February 15th     Lancaster - Easegill

Lancaster: David Gill, P.Foster, W.McGuinness, V.Holland, S.Watson, M.Durdy, P.Nuthall
Easegill: J.Middlemist, D.Stables, The Führer
The larger party descended Lancaster Hole after some discussion as to the safety of the rope being used for abseiling, and managed despite heat exhaustion and total dehydration to find their way to stock (STOP) Pot above Easegill master cave, where there had been an enormous rock fall, almost blocking the stream way it looked quite recent! Then off down stream to get stuck behind a crowd (the inevitable crowd) of boy scouts (DOB DIB). Despite a small detour we managed to find our way out. J.MOUSE + DERECK entered from easegill to tackle the two pitches and un tackle Lancaster hole.

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Saturday night in Craven Heifer. Sunday Rock bopping with Torchy in Westmore land's mines neare Appleby Scoredale.

P.Nuthall

March 8th Saturday     Jack pot (P8)

Party: Bruce, Ros (Sheila), Steve, Phil
Very fast trip to bottom and back because of fear of pubs closing before getting out. Fairly dry, cave to ourselves.

March 9th Sunday Moss Rake

Having looked over Moss rake on Sunday 23rd of Feb and descended 3 blind ended shafts, we went to look at a fourth shaft to-day. Found by Mick Durdy and Torchy, the first down was Vic.(We'd put down 200 ft of ladder) and he observed the first level going off at 112 feet down with the entrance stacked with deads and a difficult swing across to it, as yet this level has not been entered owing to a lack of time. The next level No2 came off at 167 feet with a good and accessible stone platform in the shaft. This level contains a small stope and then an ore pass rising to a level of 30 ft up and carries on above possibly for another 20 ft (could be No1 level) No3 level is about 10 ft below No2 on the opposite side of the shaft (ladder must be used between these two) No3 is possibly the most interesting yet explored as it has a spiral rock staircase going up (15 ft)to a small level with a truck tipping point with a truck in tipping position and track laid, clog and hobnail boot prints abound in mud, lots of ore chutes in roof plus a complete sheeps skeleton (How did that get there?) Beyond skeleton there is a very manky area with a roof of deads and match sticks another ore chute + a small blind ending level. Back down the spiral staircase to No3 level and there is a rock stair case going down to a small level with a deep climbing shaft in the floor which is possible the best way down to the bottom. Also small amount of passage and stope actually at No3 level. The main shaft goes on down still free hanging for a possible 100 feet. Should be much more to find and the draft coming up the main shaft has still to be explained.

Down shaft went:- Vic Holland, P.Nuthall, Cheg Chester and J.Middlemist (Mouse)
At surface life lining:- Mick Durdy, S.Watson and Bruce Roberts.
Camp followers:- Aileen + Ros

P Nuthall

March 15th     Moss Rake

A.Jarratt, S.Chester, P.Thompson, V.Holland, B.Roberts, P.Nuthall, S.watson, N.Weston (Gwynedd Mines), D.Stables, J.Midlemist, (Mick Durdy + Bill was kind enough to lifeline at surface)

Trying to finish of what we started last week but being P.C.C. stomp weekend we had lots of people to help. We put down 200 ft of ladder in main shaft again and, descended the climbing shaft from below 3rd level 50 ft of ladder plus a long sling needed here (belay round stacked deads). This enters a small stope opening onto main shaft and containing a metal kibble + part of a pully wheel. A Climbing shaft in the side of the main shaft goes down to another level, with ore shoots down to alower level and V.Muddy roof and walls at the end of this level is an oreshoot which leads to 20 ft climbing shaft, through minced wooden ore hopper and into a tramming level 30 yds down level on right is a short drop leading into a considdeatre natural cavity, pleasantly decorated by flowstone. Miners initials on the roof. Two natural tubes lead off this chamber and are as yet unexplored by us.

From the ore chute level (the muddy one) also leads a climbing shaft down to another small level (the bottom one) which leads to the main shaft bottom and is ran in at the other end.

Total tackle needed
200 ft ladder for main shaft + 200ft rope lifeline
50 ft for first climbing shaft
25 ft joined 2nd +3rd climbing shaft
30 ft
25 ft 4th climbing shafts
50 ft 5th " "
free climb the last shaft

FOOTNOTE
Teapot (D.STABLES) managed to injure his foot whilst climbing a manky ore chute from the bottom level to no.5. Several boulders fell from the roof and proceeded to start a nasty landslide scaring the shit out of those below. As a result he had to be pulled out whilst sitting in a Willands harness. Unfortunately he was not badly hurt.

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