Speed Caving - Ogof Pont Gam to Ogof Nant Rhin

After much deliberating we decided on a plan to complete an Ogof Pont Gam to Ogof Nant Rhin through trip. We had visited Ogof Pont Gam twice before, but never exited via Nant Rhin, so the aim of the day was to complete the through trip. We packed the tackle into two small kit bags knowing that we would never get a full sized bag through Pont Gam. We met with Keith and Jess at Luigis before making our way around to the old Heads of the Valleys road. We parked up and changed further down the road and then called at the house opposite when the resident arrived to check for permission. After a few bits of surface video we entered the hole and made our way through the cave. The pitches had been re-bolted and there were ropes that looked OK in place, though we rigged with our own ropes that we had brought along. The short climb between the first and second pitches was rigged with a handline too. We fought our way to the top of the Third Pitch and descended into Aven D'Oznog. Dropping off our SRT kit we then went through Ogof Nant Rhin to exit into the gorge. It took a considerable amount of motivation to force ourselves back into the cave to complete the return journey. Some navigational difficulties followed on the return through Nant Rhin with half the group missing the climb up to Pont Gam branch and so explored the full delights of Nant Rhin. When all had assembled in Aven D'Oznog we headed back up the ropes derigging and taking video as we went.

The Video

A very short but also quite testing trip.

Present: Keith Edwards, Mark Burkey, Jess Burkey, Chloe Burney and Brendan Marris

Ogof Pont Gam

A return to this "collectors' item" to see if this time we could complete the through trip from Ogof Pont Gam to Ogof Nant Rhin. We got as far as Aven D'Oznog.

Del approaches the top of the second pitch in Ogof Pont Gam.

Keith climbs from Aven D'Oznog through to Ogof Nant Rhin.

See more Ogof Pont Gam photos here 

The Team: KeEd, BrMa & DeRo

Chartists Cave, Crescent Cave and Pant Gam Entrance to Nant Rhin

The aim was to visit Crescent Cave, but because of it's close proximity to Chartist's Cave we visited this first. This is an impressive system and judging by the large passages and chambers discovered to date there must be a lot more cave to be found. Our next stop was Crescent Cave, but at the first scaffolded section we discovered that a rock had fallen out of the roof completely blocking the way on. To finish off the day we drove to the Pont Gam entrance to Nant Rhin and descended the first pitch.

Chris in Chartist's Cave.

Chris and Keith in the Lower Chamber in Chartist's Cave.

Chris in the entrance series to Ogof Pont Gam.

Chris on the First Pitch of Ogof Pont Gam.

Chris below the rock Bridge in Ogof Pont Gam.

See more Chartist's Cave photos here 

See more Ogof Pont Gam Photos here 

The Team: KeEd, BrMa & ChWe