Myself (Stuart), Andy, Ian and first time caver E met up at Adventure Cafe for breakfast before driving to Giants Hole.
This was E’s first time in a proper cave, previous underground adventures being in show caves.
We got to the entrance just after 10:30 and despite rain in the previous days, it was pretty dry in the entrance series with only a trickle going down Garlands Pot. I rigged the pitch for ladder/lifeline for E, and then put the SRT rope down for the rest of us. E took his time and made it down safely, joined shortly afterwards by Ian and Andy and we headed off down the crab walk. Some of us found it easy going, Ian found some bits narrower than E and I did, but we all got to the Eating house around 12:30 and had a brief rest and bite to eat
The usual waterfall before the 3m climb was non-existent, something I’d never witnessed before. I went up the climb first, then Ian and I helped E up, Andy and I assisted Ian, with a sling coming out to be used as a suitable height foot loop; Andy followed.
We progressed without too much bother towards the Giants Windpipe. After I gave a brief verb description of what was to come to E, I crawled on in. The water level being no lower, or higher than I’d ever seen it before, and I’ve been in Giants in several times, most times with lots of water coming in the entrance. I wonder when the windpipe ever sumps, as the warning notice says?!
After the Windpipe, we made our way towards the top of the crab walk, pausing at the lovely formations for the odd photo
We soon found ourselves at the top of the crab walk. We found a way down to the stream level and soon we were back at Garlands Pot. E made it up the ladder without any trouble and after Andy de-rigged we made our way out, emerging into daylight just before 3pm
