Wow

As I sit to log this cache now, in the comfort of home with the smell of Easter roast dinner wafting up the stairs, it seems hard to believe that this time yesterday I was inching my way along underground seriously beginning to wonder if this time I really had bitten off more than I could chew.

As the four of us stood in Lasciate's chamber, it was time for the big question - were we going to attempt the 9th circle? Personally I was very sure that I wanted to at least attempt it, but I could tell that my comapnions were not all quite so sure. We'd come properly equipped but Lasciate had been tough and taken a little longer than anticipated.

One way or another we decided to at least have a go at the first pitch. A rope was emplaced and down I went on a tubular descender. In fact, re-entering Lasciate's chamber on the way back out was to prove one of the hardest parts of the whole adventure and I, for one, was very grateful to accept the help of my sterling teammates while being pulled bodily through the slot.

Down in the rift, and with the adventure running in my veins I waited for the others to rig a caving ladder and come down to join me (we hadn't all come with harnesses on). It seemed to be taking a while so I decided to start the next pitch up to 'the slab'. Quite a challenging little climb, that one! I made it up the slab then sat tight to await he others. Finally news arrived: for Smudge, something didn't feel quite right about the first pitch, and he very wisely decided to stay in Lasciate's chamber. Both the others had at once offered to stay, but after some debate it was agreed that Wizbit100 would wait at the foot of the second pitch, while Dizzygirl came ahead with me. in the end the two 'backups' were absolutely invaluable and helped us enormously on our way out - a true team effort.

There was only one thing to the fore of my mind at this point, being the infamous squeeze. Would we fit, or not? I'd underestimated however the amount of effort and willpower to reach that spot, and it was only some considerable time later that we faced it and - thankfully - both managed to get past Without too much ado.

i think to avoid spoiling too many of the surprises I'll avoid saying too much more about our amazing trip, save to say that it was a huge challenge but hugely rewarding. undoubtedly the toughest mental and physical challenge I've ever attempted and one that I truly could not have done without the support of all the others - again, I'll say it was a true team effort.

Perhaps couple of points for future lost souls to note:

1. Do NOT attempt this on your own, or Ill equipped. You could die. Seriously.
2. Be aware that getting out is harder than getting in, and that you will be mentally and physically tired by then.
3. Allow plenty of time before your 'alert' contact starts making calls. We took almost 7 hrs.
4. Four people is slower but is a good number of people. In case someone gets hurt one person can stay with them, still leaving two people to assist each other to climb out and summon help.
5. For the few who DO reach the cache, do not fail at the final hurdle. You need to find the official log which is in a BiSON. It is there. It may be a lot closer than you think...

it goes without saying that Abanazar deserves my massive thanks and respect for placing and maintaining this outstanding cache. I seriously do hope that this is the hardest physical element of a cache that I ever do!

Pictures for this log entry:

The prize

On the way in

Will this kit ne'er be clean?