Return to Igloo (and Aven de
Bagpath)
Kitting
up for Aven de Bagpath
The
summer open season was used to find a bit more cave within the “Central
Cotswold Massif”. Aven de Bagpath yielded 20M ish of big passage (12Mx1 to 2M)
beyond a squeeze pushed by Pete. This will be surveyed and ways on looked for
in spring 2017 (closed from July) when the cave reopens. We did have a bit more
time to work on Igloo cave and nearby Railing rift as they did not close until
September.
Enterance
Squeeze into
the new stuff (Aven de Bagpath)
New Stuff
On
balance we decided to put resources into Igloo
Igloo is
an interesting cave with a slightly modified entrance found in the side wall of
an area of gruffy ground. This leads to a large chamber (Cotswold large
12Mx4Mx6M) not far below the surface this has lots of holes in the floor
dropping down a fair way. So selecting a likely hole we started digging “down”
one thing to be said for the Gull caves of this area is they are a bit lose! So
dry stone walling is required to support the roof, floors, walls and anything
else that looked like a big rock. Some large rocks need some pulling out
with Mick and Phil pulling and Pete Pushing myself and Joe offering
encouragement J After a few digging session we could see a way into a rift via a
squeeze this was entered to find 5M of passage with a few formations although
closing down in both directions. In a selfless act to preserve the formations
Phil on squeezing out collapsed a large slab to close of access (nearly leaving one foot
behind!) as said it is very loose in areas.
On
further trips we decided to carry on down beyond the passage to the rift that
had the rock fall (now blocked). We dug down a further 3M in boulders to a
point it gave access to a small body sized horizontal rift but blocked through
this void a chamber could be seen (heading back under the main chamber). After
more rock moving this void was reached via a squeeze (1 metre of slopping
tights ish rift) arriving at a 2M drop into a large ish (6Mx3Mx2M) chamber. A
case of arriving feet first and finding foot holds to stop a too rapid descent
into the chamber. This chamber proved to be the loosest area found so far. It
was decided to keep one of us entrance side at all times after a good scuttle
around the new stuff Andrew decided that would be him as he is too young to go
yet.
Pete and
Phil started to digging down to a large rift that could be seen through jammed
boulders. All was going well until a large boulder was moved that seemed to
have been keeping the floor of the chamber in situate! (key stone) The floor
dropped a quarter of a metre before jamming again the diggers beating a hasty
retreat.
More
new stuff
From
observation it is concluded that Igloo is a large rift (10M wide in places)
that has multiple layers made of jammed rocks dropping down a fair way. We will
return in 20017 and hope the winter weather has stabilised things (a bit).
Although we know a lot of walling and securing will be needed to stabilise the
area heading to the present end then we can dig again.
Rough survey
Digging
team
Phil H
Pete H
Mick S
Gary K
Joe S
Andrew W
Thanks to
Sue Ward for providing post digging trips BBQ,s
Pete Andrew Phil
As always
thanks to Pete Neil for continuing access to the sites on the estate.
Reference:
Copyright AMW 2016
