Cliff Force Cave, Swaledale

Cliff Force was chosen for Alison's 'moderate' trip. We had fancied thoroughly exploring the Spar Shop Series for a long time and decided this was to be the day. Gareth and Mark were both keen to come along, but we felt they were both a bit well-built for the Spar Shop, so they were briefed on the 'normal route' to 'The Room of Dangling Doom'.

The entrance crawls were quickly negotiated and we arrived at Shower Chamber and arranged a rendezvous time. From here Gareth and Mark turned left and climbed down to the stream whilst Alison and I climbed up into the higher-level passages. We soon found the start of the phreatic rift passage that was to form most of our route. The first section is a comfortable size and we knew this from a previous surveying trip. Soon we arrived at the not very obvious connection with what used to be the downstream end of the Spar Shop Series. A thrutch upwards through the enlarged slot and a wriggle along a keyhole passage led us into easier going.

We soon recognised previously visited territory and continued over the top of the original route up from the stream. After a little while we encountered the slightly confused area, which had been the limit of our previous trip here. I went first and inserted myself into an improbable looking passage. I promptly managed to attach a lump of mud to my carbide lamp, blocking the jet and causing it to gurgle and splutter as it tried to empty its water contents. I retreated to sort out the lamp, then Alison had a look at where I had been and decided it wasn't the way. She turned sharply right then left and squeezed through several tight contortions with me following. After a climb up the going became slightly easier and we pressed on 'upstream', crawling and traversing our way along the phreatic rift with its projecting ledges.

We began to notice crystals sparkling on the walls and had a quick look into a side passage before emerging into the 'Spar Shop'. This is a sizeable chamber (in the general context) with a couple of routes off which we didn't investigate. A climb up leads into the continuing upstream passage, which was more of the same - pretty much like the Hammer Pot rifts. We dropped down a level where I nearly got myself stuck trying to push back underneath (downstream), then passed an oxbow and side passage on the left. We reckoned we didn't have far to go to the far end and the pitch into Fault Hall, but decided it was time to turn round.

We reversed our inward route back to Shower Chamber, finding the others had arrived just a few minutes earlier. They had thoroughly enjoyed their trip to 'The Room of Dangling Doom' & back. We made our way out, washed our gear off in the beck and climbed the hill to meet carloads of tourists at the 'Buttertubs'. A great day out.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Cliff Force Cave, Swaledale

Paul Brooks