Post date: Mar 3, 2013 11:03:02 PM

Cavers: Aileen, Al

Trip time: 8 hours underground

The recent dry spell enticed us back into Deep Pot, and it was certainly worth it, as we found the cave in perfect condition. We rigged the first pitch and free-climbed the second pitch on the Waterfall Series to save time, however Aileen misjudged the lowering of her bag onto a ledge and dropped all the digging tools, food, and survey gear about 5 m. We continued down the Window Series, rigging a tether from the large rock (after shaking it into place a little more) to the window sill (we left this in-situ). After ditching SRT kit, we scurried down the last two waterfalls and into Snakes-And-Ladders. At the final point before the October extension to Snakes-And-Ladders we broke out the survey kit. Sadly this had not faired well, the top was broken from the bottle of nail varnish and the Tandem compass pivot was bent. It was just possible to use the remains of the nail varnish and more-or-less use the Tandem. Since we were there with the kit we decided to press on with the survey to the deepest point; the clino had survived unscathed so at least the depth will be accurate.

We surveyed down the remainder of Snakes-And-Ladders, through 100 Chamber which is the first large chamber or cross-passage at the end of Snakes-And-Ladders, and down to the beginning of Sinusoidal Excursion, then had a chocolate break before shooting two final legs up into The Playboy Mansion. Completing enough surveying for the day, we broke out the digging tools and Aileen was introduced to the ascent of the Greasy Pole. Being first up this gave her first bash at the dig (No Glory For Old Men) while i perched in the top of the rift. Fifteen minutes of digging later, Aileen scooted back to the crash of the offending two boulders that neither Bus nor i had managed to budge in 4 hours. It seemed the mud we had excavated had allowed the mud below to dry out and crack away from the rocks, freeing them up. Anyway, we both got very excited, and swapped positions so i could try to move the rocks out. I eventually got the larger one on its side and slid it partially under the left wall. Sadly the way on didn't seem so promising, and we decided up might be better, to go over the top of the choke. We managed to bring another couple of rocks down, but one is jammed in the rift and a shorter chisel and a bigger hammer is required to get it out (and break up those that are already down so they can be moved out).

We'd been underground for 6.5 hours, but Aileen had unfinished business at the end of the Sinusoidal Excursion, so while i finished a couple of cross-sections for the survey she wriggled down into its wet embrace. Finishing the sketches i wriggled down to the beginning of the canal, Aileen was about 10 m beyond this and just out of sight, making noises like she was drowning a bag of cats. Turned out she was digging her way into the expected sump. There seems to be no further progress to be made here.

Al

Facts and figures

Surveyed 36.67 m in 14 legs;

Longest leg 4.41 m;

Deep Pot depth 112 m as surveyed, 8th deepest in Ireland.

Final survey points

9.16 as labelled (should be 7.14) - beginning of Sinusoidal Excursion on top point of chert knob on downstream right before the mudbank (deepest surveyed point). SE continues approx. 20 m beyond this point and descends maybe another 1.5 m.

10.2 as labelled (should be 8.02) - on left wall of Playboy Mansion on corner of chert flake above rock slabs just before the 5 m pit in the floor.

In-situ rigging

Waterfall Pitch 1: hanger for deviation

Window Pitch: tether on rock (alternative or additional rigging point exists nearby, a flake on the floor of the passage) to begin traverse from; hanger and sling for deviation

Playboy Mansion to No Glory For Old Men: Greasy Pole (TM). A handline is very useful here for the last person up and first person down but we've removed the rope previously left in the Mansion.