The Best Caving Weekend I have Ever Had

 

The team, minus Joe

Friday, 26^th. 2021.

Arriving.

It’s been two years since I had been on a caving weekend. Now, I was hopping into Oscar’s car as he picked me up outside my door. I had booked the whole weekend off of work (in a cave) to go play (in more caves). I was a little put-off by the weather, and apprehensive as to what the weekend would bring.

When we arrived, the glow and warmth of the fireplace engulfed me and put my fears to rest. It was going to be a good time, I had felt that deep within me. Louise and Luke had already arrived to set up the fire and keep the house nice. It was later on that Alastair and his friend, Joe, arrived. The next day, Ben was to arrive, too.

 I found a game of pick-up sticks in the corner that night. Only a few weeks ago, I had taught a drunk Oscar to play pick up sticks for the first time, only for it to be his DEMISE! This time, we were both just as under the influence, and in good spirits. This time, he was ready for a re-match and came in fighting! Our rematch was along Luke and Joe. Unfortunately, my years of superior training against my sister when I was six was put to good use, for I had won yet again, even after my ever so long laughing fit in between rounds. (I couldn’t stop laughing at the way Alastair picked up a stick lmao)

Midnight hit and I warmed up my hot bag and went to bed. I ended up sleeping 10 hours, which only means a very happy Elise the next day. Opening the blinds, the view revealed itself as it gave way to the sun. The snow topped the mountains, and as we drove to our location (Notts 2), it felt like we were in a different country entirely and I truly forgot how beautiful Britain can be.

 

Oscar made a mistake and fell asleep in front of Al. 

Notts 2

It’s funny how it’s always the worst things about a trip that will bring a group together, and create the best memories.

This time, it was the wind. The wind was battering us down with temperatures in the minus. Getting dressed was hard, but getting undressed when your clothes were wet was impossible. As soon as the wind hit my gloves, the water within them started to freeze. Our clothes froze as they hit the snowy ground. It was not one of my greatest moments, my face going numb. Luckily, Alastair said some words to me and ushered me to the front of the car where there were <3 heated seats <3 Thanks for helping me out, guys!

The second day had little wind, thankfully. (only snowfall!)

Notts 2 was a bloody fantastic cave. The drop down must have been up to 40 meters? However, there was NO SRT involved, it had an array of scaffolding, ladders and breeze blocks you could use to climb down. Every so often you’d think: ‘Huh, all this scaffolding is holding back this cave from caving in’. And then you’d carry on because you were having far too much fun in making progress down/up. When climbing back up, Oscar decided to throw down some ice to land on the rest of us. ‘F--k you, Milky Bar Kid!’, I quietly told him. Alastair, being the only one that heard, burst out laughing below me as we made our way up.

Further into the cave, I noted how nice it was to experience North Yorkshire caves. The water, ran clear as always, but this time, a copper colour from the peat. There were a few climbs that I felt I needed a spot on the way down. On the way up, there was a smooth-walled climb that I felt only comfortable with a rope that the others used as a makeshift SRT kit. I’m very thankful of how supportive they were of me underground.

The Pretties were outstanding, I couldn’t believe the white of the calcite, the amount of straws, stalactites and other speleothems. I felt like nicking a few to put into Peak Cavern show cave!  There was even a domino affect calcite thing apparent in this cave, where there was deep black calcite next to milky white calcite. I realised that through being a tour guide, I had become more inquisitive about speleothems than ever, and would like to have known how the black calcite was formed.

 

 

CHECC

A lot can happen in two hours. Especially at Checc. Here is what happened from my short visit.

A lot of the TSG members needed kit from Seddon, so we hopped over to checc only to find that as we drove in, Tony was driving out in his van. (oh no)

Upon arriving, I first found a very tired Rostam, who explained that he had about three hours of sleep. Upon further inquiring, I found out that sleep wasn’t really an option for anyone at Checc the night before. The winds had picked up so much that local trees had been unrooted from the storm, and many of the tents were now deep in the river. It was also reaching -6.5 at night. I noted that a few people who normally would be the life of the party at checc, carried themselves slightly differently, choosing not to get so involved with the action in the barn later on. However, many of the young students made a huge crowd that filled the barn and it was so nice seeing many new faces. I bumped into Josh Bratchley too, and it was good to talk to him and tell him that I really enjoyed what he had to say in the rescue documentary. 

The NPC hut felt like home, and we played Jenga too :)

I found myself wondering through every room and corridor, trying to say hello to everyone and anyone I could. Upon finding the barn, SRT sock wrestling was about to begin, and I always seemed to get VERY hyped up for that one. I had about three people come up to me saying they thought it was odd that I was doing the presenting, only to find that it was ANNA that was speaking on the microphone. Apparently, our voices are very similar. 

It was so good seeing people who I used to know as students, who were now living different lives and had grown so much. (perhaps, much like myself) and it felt like I had gravitated back to an old group of friends, with so much more life experience and understanding.

After a final smoke, a final walk round and a final goodbye to all those I could find within the mayhem, we drove back to the warm NPC, and I slept soundly until morning. It was good to be a social butterfly, but I felt more comfortable in the NPC with only 7 people, a warm fireplace and lots of motivation to go caving. 

 

We found a friendly farmer!

 

Gavel Pot

Gavel pot was one of those pots that you try to take photos of with your eyes so that you may describe the best way you can to your friends later on, because you know photos won’t do it justice in any way.

I found myself descending down a snow-filled pot, with icicles as long as my forearms. The rope rubbed against the sides of the rock and every member of the team commented on how uncomfortable that was. (Alastair hinting that perhaps it needs another bolt because the deviation doesn’t get the rope off of the rock) I used the layer of ice over a particular bit of the rock to make sure it wouldn't accidently get cut when I was on it. Once down, the walls towered high above me, their limestone cracks running across them as the trees and foliage seeped through the crevices. It reminded me of the fairy-tale qualities of Lud’s church.

No pictures did it justice!!

Coming down further into the pot with another pitch, we headed down a short climb and through a chamber littered with stalactites. It was stunning. Louise took some photos here, and we clambered on.

We came to a traverse and a (roughly) 70m pitch, with a rebelay in between. I clambered over to the sharp, open drop, and looked down, feet dangling in the air. Without me even knowing, I started to shake and my breath become a little out of control. I looked into Alastairs eyes, and as soon as the words came out, my eyes began to burn from the oncoming tears: ‘Alastair, I’m scared’.

finding t' cave.

It’s happened before many times, it’s happened at Alum, at Eldon hole, even in some mines. But this time was different. This time, Alastair said ‘you don’t have to do it, it’s fine, you’ve not been in this position for two years and now you’re very exposed.’

I got down and let Luke go instead. Alastair encouraged me to try again. I did, and found the same thing happened, but this time I felt my whole body go loose. (NOT a feeling I want when dealing with ropes). I told him that I could go down but something tells me I might struggle going back up if I’m in this condition now.

Alastair led me out the cave. 

 

All the way, he was saying how cool it was that we’ve taken the better option because it will take the group a shorted amount of time to get out the cave and we don’t have to de-rig as well. I knew he was saying this because he knew that I was a little down-hearted about the fact I didn’t descend the drop. Later on, when we were back at the car, it was good to watch the sunset together. It was a time where I could explain why I felt so scared, and was able to thank him for his reaction. He convinced me that I did a great job, and that all I needed was more exposure to heights again after two years off. The land was clear and the sky was orange as I smoked in the bitter cold. Alastair was already planning my next trip for exposure therapy as we waited for the others to come back.

Pretties, pretties everywhere! (The Speleothems are good, too)

I had never been treated like this underground, and as I did then, I will thank Alastair and the others now. Nobody commented nor mocked me from backing down from that last bit of cave, and instead everyone encouraged me. Watching the rest of the group get undressed in the now -6 degrees, I felt a wave of acceptance: this was my crew, my group, and I finally felt so included and accepted in caving. 

 

 

R.I.P Oscar 26/11/2021

 

 

I want to say a thank you to everyone on the weekend. It's been a (shall I say...) more difficult at times in many sitations since being diagnosed with a disorder, but you guys make me feel completely comfortable, accepted and, dare I say- normal? (although, I know I'm far from it!)