Saturday, 31 October 2026

Saturday 31st October 2026

Ed Ford and Mike Kushy, got into the cave for 1030. Armed with 2 drills and lots of batteries, we only ended up using 1.5 batteries out of 5. EF took point first and got to work filling smaller buckets with clatch, which were sent up to MK to fill in behind the retaining wall. Many hours doing this and breaking down rock and shifting it, the retaining wall needs building higher. First one hole was opened up, looking down slope it is on the left. We managed to squeeze down beyond the restriction and you can see a continuation but full of mud choke. It needs opening up a lot though to progress. Because of the limited immediate stacking space we decided instead to investigate down to the right looking downslope. In my opinion this looks like the better way to go and doesn't seem to directly connect with the dig opposite. Unfortunately we couldn't get into it as clearing seemed to make a few rocks higher up start tumbling. Upon this we decided it may be best to start doing some building to allow safer access next trip (there's only one rock in the way). As EF quoted 'it's all starting to look a bit Eastwatery down there'. After 3 big mixes were used we went to look at the Higher Dig. This has seemed to clear itself since Wednesday evening and a good volume of water was flowing away down the small drainage hole. Back to the cars for 1630. Lower Dig was draughting out very well, draught increasing with more cleared, the higher dig seemed to be pulling air in. Mike.


TPC Higher Dig. Photo MK.

Red = Left hand Dig. Blue = Right window. Photo MK.

Left hand dig. Video MK.

Right window. Video MK.