Day 26 Monday 12/10/09

Aziz had organised a trip into the nearby hills to show us some previously unexplored potholes. Sara (Aziz’s sister-in-law) joined us along with the family donkey to carry the caving kit (a good idea for Gaping Gill!). In the hills we were shown a small cave of about 30m in length that had seen plenty of local traffic.
We then met two shepherds who told us of some shafts that they had found and took us to see them. The first was rigged and descended by MC, which was a 40m blind shaft. It was blocked at the bottom with mud. It may well be a future digging project – but not for us!

The second shaft was smaller and due to drill battery failure and a shortage of natural re-belays it could not be bottomed. A disto measurement was taken and it was 33m deep and we believed it also to be blind.
The third shaft was a large open shaft that reminded us of Alum Pot in the Dales. MC again rigged and descended the shaft which was possible off two natural belays straight down to the bottom 40m away. This too was a blind shaft, full of mud at the bottom.

As we headed back off the hills, a slight panic ensued as we could not find where we had left the donkey .... it was eventually found much to our relief!