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

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

Giants Hole Round Trip

This trip was originally arranged for a friend of mine, but unfortunately he couldn’t come. So that left me all alone with three women, luckily I had been caving with them in the past so I knew what to expect and we all had a good laugh. Now for some reason Heather and Jess decided to duck down into the water going threw the vice, which seemed a bit strange to me as they aren’t exactly on the large side, and we all got a good soaking as Jess came down the steel ladder and the water sprayed off her back which set us all off laughing again. Now the rope climbs were fairly amusing, especially as Heather's “dangly bits” (her tackle bag) got tangled up in the hand line making it a bit awkward for her to stand up at the top, and the water level in the wind pipe was fairly low so there was no danger of drowning in there either. The calcite boss on the traverse was a bit off fun, watching them all come through head first, staring straight down to the water below, with an anxious look on there faces. That was it then, just the ladder to go and we where out, now have a guess whose “dangly bits” got in the way again at the top of the pitch, while I was there getting soaked making sure she was safe on the life line. Not to worry it was all good fun……. 

The Team: AnGr, JeHa, HeSi & MeWa

Ogof Yr Ardd

A return to this "collectors' item" to see if this time we could get to the sump at the end of the cave which is not suitable for cavers of the larger variety. We didn't get to the sump.

Chris traverses in the passage that approaches the pitch.

Keith traverses in the passage that approaches the pitch.

Chris in the meandering lower rift passage.

Chris in the lower streamway.

See more Ogof Yr Ardd photos here 

The Team: KeEd, BrMa & ChWe