Yordas Cave and Pot, Kingsdale (West)

Top Entrance

There is tat in situ for the deviation as of December 2022. Without the tat, a very long and thin sling would be needed to rig this deviation (I’d suggest 2m).

Middle Entrance

Rig a couple of knots between the second and third anchors on the first pitch and remind people not to clip directly into the line there as there’s only a single bolt for the hang. Consider also adding three knots between the first and second anchors if water levels are high. A y-hang can be achieved using a drilled thread in the roof above the first pitch - additional thin sling required.

Use the left-hand anchors (3F rather than 2F, although the first can be omitted if care is taken) for the second pitch, as the right-hand ones require an unnecessarily exposed traverse and provide a worse hang. With 3 knots between the first and second anchors, a single 36m rope can be used for the whole entrance (both pitches).

Both pitches (including lower pitch and either upper pitch) are serious but doable free-climbs when water isn't sinking (and as long as the tree is still propped by the lower one).

Chapter House High-Level Traverse

First natural or second natural (or both in low water) can reasonably be omitted. Mid-long sling for second, long for first. Mid-length sling for the third natural (cannot be omitted).

As of June 2022, there is in situ tat on both deviations. The lower deviation is very tight to pass.

Wet Weather

In moderately wet weather, the resurgence sumps, top entrance becomes too wet and so does the chapter house traverse. Middle entrance and the main chamber remain passable, however. In very wet weather, the whole cave becomes impassable.