From Matilda
Water level has probably dropped about 3m
From Mike
Serenaded by a pair of tawny owls, Mike, Jon and Matilda discovered the whole passage was flooded to just a couple of feet below the railway, as was left dig, so two hauls, 4 digging tools and one krab on short handline are underwater. Anything we could reach was moved up to spoil heap, a couple more bags filled to even out wall, then spare bags, tubs, ropes and the "railway carriage" were stacked in higher side passages, whilst 2 bags of sand, metal work, scrapers, buckets and anything not used recently were hauled up above ladder. Fran had arrived by then. I have one of Stu's krabs and a clip from bolt at end of railway
from Mike
Jon went to end to check and it was diggable (left side still flooded), so Matilda filled all the buckets (except 2 with broken handles, although a third did go down and get filled - all taken to surface after). Digging was apparently fairly easy, then Ed passed them back to final haul, with Mike and Jon on either end, who also flattened out the conveyor belt and moved the middle sized rocks back to start of that haul. We then staged all buckets up to spoil heap and emptied them, leaving the tools and skip on shelf at start of final haul. It started to rain as we headed out just after 8.30, where we found Duncan and Fran (who had arrived late), but fortunately it didn't pour down until we left the waldegrave (everyone except Matilda)
from Mike
Ed, kat, Jon, Matilda Doel and me. Flooded to 1 foot below conveyor belt, we moved a load more rocks back to entrance - mostly just larger ones left at end now. Tawny owl greeted us on departure (and insects taking cover)
From Mike
Ed, Kat and Mike - End of dig half flooded, could just see tops of tools! Moved sensible sized rocks from end chamber to start of last haul, then 18 buckets of smaller rocks back to entrance.
Report from Jon Riley
Jon called in on his way back from work as usual; Ed can clearly now be referred to as a regular; Mike is a regular at most digs. Hence, we can report that three regular diggers turned up at the appointed hour.
Being only a small team, an early decision was to take only a few buckets underground. A suggestion that we each take six buckets was instantly agreed. With hindsight we should have taken more underground.
Mike was appointed chief digger, supported by Ed. Jon was nursing an inflamed elbow, so took on hauling duties only.
Jon had missed a couple of digs; to him the air quality was noticeably improved.
The Team filled and removed their buckets with high efficiency. Consequently, they arrived at the local hostelry somewhat earlier than planned.
Perhaps more buckets next time?
report from Mike Moxon.
Fran and Ed took it turns digging, Kat and Mike did first haul for 14 buckets then moving back to middle whilst others brought last 6 out. The puddle has flooded again by the conveyor belt.
Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Fran Campbell, Stu Lindsay
1hr
15mins
Estelle
and Mike started filling buckets, 12 were already in the cave empty and we took
6 more down so 18 were filled in total. The air was ok at the end and it felt
like there was a slight draught coming up through the floor hole. Estelle
filled the buckets from the left hand side under the big boulder and above the
crack in the floor. Fran arrived and started hauling and we started moving
everything up through the cave. The air wasn’t great when sat at the bottom of
the middle haul, but the rest of the cave was ok. Stu hauled at the surface and
part filled a few bags whilst waiting for help emptying on the surface. The mud
was sticking quite a lot in the buckets, don’t know if it was worse due to the
type of mud or that some buckets were left stashed in the cave. Waldy was
closed so we went to the Hunters.
report from Jon
Three regular Team members (Fran, Jon and Mike) were joined by two visitors, Joe Holloway and Krystal Thompson from Mendip Outdoor Pursuits. Joe had previously visited; Crystal was paying a first visit to the dig site. The visitors had a quick look at the upper cave and then, in traditional fashion, they were invited to dig.
Joe took the lead, initially supported by Jon. The air quality remains poor. Krystal sensibly took a cautious approach of starting at a hauling point, until she had acclimatised to the air. She then moved forward, sharing the lead duties with Joe.
Given the air quality, the Team limited themselves to a small number of buckets. Twenty bucket loads were removed from the front; six rather liquid loads were taken from the bottom haul point, where Fran hauled. In due course, the Team moved up to fresher air; Fran again did most of the hauling.
The good news is that the buckets remain easy to empty.
The Team eventually relocated to a local hostelry for light refreshments, delayed a little by an issue with the site gate. Fortunately, the landowner came to their rescue. The Team extends a word of thanks.
report from Fran
Jon, James Ed, Fran and Stu were at the dig with James and Jon at the digface. Ed
and Fran and Stu hauled with Stu working the railway at the top. It was hot and
humid with spells of rain. We emptied all the buckets into bags or onto
the spoil heap then headed for the Waldy.
Report from Mike Moxon
Duncan dug the end, whilst Jon and I checked the buckets left last time still emptied (they did, but then it hadn't rained). Adrian arrived to help shift stuff back & Duncan stopped at 26 due to air still being poor, before assisting with getting them back to the entrance where we filled bags for the wall. Finished about 8.30 to find stu had only just arrived, before heading to the waldegrave where James, Estelle and holly met us.
Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley
1.5hrsWe discussed in the pub after with Stu and James present, options around trying bags instead of the skips like they use at Halloween, Jon said he’d see about getting some of those – from experience of many digs/mud types, we will probably need to experiment with leaving them full for a week, then maybe 2 weeks, etc. to see how well they will empty. We also suggested that filling some brewery bags and loading them into the pool just before the last run, with a view to putting another conveyor belt over that would lose that puddle with rocks in and make it more comfortable to get across and a little more storage space too. There is also a lot of smaller rocks by the last skip run that could come out allowing more stacking space if required. Basically there is probably work that can be done with 3 as long as the individuals are up for triple handling and being in a variety of locations working. We just have to accept we can’t do things as fast and vigorous with just 3!
Ed Ford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley, Stu Lindsay, Fran Campbell
2hrs
Ed and James were at the front, Jon and Mike moved skips back,
whilst Stu did the middle haul, for all buckets present, then Stu moved up to
top haul and rest of us kept moving them along. Fran arrived as we were
emptying.
Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Stu Lindsay, Ed & Kat Ford, Jon Riley, Fran Campbell
1.5hrs
Stu continued putting in some additional handlines and drilling holes for bolts for that ahead of helping with the hauling. Estelle and Ed headed to the dig and Estelle digging down in the forward bit and Ed clearing the last of the flood spoil from the aven area. Going down is giving rocks in the floor after a layer of spoil, all seem to be fairly loose. All buckets filled and then taken out and some bag filling was done before retiring to the Waldy
Report from Mike M
Mike Moxon, Ed Ford (MCG), Stu Lindsay, Fran Campbell, Duncan Butler, Jon Riley
2hours
Filled all 35ish buckets, Duncan clearing the
front slump, then starting on digging forward, Mike loaded up about half of the
aven slump, so it's now below the level of surrounding rocks. Ed Ford (MCG) and
Fran started moving the tubs back whilst Jon brought in the two skip runs,
after reattaching haul lines, then all 5 of us dragged everything back to the
spoil heap, where we filled the low point in corner - buckets emptying easily.
Whilst Stu did his with adding safety lines/drilling.
Report from Stu/Mike
18/6/24
James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon
Riley, Stu Lindsay, Fran Campbell
Some preparation work to aim to
dig soon now the end has drained. Stu drilled a hole for a hanger for a safety
line for the ladder, but the drill snapped off, so wasn’t able to complete the
work. The rope supplied by Blitz is now in 2 pieces with one having 2/3rds of
the necessary knots in, which Stu has taken home to complete.
Mike took a look at the right
hand passage, looks much the same as previously but with extra slime from the
floods, but a couple of rocks in the roof at the start have come out. He then
dug a couple of rocks out from the collapse at the main end and there is about
a dozen tubs worth of slump there and another half dozen below aven. Poured
some water into end slot and it disappeared left out of view and gurgled away
(probably more ahead direction), Finally removed both skips to daylight and
filled a couple of buckets with mud from around the steps.
Jon Riley went and took a look at the end and it's now completely dry at the dig, so good to go for next week planning to dig the end.
Estelle Sandford, Stu Lindsay, Jon Riley, Fran Campbell
1hr
Estelle and Jon went to the end to look at the water levels and unsurprisingly really, with the recent heavy rains, the water levels had risen by around 0.5m since we looked a couple of weeks ago. More rain is forecast so we think it is unlikely to be diggable by next week and as such not planning to arrange anything.
We had a clear up and also removed the blue pipe from the dig (relocated to by the other holes for now) and also the electric cable as we don't envisage using either again. Several bags of rubbish and dead skips removed and all the serviceable buckets now back where they should be.
Estelle Sandford, Jonathan Riley underground, Mike Moxon, Fran Campbell, James Begley and Stu Lindsay didn’t go underground.
15mins
Estelle & Jon kitted up and headed down. There was polystyrene and plastic containers/tubs at the top of the steps indicating the water levels were higher than we’d originally thought from photos but think the peak was from Storm Henk in January from Kevin’s photos! Reasonable amount of cleanup work required on surface and in the spoil area as bags, buckets, etc. are everywhere! Headed down and while it’s a bit slimey from being under water for so long, there are little signs of any movement of mud or rocks from roof, etc. At the end, the conveyor belt was clear and above water, but the end of the dig is about 1-1.5m underwater still. Not quite diggable, but probably only a week or two if we get reasonably dry weather. Headed off to the Waldegrave after where Stu joined us. Discussed that it is worth a team going over next week to do some cleanup work and check levels with a hope we will be back in digging within the next couple of weeks.
Estelle Sandford
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Duncan Butler, Stu Lindsay
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Jonathan Riley, Mike Moxon
2hrs
Jon digging the higher end of the dig and Mike focussing on the bottom area. More boulders and mud/clay being removed, back to quite a large digging face and no sign of being anywhere near a floor on the right hand side. 39 buckets, filled and due to only 4 of us, triple handled out of the cave to be emptied at the surface.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Jonathan Riley, Mike Moxon
2hrs
James digging lower level by the hole and Estelle digging the top level, Mike and Jon also filling buckets from loose spoil further up to help prevent it washing in with the expected rains in the next week. James removed a couple of good sized rocks, Estelle was digging down and also removed some rock, Mike cleared by the hole and it's been exposed again by removing conveyor belt and rock that was covering it. Once all 39 buckets were filled up, we headed up moving them out, which is hard work with only 4 of us! Filled a few bags as well whilst emptying as the spoil is starting to go over our bag walls in places. Headed to Hunters as Waldy shut for maintenance.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Duncan Butler, Greg Horveth, Fran Campbell
1.5hrs
Operation boulder removal - who needs caps, plug & feathers or bang, when you've a Duncan - he spent all evening beating up the boulder with hammer and chisel and reduced it to gravel and small enough rocks to handle. Beats going to the gym! Lots of mud on rocks and floor before it cleared by Estelle & Greg whilst Duncan broke the rock and 39 buckets filled in total before heading out. The end dig is now massive and easily will be diggable by 2 people at the front if we've enough numbers. Headed to Waldegrave for rewards.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Jonathan Riley, Stu Lindsay, Mike Moxon, Jim Hayward, Joe Holloway
2hrs
Jim digging the forward dig and Joe clearing the aven on the left. Estelle had brought over some conveyor belt for the pool chamber to replace the grids. With some bagging of spoil to help level it a bit more, this was laid and successfully used for hauling. Once that was done, the grids were moved up passage and during the course of the evening, taken out of the cave and to the top to dry out. The 39 skips were all filled and emptied outside and circa another 15ish or so were bagged as well. Headed to Waldegrave for refreshments.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Chris Smart, Greg Horveth
Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Adrian Miles, Stu Lindsay
2hrsEstelle Sandford, Jon Riley, Mike Moxon, Duncan Butler
1.5hrsEstelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jonathan Riley, Stu Lindsay, Fran Campbell, Dave Walker
2hrsJim and Mike digging, Jim going forwards and Mike digging off to the right. Right is looking more to be an aven, albeit still going up and probably still has a couple of sessions worth of digging out the spoil to reach a conclusion. Forward is still looking interesting and heading into more of a tube at the moment, although need to confirm the floor has been reached below. Is now a good body length past the hole in the floor now. First 31 buckets filled and transported up to the top railway and then all headed up to finish off the haul and empty them, then went back in for a second round of 31 and repeat. Finished just before 9pm and went to Waldy.
Adrian and Jack were given the 2 dig sites and they set to filling the buckets, did one round of 32 and then took down another 12 as we were being so efficient and quick tonight! (One more bucket now died, so we're down to 31) Adrian dug the right hand one, bringing down more from the alcove, still a fair bit to go, not totally clear yet whether it is just an alcove or more. Jack dug forwards and continued on at the same level, very compacted spoil in that part. There was also some left over spoil at the start of the pool and by the hole in the floor from Mike last week. At the start of digging, Estelle put the conveyer belt back over the hole, the water was visible and probably only a foot or so down into the hole. Waldy after to meet James who was working late.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jonathan Riley, Stu Lindsay
1.5hrs
Mike and Jon digging the end 2 digs, the water levels were up as it has rained so much recently and the pool chamber had the grill underwater again, plus some big pools at the dig end which needed draining to dig. The hole in the floor is still draining but quite slow, not sure if we've quietly blocked it with spoil or whether it is due to the extremely high water levels for time of year. 32 buckets filled and then moved out of the cave and emptied in stages. Mike also had a go at clearing the hole and also cleared some mud around what looked like it could be a boulder above the hauling spot for the grill, but confident now it's wall.
Having emptied the buckets, we headed to the Waldy.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jonathan Riley
1.5hrs
Estelle
digging at the end on the right, interesting going down, but unsure where this
is leading, lots of spoil still to come out there and also above it as it will
eventually fall on your head otherwise. Also the straight on bit looks like it
may be closing off, but we still have the hole in the floor. Lots of rain since
last digging, and the grill in the pool chamber was under water! May have to
put a drainage hole in the dam somewhere... Did one round of skips (33) and
then headed to Hunters. Hoping for more diggers next week.
A low turnout this evening, with Jon and Duncan meeting at 18:00 to start breaking up some rocks and James joining them at 19:15. Duncan had his drill and capping kit, but forgot to bring his molegrips, so decided not to use the caps but instead broke up the rocks using just a drill and some hefty blows with the hammer. All the loose rocks in the end chamber have been made smaller, and moved back into the 'pool' chamber. 12 skip loads of mud was also removed from the end. Plenty of space at the end to resuming digging operations again next week. All out and in the Waldy by 20:45.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley, Duncan Butler
1.5hrsEstelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley and Stu Lindsay turned up for the later haul shift.
2hrsEstelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley
2hrs
with only 4 of us, we decided to take some bags in and start to level off the pool chamber area. Overall target to level off at least where the grill is, so the grills can come out, probably put conveyor belt across it to make it easier to haul and also there isn't a need for the pool now we have the hole in the floor.
James and Mike got on with digging. James at the dig above the hole in the floor, continuing forwards and unearthing another large boulder, whilst Mike worked at the right hand walk. That looks to be an aven and could be an alcove, but with a fair bit of spoil and rocks coming out of it, it doesn't look to be hitting a wall yet... Estelle passed the buckets up to where Jon was filling bags - around 9 or 10 bags filled and then filled the dozen buckets we were using and brought them out to scrape and dry for next week. Hunters tonight as Waldy closed early with no darts.
Still need to take krabs, sort the skip and take a new hammer in. Also there are a good number of boulders now needing capping near the end.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley, Stu Lindsay, Fran Campbell
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley, Duncan Butler, Stu Lindsay, Chris Smart
2hrsEstelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Adrian Miles. Duncan turned up towards the end but didn't dig tonight.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Jonathan Riley
15mins
Jon was changed when we arrived, so he headed down to check the state of the end of the dig. He came back reporting that the left side where the hole is was about 18" of water, but straight on and right was now diggable. With only 3 of us, there was little we could do, so didn't get changed and we headed to Waldegrave. We did note that there was possibly a couple of rocks that had come down from the walls by the fence and left of the fence and a few looks precarious, need to take a long pokey stick and see if any do want to come down easily to make it safer. Hopefully back digging with a full team next week and then for foreseeable.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley
15mins
only Estelle went underground with oversuit over clothes as suspected it would be flooded still. It was flooded to slightly lower than where it was on 21/3 but not by much and does not look like it will be diggable for a week or two still unless very dry weather, which with the forecast is unlikely. Aim to check again on 16/5. Noted that since the last time we visited, the buckets were scattered so that indicates that it has flooded above them recently.
Estelle Sandford, Jon Riley went underground, also Duncan Butler, Mike Moxon and James Begley turned up.
30mins.
As the first two dressed for underground, Estelle & Jon went in to check water levels. It was backed up on the floor to the usual sit point for the middle drag run, so dig completely submerged at the moment. The rains recently have been heavy and ongoing forecast to be bad for the next week, so suspect we won't get back into the dig for at least another couple of weeks.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Mike Moxon, Stu Lindsay, Fran Campbell, Duncan Butler
1.5hrs
Estelle went in to dig and after clearing a bit of slump on the right of the hole in the floor, started working on going straight on ahead. Tried to avoid dropping mud into the hole, we need to cover it whilst digging, maybe bag of bags, or will cut a bit of conveyer belt to bring over. It is easy digging and since popping over Sunday, the dig water level has dropped by about another foot. As low numbers, had to all come up to complete emptying so we finished at 35 buckets and went to the Waldy. We need a longer pokey stick for a couple of loose looking rocks and try and remember some conveyer belt too.
Estelle Sandford
15mins
put oversuit on top of clothes and went to check the state of the water levels. The pool with the grill had dropped to nearly dry and the hole in the floor had around a foot or so of water above it. All means good to go with digging Tuesday.
Estelle Sandford, James Begley, Duncan Butler, Stu Lindsay
45mins
Visited Cutlers to check water levels, noted some more rocks had fallen from the roof, we need a longer bar to prod a few suspect places next week. Estelle & Duncan went to look at the water levels and were surprised to note that the water had dropped to a level where there was an inch or so on top of the grill and beyond the dam was 2-2.5ft below the dam height. Suspect if the weather forecast is correct, then we may well be able to dig next week as the water levels have dropped way more than expected. We came back out, each took some rubbish from the pile to go and headed off to look at a dig called Eric.
Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Jon Riley, Stu Lindsay
1hr
went to check on water levels and also have a bit of a clear up as a lot of the items we had stored had been scattered all over by the flooding. Looked at the water level and it's down by the bag hole in the floor area. Everything above is looking pretty stable with the bag wall and also passage around the cave. Jon prodded a few ceiling rocks around the edges in the top shaft that were loosened by the water levels reaching above the entire pit. We went through the bags and bagged up a load that need throwing away and also all the dead skips, we'll gradually remove these over the coming weeks to our bins. Tidied up all the usable bags and skips and hopefully it won't flood again this winter now and the water levels will continue to drop.
Update from Mike Moxon
I had a quick look around the bottom of the ladder last night before going on elsewhere.
5 sets of buckets are still sat where we left them, more surprising is that 3 scrapers (as the lightest items) are also on top of the wall. I guess that means another set of buckets is still adrift underground (they were only ones floating when Jon & I visited). Bags are covered in a thin layer of silt, wall hasn't moved but at least one of the steps has (a bit) - 2 photos. Red winch box still in situ, mini mattock next to it precariously perched! Empty bags are scattered all over with one still half way up the wall (need a pole to dislodge it). Loose stones at base of wall are washed cleaner & water was at c.155m level on survey in left side dig (so you can step down from Stu's rock, but flooded from there, other photo - presumably same in main passage, which means chamber at other end of railway would have been chest deep - I didn't check as wasn't wearing caving kit).
from Mike Moxon
Jon & I visited this afternoon after rolls & crisps in the Hunters'. We left there in bright sunshine, but beyond Green Ore was freezing fog (pic of ice crystals on gate, but they were also all across grass around the holes)
The water has dropped about 10 feet & Kevin has removed some of the floating debris (surprisingly 1 stack of buckets is still on the surface!) & we recovered some more that we could reach - yes there is one bag stuck on the back wall...). Otherwise only hole 1 had a small puddle visible in bottom.
Water level is now under the
overhang above where Stuart sits, but still a lot to drop (probably 20ft
vertically to the dig face). Couldn't see the spoil heap yet. Pic from today
attached.