Wednesday 24th September 2025

Mike Kushy, Mike Wise and Sam Hill. All down the cave for around 6.30pm. Took in drill and extra batteries plus charge materials. The wire was tested from the shaft as it hadn't been used for a while, no signal so took the tester to the joint. Tested higher wire from lower end and all fine, tested lower wire and no signal. Took the tester to the furthest end of the wire and discovered stripped cable and ends broken, fixed and tested okay. MW began drilling the up and over boulder, whilst SH cleared out behind where the recent rock moved ready for cementing. MK made some mixes in TPC and sent them up to SH. In the meantime MK kept moving rock around in TPC to make the floor better. Around 8.30pm MW called that he was all set up so we decided it was a good time to leave. Charge set off from Boulder Rift Chamber, very quiet considering we were only 30m of bang wire away. 2 1/2 hours. Mike K.

Tuesday 23rd September 2025

John Cooper and Mike Kousiounis (Kushy). Survey trip of Tea Party Chamber and on to current end. Twenty minutes in, 60 minutes surveying and 40 minutes out (it’s uphill!). The current end chamber appears to be developing a wetter, muddier floor. Now got to process the data collected. (See Survey Page.) 2 hours. John.

Saturday 20th September 2025

Mike Kushy, John Arnold (With GoPro), Jason Hares (Jay) (With GoPro) and Lucas McMaster.  All undergound just after 10am. Took in sand, stemples and fixing kit, 5l of mixing water and food. MK went ahead using pink conservation tape to set route markings (don't cross the tape for the best route basically).  All down to TPC no problems, JH mentioned that the rock above the light connection would need sorting on the way out. MK sorted out more taping in TPC whilst the others took the time to look around. We then all went through to the final chamber where more taping was done by MK whilst the others used GoPros on sticks on various holes. MK then went through with the others on how to clear the 'intermediate chamber' and left them to it. The plan was to go and set the via ferrata stemples in place. Unfortunately the drill started smoking, so that plan didn't work. With JH in TPC hauling the buckets, MK part way in assisting buckets through the pipe, LM filling buckets/working the rope and JA loosening mud we cleared for a good hour before stopping for lunch. After lunch MK went to loosen mud and had discovered JA had been digging his way to China. With MK loosening mud and digging to China, JA filling buckets/working rope and LM/JH hauling back to TPC we did another good hour or so more clearing. Towards the end we discovered a hard calcite floor about 1ft deep, hopefully all the mud is only 1ft deep! Packed away drill and we all started to head out, also with any empty bags. The boulder above the light connection did need sorting indeed, LM and JH sorted this out and got it moved close to the 'emergency exit'. Consequently some clearing of loose stuff and stabilising needs doing, this is a high priority job. Need to make a list of materials in TPC now. 6 hours. Mike K.

The link to the video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyboaDlXhcg

It's rather long so key bits can be found here:

0.19 Cement Dig
0.23 Approaching Light Connection
0.35 All in Tea Party Chamber
0.45 Entering The Hookah Pipe
0.55 to 1.09 In the Final Chamber - note the frost shattered Stal
1.24 Break in filming - starts again leaving Light Connection
1.38 Rock moves!

Wednesday 17th September

Sam Hill, Mikey Waterworth, Ed Ford, Jake Baynes, Adrian Miles and Mike Wise.

Team split into 2 parties with different aims

Mike Wise solo report:

A drill, capping kit, lump hammer and micro crowbar were taken down to Boulder Chamber. Here the irritating pyramid shaped lump on top of the large boulder at the top of the 10ft climb was capped off using 3 holes and 5 caps. The top of the boulder is now flat. Some minor dressing was done with the lump hammer. The kit was abandoned temporarily in the chamber.

The hammer and crowbar were taken down to Boulder Rift Chamber where the floor of the step-up and crawl into the bedding below Calcite Squeeze was attacked for about 45 minutes to improve head room and generally remove lumps from the floor. Large amounts of rock varying in size from very big/just liftable to hand size were removed along with their covering of mud. The big stuff was stacked in the chamber, the smaller stuff and some mud was rammed back into the gaps that appeared below the mud covering.

Started packing up at 2045 and began slowly exiting at 2100 having heard nothing from the team below. They caught up with me at Boulder Chamber and at the entrance shaft I found that someone was jiggling the hauling rope from the top. It turned out to be SH who mistakenly had exited via the old route - he must have run out!  Thanks to JB for carrying my drill box down into Boulder Chamber at the start. 

Other report:

All visited TPC. EF's foot came off the slippery scaffold bar on the descent from the Light Connection and he somersaulted down onto the chamber floor. Injuries declared in the Hunters later were a damaged knee and a badly swollen wrist. MWa scanned everything from TPC to the end.

2 hours 

Mike Wise

After Ed’s acrobatics, myself and Jake had a look at TPC. I then went through the Hookah to join SH and MWa at the end. Myself and MWa went back to the chamber just after the hookah and cleared some of the spoil in both directions. MWa and SH went back to the final chamber to look at prospective leads whilst the rest of us started heading out. All on the surface by 21:30. Adrian. 

Sunday 14th September 2025

Mike Kushy, Ed Ford and Hollie London. MK and EF to begin with. Headed in just after 10am leaving one of the new 6l daren drums for HL to pack her camera kit in (thanks to Rob Harper for the kind donation). EF took in his drill and picked up the drinking water on the way in and MK took charged batteries, drum of sand and a 5l container of mixing water in. When we got to TPC EF got to making some brews, then HL arrived equipped with her camera and some hauling rope (which proved very useful later). After morning tea we had a go at The Hookah Pipe some more, with MK on the far side pf'ing back and EF/HL working the TPC side. When we decided it looked big enough to haul buckets through we all stopped for lunch. EF and HL then went through to the most recent chamber and we used the haul line to pull buckets back. Ideally we need flat laid 5l buckets cut to 3/4's for this, plus we can still open the whole tube up some more (maybe a small charge is needed on one side). MK pulling the line in TPC and EF/HL taking turns pushing on, 66 buckets in total. Around 59 buckets MK shouted to call it at 60 but the reply was 'There's a great big chamber not far off'. All 3 now in the smallish chamber we all took turns loosening mud and fishing out rocks. First one through then stopped and cleared from the otherside for others, all got through in the end. The new new chamber is roughly 10m long x 4m wide x 3m height with nice broken column formation at the far end. Lots of rifts intersecting but the draught is not obvious anymore. Liquid mud floor which is very shiny (perhaps a small lead content?). We will have to discuss the next steps as a team once everyone has had a look. 4 drums of sand in cave, 1 drum of cement, 5l of mixing water and 10l of drinking water. 6 1/2 hours. Mike

Click here for todays video.

HL coming back out of the newest chamber. Photo MK.

Rogue Coral fossil found in the new chamber. Photo HL.

EF in the new chamber. Photo HL.

MK looking at the broken column formation. Photo HL.

EF entering the new chamber. Photo HL.

Same photo as previous but further back. Photo HL.

EF fishing out rocks from the soon to be breakthrough point. Photo HL.

The column found in the 'intermediate' chamber. Photo HL.

Wednesday 10th September 2025

Mike Kushy, Hollie London, Ed Ford and Mike Wise. MK and HL to begin with. We made our way in around 5.30pm with batteries and a tub of sand. Picking up 2x scaff' bars on the way everything was taken to TPC. EF arrived not long after with his Dewalt 18v drill so we handed him some pfs and he opened up the head of the light connection more. This has revealed that some extra stabilisation needs doing here, possibly some cementing and a scaff' bar for a brace. Meanwhile HL was attacking The Hookah Pipe with the sds and chisels, whilst MK did more furnishing of TPC's floor. MK then went through The Hookah Pipe and used the Bosch sds from the far side. MW arrived and made it into TPC for the first time and said it wasn't as bad as we made out. He brought his Makita 36v in and attacked the pipe from TPC side. We all swapped turns tidying the floor and chiselling. Towards the end EF managed to get through THP into the decorated chamber beyond so he did some pf work from the far side. HL had a go at THP too. I think she could have done it but the squeeze is very intimidating and it's not going anywhere. Probably another session and we may be able to start hauling buckets of mud back into TPC. 3 tubs of sand and 1 tub of cement in cave, no water. There is 5l bottle of drinking water on the shelf near the bottom of the shaft. This will need an empty tackle sack to take further in. We also need to take in a heavier lump hammer for calcite.  3 1/2 hours. Mike K.

Sunday 7th September 2025

Mike Kushy, Hollie London, Nick Gymer and John Cooper. 

MK, HL and NG got underground for just after 10, carrying lots of batteries and picking up materials along the way to take to Tea Party Chamber. HL and NG had a look around whilst MK got the gear needed to open up the light connection more. HL went up cave a couple of trips to fetch more material and try to hear out for JC's arrival. Meanwhile NG continued with stabilsing of TPC floor whilst MK managed to straighten up the light connection. Next the 3 stopped for a short tea and snack break. It was getting cold so we decided to have a go at the Hookah Pipe (high level phreatic tube). MK went through and NG passed through drill, pfs etc to open up the pipe from the far side. Slightly easier now but its going to take a few sessions yet. NG and HL were clearing the mud from the TPC side some more and they also did a mix of cement to key in some big floor rocks. JC arrived at some point. He and HL went surveying whilst MK and NG continued work on the Hookah Pipe. JC left and HL had a go at getting into the new chamber. More to open yet and we will have to haul through this too. Don't want to use explosives as there's a really nice formation on the far side. 2 full drums of sand in cave, 1 of cement and no water. 5 hours. Mike.

Video of the new chamber.

The cater'pillar'? Photo MK.

HL attempting the Hookah Pipe into the new chamber. Photo MK.

The current end in the new chamber. Photo MK.

Looking down the furthest left 'tube' in the previous photo. Photo MK.

John Cooper waited until it had stopped raining (Thunderstorms!) before entering at 11am. Started surveying from the top of Cement Dig (station 82 of the Bedding survey). Surveyed on down, getting confused where the Tea Party Chamber sign made me think I had to drop down the hole by it. Fortunately decided to survey the top chamber first. At the end of that I noticed the handline down into the light connection. About halfway down this when I heard Hollie's voice and she was able to tell me the "easy" way to get down it. Surveyed a bit of Tea Party Chamber and Hollie did the lower bit. Will need another trip to get more detail. Got cold by then so went out. 3 hours. 

Saturday 6th September 2025

Mike Kushy. Solo. Got into the cave just before 11. Took in lots of batteries and 10x pf sets. Continued chiselling the Hookah Pipe (phreatic tunnel) some more. When all batteries were spent MK then used  a combination of head first with long crowbar to loosen calcited blocks in the floor and swapping position to go feet first to push the loose through. Finally made it through although a heck of a shoulder jamming move at the end. Got through feet first and used the small crowbar/hammer to remove what could from the far side. Needs more battery power to open right up. The chamber on the far side is fairly well decorated and 2m wide by 2m height, there's also a very nice 2ft column. The chamber goes around a slight corner and the way on is obvious, draughting like a bugger and all liquid mud floor. A 2 inch void can be seen over the mud but the whole of the Hookah will need opening up to drag the mud back into TPC. Spent the rest of my time moving smaller rocks around TPC to level out the floor. Caught Mike Waterworth on surface heading in to do more scanning. 4 hours. Mike K.

Wednesday 3rd September

Mikes Wise and Waterworth. Scanning from surface towards Puddle Dig and assessing work needed on the entrance ladder, Boulder Rift Chamber and Cement Dig Light Connection.

2 hours

No photos 

Mike Wise  

Monday 1st September 2025

Mike Kushy, Mike Waterworth and Ed Ford. 

MK to begin with, did an hour on surface picking larger rocks from the newly landcaped ground around the well. 

Latest surface shot. Photo MK.

Got into the cave around 5pm armed with extra batteries and new chisel bits. Picked up a 2ft length of scaffold bar on the way through and a few steel pins. 

First job was to pf the chocked stones in the ceiling of the light connection. Awkward, but all loose blocks removed with 2 batteries. This now gives an unobstructed view of the chamber from above the connection. 

MK in the light connection (after opening it up), looking down into TPC. Photo MK.

Second job was to drill for pins at the lip of the drop into TPC. The scaff' bar was then laid across these to allow decent foot holds to get out and to stop anyone sliding off the edge when coming into TPC. The bar is not fixed as of yet.

Looking up into the light connection, newly fitted foot bar. Photo MK.

MK had a little bit of juice left in one battery so started attacking the calcited phreatic tube with the hammer drill. Shortly EF and MW arrived. The tube looks to be heading into a larger chamber with a small clean washed stone floor.

MK then went to start a trial dig at the higher end of TPC, into the corner it seems to follow the bedding straight on. It quickly became a 2 person dig, meanwhile EF was attacking the calicte phreatic whilst MW scanned the lower regions below the pit. MK then wished the rest of the team good luck and headed out alone. 4 1/2 hours. Mike K.

 

Ed Ford, Kushy & Mike Waterworth down WR tonight. EF and MW headed down 1845. MW spent his time scanning the chamber and various offshoots while Kushy explored a dig at the top of the chamber. EF focused on breaking up flowstone blocking the onwards phreatic tube. Several attempts were made by EF and Kushy to squeeze in but a little too committing. EF confirmed the sight of floor on the other side so no drop off. The tube echos well and there's a strong draft. Kushy left leaving EF and MW to continue. EF P&F'd a block in the ceiling and had a go at navigating the squeeze successfully while MW headed out scanning as he went. EF didn't go into the breakthrough point and opted to leave for next session. Some more calcite could do with coming out of floor to make it a bit easier. All out by 21:30. Ed.

View chamber scan

View cave scan