I've not posted a blog for a while, lack of time, energy, motivation.. or all three - sorry
This post in a an end of year summary of caving trips. I had a few goals at the start of the year. To take more responsibility for cave navigation, to take Emma caving some more and to learn some rope work. I won't go on about it too much as those who know me know I do enough of that anyway, but not having a car and needing childcare to go caving always means it takes me forever to learn something and despite having been caving a few years now I'd still class myself as a total novice which makes me sad.
Emma's been on a number of easy caving trips, she'd be capable of harder but I'm not a capable leader to take her into the bigger more exciting systems. We started the year off doing a freezing Ogof Clogwyn trip (not sure why we thought January would be a good idea for this!) Later on in the year we did Eglwys Faen, Swildon's Hole, Hunters Lodge Inn Sink, Try Caving with the YSS, Goatchurch and Loxton Cave. She probably enjoyed Swildon's the best, she liked all the water and formatons. I love how kids notice all the things you normally don't give a second thought. She also did a very good job at pointing out fossils I'd not noticed before. She loved getting to descend into a cave via a rope with the YSS for the first time and was impressed with the formations in HLIS
We also enjoyed a day underground with Go Below doing one of their mine adventure trip. Emma enjyoed laughing at me nearly bailing out of an abseil!
Emma in Goatchurch drainpipe
Ogof Clogwyn
Eglwys Faen
Ladder in HLIS
Formations HLIS
Very muddy post HLIS
Long dry pretty way Swildon's - big smiles
Loxton Cave
Try caving with the YSS
We also went on the Gaping Gill winch which was blooming scary. So proud of Emma for going for it. I kept my eyes open too!
Aside from kiddy caving I also went caving with my Dad for the first time ever. He caved for a long time before I was born and sometime after. He's been to the end of many cave systems and dig some digging in his time. He quit caving before I was old enough to join in. Hunters Lodge Inn Sink is a cave next to the pub (Hunters Lodge) which was found during the foot and mouth crisis when cavers weren't able to go caving due to having to cross non accessible land to get to the caves. They asked the landlord if they could dig in the car park where they could see water sinking. The cave is a very pretty cave and my Dad having spent many post caving trips in the Hunters was keen to see it. It was good being able to take my Dad caving and to show him I knew what I was doing.
Dad
This year was my first visit to Eastwater cave. Virtually ever caver I'd ever met had told me horrible stories about it, even my Dad described the oppressive feeling of the black rock. I REALLY didn't like the boulder choke, but aside from that found it an enjoyable cave. I'd really like to return next year (if I can find anyone to join me..) to see more of it.
We had a few trips to Fairy Quarry Caves (during the summer when the bats weren't sleeping). First was an easy trip into Hilliers. I had no camera so stole Dave's and took some photos. Short of trip ideas another evening Tim, Steve and I returned to the cave with the intention of getting to the Red Room. I led most the way (navigation success hooray, it is virtually linear though..). We spent a fair amount of time taking photos and plan was to exit via fairy. Tim went through the duck with the final words of he wasn't coming back through it. I tried to go through a few times but couldn't do it, so the group had to split up with Steve and I returning through Hillers at a fair pace as I was soaked. Pretty cross with myself for bailing out. Despite doing tons of outdoor swimming the temp of the water made me go into cold shock and I couldn't get my breath to go through the duck despite sitting in it for a long time trying to catch it. I intend to return in the summer and defeat some of those demons.
I think this is my fave cave photo I've ever taken - Hilliers
We had 3 trips to Lional's Hole also - a Burrington Combe cave notorious for being hard to navigate. Thankfully Tim had been there before and had some of the route figured out. After our second introductory trip we returned with Tim and successfully did the round trip - after lots of dead ends and explores. It's one of those caves you really don't want to look up in - lots of boulders carefully balanced on each other above your head.. Lots of loose rock under foot in the cave too so you have to be careful not to knock anything on anyones head. We returned again and re did the round trip, Steve was pleased he remembered the way, and I was pleased we didn't get our companion stuck in any of the squeezes.
The survey doesn't always make complete sense
My Welsh cave tally is still very low, a trip into Ogof Cnwc happened early on in the year. In November I got to see the Aggie Steamway for the first time which was very exciting and impressive. I really hope to revisit the cave more next year. We had a summer trip to Little Neath Cave which I loved. I was suffering from a bad bad though on the trip and all the stooping nearly killed me. I managed to go flying tripping on a rock in the streamway too (my first big cave fall) I came away with just a bruised ego thankfully. I guess with the Welsh caves it's always a bit of a dilemma as it's really a weekend trip, and my mountain trips tend to be on the weekends so it's a toss up of what to do. I'd like to learn some of the routes in OFD next year and also visit Daren which I've not been in either.
Aggie streamway formations
We've had a few club celebration trips too - we went to the bitter end of Goatchurch for Jennie's Birthday. Candles on a squashed muffin were had.
Formations in Goatchurch? Yes!
After much pestering we had a club Christmas trip in the Swildon's Upper Series - sickness and work took out half the club but those of us who showed up had a good time. Crackers, mulled wine, mince pies, charades and carols were all had
I took my partner Mike caving a few times too. We visited some of the Burrington Caves and also did Swildons Upper Series to the top of the 20 and back. He enjoyed this. We then (tried to) do Ogof Nant Rhin - the combination of tight entrance, scaffolding and stream to pull yourself through put Mike off and despite a few attempts he decided it wasn't for him. On the plus side of things I am now very comfortable with with the entrance series of the cave having been through it a number of times. I will be returning next year to see the cave proper and take some photos. We ended up taking off our oversuits and drying round the other side of the valley to do Clogwyn. My resounding memory of the day is being cold, very cold! Then the gloriousness of the fire and tea and biscuits in the Lamb and Flag made it all better..
Ivan, Scott, Steve and I also had a Sunday bimble in GB visiting some of the bits we'd not gone before. It was good to cave on a Sunday rather than as an evening trip as we would go at a much slower pace, and have a catch up as we'd not caved together for a while. The leftover Pizza I had in my helmet caused much amusement (jealousy I think!)
I had a brief trip to Rods Pot where again I showed my fear of heights hadn't totally gone and refused to climb down something. As previously mentioned in the blog there were too Epic-y Swildon's trips and lessons were learned. Do not leave your car keys under a tussock (Steve). Make sure you take a novice somewhere easier before Swildon's even if they sound like they have experience and will cope.
It's been very wet in the South West this year, we had a bit of a tricky drive to the Mendips in the rain one evening. The stream which is normally a trickle and had turned into a raging torrent taking over the footpath, heading over the road and raging into Avelines Hole. On the plus side we did make it into Sidcot Swallet and Scott conquered his Nemesis the Lobster Pot. We failed to make it to the end of the cave, the way on being filled with water and none of fancying bailing it esp with more water dripping into the cave.
This is the footpath
Go Scott!
Water gushing into Avelines
I've probably forgotten trips, all in all a good years caving. New years cave resolutions:
- Actually get to practice rope work in a cave situation
- Visit: Daren, Charterhouse Cave, Route find in OFD (taking Emma there too), Route finding in Aggie (taking Emma there when learn't) explore Eastwater some more, do the ruddy duck in Fairy photograph the Crystals in Welsh's Green Swallet
- Cave in Yorkshire
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