Peak Cavern, Castleton, Derbyshire

Present: DBo, ACr, MCl, EPo & DWi

Brickworks Dig, Penwyllt, South Wales

The water was at 'normal level' with only a foot of so of water in the extension passage.  Pumping took less than an hour.  It was found that several tons of infill had fallen out of the roof of the cross rift exposing the ceiling and about 6 feet of passage to the right - not in the direction we want to go but another 6 feet for the survey nevertheless.  More ...

John Smith at the dig face.

Present: KEd, MCa, BMa, MNo, GSm, JSm, ASt + Garry from SWCC

Wapping mine / Cumberland Cavern, Derbyshire

It's not often that experienced cavers end up looking like idiots, but that is what happened to us when we took 'Mell' who had never been underground before on a taster trip into Wapping Mine/Cumberland Cavern.

We decided she could lead – big mistake and she was off like a whippet leaving Pete and me puffing and panting like a pair of old steam trains.
So just to get our own back we took her to Jug Holes to practice SRT on the 40ft shaft – s**t that still never slowed her down.
Well done Mell you can come again ????

Mell in Wapping Mine

Present: PAn & AGr + Mell

OFD 2, Penwyllt, South Wales

A tourist trip into Top Entrance taking in the Big Chamber, Salubrious, Cross Rift, Shatter Pillar, Selanite Tunnel, Trident Judge and Swamp Creek.

Derek viewing the Judge formation in OFD2.

Harriet viewing the Judge formation in OFD2.

See more OFD2 photos here

Present: JDu & BMa + from WMCEG Bill + Ed's friend Derek + Dee & Harriet from Bill's sword fighting club

OFD 1, Penwyllt, South Wales

A novice trip mainly for the benefit of Bill's sword fighting chums.  As the water in the streamway was sportingly high we decided to go up the Escape Route instead.  Some of the party made it as far as Pi Chamber while the rest of us had a rest in the small chamber before the chimney climb.  Back at the streamway we found that the water level had dropped so we had a little play in the water before coming out.

Dee at the end of the Escape Route

See more OFD 1 photos here

Present: JDu, KEd & BMa + from WMCEG Bill & Ed + Ed's friend Derek + Dave, Dee & Harriet from Bill's sword fighting club

Dan Yr Ogof

A photographic trip to the crystal pool.  We also attempted the climb to Dali's Delight, but came to the conclusion that we needed prussic gear.  On the way out we explored some of the side passages in the lower series.

Jason Cashmore at the Crystal Pool.

Jason Cashmore traversing around the Crystal Pool.

See more Dan Yr Ogof Photos here


Present: JCa, KEd & BMa