Holbeck Junction to Pool Sink

From Ease Gill

Holbeck Junction[edit | edit source]

Holbeck Junction is a major junction in the upper Easegill main streamway. The junction itself is often dry, as the stream runs in an oxbow.

Several routes lead from Holbeck; in clockwise direction:

  • Downstream soon leads to a choke; a crawl to the left provides an alternative route to Green and Smelly Passage.
  • Upstream is Thackray's Passage leading towards Top Sink with a connection to Boundary Pot.
  • To the left of the stream, behind a 2m high boulder, is a dry passage leading to Green and Smelly Passage, with routes to Pool Sink, Spiral Staircase in Wretched Rabbit, Slit Sinks and New Slit Sinks.

Green and Smelly Passage, from Holbeck Junction to junction of Spiral Staircase and Pool Sink routes[edit | edit source]

From Holbeck Junction, the way towards Spiral Staircase and Pool Sink starts behind a 2m-high boulder on the left of the stream passage. Walking passage ascends gently to a step over boulders, followed by a gently descending passage; [ascending from the boulders leads into a high-level passage.] The route soon meets the Pool Sink streamway. [To the right, downstream, a wet crawl leads to where the stream disappears ahead. A dry crawl to the right leads back to the main streamway, where it hits a choke.]

Following the stream upstream for a few steps, and veering right, enters a 6m high chamber. A stoop under an arch above a pool, is followed by a left turn and an immediate right turn, through the pool, at the junction of two joints. Ahead is a dry walking passage. After two minutes, a small chamber is reached.

  • Ahead, Green and Smelly Passage leads towards Spiral Staircase leading to Wretched Rabbit, and a connection to the Borehole, Slit Sinks and New Slit Sinks.

Pool Sink Streamway, outwards[edit | edit source]

Note: all the pitches in this series need pre-rigging. Sections of this passage flood to the roof in wet conditions.

From the junction with Green and Smelly Passage, Lower T-Piece Passage starts with easy walking. This soon reaches a four-way junction on a pile of boulders above the streamway. [To the right, downstream, intersects Green and Smelly Passage.] [Straight on, is a narrow, unobvious bedding plane squeeze connecting into Eccles Bypass in the Borehole.] The normal route is to the left, upstream. Ahead, striking horizontal flakes of rock protrude from the walls. A clamber over boulders leaves the stream. A short rift passage leads to a shelf, from which the water is regained. More rocks are followed by a tall rift stream passage with short climbs. This leads to a waterfall, marking the fourth pitch (P10). The normal route for the pitch lands on a ledge to the left of the waterfall. At the top of the pitch, a short lined traverse leads back to the streamway.

Upstream, two minutes caving along the streamway, with a couple of deeper pools, reaches the third pitch (P8). Above, a couple of short climbs lead to the second pitch (P8). Ahead, a pleasant streamway leads, after about two minutes, to the first pitch (P17), which lands on a ledge on the right; this leads to the Pool Sink Exit Series. [Upstream leads to Magpie Grotto.]

Pool Sink Exit Series[edit | edit source]

From the top of the first pitch, a meandering stream passage passes an inlet entering on the left. The continuing passage reaches a small chamber where small inlets enter. The way on is up a 2.5m rift climb, where moving tackle can be awkward. The passage ahead becomes lower, turning into a crawl. This reaches an awkward left-then-right double bend, where moving tackle is again awkward (although easier than on the way in). A final right-hand bend leads to the exit.