A Round Trip in Giants
Hole, Derbyshire on Sunday 9th December 2007
Present: Clive B, Adrian & Jon H
Adrian, a prospective
new member of Cave & Crag was persuaded to join
Clive and myself for a rather wet trip down the
excellent Giant's Hole. Water was roaring over the lip
of Garlands Pot (it had been a very wet week in
Derbyshire), but we felt it was safe enough to descend
to the infamous crab walk. This was after filling
Adrian with confidence by informing him that just the
previous weekend the pot had seen a fatality due to
exposure! Adrian, who is lean and tall shot off down
the tight, bendy passages whilst I just struggled
along in his wake. Both Clive and Adrian both were
able to squeeze through the tight vice section without
my need to shove myself down to the bottom of the
passage and wallow in the water. Both the Razor
Cascades and the short fixed ladder proved great fun
in the 'sporty' conditions.
The wet crawl just after the Meeting House.
Adrian had no problems with the climbs after the
Meeting House and we soon reached Poached Egg Passage
and a chance to take cameras out in dry conditions and
enjoy a well earned rest.
The
delightful Poached Egg Passage
Adrian wasn't quite so
keen at the thought of crawling flat out in freezing
cold water when he reached the slightly imposing
Giant's Windpipe; with it's cheerful warning sign
about not attempting to freedive the sump at any cost!
. After reassuring him that it never sumped, I found
myself having to twist onto my back half way through
as the available air space dwindled rapidly. It was
the fullest I've ever seen it in numerous trips.
 
Adrian
enjoying the clean waters of the 'Giant's Windpipe
The traverse and drop
back into the upper part of the crab walk and the
reascent of the wet and cold Garlands passed without
incident. A cracking trip of just over three hours
Jon Hardy
|
