Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club - Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 7 - December 1969 / January 1970
6th Dec. 1969 & 14 Dec. 1969. -
Pete’s Dig.
It was one day in early December. A few Red Rose Member who had braved the
perils of frozen farm roads were parting of their favorite pastimes, that is
feeding the fire. Pete jumped up clutching a smoldering sock and managed to
persuade two of us to tog up in potting gear with promises of caverns
measureless etc. Pete’s dig situated in Easegill and takes water in
flood. Steve Potter descended proceeded about forty feet and declared
a pitch. I followed with ladder dwn an extremely low
but very wide passage to a small chamber containing Steve’s boots
and passed the ladder to him. Entering the pitch
required a complete sideways somersault in the chamber and one then
proceeded backwards down 10foot of low passage before dropping into an awkward
narrow chimney about 20 foot deep. The landing was on loose rocks in a passage
of ample proportions which suddenly lowered after 10 foot
and turned sharply left. It was here that I found
Steve thrutching around and trying unsuccessfully to wrench a rock pendant
from the well which he said was barring further progress..
A stream can be heard not far away and it only remains for
the pendant to be removed to gain access.
The following week a large party gathered at the Farm. The
weather was mild and the farm road was now passable for Jaguars and
things. Unfortunately the Gragareth glaciers were melting
and Pete’s dig was taking a large quantity of water. A dam was built
and an air space gained hut no one fancied themselves as an aquaman. It was not until I arrived on the scene and took
over the civil engineering project that a breakwater was constructed a few
yards upstream which diverted the main force of water to the opposite side of
the Gill. The dam was torn down and rebuilt but it was not until half
of Easegill beck had been diverted down another swallet that the
waters receded from the elusive dig and someone ventured into it.
Dave Creedy and Steve Potter led by Pete himself
reached the chamber and climbed in a hole in the roof noticed the previous
week. Reports of connections with the foxes lair downstream and a
twenty five foot pitch along with tales of a completely separate upper cave
system reached the ears of the dam watchers club and hopes are high
for the descent of the second 25ft pitch into you know as much as me.
D. Hodgson (Hodge.)
Editor
Pete’s dig II shou1d not be confused with Pete’s dig I. situated between the Farm and Aygill (see Newsletter Vol. 6 No
2.) We hear that a
promising Pete’s Dig III has recently been receiving attention. More of this later we
hope. Pete is of course Pete Llewellyn.