Marble
Steps
10/01/93
Team:
Ray Duffy, Andy Hall, Anne
Hodgson (co-ordinator), Bob Johnson and Derrick Butcher.
The day began
cold and wet. We were sitting in Ray’s car at the top of
There was
water running down both gullies into the main entrance shaft as we clambered
down the Western arm to the broad ledge above the watercourse and the first
pitch. Bob led the way, abseiling down and then climbing down to the left to
start rigging the traverse to the head of the Main Chamber pitch.
Those who
knew “forgot” to tell me that the traverse was sometimes called the
“Skywalker”. Very wise. At the time, the more experienced members of the team
described the traverse as rather exposed and somewhat technical. Later the less
experienced described it in terms ranging from challenging through intimidating
towards unprintable. Thanks for tightening the loops, Ray. Thanks for helping
me round, Anne.
From the end of the traverse we dropped into the Upper Main Chamber, continuing
from there to the floor of the Lower Main Chamber. Looking back up the
waterfall was
spectacular. The water was vanishing between boulders as we crossed the floor
and
carried on down towards the area beneath the Great Aven. From there we entered
the 240 foot rift which includes walking and crawling sections with a roof
traverse at the far end, approaching Stink Pot. In the crawl Anne and David
noticed a small puddle that was bubbling away as if boiling. Then it stopped
doing that and slowly began to grow instead. Was the water backing up? Anne
decided that given the potential flood risk, we should descend no further. She
was also, quite rightly, mindful that my inexperience of SRT meant slow
progress. So after a quick look into Stink Pot we retreated towards the
surface. On the way out the waterfall
seemed to have grown. The traverse was just as much fun as it was before -
thanks again Anne. When we gained the top ledge it was so wet that we didn’t
realise that it had stopped raining at first as there was so much surface
run-off. The streams feeding the pot had certainly grown and pools had started
to form down below. The right decision had been made.
After a
chilly walk down the fell, we reached the cars feeling very cold and in need of
hot drinks. Depressed? Not a bit. The sole topic of conversation was the next
trip, it had been a great day out. The caving did not end there for our team
leader. Anne headed for Ingleton and a cup of tea only to be sent off to Valley
Entrance in Kingsdale on a rescue. A party of three had got into difficulties
on a through trip. One had managed to get out and raise the alarm, another
member of the group was rescued. Tragically, the third had drowned. Food for
thought.
Derrick Butcher
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