Steve's Endeavour Rift

Overview

An excellent and sporting rift cave.  A good ability at moving within a rift system is required; this is not one for novices.  In October 2018 a link with Hopeless Hole was established allowing a sporting through trip.  If contemplating the through trip from Steve's to Hopeless, ensure you know the route as it's far from obvious this way round.

Cave length: 368 m (combined with Hopeless Hole)

Southern Entrance: SY 67873 71434 (50.54179, -2.45473)

Northern Entrance: SY 67864 71560 (50.54292, -2.45487)

Location

The cave can be accessed from either the North or South - roughly equal distance and difficulty.  

From the North...

Take the climbers path over the cliff edge 50m North of Blacknor Fort.  The path heads South along the underside of the cliff and requires some care in places.  Follow this until you pass the pinnacle on your right and then Hopeless Hole on your left.  Continue past both entrances to Gemini Rift to find a large gully in the cliff, topped with a large wedged block.    

From the South...

Take the climbers path into Sharbutts quarry over the 6 ft climb.  Follow the inland quarry wall, pass through an arch in the block wall and down a gully climb.  Double back North and follow the undercliff path until you reach a large gully topped with a large wedged block.  Two other large gullies are passed on route.

Having arrived at the bottom of the gully, the entrance is a hidden hole (which becomes obvious when you get there) amongst the lowest boulders.  Send a willing volunteer up the very steep earthy bank and then into the gully.  From the entrance it is very easy to rig a handline or belay for the rest of the party (there is often a handline left in situ).  The climb to the entrance requires a good head for heights from the leader - it's steeper than it looks from the path, there are few holds and little opportunity to protect.  Worse still the path is only 1 ft wide and sits at the top of a steep 50 m scree slope which has nothing to break your fall.   The climb is approx. 20 m.

The entrance gully lies between the bolted climbing routes 'Monsoon Malabar' and 'Inbreeding' however both are too far away to provide any assistance.

Description

Once at the entrance there is sufficient room for 2 to 3 people outside the cave.  A rope or sling can be easily arranged around one of several boulders to which cowstails can be attached for safety (recommended).  The entrance is the obvious gap between the boulders.  Dropping through the entrance hole you land onto a short, steep slope which almost immediately becomes a 4 m pitch.  This is free climbable by the competent but can also be tackled using a 5 m ladder and lifeline.  Do not under estimate the entrance climb upon return; ascending is very awkward.  Alternatively it can be rigged for SRT using the entrance boulders and two bolts directly over the pitch (15 m rope). 

Once at the bottom of the descent, the rift can be followed back underneath the pitch for a few metres to reach an interesting rift chamber.  This contains flowstone, iron oxide staining, spiders and mud-salt formations created by the wind on the chamber walls.  Daylight can be seen high up ahead.  Returning to the passage below the entrance, the main rift can be followed until it is necessary to climb up wedged boulders for 8 m.  These are easily free climbed to reach an impressive rift chamber at the top containing a mighty unsupported lump of rock (The Cathedral).  This marks the only junction in the cave - both left (Martin) and right (Panic Crack) are tight rifts which one can follow until stuck or bored, depending upon which comes first!  The main passage ahead, descends, passing over a dubious cellar before rising once again onto bits of false floor where it becomes necessary to traverse over a hole.  A flowstone blockage / window in the rift ahead marks the second pitch.  A 6 m ladder and lifeline can be rigged from bolts over the pitch head.  Alternatively this can be rigged for SRT (15 m rope), or free climbed by the competent.  Descend to land on a block 2 m above the floor.  From this point it is easiest to initially traverse at this height and then work your way up through loose stuff to regain decent rift passage.  A further option is to avoid the pitch altogether by traversing across the rift for approx. 5 m at the height of the pitch head (very exposed) to arrive on top boulders on the far side which are then descended to reach the same point.  The next obstacle is an awkward 3 m climb up which is soon followed by an easier climb down and then up and down again.  A huge flake protruding from the floor provides the next obstruction which must be clambered over.  The floor then levels briefly before it is necessary to climb down approx. 4 m.  The easiest option is to descend a gap between the dodgy boulders on which you are stood; the safer option is to descend beyond the boulder.  The rift is followed until yet another awkward climb up wedged boulders is required which is quickly followed by another descent.  From here the rift can be followed at floor level below a false ceiling, easily, for approx. 20m until it becomes too tight to continue at a dig.  

Connection to Hopeless Hole / Steve's Endeavour South Entrance:

The Southern entrance and connection to Hopeless hole is found by climbing high up in the rift 15 m before the dig.  At this point the rift in fact splits, but this feature is hidden; the right hand branch is only passable at floor level leading to the dig mentioned above whilst the left is only accessible a couple of metres below the ceiling 11 m higher.   There are two points to make the ascent; either immediately before or after the section of false ceiling found before the dig.  If ascending on the South side of the false ceiling climb approx. 6 m up the rift to arrive on a false floor of wedged boulders (the upper side of the false ceiling).  This climb can be rigged from bolts to either provide a life line or for SRT.  Cross the false floor to find a rift down to the right, which is the alternative ascent from the North side of the false ceiling.  Follow the ascending ledges to your left and then climb directly up the front of a massive flake until you are stood on top of it 11 m above floor level.  The final 3 m of the ascent is exposed and tricky.  This can be rigged from bolts either for SRT or to provide a life line.  Once atop the flake, clamber over the wedged boulders in front of you and then descend the narrow rift to a false floor approx. 4 m down (you are now in the left hand branch).  A glimpse of daylight can be seen ahead.  This is the useless, upper, Northern entrance to Steve's Endeavour which can be found by continuing ahead at the height of the false floor.  Continue down the rift, more or less directly below the wedged boulders above, for a further 8 m to find the true floor (the rift is narrow and feels very committing).  A hand line can be rigged from bolts at the top of the rift.  The usable, lower, Northern entrance to Steve's Endeavour can be found by following the rift North at floor level for 15 m, passing over a wedged boulder (ferrets may enjoy passing below).  Take note, the exit via Hopeless Hole is much easier!  Back at the base of the descent, a short feet first wiggle down to your right (heading South) will lead you into the Hopeless Hole tunnel after a couple of metres to emerge next to the wooden pillar.  Daylight is visible 17 m to your right - simply crawl out. 

Trip time for the through trip to Hopeless Hole: 1 to 2 hours depending upon climbing ability / rope use.

Trip time to the end of Steve's Endeavour and back: 1 hour 30.

Kit

40 m rope to get to / from the South entrance (this is sufficient to double for descent to path).

Entrance pitch - 15 m rope or 5 m ladder. 

Flowstone window pitch - 15 m rope

Pitch up to Hopeless connection South of false ceiling - 15 m rope

Pitch up to Hopeless connection North of false ceiling - 15 m rope (or 10 m if only using for the upper part of the climb)

Connecting rift to Hopeless Hole - 15 m rope (hand line)

A few carabiners and slings can be useful, as can a piece of sacrificial tat to rig from so that the last person to descend from the entrance to the access path can pull through.

Survey