Gypsum Caverns round trip
From Ease Gill
Holbeck Junction to Gypsum Caverns[edit | edit source]
From Holbeck Junction, ascending the boulder slope to the right of the stream and bearing right leads into a chamber. Ahead, a mud slope ascends to a stoop followed by a steeper ascent up muddy boulders. This leads up into a chamber with a well decorated roof.
A large mud-floored passage leads forward, past stals, to another ascent up muddy boulders. This reaches a balcony over-looking a chamber. A route to the left descends to the floor of the chamber. The two branches of Gypsum Caverns diverge in the chamber.
- To the left is the start of the northern branch.
- Ahead is the start of the southern branch.
Gypsum Caverns, northern branch, east-bound[edit | edit source]
Turning left from the chamber leads to a short greasy climb up. A short section of passage leads to a 2.5m hand-line climb down into a chamber with a well decorated roof.
[Descending the chamber below the climb leads to some crawls.] Traversing and ascending the mud slope to the right leads into a large walking passage. This lowers to stooping, and then returns to walking, with more formations. The confluence of the two branches is met.
- Up a 4m slope to the right is a window into the southern branch, leading back to Holbeck Junction.
- Ahead is the start of The Palace.
The Palace, east-bound[edit | edit source]
The passage widens to about 5m and enters The Palace. It is well decorated, with a pleasantly mottled floor. At the end are two ways on.
- A 1.5m climb to the left enters a well decorated crawl, Perfection Passage, which chokes.
- Ahead to the right, a 1.5m climb leads to a low crawl leading to Easter Grotto.
The Palace, west-bound[edit | edit source]
The Palace is about 5m wide, very well decorated, with a pleasantly mottled floor. From the end of the Palace, the passage soon narrows slightly, and lowers to stooping. Just before the stooping starts, the two branches of Gypsum Caverns diverge.
- Up a 4m slope to the left is a window, with a well decorated roof, leading into the southern branch.
- Straight ahead is the northern branch.
Gypsum Caverns, southern branch, west-bound[edit | edit source]
Ascending the mud slope leads through a window. A short section of passage leads to a descent past stal into a chamber. Turning right, easy walking and stooping in a mud-floored passage leads to a pot in the floor, with the stream audible below. This is best passed by climbing up to the right, and then crawling along a ledge until it is possible to return to the floor.
Ahead, a short section of stooping and an easy crawl lead to a boulder slope down into a chamber. The chamber is over-looked by a balcony, 4m up. The two branches re-join here.
- To the right leads back along the northern branch.
- Ahead, to the right of the balcony, an ascent route leads up onto the balcony. This leads towards Holbeck Junction.
Gypsum Caverns to Holbeck Junction[edit | edit source]
A descent over muddy boulders leads, past stals, into a large mud-floored passage. The passage reaches a chamber with a well decorated roof. A steep descent leads under a stoop to a further descent into a chamber. Ahead, reaches a choice of routes.
- Bearing left descends to Holbeck Junction.
- Continuing ahead is the route towards Stop Pot.