Sheffield University Speleological Society (SUSS)

On the weekend of 5/6/7 March me, Rob2, H, Peachey, Rostam + 5 non-SUSSians went to Porthmadogg in North Wales to do some climbing in the sunshine. That’s right folks, we do more than just caving!

On the way there, Rob2 managed to make me throw up due to some impressive driving on crazy winding country roads. We also got introduced to H’s new van – it’s custard and blue! We got to the campsite without further mishap and got some sleep.

The next day was cold and clear. Everyone had a good day’s climbing at some crag whose name sounds like a sneeze (Craig Bwlch y Moch). In the evening we reverted back to our caver roots and crammed ourselves into a small cramped space. Who knew you could fit 10 people into a Skoda Octavia estate?

Sunday was beautiful too. Peachey seemed to spend most of his day trying to avoid the sun (’It burns!’) Perhaps he is a vampire?

All in all, an excellent overground adventure was had by all.

Journey into the Mines of  Knotlow-Hillocks (not moria)

by Tom1

Having spent many a day in training and contemplation since their last adventure our two brave young boys decided they were ready to take the next step on their journey towards mastery of all things caving. this time their challenge lay down the mines of Knotlow the nasty and Hillocks the horrible a place that had already defeated them once when they had been accompanied by more seasoned adventurers Mike and Glen. But now the pair were much bolder and were adamant  they could do it alone…

Late into the morn the pair met at the Chapel, owned by an odd clan of cavers who go by the name of the TSG,  where all the local adventurers are apt to gather for fun and frivolities. From here our two protagonists set out in their ever faithful steed and beats of burden Tony towards the remote hamlet of Monyash, a seemingly peaceful place but beneath lies a whole other world of darkness and mystery.

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By Ellie

From the one and only story I have been told about this cave I should have been mildly daunted but this was not the case, and when I got there, Gaping Gill proved to be a very fun cave indeed.

We all set off some time in the morning, got changed by the cars and headed on up. Mike made me a rope rucksack which I think is the ‘funnest’ way to carry rope The walk was quite tiring but at least it levels off at the top so could have been worse. Mike and I departed from the rest of the troops and went to find the stream entrance. Before rigging we both had a rest and ate some snow to quench our thirst.

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By Mike

SUSS again ventured to the depths of Gaping Gill in the yorkshire dales, staying at the NPC hut. accompanied by a few MUSC members.

we all made the long walk up the hill to gaping gill and had a few entrances booked, stream, flood, bar, diheadral and dissapointment. people went down all over and made all sorts of exchanges after visiting the impressive main chamber. I rigged in through stream with ellie and headed out up dihedral, which is awesome in the daylight with ed, jeff and rosie H from musc.

on sunday i headed down Marble Steps Pot with Ed, Chris and Tom1, a good little trip.

All met up for curry in Bradford before heading back to sheffield
Another Great Weekend!

28/02/2010

By Mike

After the usual fun and games in Castleton and the TSG on Saturday night I woke to find that the rigging team (Hannah, Tom1 and Chris) had set off an hour ago armed with large amounts of rope. Great! Everything seemed to be going to plan so there was time for a brew or two and a couple of bacon butties before the derigging team (Me, Rosie and Peachey) needed to head off.

We rocked up at Rowter farm at about 12:30 to find tony the micra standing proud in the snow! So mike in his dry kit for once, Rosie in her new fangled jump suit and Peachey covered in shit, we were ready to go! we trundled over to the JH entrance to find the lid open (naughty rigging team) thankfully we didn’t find any exploded sheep at the bottom of the shaft, Peachey did however leave his helmet at the car and only realised after me and Rosie had already gone down the shaft. Once he’d got his marbles he met us at the bottom of the entrance shaft.

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Crawling, snoring  and eating sausage in Schwabenland / Hirlatz

by Lazy old Flo

(Cavingtour with Joel,Hannah,Ian,Martin,Pyro,Chris,Laura, Dave and for a very short time some Hungary specialists,  15.-19.02.10)

First of all, thanks to Joel and his very friendly and humorous caving friends to let me be part of there caving exploration to  Schwabenland. This was for me a very good possibility to visit the Hirlatz again in a good team in a new part of the cave since the last trip 6 years ago.

The first challenge lay behind me, when I reached the caving hut without having problems with my old car. It was 15 month ago that I saw Joel and he welcomed me like we meet every day, also the other cavers welcome me friendly – a good start for the trip.

After packing some material for the tour, we decided to go eating some pizza in the village and on the way suddenly we met them, the Hungary caving specialists. What I understood was that they want to go with Joel and the team into the Hirlatz for 5 days without knowing exactly what they want to do in the cave.

Full of Pizza, garlic bread and some other things we moved back to the hut. The huge Hungary rucksacks filled up a third of the living room and I thought it will come nearly to a death penalty to carry one of these monsters through the Hirlatz cave. Even my friend Johann would not move such back killers.

In the first night Joel, Hannah and Pyro became a little taste what it means to sleep near me and to bear my snoring. Sorry guys but better me than Johann, he is louder.

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Henry,

nothing too exiting 61 buckets removed wich got us nearly 2m of pasage still heading up hill.

the fill is getting a bit harder so the three man team worked ok, with halling and digging keeping up with oneanother.

thanks to edd and jeff who put in a very good show halling and definatly shifted the bulk of the buckets.

By Chris P

So the plan was for me and James to pick up Liz and 4 freshers from the Notty House carpark. A standard affair yes. Apart from the snow coming down. It seemed to be a recurring theme recently that whenever I’m off caving it decides to start snowing, making driving in snow / fog and extremely fun adventure! [Read more →]

By Tom1

This Saturday me Edd, and Jeff were convinced by Rob 2 to accompany him down the Assault Course in Peak Cavern to help look at the pitches that need re-bolting.  This is by no means a short trip but having said I would help out when it was first suggested shortly after new year I decided I should probably go along. I was feeling ready for a hard physical challenge and I was not to be disappointed.

Waking up felt like the hardest part of the day, far too early for a Saturday in my opinion, but at that point I hadn’t left the bed yet so was to be expected. I later realised although hard it was definitely worth the effort of leaving a duvet for a near freezing house.

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On Saturday 20th of Febuary was another great SUSS social!

I was very pleased so many lovely caving faces that had turned up to my house party which was a burlesque theme (sexy tights and corsets).
Everyone arrived around 10:00 pm, i think, not quite sure of time after i started drinking at 8:00 so i was in a wonderfly happy state.
Also Jeff dressed up as a sexy woman and was wearing a stunning purple corset that braught out the colour in his eyes! and then later after a few drinks wore lorries posh shoes and gave some stunning poses in front of the camera.
i wasnt awake for very long after 2:00am (apart from riding around on Edd’s back in the living room ) so i dont know wat else happed that night but im sure that every one had a fantastic time. Also the day after i found some lovely pictures of alisa’s bumb on my camera and she seemed to be on the wall! very confusing! lol
good times.

sema