVWha6f8Jw_hqI6D/s320/14380177_10153820706407256_1991329364772634154_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy's Bar</td></tr>
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On Sunday all bar one got out above ground for a nice shower, trip up the Arc de Triomphe, and a top class meal at our favourite restaurant/cocktail bar L'Ephemere.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lora & Stephane, Arc de Triomphe</td></tr>
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Sunday night saw us all on the hotel roof, and a few of nipped off to climb a nice crane :D<br />
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Many cheers for a top weekend guys and gals! :D</div>
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-14029032306508510182016-08-12T16:00:00.000+01:002017-04-18T15:44:52.926+01:00Matienzo Summer 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a>Arrived Tuesday 2nd August via flying from Manchester to Bilbao with Scott.<br />
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Wednesday 3rd August<br />
Via Ferrata in Ramales<br />
Expedition Meal<br />
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Thursday 4th August<br />
Mostajo tourist trip<br />
Crane near Ramales<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwaviYICf9Z9PoJA1sA9oPZFxE-flcEBDR7Dknq9fkQz7D4pHuvC0JdZnYFdBzXxv07N90MeoyCyrYjQ7jAiR5VYIxp-qbqnW9lEjKuTL32diruWcgSb-oyFUZiDbO9PpHtEyFm2COC6Q/s1600/28944138632_8568211709_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwaviYICf9Z9PoJA1sA9oPZFxE-flcEBDR7Dknq9fkQz7D4pHuvC0JdZnYFdBzXxv07N90MeoyCyrYjQ7jAiR5VYIxp-qbqnW9lEjKuTL32diruWcgSb-oyFUZiDbO9PpHtEyFm2COC6Q/s320/28944138632_8568211709_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott, Mostajo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte, Mostajo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="es">La Grúa</span></td></tr>
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Friday 5th August<br />
Fresnado II with James Carlisle<br />
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We got to "The Howling" mud duck in record time (every bit as lovely as it sounds!), and on to where the current survey ends to start new exploration and surveying. Crawled into a small yet high chamber, which initially looked to have good potential with ways on. James climbed the C.10m loose boulder pile while I hid under a ledge avoiding any likely rock fall. Once James was up, I crawled out and found a short climb down into a lower section, and heard water. I shouted up to James that I had a streamway in a rift and was climbing down to it. The rift passage is very loose in chossy limestone, I started chimneying down to the streamway, around 8-10 metres or so below. I gingerly placed my toe on a boulder wedged in the rift, which started moving so started backing up looking for a better place to climb down, when suddenly without any warning the boulder came crashing down and the whole passage collapsed around me. At this point James had climbed back down the boulder pile, deciding it was unsafe to continue alone, and he found me climbing out of the streamway looking and sounding rather shaken. Fortunately I came out of the fall with a couple of scrapes only.<br />
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We started surveying the small chamber, and then both climbed up the boulder pile one at a time. At the top were two big slopes, slippery looking and very loose, it reminded me somewhat of the slopes filled with deads I have seen at Nenthead. James started climbing/crawling up the first one, and was almost at the top when he shouted "BELOW LAUREN MOVE" or something to that effect. I jumped out of the way in time to look up and watch a TV sized boulder come rolling and sliding down the slope, with all the loose sandy stuff running in behind it. It tumbled down the boulder pile we had just climbed up, and took some of it out on it's way. After obtaining a survey point, James told me to come up, as it was safer up there. At the top we were presented with a large chamber, and more loose climbs. We decided it was too much like "death on a stick" and cautiously climbed back down the pile, and went back to survey the streamway passage. This proved quite difficult as everything seemed to be on the move, and we did our best before calling it a day, and started heading out. The way out proved to be a lot more difficult than the way in, once covered in mud from The Howling duck, there is no dry sand on the other side to roll in and get the mud off, as is the case on the way in. The protected traverse was a comedy act of slippery feet and hands, then a long slog out with a stop for some food and water in the "Ecstasy Chamber". Once out we met everyone at Bakers before a quick shower and typically fantastic meal at Bar Tomas.<br />
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Saturday 6th August<br />
Walk with Pete Oneill, Phil Papard, and Hilary Papard to look for previously found, but unexplored shafts in the hillside.<br />
Site 3627 partially descended by Pete Oneill, decided a ladder and some gardening was needed.<br />
I looked down a couple more holes nearby that we found along the way to site ????<br />
Phil put a bolt in the top, and I was first to descend the rather beautiful shaft into a smooth walled chamber. Unfortunately it didn't go anywhere, but we surveyed what was there anyway!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V62ES71uMo_44W3j6INsZmKMDZkD2DZ7lT2YB5rak57LItY6gbJiS9FmOsGY8_ihLrtljkYwkgQC6nPZ_h61KpbrA1O8awmSqVZ2yvxau4Q7fUSoFSIUK1otMg0k7NAZ4RYaubDrjJ72/s1600/28431776303_7087de4ea3_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V62ES71uMo_44W3j6INsZmKMDZkD2DZ7lT2YB5rak57LItY6gbJiS9FmOsGY8_ihLrtljkYwkgQC6nPZ_h61KpbrA1O8awmSqVZ2yvxau4Q7fUSoFSIUK1otMg0k7NAZ4RYaubDrjJ72/s320/28431776303_7087de4ea3_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Cave, First Down</td></tr>
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Sunday 7th August<br />
Swimming in the Rio Ason near Riva de Ruesga<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK6LOEdj68Zt3c1UXWaaQYH03bSMhyphenhypheniWeU59bCadCAH2mJJPttblKFV0z9y7hhb341UKZHgDK8BGkacLG-QDsg36QQzGLotjEJ9NQL4oCtlbIyaqHU3HMe5D2YxpV0H56aPaOfszqQNKC/s1600/28428688134_4b14352b71_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK6LOEdj68Zt3c1UXWaaQYH03bSMhyphenhypheniWeU59bCadCAH2mJJPttblKFV0z9y7hhb341UKZHgDK8BGkacLG-QDsg36QQzGLotjEJ9NQL4oCtlbIyaqHU3HMe5D2YxpV0H56aPaOfszqQNKC/s320/28428688134_4b14352b71_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal Clear</td></tr>
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Monday 8th August<br />
Beach day at Noja<br />
BBQ at the Apartment<br />
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Tuesday 9th August<br />
Walk with Pete Oneill, Phil Papard, Pete Clewes and Tom Howard to drop the shaft we found on Saturday. Various other holes found and investigated.<br />
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Wednesday 10th August<br />
Ramales with Liz<br />
Meal at Bar Tomas<br />
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Thursday 11th August<br />
Home!<br />
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<br />Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-90792228720104879152016-07-03T21:00:00.000+01:002017-04-18T16:10:47.251+01:00Titan.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMjzC2Ggw4mUBlXmeQcKtTYVzLbdzxf6tITqMBBWek-vKkwKqsWM2zINLpfJyS2x_KYsqo1xAI_oeu3xFeSt4Y-ZnbatM45K7rjw-k0kMPJO_se_Ei6zaouXTwNPQYWkq8lu0TvnA0XLv/s1600/13558987_1056439621116510_847964131608672340_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMjzC2Ggw4mUBlXmeQcKtTYVzLbdzxf6tITqMBBWek-vKkwKqsWM2zINLpfJyS2x_KYsqo1xAI_oeu3xFeSt4Y-ZnbatM45K7rjw-k0kMPJO_se_Ei6zaouXTwNPQYWkq8lu0TvnA0XLv/s320/13558987_1056439621116510_847964131608672340_o.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diagram by Olly King</td></tr>
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I have wanted to descend Titan ever since I heard about it, but as a newbie caver 6 years ago, I presumed this was going to be out of reach for a very long time, and wondered if I would ever be capable of such a caving trip. For those that don't know and are interested, a brief bit of background and history:<br />
<a name='more'></a>Titan is the deepest natural cavern that has been discovered so far in the UK, previously thought to be Gaping Gill. Titan forms part of the huge Peak Cavern cave system in Castleton, Derbyshire. Also known as the "Devil's Arse", the huge entrance (the UK's largest) known as the Vestibule, is also the entrance to the popular show cave. Also connected to the system is the Speedwell Mine; another public show mine which you can take a boat trip into (I still haven't done this!). <br />
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It's been known since the 1980s that there was 'something' beyond the Far Sump Extension connecting Speedwell to Peak Cavern. In 1992 extracts were published from a newly discovered manuscript, written by the 18th Century academic James Plumptre. He describes in fascinating detail his trip into Speedwell. But also large caverns and mine workings long thought to be in existence, but were supposed as blocked past the Boulder Piles. Cave divers had explored the far Sump extension, however the elusive dry route the miners must have used continued to elude modern explorers. After reading Plumptre's account, there was renewed interest in James Hall's Over Engine Mine Shaft found by the TSG in 1963; Plumptre describes what is now thought to be surely JH Mine: "There was another way out, by climbing one hundred and fifty yards farther to the top of the hill, but, as the way lay through another proprietor's mine, the miners never go by it, unless insisted upon by strangers..."<br />
So Moose led a dedicated team of Derbyshire cave diggers to JH in search of "Caverns Measureless". They discovered and excavated the workshop area of the mine, finding many tools and relics left in situ. The team spent a further 3 years removing boulders the bottom of the huge Leviathan chamber, before achieving access to Speedwell in 1995. This area of cave was previously accessible only to cave divers from the Far Sump extension.<br />
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After years of grafting, Moose and his team finally found their way through a huge boulder choke near the piles, and discovered the gigantic cavern of Titan from below in January 1999. They then proceeded to climb it over 6 days. Following reaching the top and surveying, 4 years was then spent digging an access shaft down to the chamber from the surface. The existence of Titan was finally revealed to the wider caving community in November 2006. The entrance shaft is 46 metres deep, and Titan itself is split into a 62 metre pitch down to a landing point called the Event Horizon. Then a few metres down this ledge and onto a hanging re-belay point 58 metres from the bottom.<br />
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Fast forward to September 2013 and after a lot of SRT practice, I felt almost ready. We booked the trip for the first weekend in October, planning to do the James Hall over Engine Mine through trip- out of Peak Cavern on the Saturday. Then go down Titan and back up JH de-rigging along the way on Sunday. The JH trip went well, we completed the through trip and got out of Peak Cavern in 4 hours 45 minutes. Sat in a pub in Castleton afterwards though it dawned on me how much I was aching, and what a mission getting out of JH would be the next day. I realised this was beyond my limits at this time, and with difficulty pulled myself out of the Titan trip. This was upsetting for me, and I struggled with the decision I made for weeks afterwards. Next year though... next year I would do it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing for the JH through trip, October 2013</td></tr>
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The next year another trip into Titan was planned, which I unfortunately missed due to a family occasion. I was hoping for another trip last year which never materialised. Then late last year it was announced that there were some apparent problems in the entrance shaft, and the fibreglass rings needed replacing, so it had to be closed for repairs. Many thanks to the team who stabilised the shaft and installed new concrete rings. Finally it was announced in March this year that Titan was "back open for business". As soon as I heard this I wasted no time in asking our chairman Tom Howard to book the trip, and so we had a date - Saturday 2nd July. This came around very quickly, but I was more than ready for it this time... or so I thought.<br />
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On Friday Pete and Beth Knight of Peak Instruction asked if they could tag along on our trip, but only halfway... they didn't plan on 'bottoming' Titan with us. We were really happy that Pete brought his camera along, as none of us had one - taking pictures of this trip was the last thing on our minds. Titan is notoriously difficult to photograph, requires a lot of fire power to light even half the shaft up, and none of us fancied carrying any unnecessary kit this time. The whole of the UK has seen a lot of rain this last 6 weeks, and there was a worry that the bottom would be sumped with water, in which case the only option would be to climb back up and out of Titan. None of us much fancied that idea either, the trip was planned as a through trip out of Peak Cavern, but going back up was something we had to be prepared to do.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W7iMqyJ56h7FEael8hTRqCpE4L9Pn6rDUukeuLFy9uSOTs4SD6T0kBitEtw7_fu4_t0cvXnMiaxZN0ZfYW_K5kdS8iYQUg8OhZk7eoUTyTN9bQASk2e76GnAG8pV0y3ch2-mJxVtGfVq/s1600/13558653_10153556525967455_7305707708086575864_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W7iMqyJ56h7FEael8hTRqCpE4L9Pn6rDUukeuLFy9uSOTs4SD6T0kBitEtw7_fu4_t0cvXnMiaxZN0ZfYW_K5kdS8iYQUg8OhZk7eoUTyTN9bQASk2e76GnAG8pV0y3ch2-mJxVtGfVq/s320/13558653_10153556525967455_7305707708086575864_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anton rigging the entrance, me checking my gear. Photo by Pete Knight</td></tr>
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After a short while of wandering in the fields over Hurdlow, we found the completely innocuous looking lid to the entrance of Titan. Anton cracked on with rigging the 50 metre entrance shaft while we discussed what to do about the key. Seeing as Pete and Beth would be coming out, but we also needed access in case the bottom was flooded and we had to come back out. After this had been sorted, Anton and Olly descended the entrance shaft, with me following. By the time I got to the window into Titan, I found a nervous looking Anton, and Olly had rigged the first pitch. I asked Anton if he was ok and he sort of mumbled something like "just look at it". So I proceeded to clip into the line and peek out of the window for a look. Never before have the lines from my favourite poem had so much meaning.<br />
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<i>"Into this wild Abyss, The womb of Nature, and Perhaps her Grave. Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, But all of these in their Pregnant causes mixed. Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, unless the Almighty Maker them ordain. His Dark Materials to create more worlds, Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend, Stood on the brink of Hell and looked awhile, Pondering his voyage; For no Narrow Frith, He had to Cross."</i><br />
John Milton, Paradise Lost<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsgBOftyS2vYeYprSHdrVMZEStbtYWchZGYjRAWT5Foi6cDm67cFFQH_FUp5fzwqJvd10Ypz_thlOGP9aFtToexhxO_ynXUER_ekEiJ6FOP5R8oFeFOvnb8DUOpzXzrRh8DkQbVSV80bL/s1600/13558850_10153556524882455_2103997181716907682_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsgBOftyS2vYeYprSHdrVMZEStbtYWchZGYjRAWT5Foi6cDm67cFFQH_FUp5fzwqJvd10Ypz_thlOGP9aFtToexhxO_ynXUER_ekEiJ6FOP5R8oFeFOvnb8DUOpzXzrRh8DkQbVSV80bL/s320/13558850_10153556524882455_2103997181716907682_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anton and me looking nervous. Photo by Pete Knight</td></tr>
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Titan is simply massive. 130 metres deep and unfathomably wide from the beam of my headlamp, I could just about make out the far wall in the distance, but when I looked down, my light was swallowed up by the black void below. Beth was the first to bravely abseil down to the Event Horizon, 62 metres below, followed by Tom to go ahead and rig the last 60 metre pitch. During all of this Anton was talking himself out of going any further. I could see why. We have all been down much deeper underground places- mainly mine shafts and the like, but nothing like this. The exposure is like being high up outside, but you're underground and it was somehow worse for once. I don't normally feel exposed on rope underground, you can't see much in the dark! We told Anton he was going next, not to think too much, just to do it, and to not look down, because he would be able to see Beth and Tom's lights down on the Event Horizon. He bravely heeded Andy Farrow's eloquent advice, "man the fuck up" and went for it.<br />
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Then it was my turn. I really enjoyed the first pitch, and specifically wore my glasses which I don't normally take caving. On the way down I marvelled at the beautiful formations, the echo of my exclamations of delight at what I was doing, but mainly the amazing size of the gigantic cavern. I struggled to get my head around placing myself in the context of this chamber, dangling inside it on a rope, I hope that makes any sense, it's difficult to describe. I enjoyed the pitch very much, although landing on the Event Horizon was quite weird. I bellowed up to Olly that the rope was free and watched Anton preparing himself to go "over the edge". Once again, my turn...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me looking down into the great abyss from the top of Titan itself. Photo by Pete Knight</td></tr>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">This is a very good example of why testing your descender with a cows tail still attached is a sensible practice, and one I have always followed on re-belays. As soon as I
went to unlock my Stop I realised the problem, locked it again, attached my hand jammer to the
top rope, and then had more than a slight panic when I realised all my
weight was hanging on a stop rigged through one bobbin 60 metres high.
After a shit shit shit shit shit shit, no no no, I stood up and managed to
compose myself enough to stick my croll on, stick my short cowstail in the
knot, sit back down on the croll, take a deep breath and sort the damn thing out.
Then when I sat back down on the Stop it was loaded on the corner of my
D-ring rather than the middle, so I had to then sort that out too. Shook me right up, wasn't
shaking at the top, but by 'eck was I trembling after finally getting
off at the bottom! At first I had no idea what had happened - never been in that situation before, never
rigged my stop incorrectly before. It dawned on me that the weight
of the wet rope pulling the stop downwards had pulled it away from the top
pin, despite me knowing I had rigged it correctly. So when I closed the
stop and locked it off, was clearly not paying enough attention to
realise the rope was not fully underneath the pin. Anyway I didn't die, just gave Olly and Beth above me a bit of a scare!</span></span><br />
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At the bottom of Titan you get cold pretty quick, there is spray from the waterfall, and it's not a nice place to stand around for too long. I was glad of the extra base layer and balaclava I had stashed away in a dry bag. Once everyone was down we didn't waste any time in looking for the connection, silently praying that it wasn't sumped, and also that the "Cow Arse Worms" duck wasn't too full of the nasty wriggly things. After some questioning of our route finding, we were very pleasantly surprised to find our wishes had been granted, and we could get through. Although Cow Arse Worms duck was absolutely rank to crawl through and smelled foul, we were all happy to finally find our way into the Speedwell Streamway and have a good wash off. Seeing the old mining stemples on the way to the Streamway, and passing through Leviathan in JH, serves as a stark reminder that cavers were not the first to find Titan, and we are all indebted to their hard toil.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting by SUSS in the TSG kitchen</td></tr>
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Despite me having been in Speedwell Streamway twice before, found it a bit disorientating wearing glasses, and kept tripping over the boulders. I'm also very grateful to Olly for the piggy back through the deeper bits! What I should have done was taken my glasses off at the bottom of Titan, ah well. I found colostomy crawl much easier than last time, mainly due to not dragging a bag behind me and instead wearing my little personal 5l bag clipped to my hip, and also probably due in some part to it seeming slightly bigger than when I last tackled it 3 years ago. Each caver that goes through must bring a certain amount of mud with them right? I think we were all happy to see the bath in Peak Cavern, signalling the time for well deserved beer and BBQ was nigh. The trip took around 5 hours to complete, for five of us (with 7 starting at the top), fairly good going. It's always fun to pass the tourists in the Devil's Arse, sopping wet and muddy, with no indication of the horrors endured to traverse underneath the hillside and emerge, triumphant into the sunlight of the Vestibule. They all stare at us, the look on their faces confirming the truth - they must be mad!<br />
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The Sunday de-rigging team of Tom (sleeping beauty), Olly & Cow (surface "support"), and Andy Farrow (ROPE FREEE), encountered a few issues with the next team along who had rigged over us instead of choosing from the extra bolts. But it seems they would have had enough to worry about at the time with knot passes! Despite me offering to help de-rig on Sunday, I went to Bagshawe Cavern with some new club members instead, which I will tackle in a separate little write up at some point.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo (Via Snapchat) by Olly King</td></tr>
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Many, many thanks to our Titan team - Tom Howard, Olly King, Anton Petho, Andrew Farrow, Pete Knight and Beth Knight.<br />
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Thanks to the Technical Speleological Group for their usual fantastic hospitality, their much improved Club Hut, and of course the BBQ on Saturday night. And Charlotte who came to get drunk with us!<br />
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Also thanks to Steven Mills, Robert Stevenson, Yvonne King and Callum Ewan for coming down Bagshawe Cavern on Sunday :)<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">DO EPIC SHIT.</span></b>Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-92013738004460870172016-06-28T09:00:00.000+01:002017-04-16T16:48:37.525+01:00Belgium - Ropes, Caving, and Brussels<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Stephane Fontaine very kindly invited the DCC to a rope event that his caving club run each year in Senzeilles Quarry in Cerfontaine, Belgium. Initially, and for 3 months, I was the only person who took this offer up, until a month before the event Andrew Farrow booked himself a plane ticket too.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Stephane came to collect us from Brussels Charleroi late on Friday, upon arriving at Senzeilles, we found everyone asleep and so had to have the quietest BBQ ever - thanks to Stephane for much needed beer! This was my fist night sleeping in a hammock and it was great! I like arriving in a destination at night, and then waking up to see where you have come to. In this case big smooth faced marble quarry with what from a distance looked like giant spiders webs rigged across it in every direction. We were up bright and early, keen to get ourselves signed up, and get on the ropes.<br />
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Groupe Speleo Centre Terre are known for being "rope monkeys" in Belgium, and this was no surprise when we were handed the rigging guide, which wasn't really a rigging guide. But it indicated the three different levels of rope practice in the quarry. Green: very easy, for kids. Orange: "soft route". Red: "pro route". Myself and Andy started on the very easy ropes to get a feel for the place, take a closer look at their rigging, and make sure all our gear was set up correctly for the course. And so onto the "soft route". This consisted of walking halfway to the top of the quarry to the starting point, then what can only be described as 40-50 minutes of fairly tricky rope work!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy on the "Pro Route"</td></tr>
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The afternoon saw us attempting the pro-route and getting to various stages of completion before jibbing out. I chose to get off about halfway in, in a "not so designated getting off point", before getting to the over-water section. My arms at this point were aching, and so I took the opportunity in the afternoon to walk up to the top of the quarry and get some action shots of Stephane, Andy, Laurel and Paul on the walls. That evening was followed by a smashing BBQ, and Euro cave talk all night!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephane in Monto St. Etienne </td></tr>
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On Sunday Stephane organised a caving trip for us into a lovely little cave called Monto St. Etienne, in the Huy region of Belgium. We met 4 of his young caving colleagues - Nico, Salome, Piet, and Arthur, kitted up and headed underground. This cave is protected due to the presence of bats, and gated with access only allowed during the summer months. This is a very pretty little cave with many decorated areas, that has sadly been slightly spoiled in places by spray painted graffiti. After pausing for a photo in the large chamber, we quickly found our way down to the first pitch. Salome was in the process of gaining her first stage in rigging practice, and so we waited and took some more photographs and enjoyed Piet's music, while Salome expertly rigged the safety line and traverse, before we all descended into the second half of the cave. Once down, we had a good wander around the various routes, and then climbed up a pre-rigged shaft into the most well decorated part of the cave. Upon leaving the cave, Nico presented with cans of Jupiler lager, and we happily sat in the sun eating bread, chorizo and cheese.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy in front of Brussels Cathedral</td></tr>
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Monday saw myself and Andy wandering around Brussels being tourists in the rain, I really enjoyed the city, there was so much to see even with most of the major attractions shut on Mondays. Fairly disconcerting seeing the military literally every half an hour or so; armed personnel on every other street corner. At least we felt quite safe!<br />
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Many thanks to Stephane for his wonderful hospitality!<br />
<br />Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-77574011205840449812016-06-22T08:30:00.000+01:002017-04-21T22:12:20.270+01:00Stockport CraneSmall, yet difficult to climb.<br />
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<br />Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-44220059884310114032016-05-30T21:30:00.000+01:002017-04-18T15:45:23.308+01:00Yorkshire Bank Holiday Weekender<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DCC Rock On!</td></tr>
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Under the dictatorship of Anton...<br />
All but one managed the trip from Stream Passage Pot to Gaping Gill, and out of Bar Pot/Small Mammal, taking advantage of the Bradford Pothole Club's rigging during the Winch Meet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud Pot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaping Gill Main Chamber</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A faint Milky Way</td></tr>
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Sunday saw myself, James Johnson, Pete Clewes, and Robert Stephenson down Yordas doing the short trip. While Nigel, Tom, Anton and Andy Farrow went down Simpson Pot.</div>
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Great weekend, many stories, much wine, many thanks to Anton for organising!</div>
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-63582455517154256432016-05-16T10:25:00.000+01:002017-04-18T16:05:46.987+01:00The Corsican Crawl - 282 metre Zip Wire<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olly abseiling down the tree for the first time</td></tr>
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Enormous thanks to Steve for hosting and organising his tree rigging weekend. Steve worked very hard to organise a brilliantly fun couple of days. I think he deserves some sort of special club stunt award for his "Corsican Crawl". (And maybe his outdoor toilet too). Huge thankyous to Tom Howard, Olly King, Cath, Sophie & Sean, Charlotte Meakin, James, Pete & Heather Johnson, Nigel Dibben, Robert and Louise Stevenson, Geordie & the kids, Paul Richardson, and especially to Scott Bradley of the TSG who we all agreed deserve a proper DCC thank you.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me 100ft up on a cold and windy Friday night</td></tr>
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Steve had wanted to rig a zip line in his garden for a very long time - years in fact. Back in October, I suggested we set a date for it to finally happen. There was much discussion in the months before it about the logistics and safety concerns. Myself, Olly and Dave Dillon went to Steve's a few times to look at the tree and discuss plans in the 2 weeks leading up to the weekend itself. There has been a rope up in Steve's tree for the last 10 years or so, and apparently this rope came from the Berger expedition of 1991, so this obviously needed to be replaced before anything else could happen up the tree. We agreed though, if the zip line wasn't possible or didn't happen for any reason, we would still have a damn good weekend at Steve's playing on ropes and giving the DCC Rocket a fresh lick of paint. Unfortunately
the weekend had a disappointingly poor turnout for a big club event that has
been in the calendar since October. Not getting at anyone in particular,
it turned out to be a bad weekend for many- of course I know there are
very good reasons why. Sorry to say many missed a truly incredible
weekend. And the weather was perfect, sunny no wind. For any of you that
haven't been to Steve's place it is awesome and quite special...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical English Bluebell Woods</td></tr>
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Upon arriving yesterday, a small group of us were mingled underneath
the tree wondering where Steve was. I rang him and was given the cryptic
instructions "walk down the meadow and follow the mouse trail"... So
off we went and followed the white mice directing us over the bridge, we
went through a beautiful woodland filled with thousands of bluebells,
there is so much to see. But shortly after Scott arrived at midday, we
got on with having a crack at this crazy zip wire idea. I think we are
all in agreement if Scott had not come it most likely wouldn't have
happened, or at least not as successfully. We needed someone with more
experience rigging zip wires than us, and he gave us the confidence in
what we were doing. None of us were sure it was possible to do safely,
less so in one weekend, and even less considering all the other
individual factors involved in putting a 10mm steel zip wire 90 feet up a
Corsican Pine the best part of 300 years old, with a bit of a dodgy
lean to it?! Fortunately the tree is healthy, and the lean is backwards
away from the wire. The tree has been anchored to two other large trees
behind it, so that the zip wire cable does not pull the old 100ft tree
over. It was under tension by Saturday afternoon, however it was reduced
yesterday morning. The main cable is rigged directly to the tree, 27
metres up using planks to protect it's trunk. The forces involved here
are big- tons of pressure at either end of the line. At the far end of the meadow
282 metres away the cable ends 20odd metres up another tree, with
the main tensioning anchor redirected from there to the bottom trunk of
another huge tree. By 7pm on Saturday, the cable was fully hoisted up
the tree at one end. It still didn't look great though, we knew there
was a lot more work and testing to be done yesterday. Nevertheless we
had the traditional DCC knees up with a moonlit midnight walk around the
mouse trail, and late night around Steve's dustbin fire. Falling asleep
in my tent next to the river with the sound of the waterfall was
magical. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pruning</td></tr>
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So after a leisurely breakfast we got on with it,
hoisted the cable up the lower tree, and I gingerly weighted the lowest
point to see what happened. I sank to the floor. Higher it went up the
tree. Less tension though, the real danger clearly being over tensioning
rather than being too slack. Olly and James were towed up the line,
with more adjustments and eventually after looking at everything, we
decided to go for it. Scott slowly lowered Olly down the zip wire from
the top of the tree, along with a saw to get rid of the branches in the
way at the top. After some extreme high wire tree surgery, the 80 metre
belay rope then came to an end, and it was time to let him go! (There is
one small branch in the way still that was just out of reach, but it's
not particularly painful unless you're wearing shorts!) Olly rode
gracefully down the rest of the line, with the long rope acting as a
gentle brake on the long grass. Then it was James' turn, from the top
this time. He went bloody fast but slowed down almost as quick and came
to a comfortable stop on the floor about 200 metres down the wire. My
turn next and I went the furthest, came nowhere near the floor and ended
up coming to a stop hanging about 20odd metres away from the end,
Charlotte followed me screaming, and then Tom with a zimmer frame for good measure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extreme high wire tree surgery</td></tr>
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The method we used is to connect yourself to the
pulley with your locked stop on a 15 metre or so length of rope, which
is attached to yourself coiled in a bag, when you come to a stop, you
can abseil down the rope to gradually release yourself from the cable.
Clearly weight is a huge factor in this zip wire as to speed and landing. Everyone involved did a
bloody good job with simple yet effective rigging. There was no hoist
system installed, you had to prusik to the top of the tree, and connect
yourself to the cable whilst stood on a branch. All in all a fantastic weekend, many thanks again to all who were involved! Needless to say, we didn't get around to repainting the rocket, maybe we can organise another weekend to get the job done before the September open weekend?<br />
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Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6933731151635555741.post-38234326090525941742016-05-07T20:00:00.000+01:002017-04-18T16:14:04.572+01:00Giant's Hole<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladder on Comic Act Cascade by Tom Howard</td></tr>
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Tom and I found ourselves at a loose end this weekend, on Friday night we decided to go down the classic Giant's Hole near Castleton in Derbyshire. Tom came to pick me up at the entirely reasonable time of 9.45am and off we went, stopping for breakfast at Sainsbury's on the way. Upon arriving at the Giants car park, we found the usual horde of adventure activity people being kitted up for their tourists' trip down Garlands. <br />
<a name='more'></a>So we took our time getting ready and let the big group go in ahead of us. Once in we stopped to admire Upper Stream Passage and Boss Aven, commenting on the fact that neither of us has done the high level route, and we should do that at some point. We then squeezed past some other groups of people having a play at caving, so Tom could go and rig the SRT rope down Garland's. It's been about 4 years since I was last in Giants, so my memory was hazy, I forgot how long the crabwalk is, but I'm still not sure where the Vice is!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crawl out of the Windpipe by Tom Howard</td></tr>
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Tom wanted to take some pictures on this trip, and I didn't mind being the only model around, or standing in a waterfall on the ladder for 5 minutes. He asked if I would mind having a picture taken in the Windpipe, but I was quite pleased upon crawling through that he had decided the Windpipe wouldn't make for quite so nice a shot as the crawl out. We had a brief look at Geology Pot, then on to the climb down the rift, which Tom rigged with 8mm rope, just for the sake of using it, (and I couldn't be arsed chimneying down).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Level Passage by Tom Howard</td></tr>
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Coming out of the cave we found ourselves greeted by gloriously warm sunshine, I both love and kind of hate caving in the summer. One of the worst things about caving is having to get changed outside afterwards, especially in the winter. Sometimes it can take ages to get warmed up afterwards. The summer makes this infinitely more bearable, however this question always crosses my mind- do you really want to be wasting the rare British sunshine underground?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mam Tor by Me</td></tr>
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Off we went to the Wanted Inn for a well deserved pint in the sun. As it was still early, we were looking for something else to do with the afternoon, so we decided to walk up Mam Tor. No sooner had we reached the summit than the weather broke and we had to make our escape off the hill quickly. Off to TSG to see Andy Farrow and watch the members do a spot of DIY while we generally got in the way and took the piss. Great day!Ferrethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00504154663412386038noreply@blogger.com0Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33, UK53.343681399999987 -1.776510499999972153.334201399999984 -1.7966804999999721 53.353161399999991 -1.7563404999999721