Descent 309

[Chris Scaife]

Front cover: The Hall of the Thirteen in the Gouffre Berger, France. Photo: Thibault Poinas, Galimey
Back cover: The enormous entrance to Brazil’s Gruta Casa de Pedra. Photo: Chris Howes

Brace yourselves; it's publication week for Descent 309.

Descent (309), April 2026 – Descent Magazine

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Features:

Fifty Years in Longwood Valley Sink
There have been major discoveries recently in Longwood Valley Sink, on Mendip. In this first of two parts, Alison Moody sets the scene and describes the decades of work that brought the diggers to the cusp of discovery.

Highest in the World
Chris Howes discusses Brazil’s Gruta Casa de Pedra, which may be home to the world’s tallest cave entrance.

Cave Rescue 2025
All underground rescues from 2025 are summarised here by the British Cave Rescue Council.

A Fortnight in the Peloponnese
Craig Holdstock reports on a two-week expedition to the Peloponnese region of Greece.

Rescuing Wildlife from Caves
Cavers often encounter wildlife underground: some of it perfectly at home in its subterranean habitat, some distressed and in need of help. Descent editor Chris Scaife and Professor of Ecology Mike Sweet consider the best approach for cavers to take in such situations.

Great Sporting Trips of the World: the Gouffre Berger
Jasper Crabb recounts a trip to one of the world’s greatest caves.

Armytek Wizard C2 Pro
Chris Scaife reviews an affordable headlamp.

Accessing the Inaccessible
The capital of Wales is visible from the entrance, but Ogof Pen Y Craig is still an adventurous place. Ned Hopes tells the tale of accessing and then surveying this little gem.

The Underview Effect
Stuart Weston muses on a caver’s view of the world.

 

[Ali M]

My Descent arrived this morning and it includes a good selection of interesting and varied articles. Thank you Chris.

 

[Chris Scaife]

‘At the end of a three-hour hike to reach the entrance, Casa de Pedra carries a river and allows cavers to make a through trip, albeit a wet one requiring swimming about two-thirds of the way through the twisting, rock-strewn passage of almost 3km’.

Our back cover image for Descent 309 is by Chris Howes and accompanies an article, also by Chris Howes, about Brazil’s Gruta Casa de Pedra, which may be home to the world’s tallest cave entrance.