Vince, Jake, Brockers, Nick, and Mike The plan for this morning was to get up to the cave and along to Can of Worms ahead of the team, real in the wire, and see what effect the ‘bang’ had. At first appearance it did not look as successful as the last blast, but after some … Continue reading “24th January”
The team were called by North Yorkshire Police to assist a walker (m,27) who was struggling to complete his Three Peaks walk due to a bad knee. When the Duty Controller spoke to the party he was moving again with the assistance of some other members of…
The team were called by North Yorkshire Police to a lost walker (m,14) who was doing the Three Peaks and had become separated from his group and was unsure where he was, with a nearly flat phone battery. From the description given of his location the D…
Today’s trip involved George, Jas, Jonny, Bartek and Dave as well as multiple parts of Ogof Draenen. Although it involved fewer parts of Draenen than first planned, as will become apparent.
Anticipating that the Round Trip would take 10-12 hours wi…
Today’s trip involved George, Jas, Jonny, Bartek and Dave as well as multiple parts of Ogof Draenen. Although it involved fewer parts of Draenen than first planned, as will become apparent.
Anticipating that the Round Trip would take 10-12 hours wi…
NYP contacted the team regarding a collapsed walker (m, 51) with central chest and arm pain on the ascent of Whernside. A full team callout was made and CRO2 and 3 were mobilised to Ribblehead. Team members were collected there and transferred to the …
Vince, Jon, Brockers, Jake, Nick, Tav, and Mike. A full squad assembled today! Got to the cave ahead of the team and quickly along to Can of Worms reeling in the wire as I went. On arrival at the dig site, it was obvious that Monday’s ‘bang’ had the desired effect – there was a … Continue reading “17th January”
The team were alerted by North Yorkshire Police to two walkers who were ‘stuck’ on the summit of Ingleborough. Although uninjured, the two (F, 30 and M, 37) were reported to be very cold and on very steep, icy ground. Whilst the team mobili…
The team were alerted by North Yorkshire Police to two walkers who were ‘stuck’ on the summit of Ingleborough. Although uninjured, the two (F, 30 and M, 37) were reported to be very cold and on very steep, icy ground. Whilst the team mobili…
The Team were requested by Kendal MRT to assist with an extensive hill search in the Howgills near Sedbergh. A number of teams from the Lakes and Pennines were asked to assist in searching for a male missing in the Howgills area. A small team assisted …
Vince, Jon, Brockers, Jake, Nick, and Tav Arrived at the cave ahead of the team carrying drill and plugs/feathers to deal with a couple of boulders left-over from last weekend on the ledge. Just finished as I heard voices approaching. I moved along the passage into Can of Worms to get digging underway, I was … Continue reading “10th January”
Red campion, Silene dioica, with open flowers observed at several locations in the verges alongside a local lane in West Harptree, Northeast Somerset. Recently night-time temperatures have dropped well below 0 degrees centigrade.
Red campion, Silene dioica, with open flowers observed at several locations in the verges alongside a local lane in West Harptree, Northeast Somerset. Recently night-time temperatures have dropped well below 0 degrees centigrade.
A walker (f, 72) slipped on the field path below Oxenber Wood, near Wood House, Austwick, sustaining a very painful ankle injury. After assessment, pain relief and splinting of her leg, she was lifted onto the back seats of CRO 4 (Honda Pioneer) and dr…
A walker (m, 70) was unwell on the limestone pavement at the top of Malham Cove. A Community Safety Officer and a team member were first on scene and the casualty appeared to be recovering. However, after initial assessment, they handed over to the YAS…
A climber (m, 39) fell a reported 8 metres from a climb at the southern end of Giggleswick Scar (South). He landed awkwardly on a ledge, was unable to move and was complaining of mid-back and severe ankle pain. The first team members to arrive found th…
A climber (m, 39) fell a reported 8 metres from a climb at the southern end of Giggleswick Scar (South). He landed awkwardly on a ledge, was unable to move and was complaining of mid-back and severe ankle pain. The first team members to arrive found th…
With Nick and Jon As is my wont arrived at Hallowe’en Rift ahead of the team bringing with me a digging hoe ready to prepare the ground for the spoil heap wall extension. There were plenty of rocks piled underground awaiting removal to the surface. Nick and Jon arrived, for one reason or another only … Continue reading “3rd January”
Solo. “Rock-bothering session!” Dragged the drill and plugs/feathers into Can of Worms to deal with the boulders left there last weekend. While I was there had a poke around with a bar to see if there were any other loose rocks that required some further attention. Rocks in the current end ‘chamber’ and those left … Continue reading “1st January”
Following on from the enjoyable quiz held in January in previous years, Mendip Cave Rescue will be running another Cavers Quiz Night at the Hunters Lodge Inn, Priddy on Saturday 17th January 2025, starting at 19:30. As usual, all questions will be (vag…
Following on from the enjoyable quiz held in January in previous years, Mendip Cave Rescue will be running another Cavers Quiz Night at the Hunters Lodge Inn, Priddy on Saturday 17th January 2025, starting at 19:30. As usual, all questions will be (vag…
Vince, Callum, Jon, Nick, Jake, and Tav I was pleased that Callum was available to join us for today’s digging session. We arrived at the cave ahead of the team to take a quick tour out to An Unexpected Development. Outward journey via Merlin’s, Tuck Shop, Another Emotional Journey, and Thou Shalt Not Dig There. … Continue reading “27th December”
A quick trip to Yorkshire for some post Christmas caving, to work off all the Christmas puddings.
I had a little look at Notts pot a few weeks ago and rigged down to the lower stream way. A few messages later and myself, Jonny and Chris had come up…
A quick trip to Yorkshire for some post Christmas caving, to work off all the Christmas puddings.
I had a little look at Notts pot a few weeks ago and rigged down to the lower stream way. A few messages later and myself, Jonny and Chris had come up…
Yorkshire Ambulance Service asked the team to assist with a walker (m,61) who had experienced a medical episode. With YAS paramedics first on scene and providing care, the team transported the casualty by stretcher to the road ambulance on Stainforth …
Vince, Jon, Jake, Nick, Tav, and Mike Met with the team at the farm this weekend so that they could sign a card for the farmer and family (only Brockers was absent – so an ‘X’ was signed for him!), and a seasonal goodwill gesture was delivered. Access to the cave from the farm makes … Continue reading “20th December”
The team were called by North Yorkshire Police to a caver (m, 43) who was struggling to exit the Gaping Gill system via Bar Pot. A small hasty party of three cavers set off in CRO 4, our Honda Pioneer ATV, to make an initial assessment of the situatio…
[A similar version of this report was published in Cave & Karst Science, Volume 52, No. 2 (2025) p. 67-70. Transactions of the British Cave Research Association.] Abstract Following the recovery of human remains from a site at Kewstoke Road, near Weston-super-Mare, several samples were sent for radiocarbon dating. A total of four radiocarbon dates […]
With Brockers, Jon, Jake, Nick, Tav, and Mike Got to site ahead of the others to continue clearance of undergrowth, mostly brambles, to make more space available for spoil disposal. A full squad assembled for this morning’s digging session. After being at the front digging last weekend Jon and I moved to the end of … Continue reading “14th December”
With Brockers, Jon, Jake, Nick, Tav, and Mike Got to site ahead of the others to continue clearance of undergrowth, mostly brambles, to make more space available for spoil disposal. A full squad assembled for this morning’s digging session. After being at the front digging last weekend Jon and I moved to the end of … Continue reading “14th December”
Mendip Times article regarding the discovery of a woolly rhinoceros skull and other faunal remains from a small cave located in Fairy Cave Quarry, Mendip Hills, Somerset. https://issuu.com/mediafabrica/docs/issue_7_-volume_21-_mendip_times/80 Corrections: Caption for image (lower left) should read: Woolly rhino, distal end of humerus. Photograph by Roz Simmonds, 14/02/2025. Also, presentation by Danielle Schreve was given at […]
Vince, Jon, Jake, and Nick Arrived at the cave entrance with plenty of time to break up the rocks left from last weekend in Can Of Worms. Unfortunately, I allowed myself to become distracted and felt compelled to add some rocks to the spoil heap wall extension. Eventually dragged I myself away and set off … Continue reading “6th December”
Following an alert from Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the team assisted our colleagues from YAS and North Yorkshire Police with an incident on Pen-y-ghent.
Vice, Jake, Nick, and Tav On the surface at the cave there were lot’s of rocks waiting to be added to the spoil heap walls so I got on with that until the others arrived. Can of Worms again this weekend. Jake and Nick digging – battering rocks, filling bags – some more robust rocks … Continue reading “29th November”
17th Annual J’Rat Digging Awards held at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn, Priddy, Mendip. Well done to Ali Moody & team for a tremendous effort and discovery in Longwood Valley Sink. Below are the slides from the PowerPoint presentation I gave regarding some faunal and human remains found and recovered from a three Mendip sites in […]
Vince, Tav, Jake, Mike, and Nick It was a wet walk across the fields, up to the cave. Underground, there were stones on the ledge awaiting size reductions with plugs & feathers so got on with that until the team arrived. Due to wet conditions and team numbers, it seemed an obvious choice to continue … Continue reading “22nd November”
North Yorkshire Police asked the team to assist a walker (m, 60) who had fallen while descending Ingleborough toward Clapham and injured his knee. A small party of team members set off toward Trow Gill in a team Land Rover, meeting the casualty who wa…
Vince, Jon, Jake, and Tav Venturing underground the first thing I noticed was the sound – the sound of dripping waters into puddles in the Soft South, and there were trickles of water along the cave passages. The cave was much wetter than of late after the recent heavy, persistent rain, the overlying soil now … Continue reading “15th November”
The original plan for today was to visit The Score in Ogof Draenen and try and force our way through what sounds like a very unpleasant squeeze to see the White Wormery. However, as this trip involves 70m of flat out crawling in Back Passage and the …
The original plan for today was to visit The Score in Ogof Draenen and try and force our way through what sounds like a very unpleasant squeeze to see the White Wormery. However, as this trip involves 70m of flat out crawling in Back Passage and the …
The team assisted North Yorkshire Police with an incident in the Malham Cove area. Volunteer hours: 95
Vince, Nick, Brockers, Jake, Jon Early at the cave to replace 10mm jute rope on the haul up out of the ‘pot’ with a 14mm hemp rope. These twisted natural fibre ropes are easier to grip with muddy gloves. The knots tied only last week were already tight. I was just about done as the … Continue reading “8th November”
The team were called by North Yorkshire Police for a party of cavers at the bottom of the 90m shaft of Alum Pot due to concerns over a damaged rope. As the team were assembling at the RV point, they received a further call confirming that the party wer…
A trip into Draenen to see the Coldfinger had been on my radar for some time, and after a quick message out to the Dudley, three of us (Jonny, Anne and myself) found ourselves squirreling around Draenen’s labyrinthine passages. Having heard that the …
A trip into Draenen to see the Coldfinger had been on my radar for some time, and after a quick message out to the Dudley, three of us (Jonny, Anne and myself) found ourselves squirreling around Draenen’s labyrinthine passages. Having heard that the …
A trip into Draenen to see the Coldfinger had been on my radar for some time, and after a quick message out to the Dudley, three of us (Jonny, Anne and myself) found ourselves squirreling around Draenen’s labyrinthine passages. Having heard that the …
The team were called by North Yorkshire Police to assist with a lone walker (f,24) who was lost and benighted. Her location was quickly established and two team members in CRO 3 were able to drive to the location and return her to the nature trail car …
I was very much looking forward to today’s trip, as I had booked onto a CNCC underground workshop on pull-throughs. Despite high water levels, given the improving weather forecast the decision was made that it was safe to proceed and after some initi…
Our colleagues at Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) asked the team to assist with an injured walker with a suspected fracture to his lower leg on the bridleway above Foxup, which is close to the border of our respective areas. Due to the…
Vince, Nick, Mike, Jake, Jon, and Tav Early to the cave to install new pulley on the haul out of the pot, new jute rope too (but this will be replaced as it was too thin, 10mm. Have ordered a 14mm hemp rope). Also replaced the worn-out skip on the haul from ledge/entrance. The rest … Continue reading “1st November”
The Team were alerted by North Yorkshire Police to a walker (F, 23yrs) who had fallen whilst descending from Ingleborough. She had sustained a painful ankle injury and was unable to continue unaided. As the Team responded, other passing walkers helped …
Yorkshire Ambulance Service asked the team to assist with a walker (f,61) who had taken a tumbling fall coming off the summit of Ingleborough and sustained arm and facial injuries. As team members headed up toward the casualty’s location from the…
Vince, Jake, Mike, Jon, and Nick I got to the cave ahead of the team to collect some sediment samples from An Unexpected Development (AUD) area for a local artist who wants to experiment with natural pigments (I have already collected samples from the Polden Hills, Dolebury Warren, and Wookey Hole). While I was there, … Continue reading “25th October”
Vince, Jake, Mike, Jon, and Nick I got to the cave ahead of the team to collect some sediment samples from An Unexpected Development (AUD) area for a local artist who wants to experiment with natural pigments (I have already collected samples from the Polden Hills, Dolebury Warren, and Wookey Hole). While I was there, … Continue reading “25th October”
Vince, Brockers, Jake, Nick, Jon, Tav, and Mike An earlier start for me, drill/plugs and feathers packed. Arrived at the farm, chatted briefly with the farmer, got the key from the shed, changed and walked across fields to the cave. Once underground set off to Can of Worms and got to work removing a calcite … Continue reading “18th October”
On Saturday 18th November the Dudley met at South Wales Caving Club. One CDG member was taking a trainee around OFD for the weekend, another photography trip was delayed due to a puncture. The rest of us went on a nice amble around the classic touri…
On Saturday 18th November the Dudley met at South Wales Caving Club. One CDG member was taking a trainee around OFD for the weekend, another photography trip was delayed due to a puncture. The rest of us went on a nice amble around the classic touri…
Vince, Nick, Jon, and Tav Due to a variety of circumstances, a suggestion was put forward “shall we have a Sunday session?” There were some minor glitches but, eventually, it came to pass. A suitable team gathered at the farm on Sunday morning. Underground, Jon and Tav were dispatched to Can of Worms to continue … Continue reading “12th October”
A walker (f, 24) slipped and injured an ankle not far from Janet’s Foss on the path towards Malham village. When she had been assessed by the YAS paramedic, team members helped her to the road ambulance which took her to Settle Railway Station fo…
