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.
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Incident 61/2017 – Aug. 24th Thu. 23.03 – Horton in Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire – Mountain Rescue.
A group of three walkers (m,30, m,11 m,6) and dog were reported overdue from their camp-site in Horton, having set out at 12.30 to do some unspecified part of the Three Peaks Walk and with only water and sweets to sustain them. By chance, the Duty Controller’s wife had seen such a group two hours earlier, walking along the road near Selside, in the dark and with inadequate lights. ...
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Walking and trampolines
19-20 August 2017 Team: Toby Dryden, Duncan Hornby, Barbara Lane and Claire Vivian A super fast journey up to North Wales by Toby, Barbara and ...
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19th August 2017
With Brockers, Tav, Nick and Jonathon. Carried-up the replacement skips and hauling rope that I had sorted during the week. I headed-up to the end to start clearing the debris, while Tav headed-off into the lower series for sound testing. Nick and Jo ...
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Caves in an Ancient Land – 17th ICS Conference, Australia
It was never going to be cheap, but it sure was a lot of fun! Two members of SWCC (Claire Vivian and Duncan Hornby) headed to Australia in July for the 17th ICS conference. We also attended the pre- and post- conference excursions (i.e. 2 weeks of caving with local cavers!). Our first stop was Margaret River, south of Perth.
The caves are hot in Western Australia and get hotter as you go further in! Lightweight overalls a must, often stripping down to just a t-shirt. Fortunately caving is relatively easy with few technical aspects.
We visited 7 caves during the Margaret River excursion, with the jewel in the crown being Easter Cave; incredible formations from start to end and we were only allowed to see half of the cave! Below are a few photos that came out best and don’t do justice to the sheer number of delicate and impressive formations.
Best way to describe Easter cave, is get all of the UK’s finest formations and line them up, that is just the entrance series to Easter cave… Seriously it’s that well decorated!
Yet, not to be totally overshadowed were Strong’s and Crystal Cave. Whilst not as profusely decorated as Easter, they also contained some magnificent formations.
This pre conference excursion was run by the Western Australian Speleological Group and we thank them - especially Tim,Greg and Luana - for their time and organizing an amazing excursion.
It was much cooler in Penrith near Sydney and our accommodation was a caravan park 30 minutes walk away from conference venue. It was sunny and t-shirt weather in the day, yet, thick coat time at night. A dedicated marquee held the poster displays, club stands and the speleo olympics. Presentations were held in the main Panthers building.
It was not all work and no play, we attended a mid-week dry canyoning trip in the Blue Mountains.
The conference week past in a flash ending with the traditional banquet. This started with a traditional Aboriginal welcome followed by food and much drinking. A slightly sad event as we were saying our goodbyes to new friends.
But it was not over! On the Sunday we met up at the Panthers event site, crammed ourselves into the back of a “trooper” and headed to Jenolan in the Blue Mountains for a week of caving!
This excursion was larger with about 20 people attending with 10 different nationalities! The organizers had arranged a week of sporting caving and access into the show caves.
Decontamination was taken very seriously, with peoples kit sprayed to kill off any fungus that could potentially cause white nose syndrome.
We were very privileged as one cave (the highly decorated Barralong) issues only 2 permits a year and the ICS excursion took them both!
Tuglow was to be the week’s “main event” with the entire group visiting the system in one hit, splitting up into several groups: the photographers doing the “gentle trip” and the full on “mega trip” with a guaranteed misery promised with an icy cold swim! Of cause the mega trip was a red rag to a bull to us and Claire and I eagerly signed up! Getting there involved a river crossing.
Tuglow entrance involved abseiling (100m in 2 pitches), a high traverse above the stream with a sh*t scary bold step, big chambers, more abseiling, a “refreshing” dip (for the first time ever, being short actually meant that Claire did not have to swim!), then ladders up and out through fantastic flowstone chimneys. We were the last out and did a quick stomp up and over the ridge back to the cars to find a nice cup of tea on the brew. To top off an awesome day our excellent Australian hosts provided a BBQ back at their cavers hut!
Our last trip was Spider Cave, a trip made serious due to 3 very tight squeezes. Rescue beyond these would be impossible. A fourth squeeze, a very unpleasant tight flat out crawl gives access to a chamber with the unusual Palantear formation.
Like the previous two weeks, our Jenolan week passed in a blink of an eye and it was all too soon to head home. We were dropped off in Sydney and did some last minute sightseeing, the Opera House and Sydney Eye tower. It was then back on the planes for a soul crushing 24 hours of travel.
This post conference excursion was run by the Newcastle & Hunter Valley Speleological Society and we thank them - particularly Andrew, Peter, Mel, Dan, Mark, Steve and Chris - for their time and organising an amazing excursion.
Duncan - For me it has to be Easter cave and the stunning formations it held, another “highlight” was passing the fourth squeeze in Spider cave in Jenolan, right on the limit of what I can physically fit, not a place to lose your head! The lowlight, well I guess that was when I blew $5 on a “pokie” in Panthers in less than 30 seconds...
Claire - The caving and making plenty of new international caver friends. These conferences are a great way to meet more cavers and get access to special caves that would be pretty much impossible otherwise. My favourite caves were the blindingly pretty Easter Cave in Western Australia and the fun, varied, sporting trip in Tuglow (Jenolan Caves). Ooh! And I mustn’t forget the kangaroos! I saw loads of them, including a field full of around 40 wild ones at one point, but it still wasn’t enough. Even briefly seeing a Huntsman spider (read VERY big spider) was a highlight as I won’t forget that in a hurry. I was also delighted that Spider Cave did not live up to its name and be filled with spiders. Lowlight was the over 24 hours of travelling time to get there. ...
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Margaret River pre-conference excursion
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| The Margaret River pre-conference excursion team. |
We visited 7 caves during the Margaret River excursion, with the jewel in the crown being Easter Cave; incredible formations from start to end and we were only allowed to see half of the cave! Below are a few photos that came out best and don’t do justice to the sheer number of delicate and impressive formations.
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| Helictites, Easter Cave |
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| The Question (which is: Does the formation touch the roof or not). Photo: Tim Moulds |
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| The Lemon, Easter Cave Photo: Tim Moulds |
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| The Epstein Formation, Easter Cave. |
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| Claire at the Helictite Table, Easter cave. |
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| You have to be careful passing through Easter Cave as almost all of the formations are within touching distance |
Best way to describe Easter cave, is get all of the UK’s finest formations and line them up, that is just the entrance series to Easter cave… Seriously it’s that well decorated!
Yet, not to be totally overshadowed were Strong’s and Crystal Cave. Whilst not as profusely decorated as Easter, they also contained some magnificent formations.
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| Duncan wearing the Judge’s Wig, Strong’s Cave. |
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| Looking up underneath the Judge’s Wig, Strongs Cave. |
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| Christmas Star extensions of Crystal cave |
This pre conference excursion was run by the Western Australian Speleological Group and we thank them - especially Tim,Greg and Luana - for their time and organizing an amazing excursion.
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| Crazy cavers at the WASG hut. Rob, Duncan, Claire, Tom, Luana and Greg |
Conference week (23 – 29 July)
It was much cooler in Penrith near Sydney and our accommodation was a caravan park 30 minutes walk away from conference venue. It was sunny and t-shirt weather in the day, yet, thick coat time at night. A dedicated marquee held the poster displays, club stands and the speleo olympics. Presentations were held in the main Panthers building.
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| Pete and Angie Glanvill attempt the speleo olympics. |
It was not all work and no play, we attended a mid-week dry canyoning trip in the Blue Mountains.
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| Claire at the top of the second pitch,dry canyoning in the Blue Mountains. |
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| Our canyoning team (there were actually two other groups following different routes) |
The conference week past in a flash ending with the traditional banquet. This started with a traditional Aboriginal welcome followed by food and much drinking. A slightly sad event as we were saying our goodbyes to new friends.
Jenolan Caves post-conference excursion
But it was not over! On the Sunday we met up at the Panthers event site, crammed ourselves into the back of a “trooper” and headed to Jenolan in the Blue Mountains for a week of caving!
 |
| Caves House, Jenolan. We stayed in a hostel behind the main building. |
This excursion was larger with about 20 people attending with 10 different nationalities! The organizers had arranged a week of sporting caving and access into the show caves.
Decontamination was taken very seriously, with peoples kit sprayed to kill off any fungus that could potentially cause white nose syndrome.
 |
| Rigorous decontamination was carried out before anyone's equipment went underground. |
We were very privileged as one cave (the highly decorated Barralong) issues only 2 permits a year and the ICS excursion took them both!
 |
| Cave pearls in Barralong |
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| A huge curtain impressively lit within the show cave, helectites grow from the wall. |
Tuglow was to be the week’s “main event” with the entire group visiting the system in one hit, splitting up into several groups: the photographers doing the “gentle trip” and the full on “mega trip” with a guaranteed misery promised with an icy cold swim! Of cause the mega trip was a red rag to a bull to us and Claire and I eagerly signed up! Getting there involved a river crossing.
 |
| The original date for Tuglow was brought forward for fear of overnight rains swelling the river crossing. |
Tuglow entrance involved abseiling (100m in 2 pitches), a high traverse above the stream with a sh*t scary bold step, big chambers, more abseiling, a “refreshing” dip (for the first time ever, being short actually meant that Claire did not have to swim!), then ladders up and out through fantastic flowstone chimneys. We were the last out and did a quick stomp up and over the ridge back to the cars to find a nice cup of tea on the brew. To top off an awesome day our excellent Australian hosts provided a BBQ back at their cavers hut!
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| Claire in the mainstream way of Tuglow, probably the best sporting trip in our visit to Australia. |
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| Mark at the impressive gour pools in the main stream of Tuglow. |
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| The gang at the cavers hut for a BBQ (Photo: Leda Zogbi) |
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| Csaba the Hungarian photographer preparing his shot, he has specialised in 3D photos, Spider Cave. |
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| Duncan with The Palantear |
Like the previous two weeks, our Jenolan week passed in a blink of an eye and it was all too soon to head home. We were dropped off in Sydney and did some last minute sightseeing, the Opera House and Sydney Eye tower. It was then back on the planes for a soul crushing 24 hours of travel.
This post conference excursion was run by the Newcastle & Hunter Valley Speleological Society and we thank them - particularly Andrew, Peter, Mel, Dan, Mark, Steve and Chris - for their time and organising an amazing excursion.
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| Oddly Sydney does not look so big when looking down from the tower… |
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| Here is the proof showing Claire and I were on the opposite side of the planet! |
Highlights?
Duncan - For me it has to be Easter cave and the stunning formations it held, another “highlight” was passing the fourth squeeze in Spider cave in Jenolan, right on the limit of what I can physically fit, not a place to lose your head! The lowlight, well I guess that was when I blew $5 on a “pokie” in Panthers in less than 30 seconds...
Claire - The caving and making plenty of new international caver friends. These conferences are a great way to meet more cavers and get access to special caves that would be pretty much impossible otherwise. My favourite caves were the blindingly pretty Easter Cave in Western Australia and the fun, varied, sporting trip in Tuglow (Jenolan Caves). Ooh! And I mustn’t forget the kangaroos! I saw loads of them, including a field full of around 40 wild ones at one point, but it still wasn’t enough. Even briefly seeing a Huntsman spider (read VERY big spider) was a highlight as I won’t forget that in a hurry. I was also delighted that Spider Cave did not live up to its name and be filled with spiders. Lowlight was the over 24 hours of travelling time to get there.
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15th August 2017
With Roz. Arrived at the Tuck Shop to find there was still bags and rocks there, this was probably a consequence of the issues with the skip slowing things down. The scarred rock floor n the way-up from Stal Bend might be testament to the struggle. ...
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Incident 60/2017 – Aug. 14th Mon. 11.38 – Gaping Gill, Clapham, North Yorkshire – Cave Rescue.
A caver was reported to have sustained serious head and chest injuries in the Main Chamber of Gaping Gill (Cause of injury not yet known to CRO.), but when the duty controller obtained up-to-date information he had been recovered to the surface by pot-hole club winch and was being sheltered in a nearby shake-hole. An air ambulance was able to land close to the casualty, before team members had ...
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12th August 2017
I was away this weekend, digging in a cave on Gower. The following report was penned by Nick: "4 fine healthy able bodies in peak performance spent another couple of fun filled hours hauling dirt underground for no logical or apparent reason. Fri ...
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Gower Peninsula, Wales
12th - 13th August: Above: Worm's Head, looks like a dragon swimming out to sea! Spent the weekend helping out with exploration of a cave near Port Eynon, but on Saturday evening, I went for a walk along Rhossili Bay. Shipwrecks and sea caves! ...
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Phil gets a little hotter in Otter
Phil requested a trip in to the stunning Otter Hole a while back and so a trip was booked. The team would comprise of Jess, myself, Phil, Mike & Kay. We met our leader, Adrian at the car park at 7.15am kitted and ready to go. Jess had sent out a co ...
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Three Peaks area, Horton in Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire Aug. 12th 23.24 – Alert only
Seven walkers (5f, 2m) were reported overdue on the Three Peaks Walk, descending from Ingleborough towards Horton in Ribblesdale. From the description given by the caller, they appeared to have passed ‘Sulber Crossroads’. The caller was asked to drive the road between Horton and Selside, looking for lights on the fell. Meanwhile SARloc messages were sent to the four known mobile phone numbers, just in case they came into an… ...
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Incident 59/2017 – Aug. 12th Sat. 18.00 – Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, North Yorkshire – Mountain Rescue.
A walker (m, 62) slipped from the path near Snow Falls, falling / tumbling about 12m down a steep wooded slope to the river’s edge. Having been given pain relief, he was put into a vacuum mattress (full-body splint), then onto a Bell mountain rescue stretcher for hauling back up to the path. He was further assessed by YAS paramedics, then carried to the Beezleys caravan park ...
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8th August 2017
Solo. Continued work to widen the fissure off Tuck Shop. 6no. holes, using the drill-bit donated by Brockers, circa 500-550mm depth x 12mm dia., spread along the left-side. There should be rock debris to move, plus the sediment at floor level, ...
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Incident 58/2017 – Aug. 8th Tue. 15.20 – Near Gaping Gill, Ingleborough, North Yorkshire – Animal Rescue.
A dog owner reported to North Yorkshire Police that his dog had fallen down a pot near Gaping Gill. A small team was assembled to go to the assistance of the dog, but just as they left our Depot, a call was received from a team member at Ingleborough Cave to say that the dog had been successfully recovered by his owner, and our services were no longer required. ...
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Incident 57/2017 – Aug 7th Mon. 22.21 – Horton in Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire – Mountain Rescue.
3 people (m,40 f,39, 9) undertaking the 3 Peaks walk, were unable to negotiate limestone pavement and field walls above Beecroft Hall as darkness fell, due to inadequate lighting. 3 team members with a local police officer located the walkers, provided them with lights, and escorted them down to a team vehicle before dropping them at their car in Horton in Ribblesdale. Volunteer hours:6 ...
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Wookey Hole, Mendip
5th August 2017: Duncan Price visited Wookey Hole yesterday and reports that, after recent rain, the dig has flooded again.
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5th August 2017
With Jonathon, Brockers and Ray Deasy. I went along to the Tuck Shop with Ray, while I started to fill bags with gravel and fine sediment. Ray went along to the end of Merlin's to have a look-around there. Meanwhile, Brockers sorted-out a replacement ...
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1st August 2017
Solo. Went to the Tuck Shop, 6no. holes, spread along the east-side of the fissure going south. The aim is to widen the narrow gap and make the link to the aural connection with the passage left of the T-Junction. ...
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Incident 56/2017 – Aug 1st Tues. 03.21 – Horton in Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire – Mountain Rescue.
A call was received from North Yorkshire Police to two 3 Peaks walkers (m, 23, 18) who had become lost in darkness, and found themselves above Horton Quarry, and felt unable to safely proceed or retrace their steps. They had called for help when their last mobile phone was down to 5%, and the duty controller was unable to recontact them to offer advice, so a small party was arranged… ...
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