Far Sump Extensions Surveying - Ann Soulsby/Phil Wolstenholme

Ann:
The plan for today was to complete some surveying in Far Sump Extensions which promised to be a long day. We had to wait for Keith Mason etc. whose ropes we were using, to descend first. We all descended the JH pitches, for Louise it was her first time. We gathered at the bottom of Leviathan before heading off on the connection crawl to Far Sump. This has changed drastically and definitely needs digging out. On a positive note it was nowhere near sumped, so it was miserable rather than ultra yukky.

At the end of the crawl we encountered the passage to the bottom of Calcite Aven. The pitches up here are beautiful if a little wet. On the way up we checked that all the bolts and the ropes looked okay. All was safe apart from the cored rope on the traverse on the top pitch had been left in place although there was an alternative traverse line in place. We once more convened in Fingernail Chamber where we split into two groups to complete the surveying. Wayne and Louise went off together whilst Alastair, Phil and myself went off to survey the Vortex 1,2 and 3 areas. Unfortunately, inevitably surveying takes ages and as we were cold and wet it was not very comfortable. Phil was extremely miserable, so Alastair told him to go away which he did!

I told him to leave the rope and I passed it to Alastair who went onto rig the pitch that Phil could not find. He descended the rope and surveyed as well as he could. Once he had done as much as possible, he handed the tackle sack back to me and we descended the pitches back to Fingernail Chamber. Phil and Wayne had already set off for the surface leaving Louise to wait for us. On the way back down Calcite Aven we chopped out the damaged rope on the traverse line. On arrival at the bottom of Leviathan it was apparent that people were still ascending however the bottom pitch was free, so we set off in pursuit.

On the way down I had left a sling on the awkward climb at the top of Bitch Pitch. It was a good job as I struggled to get up even with this on. Of course I took it off before Alastair could use it and watched him struggle! Nearly there - just the Cartgate and Entrance pitch yah. When we arrived at the entrance pitch, we found Wayne having a rest and Louise had overtaken him and was on the way up. I was getting worried about the time as although I had told Keith I might be late I didn’t expect to be quite this late. I therefore decided to go up next to see if I could phone hubby. Phil managed to get a signal so I could put Hubby’s mind at rest.

It was absolutely freezing as I got changed and I couldn’t get my hands to work. I couldn’t even manage to pull on my gloves so as soon as I was changed, I jumped into the car. We eventually got back to the Chapel at about 7.45pm so I quickly put my clothes out to dry and had a quick cuppa before heading home.

Phil:
Far Sump Extensions is superb, and apart from the cold, there were several treats, most of which were on my own. Whilst Alastair was setting up the main stations on the climb up from Fingernail Chamber, I set off into Western Highway to have a look - and finally got to see the 'Sandbag Staircase', which is a work of art in itself - magnificent construction and the best use of spoil I've ever seen - although with dry sediment it's got to the best way. I went right to the end where it got really stuffy, so I set off back to do some more surveying. Climbing up Vortex 2 lands you on some monster jammed boulders, and once we'd established those stations I had a climb up the wonky slabs into the Total Perspective Vortex bedding, and then ended up launching myself into the void (literally) of what turned out to be the top of Vortex 3. A very tight traverse (thank god) takes you right over the huge gaping hole to a tiny ledge at the other end, with a small dam and the gurgling hosepipe taking all the water. There was clearly no way on in the bedding beyond. and I dangled around for a while feeling frustrated, still reading a laminated micro-guide (!), before sliding back to the other end.

Raggedness and cold was getting the better of me, and I started moaning, so Alastair told me to go away, as mentioned above. I dropped back down the pitch as Louise and Wayne arrived at the base having finished their stint. So I sent down the pitch into Balcome's Way, and made my way to the top of Ride of the Valkries - wow - that's a big hole. Strangely I couldn't see any anchors continuing across it, and it seemed to end at the Y-hang. Making my way back to Fingernail Chamber without incident I decided to set off back down Calcite Aven with Wayne as were in the same car, with Louise waiting for the others. Wayne set off up Leviathan first - Hilariously, as I was halfway up the first pitch, Keith and Lisa arrived at the bottom, having done not only the whole Assault Course, but Pilkington's too. Clearly they were on a mission, so we let them pass us at the Tea Rooms.

Far Sump Extension is very cool though, and also very cool, especially when you're wet and standing around for ages! But with the right gear (and maybe a boat to get there and back!) it would be a trip I'd like to do again ;)