Grange Rigg Pot

I've fancied a look down Grange Rigg Pot for years. It's been on the programme 4 or 5 times and we've always been thwarted by the weather. We have had a look into the lower regions via the easier and less flood-prone Christmas Pot, but Grange Rigg itself has always eluded us. This time was different. The extremely dry early spring meant Ingleborough's streams were a mere trickle. Jamie, Andrew, Alison & I toiled up to the entrance in the warm sun and were relieved to find the coolness of the cave.

Easy going soon led to the 1st pitch (15m), which Jamie rigged from a combination of P hangers and bolts. Given the dry conditions and the wishes of the team (!) the obvious traverse round the corner to a safe wet weather hang was declined. The passage below narrowed to a body width rift. A ladder was used on a short climb, which we thought was the 2nd pitch. More narrow rift and a low section led to the real 2nd pitch, only 3m but an awkward obstacle. A rope was used on this, which was overcome by shuffling out horizontally to a wider part, then sliding down. Immediately below was the 3rd pitch, also very short at 4.5m. Jamie didn't quite have the reach to thread a tether so we somehow managed to squeeze round each other and I rigged the ladder. Andrew had a couple of attempts before overcoming the 2nd pitch, but we soon regrouped at the head of the 4th.

The P hanger man had not reached the 4th pitch & all we could find for rigging was a small thread - fine for a ladder, but too much rope rub for SRT. As we only had rope left, we decided to try the alternative route over the top of the pitch. A hole was conveniently equipped with a solid looking well-placed thread, so Jamie rigged & descended. The continuation was deemed too tight (if it was too tight for Jamie, Andrew & I weren't going anywhere near) & up he came again. He stepped off on the far side of the hole and continued the traverse. At this point doubts were coming from Alison who had done well to traverse over the pitch but this hole was definitely not Alison-friendly. Andrew had been looking for an excuse to stop & volunteered readily to go back with her. Jamie & I decided we would go on for a while and see if we could get to Battleship Passage (from where it is easy going to the lower pitches).

Another hole was soon reached, this time with a casually placed scaffold bar at the top. The rope was tied to this and down we went. A ledge was reached and we explored several different leads trying to find the route down to the stream. We think this was found (well it must have been), but we'd left the rest of the rope at the top & the one we were using wasn't going to do the job. We decided to join the others and headed back up the pitch. Getting off the top was 'interesting', but we soon joined the others at the top of the 4th pitch.

Alison led the way out with Andrew following (full of doubts about getting up the 2nd pitch). The 3rd pitch was easy enough, and then came the test. I was behind Andrew and may have helped a little :). The technique seemed to be to levitate 3m in a smooth chimney, then levitate horizontally off the pitch. I'm never quite sure how these things are done - it just seems to happen (hopefully). The rope was a help. The short climb was easy enough with the ladder and soon we were at the bottom of the first pitch. A bit of prussiking practice up this and the easy passage led us out to daylight again after 4 entertaining and challenging hours.

We must go back and bottom the pot - at least now we know what to expect. Our decision on gear wasn't too far out - I think next time I would take the following.

1st pitch - 15m - 25m rope

Climb - 3m - 10m rope

2nd pitch - 3m - 10m rope

3rd pitch - 4.5m - 5m ladder

4th pitch - 12m - 10 & 5m ladders, 20m lifeline (or bolting kit & no ladders - I hope Ursula's not reading!)

Lower pitches - 4.5m & 8m - a couple of short ropes & rigging gear.

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	Swaledale Outdoor Club

Grange Rigg Pot

Paul Brooks