Description
Entrance 25m above road level on the South side of Stoney Middleton Dale about
30m East of the track up to Horseshoe Quarry. Shored entrance in corner of small
rock outcrop. Sloping descent leads after a few metres to a small chamber. Way
on is in the far corner, a small narrow climb emerging in a breakdown "bedding
plane". This can be followed to a square cut stooping passage, passing fine
"moonmilk" on the left. (Don't touch it!) A right turn before the end leads
immediately to a junction. Straight on leads to Inferno Chamber, a large chamber
with a very frightening boulder stuck to the ceiling at one end. At the far end
a further crawl leads to a choke and dig, probably heading to the surface. Back
at the junction, a left turn leads up and can be followed through a couple of
squeezes to emerge in Pizzaland, another large chamber. This has some small but
interesting formations that have been taped off - take care not to cross the
tapes. At the far end, a squeeze leads to a mud slope up to a substantial choke.
Commentary
Hangover Hole is a strange place. No one has ever seen the floor, since it
consists entirely of breakdown blocks. Phreatic development is seen in only a
couple of small fragments, with no trace of the watercourse that formed the
system visible. It is also surprising that it appears never to have been entered
by miners. Somewhere under the floor may be a continuation passage, but there
are few clues as to where one should dig. The far Pizzaland choke is probably
the best prospect, but it would be a major undertaking. There is a possible
continuation up in the final choke, which may go on to connect with Rubble Rift
further up the valley. Hangover Hole, together with Rubble Rift up the valley,
and Paracetam 'Ole down the valley hint at a system on this side of the dale.
Content © Andy Foster 2005
Hangover Hole - Survey
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