Cwm Dwr....Easy Squeezy

Having arranged to meet up with Wal and Chloe at South Wales for half ten on Sunday morning, & as we were camping over the weekend, when my alarm went off I snuggled  back in to my duvet hitting the snooze button, ready for another half hour before venturing out of my nice warm bed. Alas this was not to be. Wal began banging on the side of the van at half nine… a full hour early!

Dragging myself from the comfort of my toasty bed, in to the drizzling rain, we headed to the hut for a cuppa and a quick breakfast before heading off.

Chloe was most impressed with the fact the entrance was virtually on the doorstep, though not as impressed with the climb down the entrance itself.

We were soon well on our way. Chloe took the cwm dwr squeeze and crawls in her stride and in no time we were in larger passage making our way down Cwm Dwr Jama and in to the boulder choke. Again this was navigated without issue and we were soon past the Smithy, through Piccadilly and at our objective of Heol Eira where we stopped for some photos.

Chloe admiring formations in Heol Eira

Helping Chloe up and down some of the climbs as we made our way back, Steve amused Chloe with tales of our previous exploits, telling her about a particular time in Giants when I used Steve as a set of steps to climb over some tighter passage and how his back hadn’t been the same since.

We were making our way toward main route when I decided it would be a great idea to dive in to a particularly tight and inviting set of boulders to explore. Head first, popping my ribs over the rocks as I dropped in to a small chamber, which didn’t actually go anywhere, I decided the only thing to do was turn around and pop back out. Unfortunately the chamber was just a little too small for me to turn and my helmet wedged with my left leg somewhere around my right ear. Cursing I realised the only way I was going to get out was to reverse, doing a hand stand and try to push up and squeeze through backward. Each time I tried this gravity got the better of me. Steve saw his chance to both assist and get his own back and dived on my exposed legs to stop me slipping back in the hole. Every time I got my hands in position I pushed up, squeezing myself backward and Steve would let off pressure to allow me to move and then pin down my legs to stop me sliding forward. Now I realise I probably left him with more bruises when I used him as a climbing frame, but for a small guy my legs can testify he definitely isn’t light!!!

With no further dramas we made our way back to the entrance which Chloe had been dreading. As it happened she needn’t have worried, it turned out her legs are the perfect length for the entrance tube and she had no trouble making her way out.

Present: Steve Wallis, Chloe Burney, Jessica Harding & Mark Burkey

OCAF - North-West Inlet - Wet One Number 2

After being suitably lubricated in Shakespeare's Cave we headed up the road to Ogof Craig A Ffynnon and to North-West Inlet where we could be assured of a real soaking. Water levels were low so there was plenty of airspace for those who appreciate the occasional breathe of air, but it was still up to our necks for most of the group. The wet bit goes on for quite a distance before the passage widens and the water levels drop. That special Craig A Ffynnon mud then replaces the water as we headed past some quite nice formations until we reached a massive boulder choke. Climbing the massive spoil pile we reached the end of the track of the railway dig, which was followed until the track ended and the route forwards was through boulders. Thoroughly covered in mud we headed back out taking a few photos of the dig and the formations in this passage.
With all objectives met on this well planned and well attended trip we called in at a Beefeater on the way back for food, refreshments and to meet with Rachel and Richard who had being running marathons up mountains.

Jessica at the entrance to North-West Inlet.

Mark at the big jawed teethy monster formation.

Mel at the end of the line - OCAF Railway Dig.

See more Ogof Craig A Ffynnon photos here

Present:
Jessica "Soaking Wet" Harding
Mark "Dripping Wet" Burkey
Brendan "Wet Dream" Marris
Andy "Slippery When Wet" Grimes
Mel "Mostly Moist" Wakeman
Wal "Wet Behind the Ears" Wallis
Keith "Face Like a Wet Weekend" Edwards

Shakespeare's Cave - Wet One Number 1

With some warmer weather here we decided to have a look at a couple of wet caves in the Clydach Gorge. The plan was to visit Shakespeare's Cave, a sporting little number in a tributary to the main gorge. At a little under 400m this would only take a couple of hours, so our plan was to visit Ogof Craig A Ffynnon in the afternoon and visit North-West Inlet while we were still kitted up in wetsuits.
Meeting at Luigis as befitting local custom, we had breakfast before heading off to the now closed Drum and Monkey pub at Blackrock to get kitted up for the caves. A comedy fashion show then took place as we pulled on our mysteriously shrinking wetsuits before we headed under the Heads of the Valleys road and down into the gorge. The weather had broken and it was raining lightly, but water levels were still low after such a long dry period. A couple of circuits of Shakespeare's Neighbours Cave were undertaken before we headed into the cave proper. We split into two groups - super fast sporty Ninja Cavers and following up the rear the Zimmer Frame Brigade encumbered with video and camera gear. The trip passed without much event, bar a challenge at the fifth duck which had silted up, some of the first group had turned back thinking this was the end of the cave. Mel led the way through the duck and Keith and Mark followed to complete the final section of streamway.
It was then out to find the next cave of the day.

Wal near the entrance to Shakespeare's Cave.

Wal near the entrance to Shakespeare's Cave.

See more Shakespeare's Cave photos here

Present:
Jessica "Soaking Wet" Harding
Mark "Dripping Wet" Burkey
Brendan "Wet Dream" Marris
Andy "Slippery When Wet" Grimes
Mel "Mostly Moist" Wakeman
Wal "Wet Behind the Ears" Wallis
Keith "Face Like a Wet Weekend" Edwards

The Columns and the Belgian buns

Sunday saw us doing another must in the system with a bank holiday trip to the beautiful Columns. The plan was to follow another group via the short route and then come back through the labyrinth, but Jess spent so long putting on her make up that we missed out on following anyone in.
Convinced we knew which way to go, we managed to explore every passage off big chamber before recognising the right route to Cairn Chamber. Here we began up a wet calcite passage and soon heard voices ahead.  The columns are magnificent and Keith had also mentioned not to miss the unusual mud stalagmites topped with pebbles at the entrance which again were something we had never seen before.
After a few photographs we made our way down the labyrinth and through to the base of Arete Chamber, down through the boulders and out via Salubrious.
At the top of the corkscrew boulder choke I wanted to find the other routes to Arete.  After spotting the climb up for the mid-section, we went off to find the top route. There we found a group of Belgians who thought they were making their way out, but were actually about to make their way across the top of Arete chamber & quite possibly down to the bottom of Arete chamber and squished like a bun, so we decided to lead them back out and save exploring further for another day.

Jess admiring the Columns

Present Mark Burkey & Jessica Harding

OFD Through Trip

Having been led around parts of the Ogof Ffynnon Ddu by Keith, Brendan & John on various forays, (& being totally baffled by the extensive passageways) the last couple of months have seen Jess and I frequently off to South Wales to try and piece together some of the numerous routes, culminating in our attempt at a through trip of the system this weekend.Getting to South Wales Saturday morning, we cooked ourselves a fry up and began picking people’s brains for tips on navigation in OFD 1 ½. Having done most of Top section and Cwm Dwr we were confident on their navigation, but had heard of people struggling to find the connection through to Boulder Chamber in OFD1. After lots of advice (none matching anyone else’s!) we decided that worst case scenario we could always re-trace our steps and go out Cwm Dwr.
Our route took us in top entrance, past White Arch, down Edwards Shortcut, Crossrift, Maypole inlet and in to the stream way.
Jess absolutely adores the big pots in the floor and was thrilled after the Great Oxbow that they seemed to be every few meters and gaining in diameter. At one particular pot, where I had to leap across, Jess decided enough was enough and it would just be easier to swim the rest.
After Marble Showers we were through the connection and up the divers pitch to the crawl where I had managed to go around in circles on a previous trip with Keith. It was fairly straight forward this time, with only one slight error where I came out at the old pitch head and had to back up to where Jess had found the letter box.
Posting ourselves through we were then in uncharted territory for us….well Jess has actually done a through trip from bottom to Cwm Dwr before, but as anyone who knows Jess can testify this wasn’t likely to be of much help.
We went off searching passageway for the way on & after a dead end soon found our way through to pwll twll, then on through a slot in the wall to a large drop. We had been advised that at this point we should turn around and look for a way down through some boulders to a safer route, which Jess spotted straight away. Again in a large chamber at the bottom we searched a couple of passage ways before deciding on the correct way through and were soon at the junction for the connection. I sat down and said to jess that I was sure we should have passed a very distinctive formation before the start of the connection and she laughed and pointed above my head and asked if it looked anything like the one above me…Doh!
After some very stunning passageway we soon popped out at the start of the boulder choke and having had a quick look at dip sump made our way through and into OFD1. A quick splash down the stream way and we were out having completed our objective. On something of a high we hardly noticed the walk back up the hill to the club.

Mark about to go through the letter box

Present Mark Burkey & Jessica Harding

Ogof Craig A Ffynnon

This was a well attended trip put on for the newer members and also to give trainee reporter Rebecca an insight into why we go caving. With closed motorways and and the lack of adjustment to British Summer Time we arrived somewhat late to the rendez-vous at Luigis in Abergavenny, where the team assembled and the comestibles were consumed. We headed up to the cave in glorious sunshine and were soon changed and heading underground. Ogof Craig A Ffynnon for those of you who don't speak Welsh translates as "Cave of the Bearded Ladies". After signing in the logbook, Mark and Jess headed off to rig the pitch up to the second boulder choke while we paused at Gasoline Alley to take a couple of photos with Rebecca.

Rebecca at the start of Gasoline Alley

Rebecca near North-West Inlet

A little faffing on the pitch followed and then we headed up and through the Second Boulder Choke. Water levels were very low in the cave and there was hardly any water flowing through Gasoline Alley and also the choke, so we stayed quite dry. Descending from the Second Boulder Choke to the lower passage beyond we encountered the mud, which was as gruesome as ever, wellies were lost in the quagmire and Brendan lunged at Jess after allegedly slipping on the mud. Again we paused for a couple of photos alongside the fantastic calcite formations which are a marked contrast to the mud in this section of the cave.

Rebecca viewing the formations after the Second Boulder Choke

From here we headed to the start of Travertine Passage and the route into the Hall of the Mountain King. It was now time for Mark to meet his Nemesis as see if two stone lost on his diet would allow him to pass through the squeeze in Hurricane Highway and passage into the Severn Tunnel. He made it and most of the group followed for a short distance before we regrouped and headed back out. A final photo taken at the formations with Chloe sporting a fine mud beard.

Chloe viewing the formations after the Second Boulder Choke

See more photos of Ogof Craig A Ffynnon here or see the video by clicking below.



Present: Graham Smith, Keith Edwards, Mark Burkey, Jessica Harding, Brendan Marris, Phil Lester, Chloe Burney and Rebecca Carr.

Waterfall Cave - Attack of the Mutant Ninja Spiders

Well what can we say except...

We do these caves so you don't have to.

Another classic on the Marris Edwards tour itinerary. This was a visit to photograph the cave as it may be affected by the planned improvements on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road. The cave runs from Blackrock Quarry, under the Blackrock Road and ends under the Heads of the Valleys dual carriageway. Only 100m of passage and most of this a sharp crawl that leads into a sizeable chamber. The highlight of the trip was the Meta Menardi spiders that inhabit the entrance passages. A short visit to Ogof Rhaeadr Ddu, a walk up the hill and an Ogof Lluigi through trip followed.

Keith in Siambri Pen Y Mochyn Chamber.

See more Waterfall Cave photos here

Present: Brendan Marris and Keith Edwards