Descent 302

[Carolina Smith]

Front cover: Jess Tomlinson and Fleur Loveridge in Annapurna, Missed Pot. Photo: Paul 'Beardy Swire
Back cover: Malcolm Foyle by the impressive ribbon formation in Tham Satchatham, Thailand. Photo: Craig Holdstock

Descent 302 is published on 15 February and it will soon be on its way to our subscribers.

In the newsdesk, read a review of the underground events at Kendal Mountain Festival, plus tales of cannibalism and the Cavefish Asteroid.

In regional news, we have three new connections in Ogof Agen Allwedd, a report on the iron mines of Anjou, an extension to Big Sink Cave in the Forest of Dean, a new dig in Yorkshire's Marble Steps Pot, student parties, an obituary for Tony Boycott, a tight find in the Peak District and a discovery in County Kerry with extensive formations.

Features:

Extreme Weather at Big CHECC
Descent’s new CHECC/Youth correspondent, Polly Judd, reports on the biggest – and in this case, wettest – event in the student caving calendar.

The Aka Diaries
Chris Scaife and George North begin a two-part article on the exploration of a fine new pothole in the Yorkshire Dales, with diary entries from many of the core digging team.

Beyond the Shrines
Craig Holdstock reports on an expedition to Thailand, where caves are a big part of the culture, often with religious significance.

Finding the Marble River
Redhouse Lane Swallet, in the Forest of Dean, has been producing the goods somewhat in recent months. As 2024 drew to a close, there were just a couple more opportunities to visit and, as Tim Nichols writes, these resulted in yet more great finds.

Back to Buda
Carolina Smith reports on an expedition to Gunung Buda National Park, a limestone region to the north of Mulu in Malaysian Borneo that has seen little attention from cavers in recent years.

Ascent of the 8,000ers
The Draughting Hole-Missed Pot system in the North Pennines has now exceeded 8,000m in length and the recent finds have been nothing short of spectacular, writes Fleur Loveridge.

OWPG Portfolio
We present the high quality images that recently won Chris Howes the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild award for photography.

PNG ‘73
Howard Beck remembers some adventurous exploits from Papua New Guinea over half a century ago.

Winners
From the feedback we had about the crossword in Descent 301, it was our hardest one yet. We can now reveal the correct answers and the name of the winner. We also reveal the results of our caving video competition, run in collaboration with CHECC.

 

[mat]

My copy has just popped through the letter box. Will be good reading as I'm working away from home as of tomorrow for a fortnight

 

[Pitlamp]

Another grand edition!

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Fantastic cover image. Thanks.

 

[Carolina Smith]

There's a fine new pothole in the Yorkshire Dales. In Descent 302, read about the exploration of Aka Hole, as told by Chris Scaife and George North.

In the photo: James Carlisle in the enlarged passage in Skyscraper Rift, Aka Hole, by Chris Scaife

 

[Ian Ball]

" enlarged "

 

[georgenorth]

Fortunately James is almost as good at hammering as he is at smouldering.

 

[Andrew N]

Incredible shot of James - looking quite majestic enough that the King may try and claim ownership.

I do note that he looks a bit tense - presumably due to the quite excessive amount of space around his upper body. Hopefully he was able to retreat to a (significantly) smaller chamber expediently, so that he could feel more at ease.

 

[Carolina Smith]

In Descent 302, Craig Holdstock reports on an expedition to northern Thailand, with some high quality photos of these impressive caves.

In the photo: Craig Holdstock in the dry section of Tham Nam Pu, by Craig Holdstock

 

[Loki]

Incredible shot of James - looking quite majestic enough that the King may try and claim ownership.

I do note that he looks a bit tense - presumably due to the quite excessive amount of space around his upper body. Hopefully he was able to retreat to a (significantly) smaller chamber expediently, so that he could feel more at ease.

. Not enough mud for jc. Great shot though.

 

[Carolina Smith]

Discoveries in Redhouse Lane Swallet, in the Forest of Dean, have stunned the caving world of late and, as Tim Nichols writes in Descent 302, the cave just keeps on giving.
In the photo: Joel Foyster in the Marble River, Redhouse Lane Swallet, by Tiff Cooksley-Czajka

 

[Carolina Smith]

Few cavers have visited Gunung Buda, just north of Mulu in Malaysian Borneo, but in Descent 302 Carolina Smith reports on a recent expedition to investigate its underground delights.
In the photo: Torben Redder rigging in the Edge of the World, Green Cathedral Cave, by Carolina Smith

 

[Carolina Smith]

Maze caves in the UK rarely contain great formations, but as you'll see in Fleur Loveridge's article in Descent 302, Missed Pot is an exceptional place.
In the photo: Jess Tomlinson in Annapurna 2.5, Missed Pot, by Paul 'Beardy' Swire

 

[Carolina Smith]

Chris Howes recently won the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild award for photography, with his portfolio: ‘Monochrome Caves of the British Isles’. In Descent 302 we present his eight winning images.
In the photo: Karen Sinyard, straw stalactites, Dan yr Ogof, Wales, UK, by Chris Howes