Wednesday 26th February 2025

Mike Kushy, Sam Hill and Mike Wise. Very wet cave today after the heavy rain yesterday. MK took the drill and the 'rinsed out' pf box in. Broke up the large rocks laying in the pool and tossed them further back. The pool only had water in the half closest, beyond was fairly dry and gaps could be seen over the mud. SH arrived in the midst of MKs aqueous mud mining but didn't opt to tag in. We both moved some rocks higher up to the dam. MW then arrived and with SH near Tooth Dig, MK hauling and MW filling the buckets we cleared the dam fully. We then all congregated at the bottom where MK unwound the bung and shoved his arm up the pipe to unblock it. This consequently rushed into the dig and my suit got a good clean. No pictures and you wouldn't want to see the state of it. The dam water raised the pool level by a good 2 inches. Think this is a good time to leave this dig site until warmer weather. Let's head North! 2 1/2 hours. Mike.

Sam Hill's video upon arrival.

Saturday 22nd February 2025

Mike Kushy, Alison Moody and Dave Walker. Initial tourist trip through the upper passages. On to Cement Dig, where both AM and DW went for a look at the ends. Nice draught coming out of Cement Dig today (may be worth putting a couple of charges into the boulders in the floor). Then to BRC and down to Tooth Dig, not much of a draught here and no one really approves of the site logistically. Then through the 2nd connection and into the newer passage. MK went ahead to assess bang damage and we decided we'd have a little clear out. MK perched in the chamber above the dig receiving buckets from DW, whilst AM was at the front. After a while DW went to the front and MK passed buckets to AM who was in the chamber. Once the chamber was exhausted MK went to the front and 5 large rocks were prised from the ceiling. There's a massive shattered block in the ceiling ahead ready to come down, but unfortunately when it's prised it moves even more ceiling higher up cave (ceiling we really don't want moving). The dam needs clearing and we need to get some more cement in before any more forwards progress. Nice draught at the bottom and quite frosty air. Tools retrieved from various dig sites: 1x micro pick, 1x 1 1/2ft crowbar, 1x short cold chisel and 12x full pf sets 😀 3 hours. Out through the new route. You can have a good hours trip now looking around at the sites. Mike.

The sharp end. Photo MK.

Sunday 16th February 2025

Mike Kushy, solo. Drilled holes (2@ 1m and 2@500mm) filled and fired fine. Dig face looks to be draining well with a narrow, wide, void ahead. Obvious draught coming from this. 2 hours. Mike. 

Current dig face. Photo MK.

Wednesday 12th February 2025

Mike Kushy and Sam Hill. MK arrived around 3, took in drill and broke up the last big rocks laying around. Then crowbared the loose blocks at the sharp end, these were then reduced down in size again. Started then to do the usual wall building and chucking slop behind it and of course a bit of prodding. All the buckets were filled and pushed higher up cave. SH arrived around 4.30, he moved the rocks and buckets up into the dam. We had a bit of a play with the hose, oh the dam doesn't leak anymore! After all this we decided to clear out the tunnel from the hauling spot to Tooth Dig. We did these with both of us on the Tooth Dig side and all the spoil was sent to the far side of the approach passage to TD, where there was a handy alcove. Upon clearing we noticed there was quite a bit of space in the floor heading to the recent Dig area. SH went into the dodgy boulder area above the dig face and a close light connection was made (this may be worth opening up). The dig face just keeps going forward, but until the floor is lowered/ceiling is raised it's hard to retrieve any more mud. There a nice vertical gap in the ceiling ahead about 6 inches wide, packed with grit. 5 hours for me, Mike.

MK rodding the mud ahead. Photo SH

Closer view. Photo SH.

The dig face to begin with. Photo MK

Sunday 9th February 2025

Mike Kushy and Mysti Ommer. A sunny but cold morning. MK got to site around 10 with drill, broke up the last of the bigger rocks at the face. MO arrived around 11. With MK hauling and MO filling buckets the dam was cleared in just over an hour. The pair headed to surface to mix up some cement. 2 buckets mixed and each carried a bucket to the dig site. These were transferred into smaller buckets at the bottom. MK set to work cementing, whilst MO took the buckets and headed out to start another mix. MK then headed to surface. Alex Randall showed up, but we decided not to make yet another mix, MO had to leave. MK took 2 more buckets in and used them on side walls and a bit on the dam. Horrible foggy wet weather on return to surface. 5 hours. Mike.