The SWCC kindly invited us along to meet and greet them all before we all meet up in France to explore the Gouffre Berger, Vercors (deepest in the Alps). The venue was the Peak Cavern (a.k.a. The Devil's Arse) and our expert guides for this journey were Henry and Clive. They guided us around the following route:
James Hall's Over Engine Mine Shaft - Leviathan - Workshop - Speedwell Streamway - Wirlpool - The Bung - Block Hall - Leviathan - Coral Aven - Stemple Highway - Boulder Choke - Far Sump Inlet - Titan Shaft
James Hall's Over Engine Mine Shaft is an old lead mine leading down into the Peak/Speedwell system. This section of cave is like being on the set of an Indiana Jones movie!
We abseiled down the entrance shaft, a 50m freehang off a single iron bar cemented into the entrance. This dropped us into the first level where you walk, climb and crawl along the mined out vein.
Below this we dropped down the narrow Bitch Pitch and into a natural cave, where the remains of an old ore cart can be seen with all the wood rotted away.
Two further pitches took us down into a horizontal cave where we explored the canals that were dug out to move the goods to the surface.
Next we headed off to find Titan. Henry led us through muddy crawls, muddy streamways, down muddy ladders, through heavy iron gates, over muddy traverses, though a muddy sump and regularly wallowing in muddy water and/or watery mud.
We wriggled through the last climb that took us to the bottom of Titan Shaft, where a rope disappears into blackness above your head. I cannot describe how impressive this place is. So below is a picture of the shaft from above...
and next is a picture of the shaft from below...
Alistair and I sat and watched as Henry climbed the rope, his light gradually fading until he had completely disappeared from sight! Surely the top cannot be that far away!?
It was.
The 170 metre rope seemed to be double that! But what a way to finish such an exciting and tiring trip.
Thanks to the SWCC (especially Bridget, Henry and Clive) for organising an absolutely cracking trip. Bring on the Berger... :)
James Hall's Over Engine Mine Shaft - Leviathan - Workshop - Speedwell Streamway - Wirlpool - The Bung - Block Hall - Leviathan - Coral Aven - Stemple Highway - Boulder Choke - Far Sump Inlet - Titan Shaft
James Hall's Over Engine Mine Shaft is an old lead mine leading down into the Peak/Speedwell system. This section of cave is like being on the set of an Indiana Jones movie!
We abseiled down the entrance shaft, a 50m freehang off a single iron bar cemented into the entrance. This dropped us into the first level where you walk, climb and crawl along the mined out vein.
Below this we dropped down the narrow Bitch Pitch and into a natural cave, where the remains of an old ore cart can be seen with all the wood rotted away.
Two further pitches took us down into a horizontal cave where we explored the canals that were dug out to move the goods to the surface.
Next we headed off to find Titan. Henry led us through muddy crawls, muddy streamways, down muddy ladders, through heavy iron gates, over muddy traverses, though a muddy sump and regularly wallowing in muddy water and/or watery mud.
We wriggled through the last climb that took us to the bottom of Titan Shaft, where a rope disappears into blackness above your head. I cannot describe how impressive this place is. So below is a picture of the shaft from above...
and next is a picture of the shaft from below...
Alistair and I sat and watched as Henry climbed the rope, his light gradually fading until he had completely disappeared from sight! Surely the top cannot be that far away!?
It was.
The 170 metre rope seemed to be double that! But what a way to finish such an exciting and tiring trip.
Thanks to the SWCC (especially Bridget, Henry and Clive) for organising an absolutely cracking trip. Bring on the Berger... :)
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