Friday 21st November 2025

Mike Kushy, Hollie London, Alessio Sancetta, Sam Chung, Tuska, Wayne Starsmore, John Cooper and Brian Prewer. We all met around 2.30 and quickly went over how to set up the radio location equipment. Then MK, HL, AS and SC went to the first chamber on the old route in, just to check comms. Comms was established but too close to the iron ladders to Radio Locate. We then all headed to TPC to set up. SC and AS worked on this whilst MK and HL cleared The Hookah Pipe of the bang spoil and tried to divert puddles. Once TPC was located HL, AS and SC went on to MHH...I also believe the team carried on digging out channels to the far corner and the water reaches there now. Meanwhile MK made 2 mixes and carried on with supporting the landing pad. The MHH location sounded really successful (although comms weren't great), now to cross reference with the survey. 1 drum of sand, 1 of cement, lots of stone dust and water in cave. Mike.

AS and JC setting up on surface. Photo SC.

WS, AS, HL, T and MK. Photo SC.

AS on comms in TPC. Photo SC.

HL and AS in MHH. Photo SC.

The Hookah Pipe after clearing. Photo MK.

Friday 14th November 2025

Mike Kushy and Sam Hill. Possibly the wettest day of the year so far with 1 1/2 inch of rain in Priddy within 24 hours, fairly warm though. We took in 2 drills, HE and a full size spade. The entrance shaft was wet and loads of inlets higher up than we've ever seen before. Surprisingly the Lower Bedding and Cement Dig had no drips at all, whereas this used to be the wettest area. SH used his drill to put an anchor in for the Light Connection rope (need to take mallion in for this), whilst MK set to laying in a puddle drilling shot holes in The Hookah Pipe. Really apparent and cold draught coming out from MHH today. SH then went into MHH with the spade for some mud mining, he also took some footage. MK then finished holes and joined SH where we started digging away mud from the far corner. Massive lake in the chamber, but not as much water coming in as I thought there would be. MK laid the charge with SH assisting. On the way out SH went to check out Puddle Dig and reported there's a clear puddle but it's not as deep as it should be considering the amount of water coming in! All fired fine. 2 1/2 hours. Mike.

Video of MHH in flood, by SH.

MK in MHH. Photo SH

Wednesday 12th November 2025

Ed Ford and Mark Edwards went down 1815. One cement and one sand taken down. Hookah Pipe cleared of bang debris. A torrent of water was coming down in Mad Hatters Hall with the current dig flooded. This is definitely taking the water though as it flows into it. No problem with air. Felt fresher in Mad Hatters Hall than rest of cave! Out by 2030. Ed.

Saturday 8th November 2025

Party including Mike Kushy and Tuska fitted the extra bolts into the gate hinges. Mike.

Wednesday October 29th

Mike Wise and Ed Ford. Our mission was to clear the debris from last week's Hookah Pipe (HP) diameter adjustment and if needed repeat the process. We declined the suggestion to take in more cement so just took a 36v drill, a couple of 10mm drill bits, a spare set of batteries and passage widening kit in two bags.

A slight whiff of fumes was detected from the pit above the Light Connection (LC). MW descended to check things out while EF waited above. It seemed OK at first; there was a pile of small debris in the HP but further slight adjustment was needed and so the drill bag came down. There was no detectable draught and TPC was the same temperature as the upper cave. But then the fumes became more apparent in the area around HP and upstairs and the drill bag returned up LC. EF came down for a look and chat.  

EF declined to enter HP; his sense of smell hasn't been wrecked by time like mine has. We did discuss moving some rocks towards the platform below LC keeping us away from the lower part of TPC, but then EF traversing the rock pile found a pocket of fume. Time was called and we returned up LC. Despite using exemplary thrutching technique we were both panting on reaching the top and according to EF, MW was sweating buckets.

We exited puffing and panting with throats complaining we had just eaten a handful of gravel. No photos taken. Medicinal substances were taken in The Hunters' which helped to improve things slightly.

1 hour 40 minutes

 Mike Wise