Persil Rift

Overview

A rather sporting rift containing two pitches, a sizable (for Portland) rift chamber and many highly coloured formations. The former calcite end was dug in June 2020 to extend the cave by approx. 35 m. In July 2021 a further breakthrough added approximately 60 m and in August 2021 a connection to Grand Canyon in Ariel Cave was achieved. No doubt the through trip from Persil to Ariel main entrance incorporating the bulk of the Ariel round trip will become a Portland classic taking most around 2 h 30 to complete.

Cave length: 163 m

Entrance: SY 67966 71697 (50.54416, -2.45345)

Location

The cave entrance is located between two large blocks, inland of the coast path a few metres north of Blacknor Fort. Follow the path North past the fort fence line to the point the path broadens at an abandoned small quarry working. The entrance is on the upper tier.

Description

Inside the entrance the cave immediately descends a slope (beware of broken glass and other rubbish which has been deposited through the entrance) to a small pit which must be traversed over as you round a corner. The wedged chock stones are convenient hand or foot holds depending upon the level at which you have chosen to traverse. This leads immediately to the top of a 10 m pitch, the bottom 2 m of which is an easy free climb. A ladder (8 m) and lifeline can be belayed to bolts, alternatively the pitch can be descended using SRT, rigging a traverse line to a natural anchor point 3 m back from the pitch head in the left hand wall. At the base of the rift you'll find yourself atop a pile of boulders. The rift can be followed a short distance amongst loose stuff back towards the entrance before choking. Heading in the opposite direction, the rift is either traversed on sufficient foot holds to a large wedged boulder or immediately descended to floor level and then continued along. Ultimately both options lead to a narrow section in the rift which most will find snug and must be negotiated approx. 1.5 m above floor level. Around a slight bend the going eases and can be followed to a flow stone blockage the entire height of the rift. A dug squeeze (June 2020) past the flowstone at floor level leads to an ascending rift (Calgon Rift) which gradually increases to an impressive size. At a step up, an ascending route behind you following a higher level false floor leads to a well decorated section after 5 m. Ahead the Rift continues to ascend until the floor nearly meets the roof. At this point a muddy crawl (Lenor Passage) leads to the small Lenor Chamber found after 5 m. On the far right hand side of the chamber a dug route (July 2021) through a flow stone encrusted mud mound drops down approx. 1 m into a pool of water and the start of Cillit Bang Passage. Please take extreme care and keep very low as the ceiling is adjourned with a plethora of extremely vulnerable straws and stalactites (and remember to do the same upon return). On the far side of the crawl a 1.5 m climb up and over a flowstone encrusted bank leads to another small but heavily decorated chamber with another pool in the floor. A 2 m climb up leads to the top of a 5 m high flowstone bank and fine vantage point looking across the vast (for Portland) rift chamber ahead named the Washing Machine. The pitch to the chamber floor below is free climbable to the competent but feels exposed. Bolts to the right can be used to rig a ladder (5m) and lifeline. Please take care to minimise the spread of mud when descending the pitch. At the base of the pitch an enlarged hole at floor level leads to Harpic Grotto which include a fine crystal pool; Please take extreme care if visiting. The chamber floor rises to a point on the far side where the rift splits. To the right the floor descends over wedged boulders to reach the base of the narrow Laundrette Rift. 2 m beyond the decent an awkward slot upwards on the right is followed by a wriggle over the remains of some wedged boulders forming a false floor and another squeeze past an enlarged flowstone constriction to find a balcony high up at end of Grand Canyon in Ariel Cave. An alternative route (squeeze lovers only) which continues beyond the upwards thrutch below the false floor to find a tighter, entirely academic, upwards squeeze to emerge in the same point on the balcony high up in Grand Canyon. To descend to the floor of Grand Canyon drop down 2 m onto a false floor of wedged boulders immediately before a mattress sized boulder (Mike's Mattress) wedged in the rift (this has been known to move). Carefully pass beneath the boulder and either traverse 5 m ahead to where the floor rises using good ledges on the right or directly descend as a pitch (5 m ladder & suitable life line). See Ariel Cave for further information.

Back in the Washing Machine, the left hand option Izal Rift is very well decorated but soon becomes narrow, extremely sporting and only suitable for slim, fit cavers. The rift is descended over wedged boulders to find a deep void. The bottom is 12 m below and has been descended to find the rift blocked in both directions. A handline which can be rigged to a wedged boulder may prove useful upon return as the climb is fairly arduous. Instead of descending, traverse over the void and ascend calcited blocks on the far side to find a 2 m high, yellow flowstone boss. This must be climbed over and down the other side. The decorated passage beyond is more easily followed until a squeeze is reached at waist height. Traverse over another void in the floor to another very tight squeeze at a slight corner. Beyond the corner the narrow rift is followed beneath a partial roof adjourned with a fabulous array of straws and stalactites for 4 m. The rift then narrows and becomes impassable ahead. A tight hole at floor level has been passed to find a descending rift which has not yet been fully explored.

If visiting this cave, please take care beyond the June 2020 breakthrough point to avoid damaging the formations. It is very well decorated and must stay that way for all to enjoy in the future. It must also be noted that the cave is very damp and extremely droughty in comparison to many of the island other caves and hence potential to be significantly colder.

Trip times:

To the end of Persil including Izal Rift and back to the entrance - approx. 2 hours. Expect to feel every metre gained!

Direct through trip to Ariel main entrance (turn right at the junction of Ariel tunnel and Grand Canyon) - approx. 1 hour 45.

Through trip to Ariel main entrance incorporating the Ariel round trip and some detours - approx. 2 hour 30 to 3 hours 30 depending upon the extras chosen.

Through trip to Sandy Hole - approx. 3 to 4 hours.

Kit

First Pitch: 8 m ladder and 20 m lifeline or 15 m rope for SRT.

Washing Machine Pitch: 5 m ladder and 1o m lifeline or 8 m handline.

Pitch to floor of Grand Canyon beyond the connection to Ariel cave: 5 m ladder and 1o m lifeline or 8 m handline.

Blind pit in Izal Rift: 15 m handline.

Knee & elbow pads.

A sense of humour and a camera.