Descent 305

[Chris Scaife]

Cover: Péter Juhász in Tywarnhayle Mine, Cornwall. Photo: Dave Watts
Back cover: Chris Scaife and Rich Hudson in Chinapram Kol, South Garo, India. Photo: Andy Harp

This Summer Holiday bumper edition is probably our biggest ever issue, with eight extra pages – in addition to the four extra pages we introduced as standard from Descent 298. In regional news, we have reports of ancient remains and a big discovery on Mendip, fell running in caving gear in the Peak District, another big breakthrough in the Forest of Dean, several finds in the North, a student club finding over 1km of passage on a UK-based expedition, and a vertical discovery in Wales.

Features:

Under the Garo Hills
Chris Scaife reports on an expedition to a rarely visited part of north-east India, a wild area of seemingly infinite karst.

Mines of the South West
Dave Watts shares some of his photographs from the mines of Cornwall and Devon.

Cave Maze Results
Our previous issue featured a tough puzzle and we have been impressed that so many of you were able to solve it. We can now reveal the solution, as well as the names of the winners.

Perseverance Through the Generations
As cave explorers, we often find ourselves to be just part of a long history of discovery. A major recent find in the Yorkshire Dales, as Chris Curry writes, has been over a century in the making.

Cavers at the Tower of London
No doubt many of us denizens of the underworld should have been sent to the Tower years ago, but members of the Wealden Cave and Mine Society were invited there for a practical purpose. Peter Burgess tells the tale.

The Pwll Dwfn Survey
Tarquin Wilton-Jones describes the trials and tribulations of putting together detailed plan and elevation surveys for the Welsh pothole.

Weathercote Cave
Frank Pearson shares a poem about Yorkshire’s hidden gem.

Caves and Culture in Laos
In this first of two parts, Peter Allison describes an extended stay in Laos.

Caver Demographics
How old are cavers, and where do they live? Rostam Namaghi sheds some light on these questions and more.

Half a Lifetime Away
Peter Glanvill describes his caving activities from 1985.

Overdoing Things
We all enjoy digging, but we should try not to end up in an ambulance. Richard Bendall tells us all about the time he just did too much.

 

[nearlywhite]

Just had a great time reading through. Many great articles, really enjoyed Chris Curry's generational journey.

Though I must say, as a 35 year old GP, Dr Glanville's article felt slightly aimed at me. Thankfully I was reading it on expedition in Crete

 

[Carolina Smith]

'We have now dug away a gravel bank downstream of the sump and this has lowered the water level to a point whereby there is now usually a small airspace... The ensuing survey project has so far added over a kilometre of passage over two levels, all draughting strongly.'
In Descent 305, Chris Curry reports on a major find in the Yorkshire Dales that has been over a century in the making.

In the photo: Chris Curry upstream of Fin Junction in New Level Mine Cave, by Mark Sims

 

[Carolina Smith]

'The humidity, bacteria and iron-rich water produced some amazing formations, from delicate straws – in places over 6ft long – through to large stalactites and stalagmites.'
Dave Watts shares some of his stunning photos from the mines of Cornwall and Devon, in Descent 305.

In the photo: Péter Juhász in Wheal Fanny, Devon, by Dave Watts

 

[Carolina Smith]

'We soon settled into the daily routine of finding a substantial amount of cave passage, often hundreds of metres.'
Meghalaya, in north-east India, never fails to deliver, and in Descent 305 you can read Chris Scaife's report of an international expedition to the wild Garo Hills.

In the photo: Sunny Dohling and Senggai Momin at the entrance to Kalen Wari canyon in the South Garo Hills, by Bartek Biela.

 

[Carolina Smith]

'In the blare of a slow, loud beat, men and women gyrated serenely to a traditional Lao song. Chom Ong at 780m altitude in north Laos was cooler than further south, but they moved with tranquillity, in a manner appropriate to 33C at the end of February.'
In Descent 305, Peter Allison begins a two-part article on the caves and culture of northern Laos.

In the photo: Thongphanh in Tham Chom Ong, by Peter Allison

 

[Chris Scaife]

'From property owners asking for advice about a hole that just appeared on their land, to helping restore one of London’s most iconic ancient buildings, cavers are asked to do some unusual things.'
No doubt many of us denizens of the underworld should have been sent to the Tower years ago, but in Descent 305 Peter Burgess tells the tale of some cavers actually being invited there to help out.

In the photo: Stuart Fraser admires the newly installed block of Reigate at the Tower of London, by Peter Burgess