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BB2428
: BOOTboys
at Gaping Gill
Friday
9th August 2024
Have
you ever tried reading Virginia Woolf’s
alleged masterpiece ‘To The Lighthouse’?
I say ’alleged’ because for me it joins
that rare category of books I couldn’t finish
on the basis that life is too short; (many
other opinions are available and fortunately,
so too are many other books). One of the
bizarre themes in the book is a thought
held by the truculent Mr. Ramsey, one of
the main characters, that philosophical
vision is represented by the letters of
the alphabet, and he can’t see his way past
Q. So what has that got to do with
today? Read on to find out.
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As
TV Mike wittily pointed out
as he, Martin and Robin met
at Clapham at 06.15 a.m., waking
earlier than 5.00 a.m. is normally
associated with a trip to the
airport.
But
all three had risen with the
lark with the aim of reaching
Gaping Gill shortly after 07.00
and thereby be in good time
to book an early slot for the
opportunity to visit Gaping
Gill, one of the UK’s natural
wonders.
The
winch, operated from 9th to
16th August by the Craven Pothole
Club, has a capacity of 20 per
hour, so getting in early would
avoid a long day.
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The
waterfall that tumbles into Clapham Beck
at the far end of the village was in full
spate due to the heavy overnight rain as
we passed on our way to the farm track running
above the more popular lakeside trail, both
routes leading to Ingleborough Cave and
onwards, up through Trow Gill gorge,.....
.....over
the double-gated style then round to Gaping
Gill where we arrived just after 07.15.
Here
were pitched numerous tents and marquees
and somewhat unexpectedly, nearly fifty
folk already on the stone steps awaiting
the opening of the booking tent.
The
beck had been partly dammed and diverted,
the scaffold winching platform and winch
were in place along with a number of diesel
generators and multiple cans of fuel. But
all was quiet. And so we waited; and waited;
and waited. The queue behind us slowly grew,
eventually reaching some 120 people. A cold
wind gusted and regular icy squalls left
an August morning feeling more like winter.
Sometime
after 09.00 the booking tent opened and
we were able to secure our places. Eventually,
close to mid-day, our turn came and one
by one we were winched down into Gaping
Gill.
It’s
a long, wet descent into the main chamber
and then, with acclimatised vision in the
darkness – WOW!
The
minimal but highly effective Illumination,
the huge volume of the space, the thunder
of the UK’s longest unbroken waterfalls
all combine to assault the senses - it’s
some experience! Plastic covered information
sheets were handed out and by torchlight
we explored the impressive, ancient space.
Ascending
out of Gaping Gill in the steel basket-like
chair, now with clear night vision, is an
experience in itself; 98 metres up towards
the light, passing through the waterfall,
almost touching the rock face at one point
and suddenly back to the winch platform.
The obvious desire of the Craven Pot Holers
for everyone to enjoy the visit and their
attention to safety at every stage is impressive
and reassuring.
And
so back to Clapham via Long Lane and the
tunnels. At the end of the day perhaps an
unusual debate - should we go for a beer
or a brew? For once we chose the latter
option with a visit to The Old Sawmill Café
for a refreshing cuppa and a large lump
of cake.
Would
we do it again? Only if we could outsmart
Mr Ramsey and see our way past that Queue!
Robin,
Friday 9th August 2024
To
see Gaping Gill in all its glory click on
Gaping
Gill 1 and then Gaping
Gill 2
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