Tuesday 10th November 2026

John Cooper, Mike Kushy, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cold today at 6°C with rain and wind making it seem even colder. John hung a lifeline rope down the North end where he was wall building. He attached himself in case his feet slipped off the small ledges he was using. A total of 4 full mixes of cement were sent down split into 8 loads. Buckets of larger rocks were lowered for use in wall building and smaller ones for packing behind the wall as and when requested. The wall has now reached the level where it reduces in width by 50% so should be quicker to build. There is room behind the wall for several loads of gravel to be dumped which will save it being lifted all the way to the surface and carried up the shakehole. 2 hours. John.

Saturday 7th November 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Pete Hann, Kim Lake, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cooler again today at 9°C with a damp clammy mist. John lowered the new 3.2m section of ladder then descended to check its placement. Small amount of rock needs removing to get a good fit. Left in place as it was not in the way. John then had the floodlight sent down which he attached to the bottom of the fixed ladders before coming out again. Kate was then lifelined down to the bottom followed by Kim. Jude then abseiled down to floodlight level. Adian’s walkie/talkies were tried but these also failed once the electron ladder was reached. Today 30 loads of gravel and 12 loads of rocks were hauled to the surface, total of 42 loads. In addition two newts and other critters rehomed. At the end Adrian descended with a bit of cement to put in a crack by a block to act as a marker to detect any movement of the block. Some video of smoke tests show everything sucking in today. Probably same again next Saturday, although Jude would like a changeover at half way. 3 hours. John.

North End Smoke Test. Video KL.

South End Smoke Test. Video KL.

Westwards Smoke Test. Video KL.

Monday 2nd November 2026

John Cooper, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Cool again today at 9°C but a cold wind blowing. To start with Adrian cut down the sapling overhanging the entrance and Kate treated the stump whilst John added some staples to the wire mesh on the scaffold boards. Adrian then descended to the top of the slot and John descended to the bottom of the fixed ladder. After a discussion it was agreed the way forward would be to cut off the bottom 8 rungs of the fixed ladder and attach the cut off bit to the West wall. A new ladder of length 3.2m would then be required to reach the floor. This section would face South, as is the upper section, and be pinned to the East and West Walls. The walkie/talkies were tried but communication between surface and top of slot failed. John then returned to the surface and Adrian dropped into the slot. Once safe the lifeline was hauled up, Adrian’s bag with GoPro and floodlight was sent down on the haul line, and Kate descended to join him. John descended to the end of the fixed ladder to relay messages. Below the slot various depth measurements were attempted together with some video. At the end Kate came up to the top of the slot and passed the lifeline down to Adrian. Adrian’s bag was hauled up through the slot and Adrian followed. John returned to the surface to haul up the bag whilst Jude lifelined Kate then Adrian out. A useful planning session. 1½ hours. John.

Saturday 31st October 2026

John Cooper, Nigel Graham, Kate Lawrence, Adrian Vanderplank and Jude Vanderplank. Noticeably cooler today at 9°C with a damp clammy mist. John descended and fixed the floodlight to the bottom of the fixed ladders before coming out again. Kate was then lifelined down to the bottom which allowed Adrian to fix the rope at the correct position for Jude to abseil down to floodlight level. This station allows the person to guide the buckets past the bottom of the ladder otherwise they snag when being hauled up. The depth of the shaft was then measured at 21.0m to top of the slot. Kate then proceeded to send up loads of rocks (26 plus 1 large stal) and gravel (17). In addition 1 carpet and Adrian’s purple tackle bag (swallowed by the slot 19/09/2026) were retrieved from the slot. Two frogs and other critters rehomed today. Lots more hauling required. It would also be good to sort out the bottom ladder. Jude came out followed by Kate, who removed the floodlight on her way out. Still somewhere in the slot is the ball of string lost on 08/08/2026 and a plastic critter pot. 2½ hours. John.

I'm happy here! Photo KL.

Friday 30th October 2026

John Cooper and Kate Lawrence. Lovely warm sunny day, 16°C. John descended to the top of the electron ladder then Kate lowered bucket with drill and flood light (which he attached to bottom rung of fixed ladder). Then he descended to top of slot and Kate lowered drill to there. John coiled up the electron ladder so it did not get hit by falling debris. John then spent some time with drill in chisel mode straightening out the shaft above the slot to give a better haul. He then moved on down and widened the floor slot. The hole is deep from the sound of falling debris! Some of the debris landed in the bucket but a lot did not. Once completed he ascended and Kate descended to check his work. John hauled out two loads of rocks, then the drill. Finally the flood light was hauled up which Kate detached on her way up. Should all be ready for a good hauling session tomorrow! Kate reported sound of running water somewhere. 1½ hours. John.

WARNING The electron ladder is old and was constructed using thin wire. You should use a lifeline if using the ladder.