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Out and about with Dudley
Caving Club
Some
trips and events which took place in January, February and March 2006
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Dan Yr Ogof, South
Wales
Saturday 7th January 2006
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Jason at the crystal pool |
A photographic trip to the crystal pool. We also
attempted the climb to Dali's Delight, but came to the conclusion
that we needed prussic gear. On the way out we explored some of
the side passages in the lower series.
Present: JCa, KEd & BMa |
Jason at the crystal pool |
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OFD 1, Penwyllt,
South Wales
Saturday 14th January 2006
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Dee at the end of the Escape Route |
A novice trip mainly for the benefit of Bill's sword
fighting chums. As the water in the streamway was sportingly high
we decided to go up the Escape Route instead. Some of the party
made it as far as Pi Chamber while the rest of us had a rest in the
small chamber before the chimney climb. Back at the streamway we
found that the water level had dropped so we had a little play in the
water before coming out.
Present: JDu, KEd & BMa + from WMCEG Bill & Ed + Ed's
friend Derek + Dave, Dee & Harriet from Bill's sword fighting club |
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OFD 2, Penwyllt,
South Wales
Sunday 15th January 2006
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Derek at the Judge |
A tourist trip into Top Entrance taking in the Big
Chamber, Salubrious, Cross Rift, Shatter Pillar, Selanite Tunnel,
Trident Judge and Swamp Creek.
Present: JDu & BMa + from WMCEG Bill + Ed's friend Derek + Dee &
Harriet from Bill's sword fighting club |
Harriett at the Judge |
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Wapping
mine / Cumberland Cavern, Derbyshire
Saturday 21st January 2006
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Mell in Wapping Mine |
It's not often that experienced cavers end up looking
like idiots, but that is what happened to us when we took 'Mell' who had
never been underground before on a taster trip into Wapping
Mine/Cumberland Cavern.
We decided she could lead – big mistake and she was off like a whippet
leaving Pete and me puffing and panting like a pair of old steam trains.
So just to get our own back we took her to Jug Holes to practice SRT on
the 40ft shaft – s**t that still never slowed her down.
Well done Mell you can come again ????
Present: PAn & AGr + Mell |
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Brickworks Dig,
Penwyllt, South Wales
Weekend 28th/29th January 2006
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The water was at 'normal level' with only a foot of so of
water in the extension passage. Pumping took less than an hour.
It was found that several tons of infill had fallen out of the roof of
the cross rift exposing the ceiling and about 6 feet of passage to the
right - not in the direction we want to go but another 6 feet for the
survey nevertheless.
More ...
Present: KEd, MCa, BMa, MNo, GSm, JSm, ASt + Garry from
SWCC |
John Smith in front of the dig face |
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Peak Cavern,
Castleton, Derbyshire
Sunday 29th
January 2006
Present: DBo, ACr, MCl, EPo & DWi |
Giants Hole,
Castleton, Derbyshire
Saturday 11th
February 2006
Present: SAn, BMa & CWe |
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P8 (Jackpot),
Castleton, Derbyshire
Saturday 18th
February 2006
After Mell's first caving trip into Wapping Mine, it
was quickly decided a step up the ladder was needed, so a trip to p8 was
arranged, a short but potentially sporting cave given the right
conditions.
The conditions were perfect, an ice covered entrance with copious
amounts of water entering the system, but Mell did well negotiating the
ladder climb and the SRT pitch in very wet conditions. Did she get wet –
very. Did she get cold – yes, but did she enjoy herself, well this
is a quote from Mell as she exited the cave, "When can we go again?"
- enough said I think.
Present: PAn, AGr, MNo & MWa |
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Swildons Hole,
Priddy, Somerset
Sunday 19th
February 2006
A trip for the club novices to the sump and back.
Party 2 also took in the first part of the 'Short Round Trip' via
Tratman's Temple to the first of the 'Troubles' which was completely
sumped. Peter was the only one brave enough to dive the sump.
Derek at the bottom of the ladder pitch |
Derek at Sump 1 |
Peter at Sump 1 |
Derek at the double pots |
Present: Party 1 - MCl, EPo & DeWi + Dave from Wolverhampton.
Party 2 - KEd, PLi, BMa, JRa & DRo |
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Peak Cavern,
Castleton, Derbyshire
Sunday 26th
February 2006
Keith Edwards at the Bung waterfall |
A trip through the infamous Colostomy Crawl
into Speedwell then via Whirlpool Chamber to Main
Rising followed by a look at the pitch at Cliff-hanger then
the lower reaches of the Lower Bung Streamway pausing only to
take some photos at the Bung Waterfall - all in relatively high
water conditions.
Verdict: - tiring and wet.
Present: KEd & BMa |
Keith Edwards at the Bung waterfall |
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GCRG Rescue Practice, Miss Grace's
Lane,
Tidenham Chase, Chepstow
Saturday 4th
March 2006
Several scenarios were investigated on the day mainly
involving stretcher handling in the pitch bypass crawls. MCl & EPo
worked on moving a stretcher from the first chamber through the
connecting crawl and up the scaffolded climb, the rest of the DCC
members investigated rigging the traverses below the third pitch and the
pitch itself.
Present: From DCC: - MCl, KEd, BMa, EPo + Dave from Wolverhampton |
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Rescue Practice,
Secret Underground Location in the Midlands
Sunday 5th
March 2006
A scenario involving two causalities - both stretcher
cases. In total four awkward pitches needed rigging for rescue
including a haul up a cliff face.
A very successful day.
Present: PAn, MBa, DBo, RBr, MCa, MKa, ACr, KEd, AGr, BMa, MNo,
EPo, GSm, JSm, Ast & CWe + Dave from Wolverhampton & members of SCMC |
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P8
(Jackpot), Sparrowpit, Derbyshire
Sunday 19th March 2006
No trip report available.
Present: MCl, EPo & DeWi |
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Brickworks Dig,
Penwyllt, South Wales
Saturday 25th March 2006
The water slightly higher than
'normal level'.
Pumping took nearly all day. When we got to the bottom of the
extension passage it was noted that more infill had fallen out of the
roof and had washed down to the dig face. Also by this time the
rain which had started when we started pumping had set in for the day
and was falling heavily. More .....
Present: KEd, BMa, GSm, JSm, ASt & CWe |
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OFD2,
Penwyllt, South Wales
Sunday 26th March 2006
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Chris Webb at the Frozen River |
This was to have been a digging day, but the weather
decided that this was not to be so - see dig page. Adrian, Graham
and John left to browse the bookshops in Hay on Wye and Brendan and
Keith would have liked to have joined them, but the new boy pleaded with
us to take him caving so a short trip in top entrance was hastily
arranged. The route included Big Chamber, Bagpipe
Chamber, Aręte Chamber, Edwards Short Cut, Frozen
River, Shatter Pillar, Selenite Tunnel, The Trident
and Judge.
Present: KEd, BMa & CWe |
Chris Webb in Bagpipe Chamber |
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Photographic Credits: All pictures by Brendan
Marris except Wapping Mine by Andy Grimes
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