Recce day

Say no more!

Tuesday and D-Day! It was time to see what Oz and Joe had done with my line reel in the passage Rich and I found last year, and on Oz's advice, to check it really was still going before we threw a big team and trimix at it.
We were very lucky to have Jean Tarrit and Claudine from the CLPA come along to help us underground and they did a great job of getting everything down to the sump's edge in under an hour.

Jarvist and Tim set off into the sump wearing equipment I am too young to have ever seen before....but it seemed to work as they crossed the sump, tidied the line so that it was tight and immaculate and they preserved the visibility well.

Rich and I were to follow about 30 minutes later to give them a chance to rig a ladder to make climbing out of sump 1 much easier and to place a few bolts for ropes and general helpful tatt.

Jean and Claudine

They did a great job and Rich and I kitted up whilst Jean and Claudine went up the ropes to get warm and get lunch.
We crossed the sump easily and had the luxury of walking straight up the ladder fully kitted without breaking sweat and straight down into sump 2.
We dived to the end of the line, surveying last years new passage again as we went and hit 30m depth and my line reel.
The line had been beautifully laid by Oz and Joe and the reel was well tied off at the end.
I shone my cave hunting torch down the ongoing passage and could see large cave ongoing for at least 20m. Satisfied, we cleaned up and left, very much looking forward to the return trip on Friday, to allow the viz to settle after a couple of days. 

Tim, Jarvist and Rich get kitted up.

Rich enjoying himself

Apple cake kindly given to us after carrying our gear from the cave - take note English sherpas!!!