Wednesday, 26 February 2025

Wednesday 26th February 2025

Mike Kushy, Sam Hill and Mike Wise. Very wet cave today after the heavy rain yesterday. MK took the drill and the 'rinsed out' pf box in. Broke up the large rocks laying in the pool and tossed them further back. The pool only had water in the half closest, beyond was fairly dry and gaps could be seen over the mud. SH arrived in the midst of MKs aqueous mud mining but didn't opt to tag in. We both moved some rocks higher up to the dam. MW then arrived and with SH near Tooth Dig, MK hauling and MW filling the buckets we cleared the dam fully. We then all congregated at the bottom where MK unwound the bung and shoved his arm up the pipe to unblock it. This consequently rushed into the dig and my suit got a good clean. No pictures and you wouldn't want to see the state of it. The dam water raised the pool level by a good 2 inches. Think this is a good time to leave this dig site until warmer weather. Let's head North! 2 1/2 hours. Mike.

Sam Hill's video upon arrival.

Saturday, 22 February 2025

Saturday 22nd February 2025

Mike Kushy, Alison Moody and Dave Walker. Initial tourist trip through the upper passages. On to Cement Dig, where both AM and DW went for a look at the ends. Nice draught coming out of Cement Dig today (may be worth putting a couple of charges into the boulders in the floor). Then to BRC and down to Tooth Dig, not much of a draught here and no one really approves of the site logistically. Then through the 2nd connection and into the newer passage. MK went ahead to assess bang damage and we decided we'd have a little clear out. MK perched in the chamber above the dig receiving buckets from DW, whilst AM was at the front. After a while DW went to the front and MK passed buckets to AM who was in the chamber. Once the chamber was exhausted MK went to the front and 5 large rocks were prised from the ceiling. There's a massive shattered block in the ceiling ahead ready to come down, but unfortunately when it's prised it moves even more ceiling higher up cave (ceiling we really don't want moving). The dam needs clearing and we need to get some more cement in before any more forwards progress. Nice draught at the bottom and quite frosty air. Tools retrieved from various dig sites: 1x micro pick, 1x 1 1/2ft crowbar, 1x short cold chisel and 12x full pf sets 😀 3 hours. Out through the new route. You can have a good hours trip now looking around at the sites. Mike.

The sharp end. Photo MK.