We had planned to do a through trip via Rampgill to Brownley Hill,
but after speaking with Albry, it sounded like there was a good chance that the
water level would be very high and possibly even sumping in parts - none of us
fancied this, so an explore of Caplecleugh was agreed - cop out? We where only
planning on having a recon this trip, but just in case it turned into something
else we did a quick cram of the route described in Critchley's Nenthead report
- it proved invaluable.
I think that we got to the mine entrance at
about 12:00, after entering we came to a concrete lined room on the right which
we believe was an magazine, past this a branch to the right was taken along the
Dowgang Vein, which lead to a grotty collapse. Returning, we carried along the
main horse level eventually reaching the start of the incline where some of the
original signalling signs and wires can be seen. At the top of the incline more
remains could be seen. A bit further along and it was new ground for us, here
we decided that we should try and reach the main junction at the end of this
level. The next couple of hours where a long slog crawling though collapses and
moon walking in chest deep water - at one point Mark even decided to have a
swim - a new sport to rival extreme ironing? Finally we reached a major
junction, and from what I could remember of the map this was what we had been
heading for - it had passages going east, south and north. Having been going
now for about 3 hours, it was time for some lunch. After chomps, no one was
keen to have to go back through the water, so a bee line was made heading east,
along the Middlecleugh North Vein and hopefully for the rise up into
Smallcleugh.
More or less immediately we had to crawl over debris under
a shaft - pipes, wood, ladders and rocks to name a few - looking up the shaft
you could see a big rock wedged about 10m up, a nice view. After this the water
got considerably deeper, up to chin height in places with just enough head
space for your helmet, the floor was very silty and made progress slow. Quite a
few collapses had to be climbed over along this passage. Along the way there
where many rises with well preserved ladders - subconsciously calling to us for
further exploration. Eventually we came to a branch which headed left towards
Capelcleugh North Vein (this was expected from the map we had looked at before
the trip and confirmed that we where on the right tracks). Continuing past the
branch, we finally reached a collapse which had a large amount of wood - this
was the bottom of Bogg Shaft (see
Bogg Shaft Trip), the
goal of finding the laddered rise into Smallcleugh was coming closer. Leaving
this behind, more deep water passage was navigated and eventually the water
level started to drop to something a bit more sensible at waist depth. Here we
started to encounter quite a bit of white calcification which looked stunning.
The next major structure we came to was the Middlecleugh Sump, a flooded shaft
with heavy timber cross beams above and below. Karli and Mark carefully crossed
round the side of it to get a better look, they did - the so called solid floor
was timber over the shaft. Shortly past the sump we came to a junction and saw
the calcified ladders which rose up into Smallcleugh - all worries of having
gone the wrong way disappeared as we got a new lease of energy.
The
junction here in Capelcleugh warrants further exploration as you can go north
along the Cowhill Cross Vein to the Middlecleugh Vein and south to possibly the
Longcleugh Vein, but for now it was up the ladders and to known terroritory. At
the top of the rise, some 30m, we entered the sub-level below Smallcleugh (see
Middlecleugh Second Sun Vein
Sub-Levels) and climbed into Smallcleugh proper, emerging on Cowhill Cross
Vein. After a second lunch, we headed out along the Middlecleugh 2nd Sun Vein,
to Wheel Flats and for a change exited via North End Flats and the Hard Cross
Cut. A total trip time of about 6 hours. |
