Simpson Pot

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Simpson Pot
Simpson's Pot
Pitch in Simpson Pot.jpg
Descending Stake Pot pitch in Simpson Pot
Yorkshire Dales NP map-pre-2016.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Kingsdale, North Yorkshire
OS grid SD 6962 7787 [1]
Coordinates 54°11.738′N2°28.028′W / 54.195633°N 2.467133°W / 54.195633; -2.467133 Coordinates: 54°11.738′N2°28.028′W / 54.195633°N 2.467133°W / 54.195633; -2.467133
Depth112 metres (367 ft) [1]
Length884 metres (2,900 ft) [1]
Elevation376 metres (1,234 ft) [1]
Discovery1940 [2]
Geology Carboniferous limestone
Entrances1
DifficultyGrade 4 [1]
Hazardswater, verticality
AccessFree
Cave survey On Cavemapper

Named after Eli Simpson, [2] Simpson Pot is a limestone cave in West Kingsdale, North Yorkshire, England. It leads into Swinsto Cave and thence into Kingsdale Master Cave, and it is popular with cavers as it is possible to descend it by abseiling down the pitches, retrieving the rope each time, and exiting through Valley Entrance of Kingsdale Master Cave at the base of the hill. It is part of a 27-kilometre (17 mi) long cave system that drains both flanks of Kingsdale. [3]

Contents

Description

The entrance is in a shakehole, and enters a small active stream passage. This soon enlarges to walking size before plunging down a series of short drops called Five Step Pot. Below here the water drops down a 11-metre (36 ft) deep hole called The Pit, but the voie normale traverses over the hole into a dry series. The passage drops down a couple of climbs and a further two short pitches before arriving at the 9 metres (30 ft) deep Storm Pot, where the stream reappears in the roof. It is possible to follow the water through passages below The Pit. [1]

Below Storm Pot, it is necessary to negotiate a waist deep pool with limited airspace, known as The Blasted Hole. Beyond here the passage enlarges, and descends a further three pitches to arrive at Aven Pot. Two routes diverge at the top of this. The main route descends Aven Pot and soon reaches the 23-metre (75 ft) deep Slit Pot, the top of which is a tight fissure through which it is necessary to force oneself through. At the bottom of this, the passage joins Swinsto Cave, and the combined streams drop down a short climb into Swinsto Final Chamber. [1]

The same point can be reached by traversing over Aven Pot into a dry series where a hole in the corner of a chamber drops 40 metres (130 ft) into Swinsto Great Aven, where a descent of some boulders leads back into Swinsto Final Chamber. [1] The Strike Series, accessed by ascending a 21 metres (69 ft) pitch at one end of the Great Aven, is a complex of passages rising to a height of over 100 metres (330 ft). [4]

Geology and hydrology

Simpson Pot is a karst cave formed within the Great Scar Limestone Group of the Visean Stage of the Carboniferous Period, laid down about 335 Ma. It is a tributary into the West Kingsdale Master Cave System, combining with water from Swinsto Cave, Rowten Cave, Bull Pot, and Yordas Cave which eventually resurges at Keld Head - a kilometre or so to the south. The upper passages follow bedding planes dipping gently towards the north-east until an area of joints are intercepted at Five Steps Pot, where the cave is able to descend rapidly down a series of shafts. Both Swinsto Great Aven and Swinsto Final Chamber are formed on minor faults. [5] [6] The passages above Aven Pot which lead into Swinsto Great Aven are thought to be the original route followed by the Swinsto Cave water, and now left high and dry. [7]

History

The entrance to Simpson Pot was noted by Eli Simpson in about 1910, but it wasn't until 1940 that he showed it to a group from the British Speleological Association, including Bob Leakey. On the first trip Bob Leakey, having left his companion near the entrance, free-climbed Five Steps Pot and traversed across The Pit before being stopped by a 6 metres (20 ft) pitch. The following day the cave was explored as far as the Blasted Hole where the passage appeared to sump. Leakey visited the site on a solo trip, and found a crack above water emitting a strong draught. A party returned and removed the surrounding flake of rock with explosives allowing access to the passage beyond. The connection with Swinsto Cave was made the same day. [2] The Aven Pot extensions which lead to the top of Swinsto Great Aven was found in 1962 by members of the University of Leeds Speleological Association. [7] The Strike Series was entered in 1978 by the Northern Cave Club. [4]

In 1993 Michael Jones was drowned on a through trip between Simpson Pot and Valley Entrance, when the waters rose and he was swept into the Kingsdale Master Cave sump. [8] There have been at least three cases when cavers have had to be rescued after abseiling into The Pit by mistake, and stranding themselves by pulling their rope down. The first was a party of two in 2006, the second was a party of five in 2009, and the third was a solo caver in 2012. [9] [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

Rowten Pot

Rowten Pot is one of several entrances into the 27-kilometre (17 mi) long cave system that drains Kingsdale in North Yorkshire, England. Its entrance is a shaft some 27 metres (89 ft) long, 10 metres (33 ft) wide, and at the southern end 72 metres (236 ft) deep.

Marble Arch Caves Limestone caves in Northern Ireland

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Mossdale Caverns Cave system in the Yorkshire Dales, England

Mossdale Caverns is a cave system in the Yorkshire Dales, England. It is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Grassington, and east of Conistone, where Mossdale Beck sinks at the base of Mossdale Scar. It lies at an altitude of 425 metres (1,394 ft) on the eastern flank of Wharfedale, and extends south-east beneath Grassington Moor.

Rumbling Hole Cave in Lancashire, England

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Langcliffe Pot

Langcliffe Pot is a cave system on the slopes of Great Whernside in Upper Wharfedale, about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) SSE of Kettlewell in North Yorkshire. It is part of the Black Keld Site of Special Scientific Interest where the "underground drainage system which feeds the stream resurgence at Black Keld is one of the largest and deepest in Britain, although only a small proportion of its cave passages are accessible at present." Mossdale Caverns is also part of the Black Keld SSSI. Although a considerable length of passage has been explored in Langcliffe Pot, the current end is over 170 metres (560 ft) above the resurgence, and over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) in distance. A trip to the far end has been described as "one of the most serious undertakings in British Caving".

Aquamole Pot Cave in North Yorkshire, England

Aquamole Pot is a limestone cave in West Kingsdale, North Yorkshire, England. It was originally discovered by cave divers who negotiated 168 metres (551 ft) of sump passage from Rowten Pot in 1974, to enter a high aven above the river passage. All subsequent major explorations were undertaken from below before an entrance was opened up from the surface. It is part of a 27-kilometre (17 mi) long cave system that drains both flanks of Kingsdale.

Short Drop Cave - Gavel Pot System

Short Drop Cave and Gavel Pot are different entrances into the same cave system on Leck Fell, in Lancashire, England. The main top entrance, Short Drop Cave, is a small hole in a fenced off shakehole near the main stream sink; Gavel Pot, a window into the system, is a large fenced shakehole some 40-metre (130 ft) deep requiring tackle to descend. There are two other smaller entrances into Short Drop Cave. At its base the system links via a sump with Lost Johns' Cave, and is part of the Three Counties System, an 87 kilometres (54 mi) cave system which spans the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire, and North Yorkshire.

Bar Pot

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Disappointment Pot

Disappointment Pot is one of the entrances to the Gaping Gill cave system, located in a steep grassy shakehole some 120 metres (130 yd) south-east of Gaping Gill Main Shaft. Its mainly narrow stream passage descends a number of small shafts to enter the main system as a major inlet of Hensler's Master Cave. It lies within the designated Ingleborough Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Stream Passage Pot

Stream Passage Pot is one of the entrances to the Gaping Gill system being located about 320 metres (350 yd) ESE of Gaping Gill Main Shaft. It is a popular and sporting entrance into the system, featuring three well-watered big shafts. It is the highest entrance of the Gaping Gill system, so the full depth of the system, 198 metres (650 ft), is measured from its entrance. It lies within the designated Ingleborough Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Flood Entrance Pot

Flood Entrance Pot is one of the entrances to the Gaping Gill cave system located about 300 metres (330 yd) south of Gaping Gill Main Shaft. It was the first alternative entrance into the main system to be explored, and it is now a popular entrance into the system, with a fine 38-metre (125 ft) pitch landing in Gaping Gill's South-East Passage. It lies within the designated Ingleborough Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Rat Hole, Gaping Gill Cave entrance in North Yorkshire, England

Rat Hole is one of the entrances to the Gaping Gill cave system, located in the north bank of Fell Beck 30 metres (33 yd) upstream of Gaping Gill Main Shaft. A small, awkward, tube-like passage descends into a stream passage, and hence to a 100-metre (330 ft) shaft into Gaping Gill Main Chamber. The sharp and loose nature of the rock, and the quantity of water prevented full exploration for over 80 years, but the current route is described in one guide book as "a technical and exhilarating adventure". It lies within the designated Ingleborough Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Yordas Cave Cave in North Yorkshire, England

Yordas Cave is a solutional cave in Kingsdale, North Yorkshire, England. It has been renowned since the eighteenth century as a natural curiosity, and was a show cave during the nineteenth century. It is now a popular destination for cavers, walkers, and outdoor activity groups.

Deaths Head Hole Cave in Lancashire, England

Death's Head Hole is a cave on Leck Fell, in Lancashire, England. Its entrance is a 64-metre (210 ft) deep shaft. It leads into Lost Johns' Cave and is part of the Three Counties System, an 87-kilometre (54 mi) cave system which spans the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire, and North Yorkshire.

Lost Pot is a cave on Leck Fell, in Lancashire, England. It leads into the top end of Lost Johns' Cave, and is part of the Three Counties System, an 87 kilometres (54 mi) cave system which spans the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire, and North Yorkshire.

Boxhead Pot Cave in Lancashire, England

Boxhead Pot is a cave on Leck Fell, in Lancashire, England. It leads into the top end of Lost Johns' Cave, and is part of the Three Counties System, an 87 kilometres (54 mi) cave system which spans the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire, and North Yorkshire.

Long Drop Cave is a cave on Leck Fell, in Lancashire, England. It leads into Death's Head Hole, and is part of the Three Counties System, an 87-kilometre (54 mi) cave system which spans the borders of Cumbria, Lancashire, and North Yorkshire.

Swinsto Cave Cave in North Yorkshire, England

Swinsto Cave is a limestone cave in West Kingsdale, North Yorkshire, England. It leads into Kingsdale Master Cave and it is popular with cavers as it is possible to descend by abseiling down the pitches, retrieving the rope each time, and exiting through Valley Entrance of Kingsdale Master Cave at the base of the hill. It is part of a 27-kilometre (17 mi) long cave system that drains both flanks of Kingsdale.

Jingling Pot Cave in North Yorkshire, England

Jingling Pot is a limestone cave in West Kingsdale, North Yorkshire, England. Located adjacent to Jingling Beck, it is a lenticular-shaped 45-metre (148 ft) deep shaft that descends straight from the surface. At the bottom the rift extends to the north and descends steeply into a further chamber, at the end of which the initials of the original explorers may be seen scratched into the rock. A narrow shaft in this second chamber drops into a complex of small crawls and rifts, which approach close to a passage in the One-armed Bandit Series of Aquamole Pot. A second set of shafts descend parallel to the surface shaft. These can be entered through a rock window a little way below the entrance.

Long Kin East Cave - Rift Pot System Cave system in North Yorkshire, England

The Long Kin East Cave - Rift Pot system is a limestone cave system on the southern flanks of Ingleborough, North Yorkshire in England lying within the designated Ingleborough Site of Special Scientific Interest. Long Kin East Cave starts as a long meandering stream passage but then plummets down a 58-metre (190 ft) deep shaft when it meets a shattered fault into which Rift Pot also descends. At the bottom, the stream flows through some low canals and sumps, to eventually emerge at Austwick Beck Head in Crummackdale.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Allshorn, Sam; Swire, Paul (2017). Northern Caves. The Three Counties System and the North-West. Leeds: High Mead. pp. 86–88. ISBN   978-1-5272-1095-0.
  2. 1 2 3 Gemmel, Arthur; Myers, Jack (1952). Underground Adventures. Clapham(via Lancaster): Dalesman Publishing Company. pp. 29–38.
  3. ↑ Wilton-Jones, Tarquin. "Longest Caves" . Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  4. 1 2 Thorp, J; Crossland, D.J. (March 1980). "The Strike Series - W.K.M.C.". The Caver (4): 66–71.
  5. ↑ Waltham, Tony; Lowe, David (2013). Caves and Karst of the Yorkshire Dales: Volume 1. Hucklow, Buxton: British Cave Research Association. pp. 16–21. ISBN   978-0-900265-46-4.
  6. ↑ Waltham, Tony; Lowe, David (2017). Caves and Karst of the Yorkshire Dales: Volume 2. The Caves. Hucklow, Buxton: British Cave Research Association. pp. 332–338. ISBN   978-0-900265-48-8.
  7. 1 2 Brook, Dave; Crabtree, Howard (October 1969). "Simpson's Pot - Aven Pot Extension". ULSA Explorations Journal (1): 9–10.
  8. ↑ Pickup, Jack (1993). "Incident in Simpson Pot, Kingsdale Master Cave Sunday January 10th". Caves & Caving (59): 12.
  9. ↑ "Incident Report for 2006" (PDF). British Cave Rescue Council. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  10. ↑ McHale, John. "Dales caver rescued after spending eight hours trapped in Simpson's Pot". Grough Ltd. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "List of Incidents" (PDF). Cave Rescue Organisation. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
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