Rachael White ascending Centipede Pot

Lost Johns Cave, Leck Fell, Yorkshire
Saturday 14th July 2007

With the amount of rain that had fallen of late, and was still falling as we set off, the only possible route down the cave was via the dry pitches: Hammer, Mud Pot, Centipede, Candle and Shistole.
We looked along Battle-Axe Traverse and heard the water thundering below before setting off back up the pitches.
When we surfaced after about four and a half hours the rain has stopped and the sun was sunning.  Definitely a system to return to.

The Team: KeEd  & BrMa + Colin, Rachael and Richard from WMCEG

Rachael White ascending Mud Pot

Derek Robertson in the Great Oxbow

The Great Oxbow Series, OFD2, Penwyllt, South Wales
Sunday 29th July 2007

A trip to a very pretty part of the cave along with a short excursion to explore passages between the corkscrew climb and Swamp Creek.  Rigging the sky-hook pitch provided entertainment for several minutes, but it was well worth the effort as the photos show.

The Team: KeEd, BrMa, MaRo, DeRo & ChWe

Derek Robertson in the Great Oxbow

Gaping Gill Main Chamber


Derek Robertson Hensler's Stream Passage

Gaping Gill, Clapham, Yorkshire
Sunday 19th August 2007

After a trip down the Main Shaft courtesy of the Craven Pothole Club winch, the route we followed was:
Mud Hall (to experience the mud traverses), Mud Hensler's Crawl (to show Del wat real caving is all about), Hensler's Stream Passage (very nice), Hensler's Passage, The Blow Hole (an entertaining squeeze), New Hensler's Crawl, bottom of Bar Pot, Sand Cavern, some of North West Extension (more mud) and back to the Main Chamber for a ride out.

The Team: KeEd, BrMa & DeRo

Derek Robertson Hensler's Stream Passage

Derek Robertson Hensler's Stream Passage

Keith Edwards in Dali's

Dan Yr Ogof, South Wales
Monday 27th August 2007

Having completed many trips in DYO neither Marris nor Edwards had ever managed to visit a area of the system known as Dali's Delights.  This situation was rectified on this trip.  The route to Dali's involves going through the lower series to the Abyss after the Long Crawl.  A rope climb near to the Abyss leads up to this region of the cave which is renowned for its rock sculptures.  The area also has a number of very tall avens.

The Team: KeEd & BrMa

Keith Edwards in Dali's

Brendan rigging the West Wall

Eldon Hole, Derbyshire
Wednesday 29th August 2007

This was arranged as a SRT training trip for Mr Webb, who unfortunately couldn't make it on the day - something called 'work' got in the way.
Marris and Edwards decided to carry on anyway as we both needed to do some shopping for new shinny caving gear as well as needing to bush up our SRT skills.
We descended the main shaft and also ascended the inner chamber, but decided against ascending Damocles Rift.
Brendan rigged and de-rigged which meant that Keith got to use his camera!
You will notice that Brendan is sporting his new caving helmet and speleo lighting system.  Keith is sporting his new over-suit but as Brendan is a less experienced photographer than Keith he seems to have got him in silhouette!

The Team: KeEd & BrMa

Brendan rigging the West Wall

Keith ascending the West Wall

Chris Webb in Shale Chamber, OFD 2

Tunnel Cave and OFD 2, South Wales
Saturday 1st September 2007

Chris and myself took the opportunity to join the WBCRT practice in Tunnel Cave. Four hours were spent bringing a casualty through the cave and then out of the show cave.
After having ice cream and tea, Chris and myself headed up to Top Entrance to search out and explore the Bedding Chambers.

The Team:    BrMa & ChWe

The Dig Team - Sunday 16th September 2007
Left to Right - Chris Webb, Keith Edwards (rear), Heather Simpson, Derek Robertson, John Smith

Brickworks Dig, Penwyllt, South Wales
Weekend 15th/16th September 2007

We have started to back-fill some of the passage as well as removing the railway track from the main sump pool and partially filled it in.
The dig is now about 3 feet longer - we have begun to dig out below the arch that we discovered last time.  It is also a few feet deeper.
More details on the dig page.

The dig team:    KeEd, BrMa, DeRo, HeSi (Sun only), JoSm & ChWe + Piers from SWCC (Sat only)

Jessica at a re-belay being supervised by Emma

Basic SRT training
Sunday 30th September 2007

Some basic SRT training was provided by Mike and Emma at Total Access, including going up, going down and changeovers.

Those who took part: MiCl, EmPo, AnGr, HeSi, JeHa & JaHa