• Fun Factor - 4/5
• Faff Factor - 3/5
• Difficulty - 1/5

With the Easter holidays upon us, Vale Minimus (VM) requested a caving trip. Following the success of a Long Churn descent the previous year, Vale Senior (VS) was happy to organise another outing and suggested the Peak District as a follow-up to the Dales.

VM was keen on Giants Hole, but although VS was willing to lead the trip, he had concerns about VM tackling Garland’s Pot and the potential difficulty of assisting him on the ascent if needed. As a result, Calswark Cavern was chosen as a more suitable alternative. With the plan agreed, Team Vale loaded up the car, put Dangerous Dick on the stereo, and set off for Stoney Middleton.

Caving has a way of taking whatever physical traits make you unique, and punishes you for them. Never has that been more apparent than on our joint Shark-Orpheus trip to Hillocks Mine, Derbyshire.

The 5 of us entered through a small circular tunnel, and soon found ourselves in a wide-open, natural chamber. So far, Hillocks seemed like a promising expedition.

A short walk brought us to our first obstacle - a squeeze through a shelf which was open on the left, showing an awkward drop. The aim was to crawl along the shelf until the floor rose to a level where we could jump off.

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.