LONG KIN WEST N.G.R. 731724. Depth 525ft.(161m.)

A I0:15a.m. “Alpenstart” was initiated in the pub Saturday evening. Sunday dawned, Rasher (Alias Saddleworth Butcher, Sedbo, Pete Seed (C.P.C.) myself met as planned & on time in Bernards Cafe. The weather was decidedly cold especially after caving in Majorca, & the snow was almost over my wellies. Red Rose numbers were lacking in the shape of Mark & Keith, (we thought they’d kaffle out.) who failed to arrive at Bernies or the cave. Numbers dropped further when Bernard felt his car was in greater need of a wash, than him a caving trip; he redeemed himself by carrying tackle to the cave entrance, which seemed approximately 6 miles up Ingleborough. The highlight of changing was to see Sedbo putting on his frozen wetsuit, the man must be mad. Pete & myself were in furry suits & ladysmiths, which we were grateful for when de-rigging that night. Hugh of Red Rose fame (is that what he told you, Pauline. Ed.) helped, us find the entrance, when it appeared none present had a clue. While rigging the 300ft. entrance pitch, Terry Whitaker arrived to scoff & see who else would back out; then along came Geoff Yeadon with dog which appeared to like deep shafts.
Pete was first down because he knows how to use rope protectors. Sedbo followed because he doesn’t know how to use rope protectors. Rasher pointed out to both abseilers that their devices were on upside down, then he waited to see if I would kill myself, he was disappointed. On this first pitch we used a new Keviar rope which seemed to have very little stretch & was very god for prussiking.
On the next pitch, which Pete said was a 50 foot ladder, was in fact free climbable backed up by a 25 foot ladder.

The third pitch, we decided to rig as two separate pitches. Here, Pete decided that his Contac 400 breakfast was letting him down and settled down to wait for Sedbo & I to return.
Marlow was used on the 30 foot pitch, a definitely noisy rope, if we had used this on the 300 I don’t think I would have bothered. The pitch lands on a large ledge which splits in two, the left hand hole leading to the Illusion Series and the right hand being the continuation of the pitch. Here we used a Troll bolt (I was rightout of Petzl ones.) as a dubious belay, but found a large flake to provide a good backup. This helped to hang the rope clear almost all the way down the next 150 feet. The pitch ends in a shallow poo1, above which is an obvious dig this I believe, is Kendal property. Sedbo ascended first on his Joanny rope; I found it great to abseil on but hard work prussiking. De-rigging to the entrance shaft provided no problems and Pete was soon on his way out. I followed and Sedbo brought up the rear, which is his ‘place in life’.

By 8:15 p.m. we were all on the surface, the weather was fine but extremely cold, Sedbo didn’t want to hang around and neither did we; however we all appeared to enjoy the trip & it’s Paul’s last trip for three months (hooray.). Do we have an apprentice groper in the Red Rose to take his place? (Don’t worry Pauline, I’m sure you can b accomodated ,Ed.)

Party consisted of:- . Pete Seed, (C.P.C., but he can’t help it.) . Paul Seddon, (R.R.C.P.C. & U.L.S.A. when he pays his subs.) . Pauline Barber, (R.R.C.P.C. & U.L.S.A., who likes Petzl & Brew gear.)

P. Barber.

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