Nearly given the Cold Shoulder by the Coldfinger

A trip into Draenen to see the Coldfinger had been on my radar for some time, and after a quick message out to the Dudley, three of us (Jonny, Anne and myself) found ourselves squirreling around Draenen’s labyrinthine passages. Having heard that the Coldfinger was quite difficult to find, we were unsure whether our trip would be a success; nonetheless we were determined to give it a go.

None of us knew the nav from Wyvern Hall; fortunately we were equipped with Tarquin’s description which helped greatly. This led us through walking passages, tight squeezes, over traverses and along various crawls to reach Ponderosa Chamber having successfully navigated through Isotonic Weird Ways. Up to Ponderosa Chamber, the route for the Coldfinger follows that of the Long Round Trip (a bonus, as learning the nav for this is something I'd wanted to do). From here on in, however, the routes diverged. Before long, we had picked up Pond Life which led us - after some unpleasant crawling over rocks - to a taped off section of cryostal. Here the description told us that the route to the Blue Room / Yanto’s Grotto could be accessed by a very tight crawl at the bottom of a hole in the floor.

Dropping down this, I poked my head into the crawl to find that it immediately went through a very tight squeeze into a passage that looked ridiculously narrow, and which evidently had to be travelled whilst lying flat out on one side. I couldn't fit my helmet through this squeeze, and the thought of traveling through this passage for 20 metres and becoming wedged part way along it was extremely unappealing. Deciding that caution was the better part of valour, I backed off and got Anne to have a look. After she turned a remarkable shade of white just looking at it, we decided that the so-called “Easier Route” would be the option to take.

This decision initiated about an hour and a half of hunting around trying to find its entrance, and led us into some rather unpleasant places. At one point, Anne shot down what was clearly a dig, and after a few minutes we decided this couldn’t possibly be right. Coming back up through a tight-ish squeeze, I reached up to pull on a rock to help me get through, only to find that it - and a small section of the wall - decided to come down on top of me. No harm done, fortunately, and it had the bonus of making the squeeze larger for Jonny! However, I've decided that I prefer not being buried by the cave.

More hunting around found me sliding down a sandy slope through a small, tight hole into a chamber. It was immediately obvious that this wasn't the way on (which should have been obvious by the fact that the route wasn't at all travelled!) and I spent a few anxious minutes trying to get back up the sandy slope. A bit of digging and a stiff struggle were required, but eventually I was out.

After this, we decided that time was up and we wouldn't see the elusive Coldfinger. Jonny started the return crawl down Pond Life with Anne and myself following, and quickly said “there's a passage on the right, here”. Sure enough, this passage (which was about as obvious as the sun) turned out to be the “Easier Route”, and after carefully crawling flat out under its shattered roof, we found ourselves at a traverse over a deep pit into the Blue Room. With a lack of confidence-inspiring footholds, this was a bit of a “squeaky-bum” moment for Anne and myself, though Jonny didn't even bat an eyelid.

The Blue Room itself was very beautiful, with big swathes of calcite on one wall and a collection of small, blue formations. To the left of this chamber, a route through a very loose boulder choke led via a hole in the wall into a dig. At this point, we were on the verge of having to turn around, but Anne spotted what she thought was the “awkward climb” up into a passage at roof height. Scrambling up this, she poked her head around the corner into the passage, before exclaiming “I can see it!”. Jonny and I had a quick butchers, and on seeing how bright blue it was, decided that the trip was certainly worthwhile.

After that, all that remained was finding our way back out. So it was back over the traverse above the pit, where the one inviting foothold decided to snap off as I put my weight on it (leading to double squeaky-bum time). Having successfully navigated the traverse, we passed through Pond Life (where time didn't permit us to visit any other beautiful formations) and on into Ponderosa Chamber and the maze of passages that led us back to Wyvern Hall. I was very grateful for Jonny marking the way with rocks at key junctions as it turns out that following the description in reverse is much harder than I anticipated!

All-in-all, this trip was well worth it, even if the Coldfinger certainly made us work hard for the privilege of seeing it.

Cavers: Dave, Anne and Jonny
Photos: Jonny
Trip report: Dave

Simpson Pot Pull Through Training

I was very much looking forward to today's trip, as I had booked onto a CNCC underground workshop on pull-throughs. Despite high water levels, given the improving weather forecast the decision was made that it was safe to proceed and after some initial instruction overground, the three of us (Ian (CNCC trainer), Charlie (another participant) and myself) wandered up the hill to the entrance of Simpson Pot.

Taking it in turns to rig the pitches, we made quick progress through the cave which involved a fun mixture of stooping, crawling, squeezing and scrambling, as well as a fun little duck before we reached the head of Great Aven. This was a superb pitch, with a tight abseil down a rift to the pitch head and then a wide open void dropping down 30 metres. This wasn't a pitch to be rushed, but one to abseil slowly so the fine position could be thoroughly enjoyed.

Having all arrived at the base of the aven, all that remained was to make our way down the Simpson / Swinsto stream to the Kingsdale master cave. I'd been wanting to visit the master cave for a long time, having only ever been to the head of the pitch in Valley Entrance before. It didn't disappoint and high-ish water levels added some spice to splashing downstream through the rapids.

Around 5 ½ hours after setting off, we emerged out of Valley Entrance having had a great trip and having practised some new skills. All credit to CNCC for putting on such excellent training workshops.

Cavers: Ian, Charlie & Dave
Photos: Ian
Trip Report: Dave

OFD: Return to the Tourist Trail

On Saturday 18th November the Dudley met at South Wales Caving Club. One CDG member was taking a trainee around OFD for the weekend, another photography trip was delayed due to a puncture. The rest of us went on a nice amble around the classic tourist route to reintroduce a lapsed caver into the swing of things.

We started off trying to sniff out the mini columns. Finding these turned out very successfully however we had difficulty locating Speedy Caver. After Jas heroically made the down climb near the entrance proving we'd gone the wrong way, we decided to press on and retrace our steps. We went into the Brickyard and past the Wedding Cake where we joined a queue of student groups all taking their freshers through the Corkscrew. We had planned to do the Sandy Crawls, but as the students were going this way we went straight down to Salubrious Streamway and then to Crossroads.

After this, we took a vote on whether we should find the beginning of the Midnight Traverses or Frozen River, the appeal of pretty helictites indesputably winning out. After sniffing around Cross Rift we found the right way and spent some time enjoying the beautiful decorations in Frozen River. This was even more enjoyable as the slippy slope back up wasn't anywhere near as difficult as we thought it might be.

Our route back took us by an orange crystal pool and then it was a gentle route back up via Shatter Pillar, President’s Leap, etc. The Sandy Crawls lived up to their name, and after some effort negotiating a big hole in the middle of the crawls it was nice to get back to walking passage. All in all, a great little bumble and it was nice to revisit the familiar top entrance landmarks.

Cavers: Becca, Jane, Jas, Dave & Anne
Photos: Jas
Trip Report: Anne

Hidden Earth 2025 Opening Video

This year's opening video for the UK's National Caving Conference, Hidden Earth.

It was shown to a packed house at the opening ceremony on Saturday morning, 27th September 2025.

This is the fourth Hidden Earth opening video that I have been privileged to produce.

Enormous thanks to all the cavers who supported its production in various ways, especially our own Jess, Mark and Bartek. I could not have done it without you.

Diccan-Alum Exchange Trip

Today's trip was a classic: a Diccan-Alum exchange trip, with Bartek and myself going into Diccan, while Dino and Paulina went into Alum via the Dollytubs.

Shortly after entering Lower Longchurn, we reached the head of the first pitch. Even with low water levels this was spectacular, with a jet of water shooting over the edge and crashing down into the abyss below. A rather long lean out over the head of the pitch was necessary to rig, but before long we were dropping down the pitch passing rebelays and deviations. The remaining pitches continued on much the same theme, although a couple involved some interesting traverses that tested my nerve in places. After messing up the rigging on the last pitch (which Bartek corrected for me), we arrived at the bottom of Diccan, where Dino and Paulina were waiting.

From there, we began the climb up out of Alum. I’d really been looking forward to this, and on arriving at the Greasy Slab I was in no way disappointed. The view of Alum was spectacular, with golden light playing against the mossy walls and water dripping down into the depths we had just climbed out of. The view was even better at the Dollytubs, and I got to enjoy it a little longer than Mr B as I was de-rigging.

Having done so, a few minutes’ caving brought us back to the streamway in Lower Longchurn. Whilst waiting for Paulina and Dino, we had a quick look around Upper Longchurn. This too was a beautiful cave, with Dr Bannisters’ Handbasin being particularly magical. Once explorations were complete, all that remained was to meet up with Paulina and Dino and grab some liquid refreshment after changing. All in all, a great trip; it's obvious why it's regarded as a classic.

Cavers: Bartek, Paulina, Dino & Dave
Trip Report: Dave

Swinsto Hole to Valley Entrance

A classic sporting wet trip in the Kingsdale valley. At least, not drenchingly wet after 2025’s very dry summer, but we were all significantly soggy by the end of the day.

Before we set off, Johnny and Dino went to rig the Roof Tunnel Pitch. Having made sure we’d be able to get back out of the cave again, we followed a rough track up the side of Gragareth. Dave joined us as far as the cave entrance, carrying one of the younger unofficial club members.

Inside we quickly reached the first pitch. All of the pitches can be rigged as pull throughs for the through trip route. I was apprehensive about this as it was my first experience of pull throughs but a quick look at the knots (and a test!) made it obvious which rope to descend on. After the first pitch we got to the Long Crawl, which all the team members who had done this route before had conveniently forgotten! 300m of easy hands and knees crawling later we were back to a satisfying rhythm of following the stream over relatively easy caving, then going down a pitch, and repeating (excepting one drier section to reach Spout Pitch).

Soon we met Swinsto Great Aven and followed a route through the boulder floor back into a crawly canal which led to the Master Junction. Bartek took us on a detour to take Johnny through one of the sumps, then it was a short way down the Master Cave Stream to our ropes to ascend out by Valley Entrance.

All in all a great fun trip, particularly with low water levels! A great place to get confidence with pull-throughs.

Cavers: Bartek, Paulina, Dino, Johnny & Anne
Trip Report: Anne

Victoria Aven and Echo Chamber

Today's trip was originally planned to the White River Series in Peak Cavern, however due to an event taking place in the showcave we opted for a shorter trip to ensure we exited on time. Keen to do an SRT trip, I suggested Victoria Aven to Echo Chamber, a plan which Loz, George and Anne all seemed happy with.

Unfortunately, Anne had to drop out as childcare plans fell through at the last minute (she’s booked onto a trip on Monday, though, so won’t have to wait too long for her caving fix). The second problem was that someone (not mentioning any names, but it wasn't George or myself!) forgot their SRT kit. Fortunately, Anne's had been packed before childcare plans fell through, so the person in question could scale the heights of Victoria Aven.

On entering the showcave, we charged through to Five Arches Passage where I thought how lovely and sandy the ground was. I was expecting sticky and slippery mud, but evidently it was a long time since the passage had flooded and I could stride out secure in the knowledge that I wouldn't slip. At least, I could until I found the only patch of mud in the whole passage and went flying, landing face down. Somewhat sheepishly I picked myself up, only to go flying again on the same patch of mud. George and Loz were both very tactful and didn't say anything; or perhaps they were wondering whether caving with me was such a good idea!

In any case, Victoria Aven itself is very impressive. I've never really noticed it before, and it's easy to stomp past it on the way to the Mucky Ducks. It's full of natural false floors and miners’ deads about twenty metres up, so its full height isn't appreciated until you've passed these. About thirty metres up, there's a choice of two routes. We choose the left hand route to Elephant's Head Chamber, which involved a bit of an airy pendulum off the ledge and then another decent ascent to a traverse with staples in the rock. (There was an even airier pendulum here onto the other route, but we left this for another time).

Following the traverse, we arrived at a climb (assisted by SRT kit as a slip here would lead to a very quick descent of the entire aven!) which topped out at Elephant’s Head chamber. Here Loz found the crawl to the Victoria Line which before long arrived at the head of George Cooper’s Aven and a striking twenty-five metre pitch I made a bit of a pig’s ear of rigging this, by not leaving enough slack before the y-hang (a mistake I would make repeatedly for the remainder of the trip!). My excuse is that I haven't rigged for a long time and everything was made much harder by having to use maillons not carabiners due to the resin anchors being very small.

Anyway, another couple of pitches led us to Echo Chamber which was covered in mud. While this included some interesting formations, it was impossible not to get coated in the stuff, and as the chamber sloped downward, climbing back up it was tiring work. In fact, Loz got more than she bargained for when she made a rather quick descent of the chamber, this imitating my earlier slide of the day.

Well after seeing Echo Chamber, all that remained was to make the return journey. This was made more interesting due to a few incidents which were the result of kit being covered in mud. These included jammers that kept slipping (this was a little unnerving!), maillons that were virtually impossible to open (nice one for sorting those, George) and twistlock carabiners that wouldn't shut properly (mine worked fine, Loz!).

By the time we reached the top of George Cooper’s Aven we only had an hour before we needed to be out. Fortunately, it's much easier abseiling sixty-odd metres than it is prussiking the same distance, so we ended up whizzing down Victoria Aven at speed. In fact, there was almost no time to enjoy the spectacular void beneath our feet and before long we arrived at Buxton Water Sump. After the obligatory wash-off, we exited the cave exactly on time (phew!) and trudged back to the TSG, where there was some disagreement about whether the trip had been a good one. It turns out some people aren't fans of mud!

Cavers: Loz, George & Dave