Sterling Adventures

Upper Flood Swallet, in the Mendips, is home to one of the largest recent discoveries of new passage in any British cave. Rachel arranged a trip led by Mike Richardson of MCG. At the last minute, Bill couldn’t join us, so Jo, a caver who has recently moved to Birmingham from the US, came in his place.

Apparently there are 13 squeezes on the way to the end of Upper Flood, mostly in the horrible boulder choke that had kept the MCG’s diggers busy for 20 years. This was going to be a physical trip, especially as we’d agreed to carry down a bag of cement to help stabilise part of the choke that had moved the previous week.

The start of the cave is quite easy, with lots of crawling (often to avoid overhead formations), but nothing flat out. After a while we reached a very well decorated streamway, and then the lavatory trap: an awkward descent into water followed by a delightful flat-out wallow. Loads of fun, particularly pushing a bag of cement!

Eventually we reached the big boulder choke and enjoyed a short break while mike laid concrete. That over, we started the squeezes.

The choke seemed to go on for ever—first down, then back up, then through some impossibly small hole, then do it all again only feet first. The reward, when we finally made it through, was about 500m of streamway, plus about the same amount of dry passage beyond, most of it very well decorated. We explored most of the new extensions, including the beautiful Royal Icing Junction, and the impressive mudbanks in Thieves Chamber, but didn’t go into Neverland, the most spectacularly decorated area, as it’s a bit too fragile even after stripping down to furry suits.

The way back out seemed twice as long as the way in, partly because of stopping to take pictures, but also because the squeezes seemed harder, and we were certainly more tired. I was happy not to have the bag of concrete any more! We finally exited the cave after nine hours underground. It’s a great trip, lots to see, and plenty of challenge.