Sunday 14th May 2023

Andrew Thompson and François Tollemer. Digging at bottom of Boulder Rift. Very nice hole and a sound of water, so it sounds good.

François

François Tollemer, Andy Thompson

Today, François and I made our way down to Tooth Dig to clear some spoil and attempt to break down a large boulder that is currently blocking the route on. After clearing the spoil into the alcove, I took a small stab at the boulder, but decided it was a job best left for another day, as I had something rather evil to dispose of that was best not left in the cave. Before leaving, whilst laying by the alcove, we found that we could hear a running streamway in the distance. It is the first time it has been heard and it will be interesting to see if we can still hear it next Sunday. Hopefully sooner or later we will find some running water!

2 hours

A Thompson

Monday 24th April 2023

John Cooper and Lee Hawkswell. Lee used a Leica GS 18 T package to locate the prime point for the survey. East 353289.2, North 150560.7, Alt 241.03. Note drop the 3 and 1 from East and North if using ST prefix.

Saturday 22nd April 2023

Mike Kushy and Mike Wise. Took 2 drills in. Cleared the backlog of spoil at the corner up to the dumping ground and took all the empty buckets forward. MW worked on making the squeeze over the slab more comfortable whilst MK set to work on the boulders at the end of the tunnel. One very large boulder was dropped from ahead and broken down, then an even larger block was moved into a better position to be broken up next time. I reckon with this one removed we have just a metre to get to the solid wall ahead. MW down sized some of the boulders moved back into the alcove from the last session. Lots of smaller rocks were moved to the corner and 2 small buckets filled. 3 1/2 hours. Mike K.

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.