HLIS 24/7/13

Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Stu Gardiner, Mark Denning, Mike Moxon, Claire Brimson and David McCausland (Lincoln) (ULSA)
2.5hrs
Rains a couple of nights back had clearly washed the cave out well as the dead bird and it’s bad smell had gone from the entrance. Mike, Lincoln and Claire went for a bit of a tourist trip up to the end where the bones are. We headed down and rigged Pewter Pot and found that the water levels across the ‘sump’ were considerably higher, probably a good 18” on last week. We all got quite wet making our way across and started digging the draughting hole to the right just after the sump. Lots of fairly large boulders were removed, being mindful of a ‘hanging death’ above us. The draught wasn’t as apparent as last week and the water level in the bottom is clearly influenced by the water levels in the sump, but this appears to be flowing into it and the water remained clear, despite the sump being extremely murky. We dug a fair bit out and it looks worth having a go at further, probably with plug and feathers to reduce the boulders down to a sensible size around the entrance of it as there are two massive ones making digging difficult. We left it rigged with the intention of coming back next week, whether it be a digging trip or a removing digging detritus from the cave trip if the water levels continue to rise.

Hunters Lodge Inn Sink - 17/7/13

Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Stu Gardiner
1.5hrs
Tangent was due to come down as well, but he forgot his caving kit, having realised he left it over at Home Close last weekend! (great excuse if ever there was one!) He did pick up the ladders and rope from the Belfry though for us. He had thought it might be possible the water levels could have dropped in the sump in Brown Ale Boulevard, so hence had suggested the trip. The rest of us headed down into the cool (albeit very smelly entrance with a dead bird just inside rotting away…) and made our way to the top of Pewter Pot. The rope was way too short to double line but ok as long as someone was happy to freeclimb. We all headed down without lining and took a look. The whole cave seemed to be quite drippy and not as dry as thought it would be and the sump wasn’t particularly low, pretty much normal. Despite the drought recently, the ground water levels don’t seem to be too bad… As James had not been beyond the pool before, we crossed it and headed up Brown Ale Boulevard to the end looking for any possible places we could dig. On our way back, about 10ft up from the sump on the left, by the wall and some cracked mud floor, there is a small draughting hole where we can see water flowing and also it looks like it might duck under the wall if the rocks and mud were removed. The mud floors are only where the water sumps right up, so not that needed for protection and there is plenty of digging tools in there. We then headed out and met Tangent in the pub to show him photos and discuss the potential dig site. Agreed to head back there next week to take a proper look and take hammer and some slings too.