Templetons south pot

 23/04/2026 - Evening - Alex Randall, Sam Hill - 2hrs Arrived at our usual time to find the North Pot team still in attendance, having just set off a large blast, which they cautioned us about regarding possible fumes. With lots to do in various bits of South Pot we were undeterred, reasoning we'd find a bit of the cave that was fume free and work there. Started by bringing up the 6 or so bags part way down the railway that Sam had removed from the wall in his previous session. Then intended to head to the bottom, but a mild smell of fume at the roller on the railway changed our minds. If there was fume here it would be worse lower down, so instead we spent the next hour moving bags up Echo Pot. The new barrel skip on this winch making rapid progress, getting all the bags of spoil here moved up, and then we moved them all up to the 166' for stacking, leaving Echo Pot free of bags. Still lots of boulders here.

With some time to spare i headed down the dig armed with a BDH of cement and sand mix. I started of removing the rest of the loose rock on right hand wall half way down on the inclined railway. The cement was then applied to the remaining loose material ( the entire wall is very loose and crumbly) With this complete I bagged up the loose stuff and stacked it half way down the railway (8 bags worth) The rest of the loose stuff from the end is also now bagged up (25bags) All set for a good session of hauling next week. Sam Solo 2hrs

 08/04/2026 - Evening - Alex Randall & Sam Hill After the last well attended hauling session we had there were comments from the troops that the Echo winch needed a bigger skip, so it could keep up with the railway. So tonight a new 72 pint skip was taken down and fitted. The winch control was also reconnected. At the bottom the spoil from the weekend was dragged back, and some of it bagged up. Averagely successful blasting, and the end still looks good. Will be a few sessions to get round the corner to the source of the Echo. After this much hauling was done on the railway, and then some at Echo, the new skip working well. A couple loads were also taken up to the 166' tunnel and stacked there, and bags of bags sent down. Plan is to make a huge stack here, then we can have a whole session on surface hauling. 

 06/04/2026 - Alex Randall - 1.5 hrs      Quick session, as Sam had already moved all the previous spoil the night before. Used the supplies intended for Wigmore to shave the lump off the roof at the corner and there rest at the end to improve access to what we think is the last tight bit before we find the source of the Echo. Still a fair bit of work to do. Then down Swildon's to catch up with the SMCC club trip.

 05/04/2026 - Sam Hill Solo - 2hrs           Written by AR After a long afternoon at the Vic a plan was formed to go down Templeton to use up the supplies that had been intended for Wigmore, but we'd been unable to use as Butch's arse proved un-bailable. Unfortunately, between making this plan and executing it several more friends arrived at the Vic, forcing further socialising, which somewhat derailed it. At closing time I went back to the Shepton hut with the other to get caving kit etc, and Sam went straight to Templeton. Meanwhile at the hut everyone realised how late it was and that there was more beer at the hut so thought better of the idea. Sam continued nevertheless and cleared up Wednesday's spoil, bagging half of it, and taking the below pictures. 

 01/04/2026 - Evening, Alex Randall, Sam Hill, Trevor Hughes    - 2hr The spoil from last week was bagged up and moved back to the railway, then AR drilled while SH and TH operated the railway.  After this an attempt was made to reconnect the Echo Pot winch control, but the lighter failed to melt the solder. Will comeback with a better lighter. The echo in the distance continues to inspire.