Anthony Hitchcock
May 2007
Stuart and Alf Alfreds returned to Hangman’s on the 5th May and widened the constriction in the alcove on the route down to the lower passages first explored by Stuart Jepson and Jessica Hitchcock. They rigged ladders from an anchor just past the alcove to make the steep, muddy descent to the lower passage easier. They then explored along the large passage leading south, southeast. They soon found a narrow vertical crack leading down to a lower level. A second ladder was rigged to aid their descent over a tight vertical section. The passage opened into a large vertical fracture and the explorers passed this by traversing along a ledge on the left wall. Stuart found a large black cable a little further on and realised that he was in the lower section of Bats Cave. The connection of Hangman’s to Bats Cave is arguably the most significant breakthrough in the history of exploration on Table Mountain.
It signifies the connection of the largest cave on Table Mountain, Bats/Giants/Climbers System to Hangman’s Cave and its extensions towards The Metro System. Only two short sections between Hangman’s and Metro need to be linked to have a cave system that stretches almost as far as the entrance of Wynberg Cave. Wynberg Cave has however not developed in the same vertical fracture so it unlikely to be possible to link to the Metro System.
I arranged with Stuart Jepson to return to Hangman’s Cave on the 12th May to map the passage connecting Hangman’s to Bats Cave. Stuart recommended starting the survey from the Bats Cave side because one gets very wet entering from the Hangman’s side.
Stuart, Jessica Hitchcock and Amy Reaper went ahead to explore along the lower passage in a northerly direction towards Metro while Alf and I started the survey. We mapped as far as the ladder leading up the tight vertical section where Alf found too difficult to traverse from the ladder across the exposed section to the passage beyond. At this point the other party returned wet and cold from their explorations. Alf and the girls returned to the surface while I bullied Stuart into helping me to survey up the tight vertical section. He helped me a bit further, but I let him leave the cave as he was very cold. I arranged to meet him at the top of the ladder below Hangman’s at 16h00 and continued to solo survey. Solo surveying is much slower, but I was warmly dressed and continued on steadily. I noticed the large chamber in the ceiling that Stuart found on his first trip, but remains unexplored. Surveying up the ladder towards Hangman’s Cave was difficult, wet and muddy. I had just reached the top of the ladder when Stuart arrived at the arranged time. He was still cold and wanted to leave soon, but I wanted to complete the survey into Hangman’s. I then noticed that I had forgotten to write down a survey distance at the bottom of the ladder and had to climb down and measure again. Stuart to his credit showed great patience and waited for me to return and then guided me across the pit back into the alcove and up to the main Hangman’s passage above. With the survey having been completed to this point, we left for the surface. I was grateful as I was wet and starting to get cold.
A big thank you to Alf and Stuart for their assistance and patience in getting the link between Hangman’s and Bats Cave surveyed before the winter rains make the passage really wet and nasty.
We did this only just in time as heavy rain hit the Cape a week later.