During recent years CUCC members have spent many trips exploring the intracacies of this extensive and interesting system of caves. This article sums up a few minor discoveries that we have made and serves as a conclusion to an earlier article (1) in which previous work was described.

THE GRIND: A CONCLUSION?

The attractions of the Grind are not immediately obvious to the explorer who, whilst investigating the lower levels of the EPC 'Stake Pot' series, stumbles upon this seemingly unimportant passage. In fact it may be quite justifiably argued that our explorations in this area have been futile in that they have to yield an easy link with the nearby Pippikin Hole. However, whilst this will most probably prove to be true, the passage remains one of the most enigmatic developments in the whole system, and a complete explanation of its existence is unlikely in the foreseeable future.

Our exploration and survey of 1972-73, reported in (1), ends in a question mark in the sense that we suspected a link with Pippikin via the Dickeries inlet to be imminent. This hope has not been realised, but out of its ashes have sprung new theories. One must admit that the evidence upon which the original hypothesis was based has been shown to be shaky in the extreme. A combination of survey error and wishful thinking led us to inaccurate conclusions. The Dickeries Passage is at a much higher level than the terminal sump in the Grind. However, two points still remain: if the Grind goes directly into the Leck Fell phreatic zone, then why is it not tidal? (the level of the final sump is fixed all year round); secondly, if we conclude that the sump is perched, then with respect to where is it perched? A possible but distant passage is a nasty inlet just above sump level in Pippikin, which goes in the right direction at presumably the right level, and ends in low airspace, although we have not ourselves investigated this.

In an attempt to justify all the theorising we had been doing in the comfort of the ivory towers, we decided that a dive in the terminal sump of the Grind would be a very grand thing for small animals to do. After much swearing from R.F.Mathews BA(Hons)Cantab. and wittering from J.T.Griffiths BA(Hons)Cantab. an amazingly quick 7 hour trip on 4th Jan. 1975 saw a dive in the aforesaid location. Equipment used was a handheld 15 cubic foot bottle, and no fins(!!). A fifty foot dive in a tight (body size) tube leads to a sharp bend which was partially negotiated. The tube trends downwards, (bubbles move slowly back along the roof) and beyond the bend continues for at least another 30' without rising. Deciding not to push his luck the diver (R.S.) returned in nil visibility. A claustrophobic and sobering dive!

Well, what can we conclude from all this industrious activity? Only one thing.... that it would appear to be futile to investigate the Grind further. It may be worthwhile to investigate the inlet mentioned above, in Pippikin Hole, but the connection sump will be at least 100' long and probably more, all of it body sized and dangerously awkward. I prefer to forget about the possibility. Lets just hope that someone will dig those boulders out of the bottom of the Crumbles when the Far Pinnacle dig goes.

SKITTLE ALLEY PASSAGE

Located in the far reaches of the Graveyard series, it is probable that the water in Skittle Alley drains to Pegleg Pot and hence Leck Beck. Our investigations here were brief and it is mentioned only as a warning to others. The downstream sump, a large lake, has been dived but no way on has been found. Above the sump, however, a greasy traverse leads via a chain climb to a false floor of boulders and mud. From here an impressive piece of subterranean engineering comes into the explorer's view. No less than a dozen expanding stemples are chaotically arrayed across a twenty foot or so traverse to a mud slope. The dig at the other end draughts well, but the stemples are all rusty and do not look too safe. It would be nice if someone either removed them completely or replaced them, as sooner or later, someone is going to lob off them, and its a forty foot drop. We decided not to risk our lives in pursuing the dig further - others be warned!

LONG'S PASSAGE

A recent small find just off the Minarets at the Oakes Cavern side, (see survey). A fifteen foot dig through sand and clay infill led to sixty feet of new passage somewhat reminiscent of Stump Cross Caverns, hence the name in honour of our illustrious founder. At present the end is at the Pleasure Dome dig, a tight, awkward, descending tube filled with clay and calcited sand. Work continues.

References: 1) CAMBRIDGE UNDERGROUND 1973