Post date: Jul 29, 2011 10:22:04 PM

Cavers: SteveMuh, Penguin

Trip time: 3.5 hours

Some photographs of Muh and i against various black backdrops, you'll have to take our word for it we're actually in Skreen Hill 3. Taken on a disposable camera.

Muh reaches Skreen Hill 3.

Cheers Al. We threw out the camera after seeing the photos.

We spent a civilised Friday evening in Aghnahoo and enjoyed a naggin of Bushmills while repairing fins and writing in the log.

At MAC for 08:45 on Saturday morning where we met the lovely Michelle. She invited us to use the garage for changing. We had a quick scout of the showcave first to confirm water levels were OK. We were relatively soon kitted up, I with lead weights on my belt and Al opting to carry his inside his bag - turned out I was right :) The sherpa trip was pretty easy, using some great bags custom made by Beast Products for Al. Beast Caving Products, a fine company by all accounts. beastproducts.co.uk

Sat down at the sump to Screen Hill 3 and sorted out regs, fins and divers objects. I went first this time.

It's a nice sump to dive - very wide (~5m probably) and 1-2m of vertical space. Maximum depth was about 5m if I remember correctly (correct me if I'm wrong Al) and length was 20-25m. There is a gentle slope down to the lowest point, and then back up again. Ceiling is clean bedrock and floor is similar to Screen Hill 2 - loose cobbles and pebbles. The dive line was intact. Visibility was reasonable - about 2m - although it was very brown.

Anyway, sump over, I emerged on the far side to stomping passageway with excellent formations. Al surfaced moments later, and we dekitted on a bank before heading off downstream.

Formations were excellent (see photos of our amazed expressions, viewed from behind) - similar to Pollnagollum but passage dimensions of a smaller scale. That said, the passage was still very large, and permitted walking and wading all the way to the Vicker's Choke, the best part of a kilometre away.

We looked at a few small inlets, mostly drips from cracks in the ceiling but no obvious leads. Before the final choke there was a short swimming section (about 10 metres long and 300 metres deep.) The final choke contains BIG blocks, and can be penetrated for a good distance. I only went for about 10 metres. There is a good potential here to link underground with Pollnagollum and it would be worthwhile to do concurrent trips to either side. I guess that a voice connection would easily be established given the proximity.

10 metres back from the start of the choke proper, there is a 20 metre upwards climb to reach muddy boulders, very similar to the surface dig in the Pollnagollum shakehole. If this be the case, then the lower route through the choke must indeed be close to downstream Pollnagollum.

We returned without event through the sump and back to the showcave, and as we were wading across the final lake we met a bunch of tourists at Journey's End. In an attempt to appear blasé, I looked up and started to comment on how warm the water was, but unfortunately I fell face-first into the lake at the same time, simultaneously hurting my knee on a rock.

Apart from that, the trip was good. 8/10.

Stephen.

Penguin and some black.

Penguin looks at some black.

Muh climbs into Ogden's Hall. Fins are one part of his lake crossing machine.

Muh admires the black in Ogden's Hall.

Some pillars. And some black.

Muh before return dive.