Cheiskmeag. Layee

&
SK
=o as envy

Hello, this is your friendly Newsletter Editor speaking. If any body
out there takes pity on me trying to get this bumper Christmas Edition out,
yes it does say ‘Bumper’ then you can easily repay me by getting me a 500°
Blue Water rope for ne for Christaas or talk Ralph into winning ae a car,
(I'm sure if he digs into his pocket he will be able to buy me one ~ or two)
If you still don't feel pity on me then think of poor Alison (sob - sob)
typing this Newsletter out. I'm sure she'd accept a little gift. Not auch,
just a small mini or a complete set of S.R.T. gear. I'm sure Cliff could
get it a little cheaper for you if you tried,

Any way while I'm talking about Cliff if you didn't know, he has retired
from his post as Secretary of our caving club due to the fact that he now
lives in Buxton. So if you ever need a cup of tea while you're in the area
pop in to see him, I'm sure he won't mind so long as you take hin a dozen
onteakes. :

Cliff had not been in the club that long until he was made secretary,
it must be the quickest rise to fame the club's ever seen, Every neaber
I've spoken to agrees with me that he's done a wonderful job and brought a
lot of life back into the club. If it wasn't for Cliff there would be no
Newsletter today, so I personally, and the club would like to say ‘mary _.
thanks to this guy, we all hope that he keeps in contact with us all.

So now I've said that, Happy Christmas and get your Nemsletter read.

KEVIN,
rry G.G, Christies

'twes cuiet on the hillsides of the Yorkshire Dale,
The night was frosted over but the moon was clear and pale.
But fer from sleepy villeges, on Ingleborough hill,

Rubber suited figures surrounded Gaping Gill,

To all _who gethered a cen of lager was dealt,

A bottle of whiskey armed each mans belt,

(ith heavy begs of eatables and meny 4 plastic bowl

They made their muddy way into Gaping Gill hole.

When sll sbove were present, the party went shead,

The bend played long ang loudly in the vast watershed,

4 long trosé teble grosning under food

Put every caver in th: Christmas mood.

They hung up Christinas wetsocks and had a dence or two
With a box of Acue candles to see the whole night through.
A mossy looking Christmas tree stood over by the light

Of a blazing log fire roaring up into the night.

When #11 went deathly quiet, suddenly it was late,
Someone whispered "12 O'Clock" hoarsely to his mste.

Sounds of someone entering filled every mind with dread

For ell invited in were there, counted every head,

The cavers chorus "who goes there, ané what's about?"

Cries mainshaft man (a fellow stout) ,"HO HO HO, below lookout"
From far sbove the 1 hedes, an eprerition with a sack
Descent hellbent, now singing "three tars on my rack.

Tingle Bells! Tts a giant flue, biggest one I've been through.
Yeaargh” Out of control the jovial chap flew,

»"Should have taken a ivhernside course",
thers sgreed after s pregnant pause.
The work of the fairies lay all asunder

Whet you might call a distributive blunder.

Opinions varied on the red mane fate .,....
Voiced were the merits of a figure of eivht.

Or es likely he abseils on his gate,

Passing knots in inebriate state.

Was the rope clear? did a bolt shear?

Cr was it the sherries, the mince pies, the beer?

Eut # mournful majority in reverential refrain
Searched the main chamber for something to blame.

And found e floor » C/S guarantee,

Another 'failsafe' invention - or your money back free!
Never yet seen in a Yorkshire Dale.
who sold Sante ...... 8 reindee!

ail ?

anon

FORTHCOMING SOCIAL EVENT,

The club do is on Saturday 12th, January at Biddulph Ara's price £3.00
‘This includes buffet, resident D.J.(Cliff) and a possible floor show (by P&X)
axghotographic competition and the now famous Wally Award. So don't miss
this excellent night out, the night out which is forcing the local night
clubs out of business, So get your tickets (or pay at the door) from Ralph,
Paul, Kevin or cliff,

KEVIN.

There is a new feature in the newsletter so if your Wife or fanily
ever write a poem about your weekend activities, send it to your Newsletter
to let everyone have a little laugh.

ODE TO POTTING.

Behold the Pot Holer,

He Riseth up in the Morning,
Disturbeth the whole Household.
Mighty are his preparations,

He goes Forth full of hope.

When the day is far spent

He Returneth, smelling of strong drink
And truth and sense not in him.

JENNY HOWARTH.

HANGERS.

No, these are not what you get after a good nights drinking, they
are bits of metal fastened to rock with bolts. If youread the last
Newsletter there was an article explaining the pro's and con's of
various types, Some of you (not you of course) are not aware of their
limitations. Some of you (not you of course) can not even thread thea
upti Make sure you read the article - you never know you might have to
rig a pitch, It would be nice to live to tell the tale.

DO YOU NEED &

THIS WAS DESIGNED AS AN IMPACT
ABSORBING DEVICE FOR ROCK
CLIMBING.

THREADED AS SHOWN WITH 41mm,ROPE
IT SLIPS AT 300 - 400 KG.

A COUPLE OF GASES IN WHICH IT CAN
BS USED THAT SPRING TO MIND IS ON
A TAUGHT TRAVERSE LINE WATCH ARE
PARTICULARLY SUBJECT 20 STRESS
UNDER SHOCK LOADING. THE KISA
CAN BE USSD AS SHOWN OR CAN BE
THREADED DIRECTLY ON 70 THE ROPE
WHICH CAN BE LEFT TIGHT BUT WILL
SLIP.

PREMIER EXPEDITION LAMP,

At long last ‘Premier’ have produced an ‘Expedition’ carbide lamp.
Unfortunately all models are equipped with flint ignition not electronic
as a petzl. However the generator is worth looking at as an alternative
to Pismo (fitted to Petzl) which are prone to disintegrate at the most
inopportune mozents (Recently Mark Wilsons fell to bits in Peak Cavern,
Kevin's fell to bits in Lost John's and Ralphs dia the same just as
Paul set off his Dr. Nobels magic mixture down Giant's, He nearly had
a cardiac arrest since he'd never seen carbide go off with such a bang
before, but luckily Alison was on hand to give hia first aid.

In '59 acetylene was a contributery factor in the death of Neal

Moss.

The sbove articles were written by our new Equipment Adviser
P.Ton, who will produce a number of masterpieces over the next few
Newsletters, He is also willing to deal with consuser enquiries.
Contact hin via the Rditor.

THE CLUB DIG.

Few of our current membership have served their apprenticeship in
this particular project which began.in 1972. So to put you all into
the picture a summary is included, the vast majority of it written by
Rob Heath (or should it be Doctor Heath) No doubt interest will be
Yejuvinated now that Paul and Ralph have prescriptions for Dr. Nobels
magic medicine and it is merely a matter of tine before Giant's is
connected to Speadwell, P8, Peak, Berger, etc.ctc,

11/44/73

ANN 73

26/1/ Te

Af bf De

18/1/ Th

2A/ bf he

28/5/ 7.

U7

BRIEF DIARY OF EVENTS CONCERNING ‘THE DIG.

A spate of digging and general exploration enthused some ‘active’ club
members; Steve Knox, John Preston, Jeff Fox and Rob Heath were to be
found bolting up the eastern wall of Ghost Rift (later called Death
Aven)

A few nore antics up Death Aven, Reached the top. The sight of small
uninspiring passage uninspired us to continua exploration ani efforts
were channelled elsewhere,

N,B, About this time John Preston spotted the entrance to the future
"Dig' (Ominous connotations - he's not been heard of since.)

A rather disorganised effort involved the placing of maypoles in
Ralphs Aven (located on right wall in entrance series) but not the
placing of bodies to ascend the tackle.

(Attempt to peg up failed. Shattered rock. Ralph, Rob, Tony.)

Two and a half dwarves were seen playing dijjery—doos down Giant's!
sereeesesActually it was Ralph, Tony and Rob Heath dragging the maypoles
from Ralph's Aven up to Pres's Passage.

Hair raising antics were experienced by all trying to get the poles
sited on aledge and pointing into the passage. Something was eventually
sorted out with « ladder attached to the end of the maypole. 100rt,

of upward trending crawling passage headed in an Oxlow direction was
discovered terminating in a mud filled short sump,

‘A party including Pete and Rob Heath and John Shenton consolidated
the find by hammering an eye bolt and screwing a fixed ladder to the
entrance of the dig.

An attempt at surveying was made by Alan Walker and Rob Heath,
Inevitably aud got into the works of everything indluding ears, noses
and hair! A taste of things to come,

Pete and Rob Heath, Greg and Alan Burns and Simon Leech made an assault
on the first obstacle; the silted sump. Progress made allowed us to see
the passage continuing beyond the sump.

An illfated dey for the gigging team, but the impotrant work was
completed first...,.a few hours digging at the first sump before getting
continued overleaf......

b.

9/1175

2475

31/3/75

29/6/75

28/6/75

5/1/76

20/6/76

a little stuck in the Filthy Pive series. Party included Greg and
Alan Burns, Simon Leech, Tory Reynolds and Rob Heath; last two having
done the digging...

cterresesecrseereesGiant's Resour

Passage renamed "The Air Was Blue' after Alan Walker, Rick Coleman,
Rob Heath, Paul Holdcroft, Ralph, Tony Reynolds, Stan Kowalik and
Phil Needham found the rotten 8. ladder to the dig had been pinched!’
Bad feelings digolved in buckets of water being chucked from top of
Garlands at various people getting up the pitch,

Four sections of steel signal ladder (borrowed from 1T.S,G.) were taken
up and assembled at dig entrance by Maryhill Comprehensive School
Sherpa's. J.Smith, P, Heath, R.Heath, Jan Mathews, Neil Lawton, Les
Leese, Paul Pedley and A Soragg. Whon assembled the ladder was found
to be a bit short and due to a lack of ‘what yoar right arms for’ we
could not get it well placed on the ledge. "Talk about Wiapey's on
Everests3!

Ralph directed some of the party; Paul Holdcroft, Neil Lawton, Alan
Seragg, Rob Heath, Dawn Greg and Alan Burns and Mick Mooney down to
the dig. The ladder was resited on the ledge and fixed in the entrance
by lassoo: +++eLone Ranger strikes again!

Neil and Rob then went up the passage which had been extended nearly
30ft. past the muddy sump to continue digging and removing semi-solid
mud constricting a horizontal section of the 18" high passage,

A trip down Giant's worthy of note......+,.Mo digging done!
Party included Rob Heath, John Lucchese and two friends from North
Staffs Polytechnic.

The law of averages takes its toll......back to digging! Alan Scrags,
Rob Heath, Alan Walker and Phil Needham shifted a few trays of mud
after taking « few others round Giant's.

Squelching time had by all; Ralph, Tony, A.Scragg and Rob Heath,
The horizontal section seems to heighten after shifting mud and moving
forward nearly 6°

Water rushing ahead heard. Ralph still reckoned on a possible connection
to Oxlow,

Digging and shifting mud along horizontel section proved to be «
mildly impossible task as experienced by Alen Seragg and Rob, Not
12/9/76

fT

11/477

17/6/77

enough room for tray and digger, Three - five ft. of progress made.
Reached corner from where the passage dipped slightly and went to the
left. More yet to be shifted along the silted section, Another system
for mud shifting had to be devised.

Just for a change; no digging done, just bottomed to East Canal and
then out, Party included Tony, Mick Ryan, Alan Scragg and Rob Heath,

To herald the New Year........'The Dig'. A short shitty episode from
the Bowels of Giant's, Ralph, Alan Scragg, Rob Heath, Richard Wilson,
Tony and John Gillet battled through the snow and ice leading down to
Giant's Fara,

The new fertiliser bag technique did not work very well in the dig as
proved and tested. Not auch mud shifted from face but more room made
in passage,

The conditions outside; Ralphs beard freezing up, Alan Scragg's
overalls standing up on their own inspired the development of the
Mk,III drag strip device.......Nothing kinky, its sole purpose was to
shift mud!

‘The proof of the belt is in the dragging.' Ralph and Rob accompanied
by Jeff Fox, Steve Knox plus party of the World Famous Dudley Mines
Resoue Team (the first two doing the digging) proved the semi success
of the system in conjunction with the drag tray, About four to five
trays of mud were shifted. Progress was aade to just past the left
bearing corner. Voices were heard ahead!

(Oxlow? Peak? Giant's?)

A final push was decided on to see where the Giant's -Giant's dig

comes out,,,,,Giant's perhaps?

Party included Ralph and myself(& Tony who was thi:.cing for us at

Middlewich, )

‘I'm forever blowing mudbells' and'Somme day over ti.e mudflow' were
familiar tunes burbling down the aud filled passese, With the possibility
of the passage heightening (bottom falling away approx 5' ahead)
efforts were maintained.......Ralph getting rid of mud somewhere in
the passage (he looked a bit browned off and constipated after though)
The silt turned into aud/shale along this stretc: after the corner
which made things a bit easier, Six dreg trays o: stuff were shifted
before it was decided to force the last bit by reversing down the
passage and pushing the remainder through with boots, It was a bit
constricted, Ralph did the breathing, crunting and groaning for both

YY TT

13/8/77

of us. Luckily the mud fell away down a small slope the other side of
the constriction,

The passage opened out into a clean washed uneven sharp floored passage
approximately three feet high and of the same width trending downwards
and veering slightly to the left. Onthe right was 2 3-4" wide low
passage leading steeply up to more constricted (low) passage which
veered to the left (unexplored) The main passage extended about 160!
and involved flat out strennuous crawling in an attempt to protect

wet suits, small white straw formations and very thin and fragile aud
formations on the passage floor. It ended in an unprotected slope into
Giant's upper series. This was later proved by voice connection (but
no light seen) to join above the clean washed, smooth and slippy 4-5!
high cascade,

Explorations were then curtailed for the rest of the day due to the
knackered state of the digging team,

Alaost 152 man hours:

End pitch down and flat out upward sloping passage need exploration,

Dig definitely reconnects to Ox (sorry - slip of the pen) Giant's.
Bedding plane passage leading off was a bit constricted.

Ralph, Dave Riley and Rob belayed about 50' - 60' from peg in floor/side
of passage at end of dig, First 5 - 6" of ladder led onto a large ledge.
Rensinder of pitch went more-or-less straight into streamway at above
ill-defined cascade, The pitch was then detackled and de-pegged and a
push was made up the bedding plane.......A pull would have been more
helpful, ++eRob got a bit gripped up and stuck, Eventually got
free. Passage is vertically constricted and requires either thinner

man or drastic rock renoving techniques.

‘The floor of the passage can be seen to drop away about two - three ft.
after the constriction but then turns sharp right, This obscures the
view of the continnuation? of the passage.

Pluabing the depths!

Ralph, Simon Leech and Rob were found wrestling about with a plumbers
Propane gas cylinder and 20' of tubing up the bedding plane passage in
the dig attempting to shatter the rock around the constricted bit. They
were later given verbal support as Alan Walker joined the muddy trio,
Bfforts were daunted by the blow torch extinguishing itself many tines
for no apparant reason (lack of 0,7) The tubing was a bit short also,
The days proceedings were brought to a close after running out of
matches (half of which wouldn't strike due to their liberal coating
of mud) Ended up that everything except the rock was shattered,

(It worked well in Ghost Rift when follo»>d with liberal application

9
of urine.)
Later Dave Riley and Tony unsuccessfully tried to forge a way with «
hammer and chisel, Apparently conditions were too cramped to get a

proper swing.

27/12/77 Attempts were made to shift the rock at the constriction with a
‘dynamic’ pneumatic hammer and 'not-so-dynamic' air cylinder.
‘The working party included Ralph, Alan Scragg, Tony, Rob, Malo Jump,
Simon and John Gillet. The air cylinder was nursed in through the upper
series without much trouble and the heavy ammo-box containing the gun
and other hardware clattered noisily behind, On the surface the gun
worked quite well when pressure was put behind it, but in the dig things
were quite different, A few small flakes of rock were chipped off, but
the problem was one of pushing the hanmer to make it dig in whilst
holding it in the only possible way down there ~ at arms length,
Work was punctuated by; the chisel flying out of the gun and landing
on the other side of the constriction but was luckily just gn reaching
distance, the pressurised tube exploding off the gun and giving the
operator a nasty ringing int he ears and a force 20 blow wave,
Both Tony and Rob used the gun in the dig and only succeeded in shifting
the air out of the oylindert!

1978 onwards, Details are available in the relevant log books dates as follows;

W1/78, 26/3/78, 2/4/78, 23/6/78, 30/6/78, 13/8/78, 20/8/78,
27/8/78, 7/10/78, 4/2/79, Aug. 79, 8/11/81, 20/11/82.

Im conclusion, If your interested in digging (Heaven forbid) or if
you have a dig that you wish to publicise then details are in the club
‘NEW FINDS'book available from Ralph. YOU could be famous.

Congratulations to Paul Shenton and Lin Sproston on their engageaent.
Congratulatuons to Paul also on passing his Graduates hip of the

Royal Society of Chemis try. Will this mean less revising end sore
caving. (At least thats what we think he was getting up to.)

10,

Here are the results of ean investigation into the downfall of that
almost extinct species of vehicle - those driven by Phil (Roland Rat) Marsden,

The investigation was prompted by ugly rumours that Phil has had
hundreds of accidents in cars. The results prove that these rumours were
vastly exagerated and obviously spread about by some jealaus and malicious

person.
Just to illustrate our point we list below soe of the unfortunate
occurances in Phil's driving ‘career’.

Phil went over his

handle bars.
1400 ESCORT...,,.Reversed into a gate post.
- = »A three point turn into a ditch and hit a post,

-Doing 70 wiles an hour and failed to stop when the car in
front stopped, (Front damage to his car. one car written
off and one car with rear damage.)
DAD'S MARINA.....Reversed into a gate post.
1600 ESCORT......sHaving a race and went too fast through a ford. Bottomed
= his car denting the oil sump and knackering the front
suspension,

1 '*  JeeeeeKevin was drivtigy while drunk and drove over a railway
line. (Front end damage, Front suspension and engine
both knackered. )

erie This one wasn't his fault. He stopped at some traffic
lights and a motor bike ran into the back of him.

fynenes «+Swung into Nick's drive and hit a bloody big ash tree,

tt 44 sceeeeComing back from a pub.in Derbyshire and put his cer into
a ditch.

% #8 +Coming from the Rudyard one night doing about 60 aph,
through the country lanes, Cane to a bend, hit some ice
and went straight into a ditch knocking 2 sign post down,
(Front end damage)

tt +8. seeeForgot to tighten the bolts on the cllitch so they all

sheered off leaving the bolt in the engine block.

Phil's leck of accidents in the last few months is not, as has been
suggested,due to the fact that he hasn't had acer to drive, but, we fecl,
because he hasn't been able to think of anything new to run his car into.
Phil solved this problem recently with a brainwave snd in fact managed to
run his car into himself! How are the legs Phil?

MW.

THE BIDDULPH ROAD RACE.
EXE BIDDULPH ROAD RACE.

Four fit (?) menbers of the club attended the Biddulph Ton Kilometer
Road race, We ran a tean for Ralph's local, The staffordshire Knot. I an
weiting their naxes down in order of good looks, physical fitness, stamina
and beer capacity:

Kevin Mountfora

Paul Holdcroft

Cliff Jones (close runner up for beer capacity.)

Ralph Johnson

Tf you read this far you will aost probably be flabberghasted to hear
that Cliff entered a road race. So to stamp out these silly rumours while
they are fresh in your minds I will tell you now that he only ran to the
nearest pub and passed the leaders in the race in the prooess,

Ralph, Paul and Kevin who were the serious runners in the race all
finished in respectable times and our team which was the Staffordshire Knot
B team came second and the A team came first. (Not the A team off the tele)
i will have to mention this little matter before Ralph starts spreading it
around the club. Even though he's old and bow legged he beat ne by a few
Seconds or it could have been a minute, but whose counting.

KRVIN.

ALKALI BURNS.

George recently had a close encounter with the electrolyte froa his
Jaap while he was down Peak Cavern - Not a pretty sight#8 If it happens
*o you then the inaediate treataent ia dilution with water. If you are
ine dry cave use your initiative and hope your companions ain is accurate,

We

RULES FOR ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION.

1, There will be two competitions, Print and Slides,
2. Print competition to be judged at the annual do.

3. Entry fee 20p per entry.

4. Allentries to have been taken during the last twelve months,
5. No restrictions on the size of print/slide.

6. Any number of entries per person,

7. Everyone present at the judging to have a vote.

PRIZES.
1, PRINT COMPETITION,
Enlargement of print to go on the wall of the Bleeding
Wolf,
2, SLIDE COMPETITION.
Print to go on wall of Bleeding Wolf if acceptable. If
not then a prize to be awarded(Roll of film, yard of
ale suggested.)

A FSW SMALL POINTS OF ADVICE FOR VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE CLUB:

PHIL. «ss...
Fast cars help to bring didtant places closer together.........
like this world and the next!

PAD Lessee
If you want to blow your mind try smoking gunpowder!

RALPH. «1+.
Life begins at forty....except for those who felt like 60 when

they were 20!

‘The Editor wishes to state that he has no prejuilices...
he just hates everyone.

13,
GIANT'S — OxLOW Gi TX 198i.
Verto. = 7

(oer Granrs Dag
ss

arour Canals)

passages.
There is now a new piece of caving equipment available at £3000 a go
(ons has been bought by mber of C.C.P,C,) which is guaranteed to pass
any vertical constriction. See diag. A-above.
Cavers await eagerly the issue of a similar item (3-4 weeks?) which
will be used for tight rift passages. Diag. Be

Fron Cecex

Seoray)

ty.

THE 1984 B.G.2.4. conrenencr 29°"/30" sEPr. LANCASTER UNI.

-or alternatively ‘where to get yourself a free Caving Supplies T-shirt!
(a dubious gain)

As a non6scientifically minded caver who likes the thought of cave-diving
ny choice of lectures were obviously moulded by this, However, I didn't escape
a fair share of cave science, and i was relieved to find it both understandable
and enjoyable, Unfortunately I didn't arrive until Saturday lunchtime (Paul
doesn't drive 2s fast as Melv.) which meant I aissed the lecture by the C.C.P.C.
punter, John Gillet, "Caving in the Jura, France!

There was a good lecture and some good slides of the Totes Gebirge } . -
Explorations (Austria), delivered in layoaver's language which made it seen
like a good place to go, I was suprised to see that the club involved was
Cambridge Uni. (envy) It was the least ‘professional’ lecture at the conference
Dut we were all well amused. It was a light hearted look at the shortcomings
of their trip which was never completed because they only had one bolting kit,
and some pillock dropped it over the last pitch before they got chance to use
it. (Couldn't C.C.P.C. teach them a thing or two?)

An interesting and illuminating talk was given by a gentleman considerably
advanced in years, Arthur Gemmel, known for his discoveries whilst caving in
the 30's with the Yorkshire Ramblers. His caving ‘career’ began in the 1920's
and he described the conditions at that time, 'When I wor a lad. * There
were many pregnant pauses in the delivery of this speech, but the ‘audience’
were too impressed at his powers of memory to mind! Being ostensibly a fell
walking and climbing club, practising caving as only a sideline, the°Yorkshire
Raublers decided in the 1930's that there were no more major discoveries in
Yorkshire to be made! The club then apparantly split into two factions and
Gemmel took the prize of discovering many potholes, among them Hunt Pot and
Sell Gill.

Next was a film without commentary on diving in Chapel-le-Dale; the
underwater films weren't up to much, though they were genuine, unlike many cave
diving films. I absconded from this half way through so I could listen to Rob
Parker lecturing on the Pena Colorada Expedition, Mexico. “Some of the probl:
their divers met up with was amply illustrated by the fact that they had to
sbsail a particularly large pitch fully kitted up, landing straight in the sump

‘Then followed a light-hearted sap-take of Cavers and Caving - ‘Cave 1984";
a fila which had us all rolling. Tony Waltham was given a new official title
of ‘Bullsh_er' which, if you've been lectured by him is quite apt! A report
was given on the effect caving has on one's sex life, its effect of unavoidable
regression to brain death with sexist comments abounding, That concluded
Saturday's lectures but 2,0 odd people piled to a speleo-hop which provided
infinate entertainment till the early hours,

15.
Tim Large and the B.E.C. engaged in gang warfare on the dancefloor against
a hybrid of C.C.P,C, and Bedroc, We thought we'd won as they all fell over but
as they recovered their feet, we submitted. We even got Paul Shenton on the
dance floor - he was quite right; so we told him to pretend he was rope-walking-
it was quite effective! Cheers to the B,C.R.A, tho', it was a good night out
(even if they did only have fizzy beer) The evening did have one unfortunate
result however; I slept through the Rift Pot lecture but there were plenty of
photo's of it in the trade stands area, so I got some idea of what its like.
(anyone interested for 8th/9th December?)

Paul Ramsden gave a lecture on Caving Accidents and the need for training
- whilst I approve I guessed it was little more than a plug for Whernside, so
abstained.

The Zodiac Project 1984, diving in the Bahamas (Rob Palmer) was a report
on the more colloquially called Blue Hole Expedition - an expedition with the:
prime object of studying the cave life in the Blue Holes, The filming was
excellent and s T.V. programme (B.B.C.) is imminent and full of Bahamian
promise, There was a minor set-back in its making when a spectacular shot of
the Blue Hole, taken by a parachuting film-bod, looked as tough it aight prove
dangerous when an unwanted object of cave life appeared on the scene - a shark.
‘The others allowed the jump to go ahead (decent chaps) and were suitably punished
when the parachutist landed on the boat. The lecture highlighted the particular
dangers inherent in blue hole diving i.e, whirlpools and non friendly ceve/sea
dwellers. It was so delivered though, that the room was full of eager hopefuls
for the next expedition,

MULU '84 was accompanied by some remarkably spectacular photographs
(courtesy of Jerry Woolridge) intended to whet our appetite for the Symposium
in November to be held at Matlock, The lecture followed the progress of the
Sarawak '84 Expedition - the walk through chaotic jungle, Farr's spectacular
climb to reach the previously inaccesible high entrance to Tiger Cave and
hazards encountered en route and in action (the inevitable "Mulu Foot! photo
popped up) The shots of the magnificent chambers to be found in Sarawak were
unbelievable and many of us bought posters to try and capture some of the
splendour for ourselves, More of Sarawak '8, after the Symposium though.

Undeniably the most exciting lecture was delivered by Dave Gill - Nare 1984
- The Untamed River Bxpedition, It was, as the timetable said - a preview and
video. The video was that taken by the French cavers who failed to beat the
river, but lost only one man, Dave Gill is ‘counting' on losing three. Well,
lets not write their epitaph yet,

A select team have left for New Guinea; eight to be on the surface and six
below (yet another statistic at variance with the rest on this subject!) The
terrific 850ft. absail, at the bottom of which the ‘above’ ground camp is to

16,

be based, is apparently dwarfed by other New Guinea Holes (give us a rope Ralph,
I can do that)

On the French expedtition, communications were a problem so the British
attempt will be aided by the use of telephone wires sheathed within the rope
they will use for crossing the horrendous river underground. The ropes will
be fired across the river by a grappling iron air launcher, a device used by
the S.A.S, (wimps in the world of expeditionists theaselves) Ear protection
is to be used following the proble of deafness during and after the French
attempt. It's not a question of being'hard' for this expedition - it's a
question of being mindless. Dave Gill had it suggested to him that he chose
the six best cavers in the world, instead he chose the six loopiest, To see
the volume and ferocity of that river is to understand why the French got to
Apocalypse Now about a mile in ~ I daren't contemplate how much farther our
lads will get.

The actual lecture consisted of 15 words - ‘we've got ourselves an
untamed river - we hope to come back with a tamed one,'
Bloody good luck mates

rather you than I,

LIN,

Would any menber who went on 8 caving trip abroad this year please send
articles and details of the available accomadation to the Editor.

What do members think about arranging a special club trip down Giant's
for Ralph. We all know he's getting older and his memory isn't quite what it
was so we think he ought to have a bit of practise laddering up and down Giant's.
Then maybe he won't send ladders that are too short. (i.e, Giant's Nov. '&h,
George ané Alison)

7,

MEVBERS LIST AND C.R.0, CALL OUT.

Please check your telephone number and address etc. (Is the code
ineluded?) ‘The new list comes out soon are your details correct?

POR SALE:
tee 2 0650
£6 00

White tackle bags...
Blue tackle bags,
Club tee shirts - black (small only).....,
Blue and whiite..,
S.R.T, bags avatilable soon,
Club badges.
Second hand wetsuit little used.

teeeeesssseseee&1,00 See Cliff
++-See Kevin

COMING SOON.

The truth about the Millington/Johnson visit to the Giant's dig (See
previous Newsletter)

The full story of Lenny Howarths "Four-up" Motorcycle Tour Circus 196h!!
(When cavers were real men and women cavers were'nt invented)

FOR SALB.

Cheap underwater camera ~ offers Ralph.
Water RESISTANT camera box - see Ralph.

Gas mask-— offers Mark Wilson,

Sale - ear defenders/headache tablets/hearing «ids used once in the
club dig - apply Paul K.

Found, bottle, Peak Cavern ~ apply C.C.P.c.

LATS PHONE.

As you all know Ralph is rapidly approaching t @ age where he needs
a good nights kip before, after, during a saving tr. > so please avoid
ringing after 10,15 pm. unless it is urgent. If you sant gear don't leave
it until the last minute,

How to avoid calling out the C.R.0.

1) Don't have an accident.

2) Make certain you ring back to a responsible person as soon as you
are out of 2 system. Recently there have been a few close shaves when
Parties have been overdue. The telephone should be your first port of call
« before the pub,

138.

INTRODUCTION TO A
HOLE

Agen Allwedd is sn aquired taste one either loves it or
loathes it. Personally I'd put it this way, if Aggy wes es
accessable and got the attention (deservidly or other wise)
as Sey some un-mentionable Derbyshire sites,it would be by
now the longest cave in Britain, overtaking Lanc/Easegill
(no meen feat) and probably ranking in the world top ten,
With the addition of so called lost systeu/Craig-A-Ffynnon
link “Boyo".

Considering @ club trip is nigh and overdue in this boulder
ridden cavern,verhaps my efforts of exploration over the
last few years may be of time'ly interest, Being presented
in in the form of a handy couple of amended surveys, con -
viently sized and scaled te a portable Ay sheet.Only the
further reaches are covered, which include ueverel of the
most remote locations in ncrmal above water caving, would
seems pity not to get your teeth into it, after welzing
nearly two miles to the single (twinned) entrance, A bit
shorter from Pen-Rhiw comom as opposed to Whitevells.

Parts of shown cave resemble a great amok 3D pinball m/c,
so allthough minimal equipment ia required,I wouldn't ssy
a crowbar, tin-hot and toe-tectors were optional!?

An average of around one thousand visitors
throught its tombproof iron gate. Well over half of tl
however are various outdoor groups, scouts, army ete all
mostly givern access outside the bat season,(ie summer) these
groups normaly never stray from the main passage area, thus
Sporting cavers tend to trot (stumble) alone the entrance
series on pilot,(which could be something to do with the
late discovery of Northern Strem?) as the longer marathon
round trins Fig/8 - Gr'd Circle and such are some six miles
plus,and thus a severe test of endurance for any troglodyte
and his lam?

Q what do 12h caving trips, cocktails, cruuet and chainsaws
all heve in connon? = - - - - Bloody leglessness,

P.5, This article substitutes the report I'am compilin,
our personal continental expeditions of recent times, T
has literally turned into a monster, and was intentionelly
started and written with e proposed: "FOREIGN JOURNAL" in
mind SO BE IT! Being more hopefully presentable and suitable
for perhaps a wider audience than the "CONIC". I'l] await
and no doubt hear if club members or their dogs, indeed eny-
body can produce and pool,fairly sensible usefull material
for it, by the end of next year (85) to publish such a -
journal. For which I would be willing to adopt and edit these
"surprises that may eke from the brain and run down your
leg or mans best friend,

DAVID BAILEY.

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