Pegasus Caving Club
aka Pegasus Club Nottingham
4th October Poulbruíon
PC
16:30. Sunset 19:06: Cloud 99%: Wind SE, F2/3: Visibility 30Nm: Temp 15°C: Rain Gauge 1mm: Ground damp: The Plan: continue with infrastructure. CC dropped over the other four wheels for the six wheeled dram, yesterday. Considered weather forecast; decided steal a march, as need dram to ensure correct gauge width. Carried up materials, tools and dram. With dram in place, swiftly secured rails. Secured north support of trap door; measurements taken to complete the trap door support frame. Enroute to truck light rain arrived: refreshing birthday gift.
Hours 2, (161).
Further to CC’s earlier phone call. Visiting Poulgorm, marine resurgence, likely best made on Friday, 18th October, midday, (Springs: LW, 11:58, 0.22m). Estimate the kilometre walk to the site will only take some fifteen minutes, from O’Donoghue’s, Fanore.
Pat Cronin
2nd October Cullaun II; Year Passage
PC
18:00. Sunset 19:11: Cloud 95%: Wind NE, F4/5: Visibility 30Nm: Temp 12°C: Rain Gauge 0mm: Ground damp: The Plan: Exercise. On entering decided visit Year Passage streamway; last there about a decade ago with CC, in freezing conditions. However, had forgotten four facts. The superb aven. The beautiful sculpting. Very sharp scallops and a desperate need for knee pads. Managed thirty metres along the crawl section before pain overcame desire.
Pat Cronin
6th October Cahermore Souterrain CL016-052003 and Cashel, CL016-052001
SC, PC
14:00. Sunset 19:01: Cloud 85%: Wind SE, F4/5: Visibility 30Nm: Temp 14°C: Rain Gauge 11mm: Ground dry-ish: The Plan: Survey Cashel. SC was available: took opportunity of good weather break, to survey the Cashel; part of the souterrain study. Set up the plane table over established, temporary, site datum. A brief instruction of plane tabling, swiftly understood. PC could now wander the site, clockwise, measuring to chosen features. A significant amount of the cashel floor, up against the inner rampart face, long obscured by collapsed material. Am convinced this was once a source of building material. Remaining tumble extends up to an estimated three metres. Radial planning permitted a constant search for original features. Without SC’s assistance this survey would not have been conducted so comprehensively or swiftly. Her assistance invaluable. The serious aspects of precisely replicating measurements to paper, regularly interrupted by laughter. Weather almost held; so a grand day out. Final part of this part of surveying is the souterrain, tying it to the profile and plane table surveys.
Pat Cronin
14th October Poulbruíon
PC
13:00. Sunset 18:43: Cloud 95%: Wind SE, F2/3: Visibility 30Nm: Temp 9°C: Rain Gauge 0mm: Ground damp: The Plan: infrastructure. Walked in from the Cross. Prefabricated the lid earlier, using some of the timber supplied by Toe Boycott. The design should permit safe hauling by one of a minimum of two operatives, avoiding spoil falling on the poor sod below. Arriving to surface the two halves of the lid will open with the rising load, closing as it passes through, the kibble then lowered onto the substantial frame awaiting emptying. Weighting the halves to close may likely require some tweaking. The ladder way also needs protection from any spoil spillage; the pallets’ position in the image may answer this.
Hours 2, (163).
Pat Cronin
Showing safety lid open
Showing safety lid closed
18th October Poulgorm, (intertidal resurgence?)
LS, RM, PC
11:00. Spring tidal cycle: LW 11:58, 0.22m: Sunset 18:34: Cloud 100%, base 900ft: Wind E, veering S, F5, gusting F7: Visibility 2Nm: Temp 9°C: Rain Gauge 2mm: Ground damp: The Plan: locate resurgence. Map reference discrepancy required confirming if the source of an observed dark brown flood into the Atlantic was indeed from Poulgorm. Educated plotting proffered a location eight hundred,(800), metres west-south-west, on 258° True, from O’Donoghue’s. Arranged meet at O’Donoghue’s, Fanore, (ITM 513160 x 706470). Meanwhile, LS persuaded RM to accompany the search. Took the track, located on the west of the road, forty metres north of the Bar. The track ends at a northwest facing storm beach. Light rain began: headed south, passing out a small, seemingly long abandoned cluster of small cabins and haggarts; maybe six in total? Quite a moving location. Among them a ‘concrete’ rain catchment: maybe from the first half of the 20th century? Tended, grazed fields reach to the upper limits of storm beach. Modern fencing emphasises ownership. Inside an hour rain increased; lightly clad, soggy RM wisely abandoned the task. Five sites found issuing or likely to issue water were noted; all developed on NNW aligned joints, (342° True). A minor swell allowed a clear view of the rugged - broken intertidal zone; the more northern springs have small reefs before them. Some seaward channels differing in size of development - erosion. Approaching the headland, rain became torrential, the Force seven/eight wind veering south. Returning along the edge of the fields found significant two collapses, one recently backfilled with boulders. Both in line with an earlier recorded spring; a potential dig with potential! LS used his phone to record multiple map references of this unexpected number of sites. Such was the rain, boots filled swiftly from water running down the inside of the clothing. A cracking day out.
Pat Cronin
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Poulgorm Map showing acccess route & Data
25th October Cullaun II
Linda Wilson, Graham Mullan, Janice Walker, PC & part of TB
10:00. Sunset 18:19: Cloud 99%, base 1000ft: Wind E, F4: Visibility 20Nm: Temp 16°C: Light showers. Gauge 31mm: Ground wet: The Plan: accompany UK visitors. Met in Doolin. Parking up encountered Lawrence Gill , Daughter and Pamela Gill. PM conducting a Masters study on scallops. Entrance cascade significant; suggesting high water at the Cascades. Just below toe cap deep stream along the entrance passage. Deep throated roar audible from afar. Cascade’s overflowing almost as far as the projecting thin boulder. Wonderful. Advised party any knee issue would hamper successfully climbing the rift downstream of the cascades, down which flowed the entire stream; suggested wait for flood to abate, say Sunday. LW took lots of photos. JW’s first trip in Ireland. Departed for Kilcorney Church. Kilcorney, Cave of the Wild Horses some five metres under water; the flooded depression shimmering in the sun. As requested, planted part of TB: a poignant moment. Dropped LW back at their B&B.
25th October Poulgorm – Sliabh Eilbhe Project.
LS, PMcG, PC
15:00. Neap tidal cycle: HW 12:30, 3.89m. LW19:12, 1.98m. Range 1.91m. Met near O’Donoghue’s; briskly to the spring area. LS noticing the mirror surface of resurging water, (12 hours after 31mm of rain stopped). Fifty metres off the coast; LS used mobile phone to photograph and record other data requested by PC, to accurately establish its position; (to be ascertained). Walked to next spring, which may be the primary conduit for the resurging flow. At this point LS confirmed water issuing from among an upper bedding was fresh and entirely potable. More data recorded. Moved inland. PMcG encountered a large depression; a field enclosed by a circular wall, with stile in its east quarter. Established foliage covering the circumferential single stone wide wall testifies to an absence of ‘recent’ farming practices; colonized by briars LS spotted a farmer in the northern field, PC headed to engage; lengthy talk on various topics. During explaining the idea of finding cave, clearly heard the invite to dig and find cave: delight. A First! More talk, and confirmation that TK would advise his brother of these developments; that parking in their farmyard would be welcome, to access the land at large. Swiftly departed for a hot date with PMC.
Pat Cronin
25th to 28th October S.U.I.C.R.O.
The annual SUICRO Caving Symposium took place at Hotel Doolin in Doolin, Co. Clare. Pat Cronin delivered a two-part talk, enhanced with slides and video, on the 2020-2023 expeditions to Panama, which was followed by the Pegasus Projects presentation.
'Pegasus Projects'
1 Considine’s Cave, North and South Ends.
2. Sliabh Eilbhe Project (Southern Sector).
3. Sliabh Eilbhe Project (Northwestern Sector).
Pluais Gabhar.
Poulfantaiseach.
Poulbruíon.
Poulgorm.
4. Coolagh River Cave, B9a entrance.
This presentation highlighted the significant effort that the Pegasus Club put into finding new cave and furthering the knowledge base of all things speleological in Clare. During any questions after the talk one person asked Pat "Do you ever go home?".At times, I find myself pondering the same question.
Cheg Chester
26th October Bull Pot
BUT, Valley Entrance first. Sam and Aaron were off to Bull Pot in Kingsdale but spent an hour in Valley first. We rigged the short pitch in the master cave with an SRT route and explored ip stream fir 30 mins. Then off up and accross the fell to BPK.
It was a joint Pegasus and YSS trip.
Other groups were in Simpson's Pot, Growling Hole & Notts Pot.
YSS rigged the entrance pitch and the traverse into the second pitch and the slot.
Then off to the fourth pitch.
We went to the head of the fifth pitch before we started the derig. We passed the others as we entered the slot.
Everyone seemed to have a good time. Sunny and dry on the fell and then Sam and Aaron explored to inner workings of Yordas Cave. Our 3rd cave today!
Pegasus: Sam Garrad, Aaron Smith
Others: Dave, Ros, Alan, Julie, Lynn, Becky, Grace & Matty
Total underground time fir the day: About 4 hours
Aaron Smith
26th October Faunarooska
PMcG, using the pre-rigged rope on twenty metre pitch sustained a fall of three or so metres when the rope apparently broke a short distance below the knot belay. PMcG walked out with some assistance.
2nd November Poulbruíon
15:30. Sunset 17:03. Cloud 100%: Wind W, Fs: Visibility 25Nm: Temp 16°C: Gauge 1mm: Ground damp: The Plan: secure builders ladder. Lot of cars parked at the cross, and the ‘view’. Carried in tools and materials. Encountered 30+ walkers heading to Faunarooska Cross. At dig found spade to one side, not where it had been left; no other disturbance. Inserted 600mm length of 18mm rebar through ladder rung; secured same to platform floor. Secured lower end to shoring stemple. Bottom of ladder just above floor level, out the way of digging. Checked operation of lid, all good. Ready to press on with actual digging.
Hours 2, (165).
Fortunately PMcG nursing just an injured foot, after the SRT rope snapped on beginning his ascent in the wet pitch in Faunarooska. His fall, from around three metres up, was very ‘lucky’.
Pat Cronin
8th November Poulbruíon
CC, PC
10:00. Sunset 16:53. Cloud 100%, base 900ft: Wind E/SE, F4/6: Visibility 10Nm: Temp 12°C: Gauge 0mm: Ground damp: The Plan: Dig. Walked in from the Cross. Met MQ descending from the upland grazing. Thanked for sorting the busted fence post. CC digging, PC hauling. At a steady pace, CC sent up thirty small kibbles of heavy clays, exposing a compacted boulder floor. In the northeast corner, some 0.5m below the lowest northern stemple a hole was noted, some 0.6m deep descending to the northeast. Potentially linked to a similar space beneath the adjacent small, eastern rift. PC descended to assess installation of the next stemple. The fill below the northern stemple continues as assorted sized boulders; one perpendicular to the face, potentially an issue. East and West walls appear fine. Aspects of hauling and dumping spoil went well. The trapdoor is very useful, closing immediately after the passage of the kibble to protect the poor sod below from possible falling debris. Two small towels permit the hauler to maintain clean gloves, and wipe the hauling rope, thus making the rope easier to grip. A water storage cistern is needed. The entire shaft floor can be lowered a further 0.5m, allowing three stemples to be inserted, two to the north, one to the south. Spoil was dumped against the west wall of the depression, behind the revetment. Again, a much easier task with the small sized kibble, (Mk6), and a stable rock on which to stand.
Kibbles 30, Hours 3, (168).
Pat Cronin
11th November Poulbruíon
CC, PC
10:00. Sunset 16:48. Cloud 5%: Wind E, F2: Visibility 35Nm: Temp 10°C: Gauge 1mm: Ground drying: The Plan: Dig. Pleasant walk in, (≈1100m); cracking day. Used “Popeye’s” tape measure to establish depth from the working platform as 3.2m: some three metres below the moor surface, but 2.5m below adjacent depression level. CC digging, PC hauling. Stuck to the plan to remove sticky mud stuck to every surface. Steady progress produced thirty kibbles, (Mk.6) and four nets. Soil deposited along the west wall is close to the tramway. Ideally the wall below the rails should be built to contain the clays. Deployed the 2:1 to raise two large boulders. Clay migration is serious, gripping the rope. Glad the trapdoor was installed, catching two wayward loads. Each haul and emptying of the kibble required washing of migrated clay from hands and rope. Ideally a hand winch would keep silts from the rope. Meanwhile, brought back the three ‘towels’ for washing and the ten metre hauling rope. Will prepare two other ropes for onsite replacement as and when required. CC lowered the floor uniformly some 0.4m, leaving support to north and south faces. Reviewed installing shoring; plan insert two stemples, some 225mm below the lowest on either side. This gap allows rocks to be inserted for backpacking the steel mesh. The next stemple will be 300m lower; believe this spacing will satisfy lateral pressure; this stemple will likely be required after the next two sessions. Linda Wilson very kindly brought over some two dozen scaffold clips, curtesy of “Popeye”. PC has arranged for Matt Randall to buy scaffold clips in the UK, delivery with his next visit. Need water on site to 1) maintain clean gloved hands. 2) a brush to clean the working platform. Several large boulders will emerge as the stemples are fitted, may need 3:1 mechanical advantage. The sorely missed PMcG, yet awaiting repairs.
Kibbles 60, Nets 4, Hours 3, (168).
Pat Cronin
18th November Poulbruíon
PC
14:30. Sunset 16:38. Cloud 100%; base 400ft: Rain, heavy: Wind E, F3/4: Visibility 20m: Temp 8°C: Gauge 18mm: Ground awash: The Plan: Install shoring. 14:30, another 7mm of rain had fallen, wrapped Hilti and Grinder in plastic bags. Opted to take just one battery. Tools and bits in a second tackle sac. Drenched by the second gate. The damp slope, the route of the tramway, into the depression, conveyed rivulets toward the southern shoring. Where it fell bounced down the shaft, off the stemples, creating a shower bath. Lowered all kit, one stemple and all the rebar. From surface stream rumble from eastern crevice clearly audible. Water noted trickling along the present base of the east wall, removing some rocks found a similar trickle on the west wall, flowing from the north face. Managed to drive four more rebar lengths into the northern face, among the boulders, resting upon the upper stemple. Removed the thick clay along the base, exposing the large boulder, protruding end on. After assessment, prised out an adjacent boulder to access the larger: minor collapse from above. Chain drilled boulder for controlled fracture using the sledge hammer. Successful, up to a point. Stacked stone debris against east wall, minor amount of clay against south face. Drilled 16mm hole and inserted 16mm bolt. Levelling the stemple, good luck allowed the stemple to pass between two other projecting boulders, at eastern end. Much phaffing about completed the second 16mm hole. More phaffing, owing to covered in mud and shite. Eventually secured installed stemple, at last: delighted. Left drill bits on site. Headed back in thick cloud, light rain. Ideally need lift the spoil to clear the area prior to repeating same to the south. Need return the hauling lines.
Kibbles 60, Nets 4, Hours 2, (176).
Pat Cronin
20th November Cullaun II
Fynn Randall, PC
18:00. Sunset 16:35. Cloud 100%. Wind ENE, F2/3: Visibility 2Nm: Temp 2°C: Gauge 2mm: Ground stiffing: The Plan: Another trip for FR, and exercise. Suggested SC to avoid attending, as her return trip to Kilkee may be challenging in the predicted weather. Promised deep snow for tomorrow. Arrived in light rain, which soon turned to light snow. At the entrance large snowflakes falling. Chose a brief trip, to avoid later road issues. Entrance stream suggested decent sized cascades. FR led off. Another pleasant trip: FR taking in his surroundings, asking questions. Delighted with the cascades. Demonstrated good sense of balance, moves well, no bouncing off walls, climbs well. Turned at the “Bloody Guts”. Exited to an inch of snow covered landscape; snow continuing to fall; very little snow in Lisdoonvarna, plenty at home.
Pat Cronin
23rd November Poulbruíon
PC
13:30. Sunset 16:32. Cloud 100%. Wind E, F4/5: Visibility 15Nm: Temp 13°C: Gauge 46mm: Ground awash: Storm Bert passing: The Plan: install hand winch. CC recently converted the old phone cable drum into a substantial hand winch for the dig. Increased its weight with a rope donated by PMcG. After fifty metres struggling, walked back to the motor, drove along the drovers road, dropped off the winch and returned to park at the Cross. Phaffed about lifting it into position and tightening the scaffold bolt. Winch mounted on the east pole of the frame. Set up main pulley. Another pulley deviates the rope, improving alignment onto the drum. The forty odd metres on the drum will ease changing between direct wind and multiple mechanical advantages. One stemple on site, for southern shoring.
Kibbles 60, Nets 4, Hours 2, (178).
Pat Cronin
27th November Cullaun II
FR, PC.
18:00. Sunset 16:28. Cloud 0%. Wind ESE, F2: Visibility 30Nm: Temp 0°C: Gauge 6mm: Ground frozen: The Plan: Trip. FR led to entrance. The Plough bright and clear, and almost horizontal. Entrance stream similar to previous trip. Cascades too; similar volume. Headed up to the old streamway. Chose this route to expand FR’s experience. Nice, awkward, steady trip to the climb. En-route admiring, again, the stunning, translucent helictites: nice. No issues for FR along the old streamway or on the climb: leading out from the pool of Pool Chamber. Passed gritting lorry on the N67, 20:40.
Pat Cronin
Awaiting your next log please. "Remember, if it's not written down it never happened"