Sunday 4 November 2012

OFD 3 - Well 2 & three quarters nearly

A gentle Sunday trip was called for after the Bonfire Night celebrations, and so we headed into OFD 2 with the aim of navigating Mark to the Crevasse so he can lead his own sodding trip to OFD 3 sometime in the future.

We took a standard route into the cave and first headed to look at the climb down into Chasm Passage, which we would encounter later in the trip. Heading down the Corkscrew Climb we dropped into Salubriuos Passage. Jessica wanted to go left here and when challenged decided right was the way on and then when all incorrect options had been exhausted took the correct passage straight ahead to the bottom of Arete. Just past Arete we took a passage to the right with an entertaining climb near it's end to take us into Chasm Passage. Heading North we made our way to the Poached Egg Climb which was rigged with handline and descended. We soon reached Bhowani Junction and took a small detour to see Straw Gallery. Following this we headed to Creek Alley and the start of the Nyth Bran Series to look at the impressive formations high up in the passage. Now all that was left was a short journey to the Crevasse. Another party was met coming back from OFD 3 and Mark dropped down the Crevasse, went across the traverse and had a look at the ladder pitch. The rest of us stayed at the top and some photos were taken while we waited for Mark. The return journey was via Timo's Table and the crawls that lead off from behind it. Once back at Arete, we climbed up to the middle level and dropped back down the slippy climb that sits above the Corkscrew. Exit to the cave was then made through the Sandy Crawls.

Chloe in Straw Gallery

Formations above the start of Creek Alley

Chloe near Bhowani Junction

Chloe and Ian on the Poached Egg Climb

Present: Mark Burkey, Jessica Harding, Chloe Burney, Ian Millward and Brendan Marris

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