Another Fechan Caving Trip

Ogof Fechan is a reasonably sporting caving trip with 1km of passage leading to the second sump. The cave has some low passages with water in that flood to the roof, so a dry weekend in July was taken to make a return visit to this cave.
A break in tradition saw breakfast taken at Asdas on the route to the cave. Arriving at Cwm Cadlan a courtesy visit to Wernlas farm was made before changing and heading towards the cave. A camera box, a camcorder box and a flashgun box was shared between the two of us, making progress through the cave a little awkward.
The route description was left in the car and Brendan in a fit of navigational ineptitude went up every dead end and side passage as we went through the cave. Towards the end, the duck that bypasses sump 1 was met, looking very uninviting but after a little deliberation we made our way through and headed to the second sump. For a few moments on the return journey through the duck Keith thought it had sumped, only to find he was heading the wrong way through it.

Keith in the Entrance Series - Ogof Fechan

Keith in Sand Chamber - Ogof Fechan

Keith viewing formations in West Rift - Ogof Fechan

Keith in Waterfall Chamber - Ogof Fechan

See more photos and information on Ogof Fechan Here

Present: Keith Edwards, Brendan Marris

Alum Pot from Lower Long Churn

July 23rd 2011

On a very wet weekend in July Andy, Mel, Jess and I decided to visit Yorkshire for an SRT trip I’d always wanted to tick off...Alum pot from Long Churn.
After an interesting night of very heavy rain and someone trying to break in to the van whilst Jess and I slept in it! We met up at Inglesport for Mel to fuel up and the rest to have a cuppa and discuss options. Long Churn had been flooded to the roof over the past couple of days, but the streams had actually dropped significantly in the past 24hrs, so we decided to have a wander and check it out and retreat to a backup if it looked too risky.
Walking past Alum the stream was a little higher, but nothing like we were expecting. The sun had decided to make an appearance and once at the entrance to the Churns I was ready for a little water!
 After a wade through some thigh deep passage to double shuffle where Andy couldn’t be bothered with acrobatics and jumped straight in. A quick rig and drop down Dolly tubs and the view to Alum was spectacular. Everything went smoothly and after a few hours of happy caving we were back to the cars for a cuppa.

Andy at the opening to Alum Pot

Present Andy, Mel, Jess, Mark

Ogof Rhyd Sych

See Ogof Rhyd Sych photos here

Present: Keith Edwards, Brendan Marris, Rachel Dearden and Richard Dearden

Ireby Fell

A long weekend trip to Yorkshire for some, and a shorter one for others over the Easter Weekend. We confronted all of our worst fears, going north, caving on rope and worst of all camping. Friday was started in Bernies with obligatory breakfast before the drive to Masongill and the walk up the hill to Ireby Fell. A little faffing and short nap was taken in the shakehole before the descent down Ding, Dong, Bell, Pussy and Well pitches all rigged by Rachel, left the final rope descent to the lower streamway and the horizontal section of the cave. While in the cave Richard sussed out the connections to Ireby II for a future visit to complete the round trip.
Following the trip we headed off to the campsite, while Keith left a trail of dust behind his car as he sped off in the opposite direction to the M6. Saturday was a short trip into Marble Steps and then a walk along the top of Kingsdale to Large Pot, Swinsto, Simpsons, Rowten and Jingling pots. 

Rachel and Richard preparing to descend

Brendan - not really in the mood for an SRT trip

 

Present: Brendan Marris, Rachel Dearden, Richard Dearden, and Keith Edwards (not a happy camper)

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

A facinating 3D film of the discovery of a French cave that contained prehistoric cave art. A compelling film that proves that the French are as mad as a box of frogs. Saturday - Brendan Marris, Rachel Dearden, Richard Dearden
Sunday - Bartek Biela, Paulina Biela, Mike Clayton and Emma Porter

Ten pin bowling

A social night kindly organised by Andy Grimes and the Dudley bowling alley.

Swildons Hole

The last time I was in Swildons was a good few years back and to say that things have changed a bit is an understatement. For a start, when I went to pay the trespass fee at Manor Farm the back door was no longer there so I had to knock on the front door. When I asked where the money box was, I was told that they have moved it to the barn conversions next to where you get changed - BARN CONVERSIONS !! so that was it fee paid time to get changed and go caving ha ha.
Not only have they converted the barns, but something has also converted the entrance to Swildons. OK, the little round tower is still there and so is the manhole opening, but once you drop inside that's when you notice the hanging death and carefully pick your way through until you spot somewhere you recognise. The object of this trip was to find Tratman's Temple and have a feel around the beginning of the short round trip. So off we went with part of a survey in one hand and a copy of the directions in the other. Well we found what we thought was the climb up to Tratman's Temple, but unbeknown to us it wasn't, and only realised when we noticed we were back in the main stream heading for sump 1. Not to worry, Mark and Jess had a play in the sump and then we headed back to have another go at finding Tratman's Temple. We eventually did find it and progress was made rather quickly, surprisingly being we had met another group who had got lost up in Tratman's. Mind you, we had to study the directions rather carefully, and before we new it we were at the greasy chimney, and that was as far as the directions went. I had left the rest of the directions in the car never expecting to get as far as we had, so not wanting to get totally lost and spend hours going around in circles we headed back out and off to the pub for some lunch. We can finish the rest off another day - it's not going anywhere.
Present ... Andy Grimes, Mell Wakeman, Mark Burkey and Jess Harding