Holme Bank Chert Mine: Stuart Morris, Steven Spall, Matthijs Bouwman, Matt Chubb

Caves: Dunsley Spring, Spinney Level and Silver Eye
Members: Stuart Morris, Steven Spall, Matthijs Bouwman, Joshua Vale, Matt Chubb

It wasn’t overly too cold for November, when we awoke at the lesser-known Crich caving hut, where the Sharks were nesting. This is despite the harsh frost overnight, and even harsher night in the pub, as we welcomed our annual Christmas caving trip.

It was full faff ahead as we slowly put ourselves together, and drove in various cars to the Via Gellia. We set off for our first mine of the tour - Dunsley Spring. From the lay-by, the melted frost had efficiently converted the old up-hill hiking paths into a waterslide of mud - but we pressed on. We were rewarded at the top with an opening, framed nicely by a tired berry bush.

Rookery Mine: Matt Chubb, Stuart Morris, Maico Waites, Steven Spall, Matthijs Bouwman

North Cliffe Mine: Matt Chubb, Stuart Morris, Maico Waites, Steven Spall, Matthijs Bouwman

Spinney Mine: Matt Chubb, Stuart Morris, Maico Waites, Steven Spall

Ahhh I remember it well. Matthew Chubb had journeyed up from London the night before and together we set of from Derbyshire to The Dales. We picked up Stuart from Skipton and indulged in (too damn cold) coffee and hot bacon rolls from the station and set off in earnest for the Shark Christmas Caving Do and cave 1 of 3…Cherry Tree Hole.

Ohhh there was snow everywhere and the temperatures were comfortably in the zeros and as we got further into Littondale the ice began in earnest. Sadly my front wheel drive Toyota estate car on worn summer tyres couldn’t penetrate the ice and we had to turn (slide) back down the road from whence we came. I was crushed but as president I am always planning and decided to take my team to Hagg Gill.