Cavers: Robin, Roger, Andy, Dani and Gemma
After breakfast in Settle we headed up to parking on the High Birkwith Road. By the time we got there we decided that we wouldn’t have enough time for both routes and an exchange wasn’t possible as both Dani and Gemma are relative SRT novices.
Once up at the cave, Andy rigged the first pitch as I had a new Petzl Stop to try with a Freino carabiner with braking spur. The first re-belay didn’t quite go according to plan, so I came back up and reverted to a normal braking carabiner. I then descended much easier. Gemma and Dani followed with Roger last.
Andy rigged the second pitch and I rigged the third pitch. Once we were all down we headed down to the duck which does lead onto further passage but we decided to not get wet. Especially as another group were heading down so we needed to start back out.
Robin
Photos courtesy of Roger
Dani and Gemma enjoying the 1st daylight pitch
2nd pitch
Gemma, Dani and Andy on the 3rd pitch
Robin was tempted to go through the duck but we called that far enough this time.
Chamber at the bottom, the wet Goblin route pitch (without water) and a final group shot.
