The (literally) Dark Arts

A day out with Dave today - quite possibly one of the most enthusiastic people I know. We've climbed, walked and generally messed about for over twenty years now - so when he suggested a mixed day of a Classic Rock climb and then a Classic Cave I should have known it was going to be full on - Dave quite rightly values his spare time and makes sure every minute of a day off is crammed with action.

Our venue was Britain's highest Gritstone Crag - the magnificent Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales. Looming over Horton in Ribblesdale it was shrouded in cloud when we arrived - I'd had a leisurely 7:30am kick off - but Dave had been on the road out of Lincolnshire since 5am. Sorting gear at the cars it soon became evident that the usual hours stroll to the summit was going to be a more laborious affair - I had a full climbing rack and two 60m ropes - but Dave had a bizarre assortment of caving gear, mostly made of steel, and 60m of static rope - along with suits, helmets, ascenders and other paraphernalia - it was heavy going.
We decided to set off to Hunt Pott and stash the caving kit - then we could split the load and climb to the summit of Penyghent (694m) - from there it's a simple stroll down and round to the only solid bit of rock on its Western face, where the 3* Classic Rock tick of Red Pencil can be found. Happy in my chosen field we had a great couple of hours first heading left on Red Pencil itself and then right on Red Pencil Direct. A spot of lunch and it was time to head to the cave.
As soon as you drop into the pott itself you've got to switch on - theres an 80m hole next to you, slippery rocks and flowing water - a lack of attention here would be fatal. But oh my; into an area the sheep can't graze and it was a botanists delight, butterwort, vetch, tormentil, wild thyme, orchids and more. But that still couldn't put off what was coming. Dave rigged carefully and set off - soon it was my turn to follow him over the edge. Whilst different the ropework was somehow the same - the three S's and the rule of twice kept me on the right path - Safe Simple Systems and at each change of rope or direction making sure there were at least two backup's and everything was checked twice - steadily I descended into a wonderfully different world. Dave pointed out the fossilised oyster shells, I wondered at the waterfall making its way through the rock, the beams of our torches illuminated the cathedral like space.

Of course - you've then got to get back up - inch by inch (or so it seemed) a steadily tiring rhythm of step up, push up, sit down and start again - many many hundreds of times - but all the while heading to the light - to eventually emerge back into the sun. It was great - but on reflection I think I prefer my rock to be above ground.