Llanelly Quarry Pot, Clydach Gorge, South Wales

Well our first obstacle was to remove all the boulders from the entrance so that we could get in, even with the boulders removed I knew I was going to struggle to get in, but I rigged a hand line and eased my way down the rift followed by Mel. Then we came to a chamber with a large shaft which is where I was sure we had to go, but the guide book confused us a little and we decided the way on was around a tricky traverse on the left hand wall, which isn’t for the faint hearted and Mel was heard saying she needed longer arms and legs. Well we got it wrong, and the way on isn’t to follow the traverse, but to go down the large shaft as you enter the chamber, but it isn’t obvious, as you can't easily see the P hangers to rig from. Once at the bottom of the pitch we went upstream to Midsummer Nights Dream, which is well decorated before continuing on until we came to the Ryan's Duck where we turned back to go down stream as far as we could, before turning around to head out. Now getting out for me was a bit of a challenge to say the least, and take my advice – don’t try to climb up the rift wearing your SRT kit as you will only get stuck, and trying to remove it in the rift is somewhat awkward!!! 

See photos of Llanelly Quarry Pot here 

The Team: AnGr & MeWa

Ogof Capel, Clydach Gorge, South Wales

A return to Ogof Capel. Last time torrential rain was falling and sensibly the team turned back at the duck. This time we were able to get to the end of the system and take photos of the amazing formations near Tuppenny Ha'Penny choke.

Del crawls under a false calcite floor.

Keith views formations ion Slalom Passage.

Del views formations near the end of the cave

Del views formations near the end of the cave

See more Ogof Capel photos here 

The Team: KeEd & BrMa & DeRo

Dan Yr Ogof, Swansea Valley, South Wales

This was the Dan Yr Ogof trip that we had planned to do 4 weeks previously. This time the water levels were very low. The aim of the trip was to photograph Productus Passage above the Green Canal. Two members of the team took the lower route after the Long Crawl to the far end of the Green Canal while the other three followed the upper series and swum the Green Canal where unfortunately one member of the team found that a bag of SRT gear does not float!

Keith in one of the branches of Productus Passage.

Keith in one of the branches of Productus Passage.

Richard near the start of Productus Passage.

See more Dan Yr Ogof photos here 

The Team: KeEd, BrMa & ChWe + Rachel and Richard from WMCEG

OFD1, Penwyllt, South Wales

We diverted to OFD1 when an inch of rain fell overnight and made our planned trip to DYO impossible.The OFD1 stream was well up so we followed the escape route in and out of the cave.  This was our first trip to the impressive Starlight Chamber and we will return to take photographs.

Rachel in the bedding crawls approaching Starlight Chamber.

Rachel in the bedding crawls approaching Starlight Chamber.

See more OFD 1 photos here 

The Team: KeEd & BrMa + Rachel and Richard from WMCEG

Ogof Nant Rhin, Clydach Gorge, South Wales

Now this cave was recommended to me by another member of the club, so I decided I had to go and see what all the fuss was about. So there we were on a freezing cold Saturday morning, stood on a riverbank looking into what we hoped wasn't the entrance, as it was only a few feet higher than the river and had freezing cold water pouring out of it. It also looked fairly unstable with scaffolding holding up a fair amount of rock and soil. So of we went crawling headfirst into the unknown and by god that water was cold. A word of warning here - the guide book states not suitable for persons of larger than average build. What's average build? I'm 5ft 11 and weigh just over 12 stone, and I spent most of my time thrutching and squeezing myself along razor sharp phreatic shelves (don’t wear your nice new over-suit, it may get ruined) to get to Aven d`Oznog while Mel just whizzed along laughing, as she couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. mind you I must admit the lower level of the cave isn’t quit so tight, and has quite a few formations to see especially at the Garden of Delights. 


See photos of Ogof Nant Rhin here 


The Team: AnGr & MeWa

Parys Copper Mine, Anglesey

One of the largest turnout of members in recent years undertook an extensive tour of this fascinating and unusual system lasting nearly 5 hours.

Heather admiring some of the snotite formations.

Heather beneath a wall of stacked deads.

Heather, Keith and Rob by a flooded stope.

Team A: KeEd, BrMa, RoOl & HeSi + our guide Allan

Team B: MiCl, EmPo, GrSm, JoSm & DeWi + guides

Manor Farm Swallet

The DCC Christmas caving trip.

Climbing up the streamway in Manor Farm Swallet.

The Team: KeEd, AnGr, JeHa, DeRo, BrMa, MeWa & ChWe