Wednesday 2nd April

Mike W with Mike K to clear the larger rocks and prep to push on at the bottom of Cement Dig. We went in through the new cave with MK taking a detour to view the Puddle and grab his P&Fs.

In the dig, MW split the large rock into 2 pieces and after some struggle got the still rather large 'half' up to MK. The 2nd half was even bigger so this was split. Apart from one other being split, the rest of the rocks were manhandled out which was a bit of a struggle given the lack of footholds in the pit.

After a bit of cleaning of loose debris during which a few more large rocks were found and shifted out, the view looking down from the top was of a nice rock bench curving around the hole below where the bottom step had been. This was some 250mm wide, 500mm or so deep and approx. 1.5m long. From the floor, the low passage MK had previously pushed a bit was now accessible curving off to the right. Finally, a large rock that MK might have cemented in place in the past and which blocks the 'way on' at 11 on a clock face was accessible. A slight draught was detectable.

The bench took 2 x 12mm x 550mm holes and the blocking rock took another. A 4th hole swallowed one of MW's drill bits which snapped off at nearly full depth! After charging we retired back up through the horizontal passage where all the rocks had been dumped last week and stopped just above at the front of the calcited rift to pack up. In the passage which was now pretty much empty due to sterling rock tidying efforts by MK, and just above it in the packing area, the air was freezing cold.

MK fired from Golden Key Chamber, a slight rumble being heard by MW climbing the ladders and we exited after 2.5 hours.

 The Puddle had dropped a little bit but there is still plenty of water there.

Tuesday 25th March

Mike W and Sam H to assess the damage made in Cement Dig from last weeks activity, move out what material we could and assess possibilities for next steps.

The steps had disappeared, creating some much needed space and there was a lot of mixed sized debris in the bottom. A hole up on the right, not visible from the steps was disgorging stones, mud and clay at random with quite a lot already on the floor. Further space creation opportunities exist on the right at floor level. Cement work was largely intact.

With Sam in the hole and Mike perched above, 4 buckets of small stuff and all the accessible medium, large and larger but manageable rocks were brought up and dumped on the only flat surface available (where the end of the wire had been left). Sam uncovered two very large rocks which could be moved but not lifted out.

Actions needed in the normal course of events would be a) cement up the loose hole b) P&F the large rocks and lift them out and c) get a team of at least 5 to move the rocks back to a suitable spot and then chain out all the small stuff in buckets. While discussing this we started getting terminally depressed at the thought of how much cement would be needed to be brought down to accomplish the first task. We instead discussed the use of lightweight, but strong GRP grid, brought down in suitably sized sections and either bolted into place or wedged behind steel tubing or dexion. This has been successfuly used in LVS to create a working platform and hold back the loose overhead boulder choke. Suitably installed, possibly with chicken wire behind it, this could also enable storage of much of the small and medium sized debris, avoiding the painful thought of chaining it out. The hole needs gardening and surveying to establish details of course, but we left feeling much more cheerful following this discussion. We just need to find some off-cuts.

Time underground 1 hour. Write up by Mike W / Photos by Sam.

Photos.  1 before clearance /  2 and 3 after clearance / 4 Puddle dig, still very wet

Wednesday March 19th 2025

Mike W and Mike K, having discussed the matter a couple of times recently, decided to go and disturb the floor in Cement Dig. Mike K arrived first and went ahead, bag in hand, to check the results of a recent disturbance in Puddle Dig and rollup and retrieve the wire; Mike W followed carrying a drill bag and battery box. The two Mikes met at the connection point into Boulder Rift chamber and soon were reminiscing about previous visits to the 'old cave'. Mike W inserted himself into the bottom of the dig and found there wasn't room to swing a drill, so it was decided to open things up by making the two steps disappear. 4 holes were drilled in the bottom step and 2 in the upper step. Although some quickly holed through at 300mm, others were drilled normally to between 400 and 600 mm. Mike K busied himself dropping dried mud down Mike W's neck and into the drilled holes. After some faffing around, the job was done and Mike K laid a wire trail all the way back to Golden Key Chamber. He fired just as Mike W was hauling bags up the 10ft climb. 3 hours  Mike W

A disturbed but still quite wet Puddle dig. Photo MK.

Mike W sitting on the lower step in Cement Dig. Photo MK.

Wednesday 12th March 2025

Mike Kushy and Mike Wise. MK went in early and cleared some mud. Pool still there. MW arrived and 4 holes drilled, 3m used. 2 1/2 hours. Mike K.

Dig face. Photo MK.

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.