Tales of a lesser known caver Part 2
by the Editor.
As no doubt many of you know, there are lots of cavers who
go climbing or walking up mountains. I
know of quite a few. Perhaps it is some
of the yearning to visit beautiful places, perhaps it's the thrill. Whatever it
is, I was a relative newcomer to the climbing part of this scenario until quite
recently. As part of my work, I needed
to attend a course in first aid and since others at the centre where I work
wanted similar training, a group of four instructors drove to
By now it is nearly 11pm and my comrades suggest a freshen up outside. Packing two full ropes and a rucsac of bits, we are rapidly off up the road to stop at a blurry shape in the dark. "Milestone Buttress," Chris exclaimed, Off you go Torbs, it's just like caving as it's so bloody dark you can't see anything. So, Petzl on, up we go! After about three pitches, I arrive at something akin to the entrance of a cave. In I go only to find I am snuggling up against a large boulder and a wall. Well it felt safe, so on we go. More ropy things, a traverse across into nothing and a haul up and I can see a glow below. F**k me it's a bloody great lake! I am miles up! Faint tremors of the legs are followed by turning the light out. Can't see anything so nothing to worry about. "Off you go Torbs", so off upwards I go, finally reaching somewhere called the top. By now I cannot see the bottom or the top so it is most cave like. I can see I am on a ledge and there are a couple of other lights, one above, one below, and then we are all together. "OK, time to get off and to bed", says Chris. It's now 1.30 a.m. and I am tired. A long icy, wet gully descends at a steep slope angle, far to slippery to do without a rope, so tie on and down we go, good cave practice this! Soon I am on a flat bit, then on a path, then I see the road and we are back, hot, sweaty and happy, just like a caving trip but in reverse (you go down to get out). Well that was all fine and we are still alive so home we go.
About a year later, I am in