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Out and about with Dudley
Caving Club
Some
trips and events which took place in July, August and September 2003
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Dan Yr Ogof, Swansea Valley, South Wales
Saturday 12th July 2003
The standard Round Trip to The
Rising to re-acquaint Graham with the system. Water levels
were very low.
Keith in a fantastic phreatic tube just
after the lakes
Present:
KEd, BMa & GSm
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OFD 2, Penwyllt, South Wales
Saturday 12th July 2003
A meander around Top Entrance
mainly for the benefit of Andy and new member Mike Noble. A good
time was had by all until Mr. Smith decided to take the party across the
top of Arête Chamber!
Present:
AGr, ASt, MNo & JSm
Brickworks
Dig, Penwyllt, South Wales
Sunday 13th July 2003 More remedial work on dig. All of
the infill from the collapse has now been cleared and the floor
re-exposed in the side passage below the railway track. We are
ready now for the push forward.
John clearing the side passage |
Keith demonstrating the re-exposed floor
in the side passage |
Present: RBr, KEd, BMa,
ASt, GSm & JSm
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Sidetrack Cave, Eldon Hill Quarry,
Derbyshire
Saturday 19th July 2003
A lovely three hour trip in a newly
discovered classic Derbyshire cave. For those who had the
opportunity and decided not to take it, you missed a good trip. We
must go back and take some more photos!
Present:
KEd & BMa |
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Otter Hole,
Chepstow
Wednesday 23rd July 2003
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Dave Bowdley on the phone at the cave
entrance |
Muddy gear courtesy of Otter's famous
entrance series |
The following team assisted in the rescue
of an injured caver from this system.
Present:
DBo, MCl, KEd, EPo, GSm & JSm
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Swildons Hole,
Priddy, Mendips
Saturday 26th July 2003
Present:
MCl, EPo and others
Box Mines, Bath
Sunday 27th July 2003
A well-preserved crane
Present:
MBa, RBr, MCl, BMa, EPo and others
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Cwmorthin Slate Mine
Wednesday 30th July 2003
The Team
A nice walk around Cwmorthin Slate Mine
to see if Mike could remember the route after his recent visit with
Shropshire C.C.. Lucky for us he remembered most of it but I have yet to
see the canteen.
Present:
PAn, AGr & MNo
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OFD 1, Penwyllt, South Wales
Sunday 3rd August 2003
The Round Trip plus Boulder
Chamber and the Waterfall Series as an introduction to caving
for new member Seb.
Present:
SBa, DBo, JDu, JEd & KEd
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P8,
Sparrowpit, Derbyshire
Saturday 9th August 2003
To Sump One in very dry
conditions. The first time I had done the second stream pitch.
Left the ammo box at the bottom and had to go back down. Seb
showed Brendan and me up on the climbs - not a wise thing for novices to
do!
Present:
SBa, BMa & KEd + Ambar, Bill, Mark, Paul & Jenny from
WMCEG
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Ogof Cnwc,
Llangattock Escarpment, South Wales
Sunday 31st August 2003
A photographic trip into Busman's Holiday.
Seb and Clive in Busman's Holiday
Present:
SBa & BMa + CHa and CWe from WMCEG
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Rescue Practice,
Wet Sink, Gloucestershire
Saturday 6th September 2003 The
Gloucester Cave Rescue Group hosted this practice from the end of
East Stream Passage in Wet Sink. EPo, MCl and GSm went
underground on the first stretcher party whilst JSm wandered about in
the hell hole of a field bathed in sunshine talking on the Heyphone.
This was followed by a great barbecue. Great Forest hospitality as ever.
Present:
MCl, EPo, GSm & JSm
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Pant Mawr Pot, South Wales
Saturday 13th September 2003
Seb Ballard in the Chapel
We'd forgotten a) how long the walk is
and b) just how pretty the cave is. We used SRT to descend the
entrance pitch (SBa's first SRT trip) and two brave souls (Ked & BMa)
explored part of the Fire Hydrant series.
Present:
SBa, KEd, BMa, GSm, JSm & ASt
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Brickworks Dig, Penwyllt, South Wales
Sunday 14th September 2003
A very tired (from the previous day's caving and
walking) digging team cleared a lot of the infill from the pile by the
dig face.
BMa & GSm took the first underground shift and KEd & ASt the second one.
The rift straight ahead shows no signs of opening out lower down.
The right-hand rift still needs further investigation.
Present: MBo,
KEd, BMa, GSm, JSm & ASt
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Long Rake Spar Mine at Youlgreave,
Derbyshire
Sunday 21st September 2003
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One of the levels |
It had been some time since this old Spar mine had been visited, and
minor details such as location of the mine, number of pitches,
lengths of rope and routes had faded into distant memory. All
assumed someone else knew the mine. Unfortunately someone else was
sat at home with his leg in plaster.
We only had enough rope for the first two pitches and
so had to return to the surface and follow the walk in level to the
rake.
A few hours were spent exploring tunnels on different
levels, occasionally breaking out into the stopes.
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Present: SBa, MCl, BMa, Epo & GSm |
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Knotlow Cavern, Near Monyash,
Derbyshire
Sunday 28th September 2003
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Mike Noble ascending the Climbing Shaft |
A practice SRT trip in preparation for Juniper Gulf
next month saw an almost record turnout of club members. We all
descended the Climbing Shaft and proceeded along the coffin level
to Four Ways Junction where bad air forced a hasty retreat.
Most then attempted the long slog back up the 210' Engine Shaft. |
Seb Ballard in a coffin level |
Present: PAn, SBa, MCl, KEd, BMa, MNo & GSm |
Photographic Credits: All photos by Brendan
Marris, except: Muddy Gear - Keith Edwards, Otter Hole - BBC, Cwmorthin - Andy Grimes.
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