Penyghent Pot 1964 continued
From here we proceeded down a long passage containing several deep pools. Suddenly we found ourselves looking at the sump which was about 25ft. long and running across the passage. The walls of the sump were very slimy and muddy. The six people at the sump were John Russum, Mick Bentham, Mick Omerod,
Roger Harrison, John Motley and myself Mick Melvin.
The journey back to the 9th pitch went very smoothly, and it was here we met Bill Scholfield and Vincent Murray and two other B.S.C. members who were assisting the de-laddering.
With the very able help of Bill and the lads we de-laddered all the rift pitches very quickly, but the 130ft. pitch delayed us for a while. On this pitch we had to change over at the ledge (60ft) as the lifeline would not go straight to the bottom. We progressed up the next two pitches and on through the canal to the surface crawl. We gained the surface at 7-15p.m., the last man coming out half an hour later, to face the blinding snow storm which was raging on the moors.
My thanks to Jim Hanslip and Gordon Wilson who were at the surface to help with the tackle.
In conclusion I would like to include a list of equipment:-
Individual equipment- exposure suit and knee pads are essential.
| Ladders | Belays |
| 1st Pitch -30ft | Crab and sling |
| 2nd Pitch-20ft | 40ft rope |
| 3rd Pitch- 130ft + Lifeline 2 @ 110ft | 20ft rope |
| 4th Pitch-30ft | Crab and sling |
| 5th Pitch-20ft (Minimum) | Crab and sling |
| 6th Pitch-30ft | Crab and sling |
| 7th Pitch-30ft | Crab and sling |
| 8th Pitch-30ft | Crab and sling |
| 9th Pitch-climbed but needs 30ft | |
| 10th Pitch-20ft | 20ft rope |
| 11th Pitch-20ft | |
| Traverse-20ft Line |
PERSONEL
LADDERING PARTY: J.Motley, M.Melvin (Leaders) D.Shaw, J.Russum, B.Plant, M.Braithwaite, M.Richmond, M.Omerod, D.Stewart., P.Cromack, B.Ferdinand.
DE-LADDERNG PARTY: M.Bentham., R,Harrison (Leaders), D.Newsholme., R.Ellis
P.Seddon, R.thompson, W.Scholfield., V.Murray, 2 B.S.G. members.
Mick Melvin (2010)
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