Red Rose Cave and Pothole Club - Newsletter Vol. 6 No. 7 - December 1969 / January 1970
4th Jan. 1970. - COUNTY POT.
Party:- Chris Hadwin, Herbert Headech, Frank
Hardy, Chris Bargh, John Stark, Pete and Hodge.
Being our turn for Easegill I thought t a pity
to waste the opportunity of visiting this “well known”?? system and
so it was that seven Red Rose Members were soon sliding over sheet
ice of Casterton Fell endeavoring to keep a straight course for County
Pot. It was interesting to note on entering that ice formations extended for
some distance inside the cave turning the passage into a miniature Eisrisenwelt and causing some difficulty and amusement on
the first chock stones, The pot had been
laddered previously by Jack Grant on a photographic expedition so only a rope
was necessary to lifeline less experienced members down the two
pitches. We soon reached the master cave and after an absolutely fruitless trip up stream we
arrived at Assembly Hall where Jack's party were just descending from Easter Grotto. It was then I
realised our party had dwindled to four members but unperturbed I led the climb
up to Easter Grotto then down again after a quick look round. I then decided to
retrieve the rest of the party who had continued following the stream below
Assembly Hall. I parked John, Chris and Pete below the climb and led the other Chris, Herbert and
Frank back up the climb to marvel at the wonders of Easter Grotto.
On returning an obvious air of expectancy hung over
the three at the bottom,
“Where’s Chocolate Box Hodge?”
.“Don’t know”
“Bet you do but you won’t tell us’
“I don’t” I repeated.
“Eccles told me once,” said John,
“O.K. you find it,” I said.
“I don’t need to I’m the greatest” (can this be
another herd man in the making?
“If you're so good you can lead us out” I said,
He did too and only went wrong twelve times which is
terrible considering the route was well marked during the recent rescue. Anyway we burnt Jack’s party off and left him
the ladders to carry back. By the way will nobody please show me Chocolate Box,
I don’t want to have to go through that again.
Hodge