A second entrance to Ogof Draenen?

[Alkapton]

You are quite correct in that you have to obtain a key from a CSS member and pay a ?10 deposit. As you say, this will limit the number of midweek trips but that is not a deliberate conservation measure.

Just want to clarify.  ?10 deposit.  Does that mean you get the ?10 back when you return the key?
Its an important concideration if you are as broke as I am  :-\

 

[graham]

You are quite correct in that you have to obtain a key from a CSS member and pay a ?10 deposit. As you say, this will limit the number of midweek trips but that is not a deliberate conservation measure.

Just want to clarify.   ?10 deposit.  Does that mean you get the ?10 back when you return the key?
Its an important concideration if you are as broke as I am  :-\

Indeed you do, it is an incentive to ensure that the key actually gets returned!

 

[mrodoc]

Just back from ICS convention and did the field trip to Mammoth. If that had only had one entrance I don't think it would be 300 miles long! In fact what has happened there is that cavers have opened entrances to avoid restrictions imposed by it lying in a national park. I was surprised by how many were artificial mined tunnels. Mind you they seem to have more money for this sort of work. Cavers in Texas bored a 44m shaft (bored and I mean bored) into Honeycreek Cave as a second entrance to make a through trip. You get lowered down on a rope attached to a car bumper. Ever such good fun!

Returning to Draenen, the point that there are problem multiple opportunties for excavated entrances suggests that bending with the wind might be the way to go. However, I would like to see a rigorous access system to protect vulnerable formations so we don't get the trashing that Otter Hole got in the early days. If you don't believe me about Otter Hole have a look at some of the photos on my web page.