A trip down Long Drop Cave. Much nicer weather on the Fell today. This was a new cave for me so headed back to Leck Fell and met Dave C, Paul Magson and Phil the Hawk. Walked almost straight to the Cave, with just a look over at Rumbling on the way past. Some serious excavating has been going on somewhere if the drystone spoil wall is anything to go by. The 1st pitch is just inside entrance which is under a small cliff face. After this short pitch a scaffold retaining wall is dropped behind then a snug low flatout muddy grovel is very short and soon leads to the pitch in a cobble floored meander best approached feet first, but I only found out after a head first look then reverse and tipple over tail manoeuvre. The pitch head is narrow and deterred a couple of our party who left to go in Short drop instead.
Once down the 2nd small pitch a slightly longer meander leads to the 3rd 4th and 5th pitches which Phil then rigged all on one rope as they all flow into one drop really. We had a look along Dolphin passage but decided against getting soaked and turned round, doubting the ducks would have been doable anyway. On the way out from the base of pitch 4 we took a fixed rope upwards and a free climb above up to some tortuous cross rift switchback passage to a mini streamway. Then derigged our way out.
We then went in Short drop (looking for a stretcher buckle lost the previous day and Phil hadn't been in this section before). Dave and Paul were heading out having been down the pitch and along to the traverse in Gavel.
We had a quick wizz along to the pitch and back out
to go wash the ropes and have a cuppa.
about 4 hours caving in total.
David Chadwick, Paul Magson, Phil the Hawk and Stu.W. with thanks to Dave for picking the trip, booking a permit and collecting the ropes.
