1985-1986
As these were typed up in 2024, some (but likely not all) of the less "politically correct" descriptions of non-cave antics from the original reports have been omitted (typically sexist descriptions, occasionally racist epithets).
Mendip 11-13th October 1985
Dewi Lloyd, Harry Lock, Steve Lane, Dave Wilson, Jennie Gilbert, Chris Birkhead, Malcolm Barr, Ian Allen, Kath Bonnick, Paul Howlett, Andrew Whitaker, Tim Flack, Tim Hobson, Charlie Cawthorne, Helen Cawthorne, Chris Cawthorne
Manor Farm Swallet: Dave Wilson, Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Chris Birkhead, Kath Bonnick
Having squeezed and squashed everyone into various wetsuits/oversuit etc. we set off in the van with the Swildons lot being dropped off on route (and Steve + Jennie then going back to go down Swildons). Arrived at entrance which was laddered then we went on down an almost crawly mined tunnel (the entrance shaft is mined too, I think) (don't quote me on any of this - I didn't write it really!) past an assorted dump of cars etc. dumped thru' an old entrance I guess to the head of supposedly the 2nd ladder pitch. This was rigged on a bar across the head of the pitch. The ladder kept on going into a crack so this pitch and the next baby one were free climbed on the way back. (Chris and Malcolm also free climbed the entrance) We went right to the bitter end (amid a load of smelly 'orrible mud). Came out just as what seemed like hundreds (but in fact wasn't) of people went in.
Swildon's Hole x2 - the expedition!!: Harry Lock, Dewi Lloyd, Charlie Cawthorne, Jennie Gilbert, Steve Lane, Helen Cawthorne, Chris Cawthorne, Ian Allen, Paul Howlett, Tim Hobson, Andrew Whitaker
Sunday
Upper Flood Swallet: Jennie Gilbert, Steve Lane, J. Rat (BEC), Jonathan Roberts (MCG)
An excellent cave in terms of formations. Small entrance opens out into larger passage with superb calcite straws and stal. Have to keep very low to avoid destroying straws. Steve took a few photos. Short trip but good!
Jennie
GB: Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Dewi Lloyd, Kath Bonnick
As always, caving with Malcolm proved to be quite entertaining. He managed to drag us through the "Devil's Elbow" down to the streamway, the climb down being laddered for Tim and Kath with a non-existent belay. We proceeded on into the ladder extension, the wet crawl was even more disgusting than usual. On emerging in the breakdown passage, Malcolm and I disagreed on the route to "Bat Passage" so we went our separate ways. After crawling among the boulders for a time with Tim and Kath, Malcolm came rushing after us, declaring he had found the required passage. This got me very confused, so we all trudged back to discover that Malcolm had found the Main Chamber not Bat Passage. No complaints though as the chamber has some fine formations. We left the cave with no problems, Tim and Kath losing all faith in both of us!
Dewi
South Wales 18-20 Oct 85
Harry Lock, Katy Lock, Simon Seward, Rich Collcott, Niell Pattinson, Sarah-Jane hunt, James Puddicombe, Charlie Cawthorne, Chris Backhouse,Jason Connor, Natascha Wiesenthal, Peter Frost, Peter Churchill, Paul Wheeler
Met Charlie in Bridge
Saturday
OFD - Top Entrance to Maypole Inlet: Simon Seward, Neill Pattinson, Natascha Wiesenthal, James, Jason
A 'tourist excursion' to be remembered. The first few feet in darkness seemed promising, but it was decided by our "leaders" to have a holiday in the White Arch series. After that Jason decided to take over to take us down the Main Streamway - only minor hiccups eg Jason sitting on Niell's head. The rest slightly damp, but we returned in record time ending off the day with a llas bon (not bought - but the less said about that the better).
NW
Cwm Dwr - Confluence, Piccadilly: Richard Collcott, Harry Lock, Peter C, Peter F, Paul
Climbed down first 20-30 feet, almost vertical, by ladder, came fairly shortly to Dim Dwr, scrabble using ends of fingers and toenails for about 5 miles, or perhaps nearer 20 yards. Got to know tread pattern on Pete F's super steel 'wellies' fairly well by the time we emerged into a larger passage. Continued all the way down to Piccadilly via streamway from Smithy (instead of main dry passage). Climbed back to Smithy via different route and then we traced our steps after a couple of interesting navigational errors. Back through Dim Dwt, after which I was so knackered I wouldn't have gone back through it for a five (honest). Sum seemed extremely bright when I finally emerged in the sweet, cool air.
PC
Tunnel Cave/Cathedral Cave: Chris Backhouse, Charlie Cawthorne, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Katy Lock
After spending a while trying to locate the entrance pitch of cave, Chris rigged the 30ft ladder and we all descended into the DARK and mysterious depths below. The twisted ladder on the second 30ft pitch and the wire traverse above a considerable drop added new dimensions to my experience of caving. The rifts and crawls were easily tackled, the only problem being that occasionally the passage goes above you in order to bottom the cave. After going left (under strict instructions from our president!) at the main junction we explored Waterfall Cavern and many side passages. At the fourth attempt of trying to find the way down Chris insisted we backtracked through the rift and turned right. After a muddy slide and clibing down rifts we descended into Cathedral Cave much to the astonishment of visitors to the Show Cave - who are these strangely clad people and aren't they heros (and heroines!) have been through 'the most demanding and arduous cave in the Whole of Britain', lying on the other side of the wire mesh fence. We had a quick look at the atrociouties in the most pathehque show cave I have seen (really!) and Chris and Charlie went back and derigged in 55 minutes so we would get back to OFD and shower early.
Sarah
Sunday
Little Neath River Cave: Richard Collcott, Chris Backhouse, Simon Seward, Harry Lock, Charlie Cawthorne, Neill Pattinson, Sarah-Jane Hunt, Natascha Wiesenthal, Katy Lock
Basically it was cold, wet and horrible, and if I catch the bastard who trampled over me at 3.00a.m. on Saturday, he'll be swimming through the canal for the rest of his life (blame the driver not my handwriting).
Anon
I disagree with the above paragraph totally (well, the first line anyway). I thought this cave was BRIL, especially the first 20 yards, which were admittedly rather wet, but all the better for being so.
Before I went in I was warned of how wet it was and how much of a crawl it was. The thought was not exactly appealing! Then, just before we disappeared underground Natasha comes back out after only a couple of minutes complaining that she couldn't breath in cold water! My God! What had I let myself in for? A trip with Courageous Kate and Hunky Harry! The entrance was a shock - being totally submerged (except the head) in v cold water. It was exhilerating half floating downstream into the system. We followed the stream for a bit until we came to the flood by-pass where we turned up the rock flow. This led to a wide but low (~6") which killed my elbows. This eventually came out to the main stream bed via curiously shaped stalagtites. We then passed along the canal. The roof dipped toward the end leaving only a few inches between it and the roof - fortunately it hadn't rained lately. The climb out was very tiring - having to climb a waterfall and swim against a strong current. All in all a very enjoyable trip, being fairly short (about 2 hours) and led by our exuberant president. Thanks to Simon for the loan of his wetsuit which made the trip all the more enjoyable.
unknown
Sarah, Simon (+10 SouthWalesman points each)
Sadly Neill and Natascha turned back towards the end of the entrance series leaving me to explore the cave with Simon. We decided that the best approach was to move quickly through the cave so Simon in dry gear would not catch hypothermia and hopefully tell Chris and Charloe etc to go out quickly so Neill could come down with Harry. The cave was drier than I had expected after having several warnings about water levels from Dewi, Charlie. We crawled through flood by-pass and followed the river downstream dodging boulders and other cavers down there. Had the Whole of British Caving descended on Little Neath we wondered? We passaged Chris and Charlie and crawled down to the sump, they explored a very muddy side passage which was impossible to climb down without assistance. We backtracked passing a 'pseudo-Richard' who Simon kept shouting at and when Simon disappeared off I continued on, reaching what I thought was a duck, but in fact a 60ft sump without a line. Carried on upstream, swimming through the canal, looking at a possible dig and eventually surfacing into the cool afternoon sun. It was an excellent trip, highly recommendable (with a helmet which doesn't keep falling off) and fast, sociable and warm in a two.
Sarah
Rich, Chris, Charlie and other randoms
The hard A-team LNRC pushing group. In and out no fussing in this ace of caves.
Simon
Yorkshire 1-3 Nov NPC
Harry, Simon, Dewi, Dave, Chris, Malc, Pugh, Tim, Kath, John, Katy L, Roger Here, Steve Till, Mark
Good drive up, picked up Till and continued greenclose via Preston and Cryons - no surprises there. The hut was a complex conker competition and IC3 could only gawp and wish they were kids as well.
Simon
Sat
Rising with Dawn (nice girl but conversation limited) gave us plenty of time to waste sorting out the ropes.
Bull Pot: Simon Seward, Dewi Lloyd, Mark Bown, John Harrison
Late start ~11 am. Arrived at entrance to find several anchors had been removed. Simon rigged down to 4th pitch then I rigged. Very low water in cave so generally uneventful, apart from John's new abseil style / open descender! on 3rd pitch. 5th pitch quite narrow (so I let Simon do the rigging!).
Dewi
Roaring / Sunset (or 1/2 Sunset): Dave Wilson, Tim Flack, Malcolm Barr, Andrew Pugh
Arrived at Hill around 11.30, got changed (with Steve, Jen (from newly-arrived lane mobile), Chris, Katy who were doing Sunset (and possibly Roaring)). About to set off when AP asks 'OK, where's my helmet.' Found too few had been left in van / packed in London so had to get Roger to drive me to Alan's for a quick access job, with SRT gear and helmet etc on, causing much hilarity to the grockles there present. Caught up with others at Sunset entrance and walked to Roaring. Straightforward trip, with usual ICCC / Malc attitudes to lifelines (I carted our 1 line everywhere and we only used it 2 times). OK trip if you like damp boulders / mud. Took longer than expected, exiting too late to hope bottoming Sunset. Left gear at Roaring and set off to mess around in Sunset entrance until we found others. Got to entrance as it was going dark and set off down to get clean (I didn't succeed). Met others ascending 50' pitch, helped with lifelines and carried their gear out (other a quick trip down the pitch by MB who (for once) ued BOTH lfieline and ladder on ascent!). Eventually found Roaring entrance in dark to recover gear and walked down to find minor cockup on transport front, but at least we got our clothes straight away. Good trip, nobody killed.