Ogof Ffynnon Ddu 1 - Round trip starting in the streamway

On Saturday Night the heavy snow turned to rain and later froze leaving the hill up to Penwyllt covered in a sheet of ice. Our only choice was an OFD trip and to hope that the sun came out and thawed the road so we could escape home at the end of the day. With John taking on responsibilities at the Club as Duty Officer we headed down the hill as two parties of 6 to do the round trip in opposite directions - hoping that we did not meet each over on Bolt Traverse.
Our Group entered the cave and were to follow the stream on the way in. Before we reached The Step we took a detour to Column Passage so the new members could have a look at this fine piece of passage. Dropping back down we headed to The Step and then made our way up the streamway, passing Lowe's Climb to look at Boulder Chamber before returning to Lowe's Climb and making our way up the steep boulder climb into the upper series. Part way up the boulder climb we met Keith and his party on the way back down to the stream. The upper series was completed without incident before we dropped down from Pi Chamber to Bolt Traverse and completed the round trip. Keith's party were met at the end of the Escape Route, after they had had a thorough soaking in the stream and Pluto's Bath. At this point Keith headed out and our group headed to the stream for a soaking on the water slide and a dunking in Pluto's Bath on the way out.
Back at the entrance we thought the trip was over, only to find that the lock on the cave door had broken. The handle spun around and would not release the catch on the gate. With some quick improvisation a knife was produced, the screws on the lock plate removed to reveal the catch that could then be released by hand. A second rescue in the weekend was thus avoided. Somewhat delayed we headed up the hill with the faulty handle and lock plate to be met by Keith, whose dry clothes were locked in my car. He was called a few choice names for breaking the lock, but passed off the blame on a group of students who left the cave after him. The thaw had set in and we were able to head off home after a great weekends caving.

Chloe in the passage near the start of the escape route.

Present: Brendan Marris, Graham Smith, Mark Burkey, Jessica Harding, Chloe Burney and Dominik Mokrzecki

Ogof Ffynnon Ddu 1 - Round trip starting with the Escape Route

After their introduction to caving by John Smith on the previous day, I was told that the ‘new lads’ would like something a little tastier.  A through trip would have been nice but with snow melting and water levels likely to rise it was decided that the standard Sunday trip, i.e. a Round Trip in OFD 1 would have to suffice.

We started up the Escape Route and at the first crawl in water the new lads shouted that this was just the sort of thing they were looking for.  At the dug-out they shouted with joy.  The traverses above the streamway were tackled with gusto.  They shot up the chimney climb like proverbial rats up a drain pipe.  Nothing it seemed would be too much for them.  We ambled through the upper levels and met the other team on the climb down to Lowe’s Passage.  At Lowe’s Climb they treated it like an abseil with wellies against the wall.  Nothing, it seemed, was going to faze them, so I made them climb up again.  No problem.  So it was off to Boulder Chamber where they were introduced to the joys of their first boulder choke.  They lapped it up.  Back though the choke I decided to play my trump card.  I made them climb up the traverses to the waterfall for the sole reason of making them climb back down the waterfall, which incidentally was flowing freely.  This surely would dampen their spirits.  Not a chance.  Whoops of joy resonated around the cave as they emerged from under the water.  This is exactly what they wanted – bring it on, but there was nothing left other than the water slides in the stream which they found so good that they went back for seconds.  Finally I tried traversing around Pluto’s Bath – hoping that my bright light would blind them enough for at least one to fall in.  They sussed what I was doing but decided to dive in anyway.

With me completely defeated we exited the cave.

Later in the changing room they asked what was next.  I replied, “Go and find yourself a proper caving club.”

Keith Edwards

Present: Keith Edwards, Mel Wakeman, Phil Lester, Carl Knott, Ben Marklew and Grant Wilkes

Ogof Ffynnon Ddu 2 - Bedding Chambers

With such a great turn out of new members we split into two groups to head into OFD 2 for the first days caving. It was minus five with a strong wind and icy snow starting to fall when we put away the teapots and headed up the hill towards the cave. Deep snow drifts filled the entrance to the cave and after a little moving of the snow we were on our way. This group was exploring the passages around the entrance, and we went no further into the cave than Gnome Passage. Our first objective was to head up to the Mini Columns and explore the labyrinth of passages in that area. With several circuits made we set off to give Mark and Jess a navigational challenge of leading the route to Gnome Passage. Despite taking us down some passages that none of us had ever been down before, we arrived in Gnome Passage before setting off on our next objective, the Bedding Chambers. A climb up a steep calcite slope took us up into the maze of passages that make up the Bedding Chambers, where we spent an hour or so exploring all the routes. Once we thought that we hade covered all route, Keith beckoned us into another passage he had spotted at the top of the calcite slope. We soon followed to find an impressive grotto and a passage beyond that led through a boulder squeeze into a chamber. The chamber was back on route to the Mini Columns and so we decided to split and meet back at the bottom of the calcite slope - our original route into this area. Mark and Jess were left to navigate the second party, which they did successfully, albeit by a slightly longer route that strictly necessary, taking in Gnome Passage on their travels.
Once regrouped, we headed out of the cave to fight our way through the now much deeper snow. Frozen pipes meant no hot showers, but made up for it by thawing out infront of a blazing fire in the long common room.

Another party were overdue on a OFD through trip, and meant that we missed our traditional visit to the pub, instead donning our cold wet gear to prepare for a search. The group was found by Keith, Mark, Jess and Graham as they fought with a an iced-up gate to exit the cave. John on comms relayed the message that they were safe and saved the second party from setting off on a through trip to search for them.

Dominik viewing formations in the Bedding Chambers.

Phil viewing formations in the Bedding Chambers.

Mel viewing formations in the Bedding Chambers.

Present: Keith Edwards, Mark Burkey, Jessica Harding, Dominik Mokrzecki, Mel Wakeman, Philip Lester and Brendan Marris

Ogof Ffynnon Ddu 2 - Edward's Shortcut and Moonlight Passage

Trip Report to be added later.

Present: John Smith, Graham Smith, Chloe Burney, Carl Knott, Ben Marklew and Grant Wilkes

Ice Station Penwyllt

As ever, when we organise club weekends to South Wales Caving Club we always seem to pick the worst possible weather. This weekend was to prove to be no exception with overnight temperatures at minus 10 in the week below to ensure that the water supply at the club was frozen solid. With no showers, no flushing toilets and barely enough drinking water to keep the teapot filled, we had to melt snow for washing up.
The fire in the long common room lifted our spirits and two days of introductory trips were run for the benefit of the newer members. On Saturday a search for an overdue party and then on Sunday one of our groups nearly being locked in the cave when a gate lock failed added to an eventful weekend.

Top Entrance in the snow

Present: Keith Edwards, Mark Burkey, Jessica Harding, Dominik Mokrzecki, Mel Wakeman, Philip Lester, Brendan Marris, John Smith, Graham Smith, Chloe Burney, Carl Knott, Ben Marklew and Grant Wilkes

Ogof Ffynnon Ddu 2 - Pendulum Passage Helictites

Over a Christmas meal the idea of searching out and photographing an amazing array of helictites, last seen by Clive Westlake in the mid 70s was discussed. A trip was planned for January in the hope that Richards upper arm, broken in an August fall in Daren Cilau would have healed enough to allow him to go caving once again. With cakes baked, photo gear packed and video gear prepared we headed off to OFD2 and Pendulum Passage. Rachel was sporting a super bright DIY lamp and Richard was feeling fit enough to make this his first caving trip since the accident. The trip went like clockwork and we were soon climbing out of the OFD main Streamway and up into the lower reaches of Pendulum Passage. Some interesting climbs and routes through boulder collapses led to an area of long but mud encrusted helictites that we had photographed on a previous trip to this area in 2007. Alas on the previous trip we had not found our way through the boulder collapses beyond this area.
Keith pioneered the route and we were soon in the last 30m of passage where the finest arrays of helictites are located.

Keith viewing some of the helictites

Richard viewing some of the helictites

We split into two groups to photograph and video the helictites as the delicate formations are contained in narrow rifts and alcoves, after an hour, film had run out, batteries were dead and memory cards full, it was time to make our way back.

Keith viewing some of the helictites

Keith viewing some of the helictites

See more photos of OFD 2 here

Or watch the video


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

Eldon Hole - Derbyshire

Despite the horrendous gales on Saturday morning, the intrepid trio Graham, Mike & Em descended into Eldon Hole (although someone, who will remain nameless, got his north and south mixed up!). At times it was like being in a wind tunnel as we hung on the rope, but being a small team meant that we could at least move quicker. Afterwards, we headed to the new Derbyshire CRO HQ for a meeting and have got lots more ideas now!!

Present: Emma Porter, Mike Clayton and Graham Smith