A trip to the fantastically well-decorated Otter Hole was just one of many caving excursions on this club meet, where a selection of very different underground adventures took place over three days. Above ground, a BBQ was enjoyed in the Whitewalls garden on Saturday evening.
A team of early arrivals headed into the uniquely muddy but interesting cave of Ogof Cynnes in the wild moorlands of Llangynidr on Friday. Ladders and scaffold bars were delivered to the cave and installed as new fixed aids, and old ropes and digging detritus found on the caving trip beyond were taken out.
The big Saturday trip was to Otter Hole in the Forest of Dean, this was a between-tide trip to visit the Hall of Thirty. Regarded to be the best decorated cave in the UK, Otter Hole hides its wonders well, beyond an array of muddy challenges and a tidal sump. However all the effort of getting there was well worth it for the sight of the large and magnificent formations adorning the cave beyond.
Also taking place on the Saturday was an Agen Allwedd trip to Erse Passage and the Music Room, followed by a venture down Main Stream Passage as far as North-West Junction, while on the other side of the mountain a digging trip took place alongside Hereford CC in Mystery Pot. Two caving trips were also undertaken in the Clydach Gorge, with one team visiting Ogof Clogwyn and another making an exploratory foray into the minor caves along the gorge.
All cavers were back in time to make the most of the warm weather, with a barbecue in the garden on Saturday evening. Caving activities continued on the Sunday with a trip to Ogof Fechan and two groups heading into Craig a Ffynnon, one travelling as far as the Hall of the Mountain King, while the second team progressed further into the cave to visit Helictite Passage and The Pagoda formation.
