Post date: Mar 30, 2010 7:04:57 PM

Diggers - Jock, Una, Muh, Emma, Petie.

Sherpas in - Jock, Emma, Una.

Sherpas out - Emma, Una.

Diver - Al

DIVING

Following Jock's discovery of a promising dig site on the Marlbank that had the potential to connect with the fabled beauty of Skreen Hill 3 we (Jock, Una, Petie, Colin Bunce and i) went on a digging trip there on 31-01-10. That dig was encouraging, and incredibly mucky, with over a metre depth achieved following the draught and against a solid wall. We decided that a dive trip to Skreen Hill 3 to coincide with the next digging trip with the hope that a sound connection could be made to aid the dig direction, and to dig upwards at the same time, would be useful. Permission was granted by Marble Arch to continue digging at the hoped for connection and to dive to Skreen Hill 3.

Plans made on Saturday evening for a 9.30 am breakfast in Blacklion were somewhat delayed by the discovery that Aghnahoo is actually in a different time zone, which allows those dossing there an extra hour in bed. Eventually we had gathered ourselves together and Muh and Petie set off for the dig armed with crowbar, drill, bolts, rope and a winch, while we rocked up to Marble Arch. There was some difficulty in finding the showcave entrance nearest Skreen Hill, then once in the cave we headed downstream to 'check the water levels'. We marched past the tour group for the second time before hopping over the fence at Journey's End. After this great start the bypass was quickly passed to Skreen Hill 2.

Since there was a line leading into the sump i decided to use it, and left my reel with the sherpas to take out if i didn't return within five minutes for it. The visibility was pretty good, much better than i was expecting after Friday's rain and Saturday's showers - a medium tea colour offering visibility of over a metre. A short distance into the sump i was suddenly stopped by something catching my right side, and i feared that i had run into some earlier dive line. It turned out that my bailout bottle had fallen out of the bungee and jammed in the sand. Unable to see exactly what had gone wrong and diving in a new sidemount harness, i decided it would be easier to return to sort out. The second dive passed pleasantly with the only notable incident being an encounter with a fish. The line was lightly buried in sand and gravel in places which helped on the way in as it was otherwise unbelayed, loose and floaty. The sump surfaced all too soon on a pleasant beach.

After dekitting i started along Frake's Way, returned for my crowbar, and set off again. Pristine sediments could be avoided by walking in the stream, and there were plenty of pretty decorations. In Ogden's Hall, a large squarish breakdown chamber, i left the river to climb over the boulders, avoiding mud, sediment and stal as much as possible. There were two lakes that had to be swum, the second proving longer than expected, and both were colder than the sump. Soon after the end of the second lake Vickers' Choke loomed ahead. Careful exploring and loud whistle blowing followed, one area high up seeming promising, looking very similar to the dig site, although the only real dig prospects from here appeared to be up into a mass of hanging death - being alone i decided to leave them undisturbed. At stream level all the ways on closed down. In another place i thought i heard a voice and the movement of boulders, but after whistling and listening i decided i was imagining things. Then one of my lights packed in, as the rechargeable batteries i'd used were not so good as hoped. With the same rechargables in one of my remaining two lights and evidently not going to last the distance either, i chose a seat under a solid looking bit of roof close to the place most likely to connect with the dig and whistled for a while, leaving when i started to become cold and bored.

The return was uneventful. Due to the battery problem and some epic faffing on their part i was a bit ahead of the out-sherpas. I had taken my kit to the Green Pool and was on the way out with my harness when i found them lost in the bypass. Quick sherpaing of the bottles by Una and Emma saw us thankfully make the Armco steps before the last tour had left.

DIGGING

While the sherpas were sherpaing Muh and Petie began digging in the draughting hole, later joined by the sherpas. A winch was rigged from a bolt in the wall, and another metre of progress were made, creating a human-sized shaft. The sides were a little unstable and slumped when the final large boulder was removed, however Jock excavated some of the muddy clay to regain the draught. The site remains promising.

ADDENDUM (06-04-10)

Having seen the original survey i'm even more confused about the end of Skreen Hill 3. The survey shows no turn (or inlet) to the west at the end, and the boulders along the east wall of the passage (i thought they were on the south and the water flowing along the north wall). I wonder is my compass faulty (it is bubbled) and / or my mind faulty and / or swayed by the survey in COFAC...?

Curiouser and curiouser...

P.