Saturday 27th June 2026

Mike Kousiounis (Kushy) and Alessio Sancetta. Met at 10.00 and packed 7 bags of various materials which we got down into the cave, plus an extra bag with drill, around 10.30. We left the drill at POT and carried the remaining 7 bags through to TPC. 5 mixes made. There are now 2 bags of dust left in cave, no sand or cement. AS went through to MHH to get water and reported the tub is full and likely to fill again by tomorrow. We took 3 bags of bags out of TPC and headed back to POT. After a quick lesson in pf AS quickly dismantled all the large boulders, leaving only 1 behind. Great draught as usual and very cold for anyone not working. Out for 1630. Mike.

Allessio at Pool of Tears. Photo MK.

Friday 26th June 2026

Mike Kushy, solo with John Cooper as callout. Headed down cave around 17.30 with 4 full length bars, 2 shorter ones and a sack with drill and some clips in. At the Boulder Rift chamber the longer bars were left and exchanged for the two bags of dust left on Wednesday. Got to TPC and did 3 mixes. 2 drums of sand , no cement and no water...although I did check the collector in MHH and that is full. Took out 2 bags of bags and drill. In the Boulder Rift chamber a stone was chocked into the boulder with the big crack and marked for measuring. Out for 21.30. Mike.

Cracked Boulder in Boulder Rift. Photo MK.

Marker. Photo MK.

Thursday 25th June 2026

Building materials delivered to site.

Building materials on site.

Wednesday 24th June 2026

Freya Bearn, Mike Kushy and James Vickery. We all headed to POT around 3pm with 2 bags of dust (left at connection to Boulder Rift) and a drill. MK went to the Tooth Dig end to clear, with FB on the rope in the awkward chamber and JV filling buckets. Once the dam was cleared we assessed the front and FB felt confident enough to go first. The whole ceiling looked to be shattered and needed crowbar work. FB managed some and then JV went to the front and removed even more. We cleared back to the dam and after a while MK went to the front. Huge boulders stacked randomly which we tried to move back and created another dam (supports) with. PF or capping work needed next to downsize some more boulders. Have no idea where all the spoil will go so maybe we keep the blocks larger and cement them into tactical places?! The view ahead is of a solid bedded ceiling with no fractures at all and a mud filled trench down the right with a nice hole which can't quite be got to safely yet. 3 hours. Mike.

Before clearing. Photo MK.

Partially cleared. Photo MK.

End of session. Photo MK.

End of session. Photo MK.

Saturday 20th June 2026

Freya Bearn and Mike Kushy.

Tea Party Chamber Dig.

We got down the cave for 1100, after lowering 3 bags, 1 drill box and 5l of water which we carried through. We also picked up another 3 bags on route from The Boulder Rift chamber and took everything to TPC. Once we got to TPC FB started mixing and MK started cleaning rock ready for cementing. MK gave FB a quick lesson in PF work and she downsized boulders whilst MK cemented. 3 mixes in total today. At one point a huge boulder came out from the right hand side (as you face the solid wall) and nearly took MK's leg out, so MK added another vertical on that side and braced it off another corner with a diagonal. 1 bag of grit sand, 1 bag of builders, 2 drums of cement, 1 scaffold bar and 2 x 5l of water in cave. We headed out with 2 bags stuffed with bags, the drill box and we also picked up a redundant 50m of firing cable on the way to Puddle Dig (Pool of Tears).

Scaffold dig. Photo MK.

Puddle Dig.

Here we cleared back to the dam until it was full, then we drilled 5 holes @ 600mm x 10mm. Noise made. Out for 1600. 2 whole bags of grit sand in lockbox, no cement. Mike

The sharp end at POT. Photo MK.