Andy Sparrow, Avril Rea, Euan Goodland, Gary Powell, James Howarth, Lawrence Wilson, Paul Stockall, Peter Sanders, Rachel Sparrow, Will Puddy

Josh Baker

Having contacted the C&A Officer to book our visit, eleven of us put our payments in the jar provided and rigged up a rope as well as ladder to enable an abseil or climb entry to get us all in as quickly as possible. At the bottom of the shaft a small frog was noticed and earmarked for later rescue. Leaving excess climbing equipment with him, we meandered around the entrance galleries till everyone was down, then set off up the scree slope and left into the West Series. After Six Ways Chamber, there was a bit of faffing at the 4m drop, where plenty of advice and assistance was offered on negotiating the 'bold step'. Progressing down the Stream Galleries, a crawl up through a muddy slot to the left provided a view of a deep pool (flooded workings). Retreating from here, some of us then followed the stream, bypassing the deep part using the passage up to the right, stepping carefully around the deep parts at the Blue Holes and continuing down to where the stream disappeared down a hole in the floor. Retracing our steps to Six Ways Chamber (via the 4m climb with further faffing) we entered the East Series, meeting the advance party at Stinking Gulf, drenched from their investigation of the Great Hall. Several others braved a swim, then we returned to the entrance shaft, collected the frog, and exited before the 9.30pm curfew. An enjoyable, well coordinated trip, getting us all out within the allocated time and off to the Woodborough, Shipham Inn (formerly the Penscot) being closed.

— Peter Sanders 28/02/2025