[Don]

If it was possible to shave down that knob of rock, that would be an awesome vertical squeeze to go down. I can’t think of any other squeeze like it that I’ve ever come across. I still think we need to go back at some point with a hammer and dig our way into that small aven that you and I found. It probably doesn’t go anywhere but it would still be neat to check it out.

[Don]

Which vertical squeeze? Do you mean the one that I climbed partway up from the bottom?

[Don]

You forgot to mention the squeeze that Alex got stuck in. He was wedged in there pretty tight. Using his supreme caving skills, finely honed from years of doing tight passages, and with my assistance, he eventually managed to free himself. Only Alex could make a Grade 2 trip a Grade 5.

[Don]

You’re such a dick, Dan, ruining what would otherwise have been a fantastic trip!

[Don]

I think a warning needs to be added to the NFTFH website, and possibly UKCaving, about Fault Pitch. I’ve read a couple of other trip reports by members of other clubs who have also reported rock mysteriously ‘liberating itself’ from the shaft walls. It’s also possible that the pre-existing unstable nature of the shaft has been exacerbated by the recent earthquake activity at nearby Kirkby Lonsdale several months ago, which is thought to have caused the recent incidents in Bull Pot and Yordas Cave (both of which are also in Kingsdale – as everyone knows – and which also involved large boulders unexpectedly falling/slipping). That’s why I decided against descending Fault Pitch. I think it would probably be ok if only one person descended/ascended the pitch at a time, as Alex recommended, however it’s a very cold cave and I doubt many people would want to wait around at the top/bottom for that long waiting for someone to ascend/descend.

[Don]

Sharman: I vacuumed my car a couple of days ago and didn’t come across anything. That being said, I’m missing my copy of ‘Caves the Peak District’ – the larger red one. Has it turned up in anyone’s luggage, or Alex’s car?

Maskhill was fairly uneventful. The Tyrolean was fun, if short. If Alex and Dan are wondering about the knot pass and the unconventional rigging in the lower half of Maskhill… Well, I’ll let you guess who rigged that.

[Don]

Were you with MUSC?

[Don]

This would be a fun trip if all the pitches were rigged and it was possible to exit via one of the other entrances into Gaping Gill. Otherwise, there’s no way that I will ever do this trip again. It’s just too much hard work for very little reward. That being said, I’m glad that I can tick it off the list at least.

[Don]

Excellent trip report. The rainy/windy/drizzly weather aside, it was a fun afternoon. It’s amazing how much fun can be had in Grade II caves. I’d be more than happy to go back and explore the lower entrance to Fossdale Beck – as long it’s on a nice and warm sunny day. I was very cold by that point. It was like being on Leck Fell in February.

[Don]

Typical Sharman. At least this time there was no one beneath him, thank God. (Just remembering the trip to F.O.U.L. Pot where I was at the bottom of the shored entrance and he kicked an old board down on top of me – accidentally I’m sure!). I wonder who’s more of a liability underground – Sharman or Daz?

[Don]

What do you mean you blocked the entrance?!! Are you talking about Marilyn? The whole place was loose. I don’t remember anything loose below the entrance though.

[Don]

‘Chris will be writing his own version of events, its important to get two points of view for trips like these.’

What do you mean?

[Don]

True. I am in the first photo, though it’s hard to tell that it’s me. Scaife was obviously the real ‘celebrity’ of the day.

[Don]

That’s strange… I recall having gone on this trip as well. However, I’m not in any of the photos. Maybe it was just a dream…

Alex, why is there a bright light coming out of your ass? Was someone giving you a rectal exam?

[Don]

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