WARNING
Stake Pot in Ease Gill Caverns is visited by hundreds of cavers each year. This is an important crossover point between the Main Drain and Upper Ease Gill (Montague East) or a through-route for cavers taking the high-level passage between Fall Pot (near Lancaster Hole and Cow Pot), to Stop Pot (for all the upstream entrances to the system).
Stake Pot is a collapse between the two levels of the cave, and as such contains many loose areas.
We have received note of recent concerning movements to some boulders perched on the mud slope of Stake Pot, on the eastern side closest to Stop Pot and Upper Ease Gill.
The photos above show these boulders:
Photo 1: A view from above on the eastern side of Stake Pot, showing the in-situ rope disappearing down the slope. The top of the loose blocks is marked by the yellow jacket for clarity in the photo.
Photo 2: Another view from above, showing the perched blocks.
Photo 3: A wider angle view, from the north end of the pot, showing more clearly the precarious nature of the blocks. The route taken by cavers is less than 1m beyond the poised blocks (you can just see the in-situ rope through the gap). The route up the other side of Stake Pot (also with in-situ rope) can be seen in the background on the right.
Photo 4: Emphasising how close the current in-situ rope is to the blocks!
The main trade route, marked by an in-situ rope, passes immediately next to these boulders, and unaware cavers may even be tempted to use these blocks as a foothold in ascending/descending the slope.
We urge cavers to pay particular attention here:
Be sure to identify these boulders on arrival at Stake Pot. Give them a wide berth. Be aware of how close the usual route (including the in-situ rope) comes to these boulders and consider a modified route to avoid them. Avoid being underneath these boulders. Pass the area one at a time with appropriate protection/belay.
Thank you to our volunteer who responded to this report with a dedicated trip to photograph and inspect the issue, as well as to take some measurements of the current rock positions for future reference.