Sunday 16th April 2023

Mike Kushy, Andy Thompson and Courtenay James. Tooth Dig. Andy took point clearing out the floor of the tunnel just beyond the undercut dig. After a couple of loads were cleared CJ left. Then MK and AT moved forward to start inspecting the boulders at the end of the tunnel. Soon we moved some blocks higher up. It was possible to access a higher level of bedding and have a good view back up cave into space but we both agreed it would be too dangerous to enter and only goes back to the entrance. Just under this a view along the bedding to a solid wall, there's a decent sized strike here (est' 1m wide). The strike leads down to  what looks like a phreatic break in the solid wall, inaccessible at the moment. We then worked on taking more boulders out lower down to keep progressing along the bedding. A couple more sessions will be needed to do this, but some white curtain can be seen at the entrance to the 'phreatic' bit. At least there's a dig for just 2 people at the end. 4 hours. Mike K.

Picture showing a proposed strike line (where the solid wall is) this can be seen in the higher up bedding level too

PS We need to open up the squeeze over the slab, just after the corner.

Wednesday Evening 12th April 2023

Mike Kushy and Sam Hill got to the dig for just after 6pm. We cleared the backlog of spoil at the base of the climb down to the dig. We then took 11 small buckets forward to the undercut dig. SH filled all the buckets, then MK ferried then back to the dumping ground whilst SH worked on moving some of the bigger rock. The 11 buckets were sent forward to Sam again. Just as all 11 were filled and stacked back in the small chamber Adrian Miles arrived with Chris George, Ben Holdstead and Stuart (yet to know his second name). It was Stuart's first ever digging session. MK waited for the others to send a couple of empties back then moved up to SH again. A couple of hours was spent chaining buckets back and with 6 it was smooth and efficient. For the last 20 minutes MK went to see the sharp end. We're probably another 2m further in and a decent size.  We've lost the bedded ceiling,  instead there's now calcited boulders with gaps and a good draught. In the floor we're starting to hit big rocks also surrounded by sand. Sam and I said we'd like to have a go at the end of the tunnel where it heads across the cave,  got a feeling there is something more open between Tooth Dig and Cement Dig than the undercut. Even if it doesn't prove right we may find some decent stacking at the end of the tunnel which would allow digging with a smaller team. Everyone had a look at the sharp end and the other dig before finishing up. 3 hours. MK.