Saturday 10 May 2014

Raiders of the Lost Shark - Ogof Draenen

We met up at about 9.30 at the Lamb and Fox so we could get into the cave at a reasonable time. We changed in the driving wind and soon headed down to the cave entrance. We held back a few minutes to allow an SWCC group to go in the cave ahead of us as they were heading to the Dollimore Series. We made an uneventful descent through the entrance series to sign into the log-book in Cairn Chamber. We took a quick diversion to the north, past the Big Bang Pitch and to the start of the Waterfall Series before heading back into the cave and taking the standard route to Lamb and Fox Chamber. From here we headed to the start of Indiana Highway and from there we dropped into the start of Raiders Passage. A low crawl took us to the top of a deep rift and after assessing other options we dropped down. We were now in one and a half kilometres of fine phreatic passage that we followed for about an hour until we reached the sandy dig at the end. On our route back we took some photos and then paused for a little while in Lamb and Fox Chamber as we met another group on their way into the cave.

Main Passage - Ogof Draenen
Main Passage - Ogof Draenen - Near Big Bang Pitch

Bat Guano - Raiders Passage - Ogof Draenen
Bat Guano - Raiders Passage - Ogof Draenen

Burma Road - Ogof Ap Robert
Bat Guano - Raiders Passage - Ogof Draenen

Raiders Passage - Ogof Draenen
Tony - Raiders Passage - Ogof Draenen

Raiders Passage - Ogof Draenen
Tony - Raiders Passage - Ogof Draenen

We then headed back via Lamb and Fox Chamber, the Main Passage, past Tea Junction and on to Gilwern Passage. We headed up Gilwern to have a look in Old Illtydian's Chamber, then through the choke into Galleria Gariempeiros, through the Hearts of Olden Glory Streamway to the start of the Realm of Baron Von Carno, before time dictated that we head back out. On reaching the surface we found Jess and Mark awaiting in the carpark. A speedy change saw us in the Lamb and Fox for post caving beers and a slap up pub meal of pork scratchings and peanuts.

Some more photos and information on this area of the cave here

Present : Rob Campbell, Tony Ferran and Brendan Marris

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