Vince, Tav, Brockers, Jake, and Jon
A bit of tidying up of the spoil heap, packing ‘dried’ bags ready for refilling while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive.
Underground beyond Trick or Treat, my turn to dig, Tav also did some digging while clearing filled bags, Brockers and Jake alternated positions moving spoil across the chamber over the ‘hump’ and along the passage to the bottom of the pot. Meanwhile, Jon was in Can of Worms where he filled the now obligatory 10 (plastic, on the premise, they cannot leave the cave empty!) bags before joining the support team to move spoil through the cave. Eventually, the bags found themselves at the bottom of the entrance ready for the next stage. As midday approached, digging was ceased and the emphasis shifted to clearing spoil from the cave. 80 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied today plus one rock for the wall.
Currently, beyond Trick or Treat, the dig has an excess of rock. A solid bedrock wall has been partially exposed, but it is hoped this is only a step in the roof level and the continuation of the ?passage is lower down. There appears to be a ‘false’ floor comprised of calcited conglomerate boulders that will need removing so digging downwards can be considered.
Refreshments as usual were taken at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn.
8th December
Vince, Jake, Nick, Brockers, and Tav
Digging was postponed yesterday due to Storm Darragh and a RED alert for very strong winds advised against travel. Unfortunately, due to power cuts Jon didn’t get the message regarding rearranged session.
Arrived at the cave ahead of the team to level off spoil heap and start packing the bags ready for use later.
Team assembled and quickly underground, where it was much warmer out of the still strong wind. Jake digging beyond Trick or Treat, I cleared away the filled bags, the bags then hauled up the slope by Tav who then with Nick moved the spoil along to the bottom of the pot. Brockers was occupied in Can of Worms until there were bags to be shifted. And so, the morning progressed, the bags eventually arrived at the bottom of the entrance ready for moving up to the surface. It was significantly more squalid in the Trick or Treat area than the rest of the cave accessed today. When the time arrived, all hands were focussed on clearing spoil from the cave to the surface. 74 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied.
To the Hunters’ for refreshments as usual.