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Rob Shackleton 1975 |
Black Keld History Of Exploration 21975 - 1997
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| "I hope the visibility will clear again soon, as I am becoming a little discouraged at the lack of progress."
Excerpt from Rob Shackleton's dive Log 1975 |
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| The Cambridge Explorations
"On 5th July 1975 Rob Shackleton made his debut dive into the resurgence. This was intended as a recce dive so the existing line was followed to an airbell, presumably the one found by Davies, which was subseqently named Lake 1 for reference sake. From here a line was found to continue to the left for 50 feet to a point at which it was tied off in the floor. A line reel was attached here and a search of the surrounding area revealed no way on to the right hand side and a confusion of fallen boulders straight ahead. On the way back the bedding plane leading off the airbell recorded, but not entered, by Davies was noticed. Compass bearings taken at that point indicated that it did not head back towards the entrance as had been thought, but led off almost due north." |
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Between 1975 and 1977 Rob Shackelton and Julian Griffiths undertook many dives in Black Keld and sorted out some of the most difficult route finding. Rob penetrated a complicated underwater boulder area and reached a second airbell (now called Lake 2) 116m from the entrance. Altogether the two divers explored 152m of underwater passage and surveyed 244m in the dry series of crawling passages linking Lakes 1 and 2. They also found another 'sump' in Stretch Cavern, off the dry passages. |
"We call this photo 'The Three Grey Men of Langcliffe' and it gives a good indication of what a trip to the bottom of Langcliffe does to you. It was taken in Boireau Falls Chamber and L to R are: Julian Griffiths, Bob Mathews, and Rob Shackleton." Photo and comments: Rob Shackleton Photo retouching (before digital!) John Hunt Click on photo to enlarge |
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Full transcript of Rob Shackelton's Dive Log in Black Keld - October 2000.
Further details can be found in the following links to other web sites: Cambridge Underground Caving Club Journal 1977
In 1989 Rupe Skorupka made a new survey of Black Keld. Below is one of his dive reports from CDG Newsletter 94 1990. 12.09.89. DIVER: R P Skorupka. In gloomy viz. of l.5m the line was followed to below Lake 2. Here Paul W's line was followed to -1m, and along the floor of Lake 2. After crossing the airbell, it enters the low, bouldery passage explored from Lake 2 for lOm by Rob Shackleton. Paul's line reel was picked up here and used to have a better look around the end of the passage. On the left, a very low bedding could be seen to lead into a larger continuation, but proved just too small to get through. The line was then surveyed to the junction below Lake 2 and Lake 2 was surveyed. On the way back, a reel was used once again to search the alcoves to the east of the 60m pot, with the same conclusion. Also, the main passage around Lake 1 was crossed from side to side, in an attempt to find a pot in the floor which Alf Latham seemed to remember from his dives here. No pot was found. Dive time 1+ hours.
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| In March and April 1990 Brian Judd made three dives into Black Keld and laid 28m of line in the underwater passage below Lake 2. This had almost certainly been entered previously, but was not shown on the 1989 survey. The low bedding plane going off from Lake 2 was looked at and thought worthy of another look, but it was not until 1997 that a return was made with Phil Howson and a breakthrough made.
This breakthrough was built on the efforts of all the divers who went before and who helped build up our knowledge of Black Keld and of the techniques neccessary to dive there. This history is not as complete as I would like and I would be extremely grateful if anyone has more information, photographs, surveys, etc that I could include here. Contact: brianjudd at mac.com Access to Black Keld is limited. |
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