Other Sites and Blogs – Darkness Below

We can’t hope to bring you every story, but there are plenty of caving and mining blogs out there you can browse at your leisure – so have a read through some of the best! If you know of a blog you’d like us to add to this page please let us know.

Clicking on a story will open a new tab and take you to the original story.

14th December

Vince, Tav, Brockers, Jake, and Jon A bit of tidying up of the spoil heap, packing ‘dried’ bags ready for refilling while waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. Underground beyond Trick or Treat, my turn to dig, Tav also did some digging while clearing filled bags, Brockers and Jake alternated positions moving … Continue reading ...
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INCIDENT 85/2024. DECEMBER 11th WED. 09:24 hrs. MALHAM COVE, MALHAM, NORTH YORKSHIRE.

NYP requested CRO’s assistance after a member of the public found a person at the base of the cove believed to be deceased. Following confirmation from the Police that this was a fatality, team members assisted with the evacuation of the deceased ...
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30th November

Vince, Jon, Jake, Nick, and Tav Another earlier start at the cave entrance to continue with some wall-building. Added all available rock to the western spoil heap wall creating more dumping space. Just about finished as the team arrived. Underground, Jon digging beyond Trick or Treat with Jake lending assistance, me and Nick provided support … Continue reading ...
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30th November

7 awesome YouTube channels for cave, rock and fossil fans

While checking out my socials recently I came across this post from Stump Cross Caverns. I was flattered to see that my YouTube channel features in the list and I smiled when I discovered what is their favourite Caver Keith video. Can you guess what it ...
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MCR Quiz Night 18th January 2025

Following on from the enjoyable quiz last year, Mendip Cave Rescue will be running another Cavers Quiz Night at the Hunters Lodge Inn, Priddy on Saturday 18th January 2025, starting at 19:30. As in previous years, all questions will be (vaguely) caving ...
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David and the Wolf: A Cautionary Tale

In days of old, when knights were bold And monsters didst abound; One spirited squire, to glory aspired And thought to seek it underground. Though eager, tis true, the squire he knew To rush in upon dangers beneath Would swiftly wend to a most stick ...
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In which Dave finds himself in a tight spot

"Show me the route into the Prokofiev Series", he said ...
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Return to Aquamole – Hidden Earth 2024 Video Salon Winning Film

This 10 minute edit of my film Return to Aquamole was placed first in the Video Salon at Hidden Earth 2024. The complete film was premiered in the Underground Session at the Kendal Mountain Festival on Friday 22nd November 2024.In 1974 legendary c ...
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23rd November

Vince Brockers, Jake, Jon, Nick, and Mike Got on with some wall building (surface) until the team arrived – wanted to create some space for spoil dumping. Underground, Brockers digging beyond Trick or Treat aided by Jon. Jake cleared pulled the spoil up the slope, and across the chamber to the ‘hump’ where it was … Continue reading ...
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Bailing out on Mendip…

Team: Bob Clay, Paul Collier, Alex Hannam, Duncan Hornby, Barbara Lane, Arwel Roberts & Claire VivianDates: 16-17th November 2024.FridayThis was a special evening trip to see the amazing Wells Carnival. It is one of the largest illuminated carnival ...
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INCIDENT 84/2024. NOVEMBER 22nd FRI. 10.05 hrs. HUMPHREY BOTTOM, INGLEBOROUGH, INGLETON, NORTH YORKSHIRE.

A walker (m, 48) slipped on ice on the path up Humphrey Bottom to Ingleborough, sustaining a suspected hip injury. The first team members to arrive at the casualty site found that he was just being loaded into an air ambulance, so the team stood down. ...
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INCIDENT 83/2024. NOVEMBER 21st THU. 12.31 hrs. Nr RUNSCAR CAVE, RIBBLEHEAD, INGLETON, NORTH YORKSHIRE.

A caving instructor (m, 43) slipped on frozen turf after exiting Runscar Cave and sustained a lower leg injury. Having ensured the safety of the client group, the other instructors set up a group shelter for their colleague and called for help. Team me ...
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INCIDENT 83/2024. NOVEMBER 21st THU. 12.31 hrs. Nr RUNSCAR CAVE, RIBBLEHEAD, INGLETON, NORTH YORKSHIRE.

New research explores volcanic caves, advancing the search for life on Mars

Through the intricate study of lava tubes -- caves formed following volcanic eruptions when lava cools down -- an international team of researchers has uncovered clues about Earth's ancient environments that could be significant in the search for life ...
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16th November

Vince, Brockers, Jon, Jake, Nick, and Tav Early to the cave to get to work with plugs and feathers, beyond Trick or Treat, to reduce another large boulder extracted by Jake last weekend. Just packing kit away as the team arrived. Rocks were hauled up and out of the way, then digging was underway. I … Continue reading ...
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OFD1: Round Trip and Waterfall Series

The plan for today was to do the OFD1 Round Trip, with the Waterfall Series tacked on for good measure. Having done most of her caving in Yorkshire, this was to be Phoebe's second trip to South Wales. As a classic introduction to OFD, this trip seemed ...
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ALERT ONLY, NOVEMBER 13th WEDS 12.55hrs, CRUMMACKDALE, AUSTWICK, NORTH YORKSHIRE. ALERT No 7 OF 2024

The Team were alerted by North Yorkshire Police after they had been contacted by a passing walker to a possible incident. The man had seen, from a distance, a hound (which was part of a pack being trailed on Studrigg Scar) apparently tumbling down a s ...
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