OFD - The Columns and a tour of Top Entrance

As it was the start of working week at SWCC the start to the day was a little slow to get going amidst the destruction that was taking place at the cottages ahead of the main works. After the arrival of Rachel and Richard and the obligatory pot of tea we headed up to Top Entrance to kill and hour or two until Column Hall was opened up. We headed up to the Mini Columns and from there onto the Bedding Chambers to have a good hunt around before we headed towards the Columns which were to be opened at 1pm. Taking the standard route to Column Hall we arrived just as the previous group was leaving, perfect timing..
Plenty of time to take a couple of photos and then have an explore of some of the passages off Column Hall before heading out and letting Brian and Alan get back and rebuild SWCC.

Loz viewing The Columns - Column Hall - Ogof Ffynnon Ddu

Richard in Column Hall - Ogof Ffynnon Ddu

Rachel viewing The Columns - Column Hall - Ogof Ffynnon Ddu

From Column Hall we headed back to Cairn Chamber and entered the Labyrinth, to emerge in Salubrious, which we followed down to the Crossroads. Heading across Presidents Leap we followed Selenite Tunnel to Shatter Pillar and then down to Cross rift. We then found the connection to Maypole Inlet and Salubrious Passage after exhausting all other possible routes first. We then headed out the cave via the Trident and Judge and the sandy crawls near Swamp Creek. A good introduction to OFD for Loz, and a chance to see some of the bits that we normally go straight past for Rachel and Richard.

Present: Brendan Marris, Loz Appleby, Rachel Dearden and Richard Dearden