DESCRIPTION: Rig the entrance pitch as normal but partway down the shaft is a red tension line, clipping into this with your cows tails enables a swing into the start of the traverse (Traverse of the Sods). Follow this until a short pitch (with another red tension line) crosses to the other side of the rift. Continuing in the direction of the rift, a short crawl leads to an aven (Dead Bird aven) where it is possible to stand up. Reluctance Crawl follows and larger cavers may find it easier to remove SRT kit for this section (put it back on where the passage enlarges at a junction with a passage on the left). Reluctance Crawl ends at Blasphemy Pitch which is rigged from a drilled thread on the left and a single bolt, access to the pitch head is awkward (stay high). Easy Pitch follows immediately and can be rigged using the same rope. A 3m climb leads to a short crawl and the head of Profanity Pitch, this is very tight to start but soon opens out. Downstream the water drops down a (difficult) climbable pitch but the way on is a pitch to the left (Squeezy Pitch). Squeezy Pitch lands on a ledge overlooking Rifty Pitch where a hard to spot deviation is essential. For the next section it is best to remove your SRT kit. Downstream passes an inlet on the left where the climbable pitch enters. A little squeeze enters a short walking section which ends in a muddy pool, to the left a muddy crawl leads to a short climb down to squeezes above a 3m climb down. A walk down a bouldery rift leads to the 6th and 7th pitches which can be done on a single rope. Walking passage continues to The Bruised Pilchard aven where, in wet weather a sizeable stream enters, a short crawl with the water and more walking lead to Pigmy Pitch . A climb down follows immediately and a short section of passage leads to Finale Pitch, the inevitable sump is not far beyond. See below for Rigging Guide.......

For a suggested rigging guide see Mike Coopers excellent book, "Not For The Faint Hearted".

For a suggested rigging guide, see Mike Coopers excellent book, "Not For The Faint Hearted".