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Post date: Nov 17, 2013 4:47:47 PM
Early starters: Stevebus, Jock, Al, Emma, Michal & Eabha
Glory hunters: Claire & Stevemuh
12+ hours
After the previous trip's excitement it was fairly easy to persuade additional people to come along on this trip. We had 8 people in total and three main objectives; 1) continue the survey of the new stuff, 2) climb the newly found Adrienne's aven and if time permitted, 3)push the squeeze at the bottom of Piss Pot.
Taking our call from all the preceding trips we got off to a slow start - 11:30 breakfast followed by a 1 pm start (for 6 of us). We split into two sub-groups Al and myself (Stevebus) surveyed from the surface to the memory stone chamber (so that we could tie in the new survey), while the other four explored the rest of the (old) cave.
Just as Al and myself tidied off the final leg the second group caught up with us and after a quick snack we squeezed through into the Shannon Series to make our way to Adrienne's aven. This aven caused much excitement on the previous trip as we could see a dark space and feel a strong draft coming from it. Jock volunteered to push the climb and got geared up.
Aveline's Aven was about 7 m high, too wide to bridge and too fractured to bolt. Jock considered his options and chose to shimmy up a large flake on the left. This brought him up to a small perch about 3 m above the ground. The next step required a bold upwards step onto a loose looking foothold. The minimal protection available meant that Jock's only option was to wedge a rope knot into a small crack and tie the end of the ladder to it. This pseudo etrier gave him an extra couple of feet and using a couple of small hand holds he was able to make a bold scramble up to the top .
Getting his breath back after the effort (and justified shouting) he confirmed that the passage continued. We tied the bolting gear to the end of the rope and he hauled it up. No naturals were found so Jock started to hand drill a couple of spits so that he could attach the ladder. While this was happening the rest of the group went back down the main passage. Al, Emma and myself restarted the surveying while Eabha and Michal chose to dig at the bottom of Piss Pot.
40 minutes later, Stevemuh and Claire arrived just in time for Jock finishing his bolts. I got first call on the ladder as I wanted to connect the survey into the top bolts. Behind the pitch the passage continued as a pretty but tight-ish sideways crawl. Everyone was belayed up and we allowed Emma to lead; after 5 meters Emma entered a small chamber. Up ahead past a wide slot water could be heard falling. Emma, followed by Jock squeezed through the slot and entered a large rift chamber. Above an aven stretched up high to an unseen water inlet; below a climb down passed some calcite a deep dark space could be seen.
Stevemuh went back and retrieved the ladder and we belayed it to a large calcite formation and dropped it over the edge. Al got the honor of descending first.
At the bottom the passage continued along a large rift where it appears to end after 30-40 m at a mudslope down to a small hole with no obvious prospects. Above the rift continued upwards for a considerable distance. Approximately 10 meters up a dark space could be spotted that suggests continuing passageway. Unfortunately the rock didn't look sound so the climb will be left for another day.
Michal set up his camera and took a group photo.
At this late stage Jock and Emma had to leave so we split yet again this time into three groups. Eabha, Al and Stevemuh looked to continue the surveying. Claire, Michal and myself went back to continue digging in Piss Pot and Jock and Emma gathered some of the gear and made their way out.
The dig at the bottom of Piss pot is in a small rift which deteriorated into a flat out squeeze in mud. Although there was no draft, a black space could clearly be seen ahead. Claire and I took turns to dig and after the fourth attempt trying, Claire was able to squeeze through and proceeded to make the hole wider for myself. A few minutes later I was through and I continued digging until it was large enough for Michal to pass. Once Michal was through we looked around. The chamber was small and no obvious way on could be found. The passage has now been named 'Piss Poor Pushing Passage' for obvious reasons.
Calling time, the two groups remaining in the cave met again at the Piss Pot junction and after eating we dragged ourselves out of the cave for 2 am (just in time to get some Chinese food in Manorhamilton).
Stevebus
Survey
After collating the data and tieing it in with the old survey it is clear that the passageway follows a clear Northern direction before turning nearly due West at the Piss Pot aven. Hopefully a way can be found up the final aven.
We believe the cave is now the longest in Leitrim.
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