Meregill Hole November 21st.
Party :- K.Lewis & F.Croll.
Fancying a trip, I telephoned Keith, a big hole, we agreed, S.R.T.?. Yes, then
the mild shock, Keith suggested Meregill via the
flooded Mere entrance. Not wanting to lose face over the telephone, I agreed.
Up at the farm on the Sunday, Keith didn't suggest an alternative, so there I
was organised on a caving trip that 20 years ago would have been considered
quite ridiculous. An easy abseil down
into the Mere saw us landing in three foot of water & the flooded entrance
at our feet. Keith dived through, taking the end of the abseil rope with him,
on which I tied the tackle bags which were duly pulled through. Keith & I
arranged that if after 15 minutes I hadn't dived through I wouldn't be coming
& that he would return. A quick practice underwater swim in the open Mere, &, yes, I was psyched-up to the correct
pitch, it wouldn't do to "over-psyche". A low crouch at the entrance,
a deep breath, a steady hand over hand pull on the rope, a light bumping on my
back on the roof of the tube and I was through. Less than ten seconds & it
was over.
Three
wet abseils of 75', 75',& 100', a further two small pitches,
free climbed, a length of horizontal passage & the torrent was reached. Far
enough for today to consider that we had bottomed the pot.
On the return we realised how wet the three pitches were. Keiths’
ropewalkers enabled him to use his hands to push himself clear of the main
force of the water, but with my Jumar setup I found
that I was hanging in the centre of the deluge. I hadn't a pair of gloves with
me & I quickly realised that any small problem would soon become serious
with rapidly numbing hands, yes gloves are not a luxury but a necessity when prussicking wet pitches.
Back at the entrance sump it was agreed that as I had the better
wet suit I would dive first, so saving Keith standing around in the Mere while
the tackle was pulled through. At the same time we removed our prussicking gear as we thought it dangerous practice to
dive the sump with it on, too much to snag up. Keith assured me that it was a great dive out through clear water which
increased to bright green as the daylight filtered down. Just before I surfaced in the open Mere I
realised it was dark outside!
Keith had a worried look on his face as he surfaced, he was still looking for
daylight.
Yes, rope walkers are great on wet pitches, but not the best of things to put
on in three feet of water, so the last pitch was to my advantage with Jumars.
Well what can you say after a trip like that, for
me it was great, just great, possibly the best caving trip I’ve been on, Thanks
Keith.
F.Croll.