Ogof Draenen Round Trip 28th October
Andy S, Rachel, Sissel, Brendan, Dave H, Duncan & Rich (guests from ACG)
After an early start fuelled by the Lillypool Cafe we were underground shortly after 11.00 am. We were soon through the wet muddy crawly entrance series and reconvened by the cairn. Next came the long grovel through Beer Challenge which has a most luxurious floor for a crawl. And then, deepjoy, boulders, boulders and more boulders. Actually it doesn't go on that long and soon we were happily traversing the Idiana Highway. Then it was Mega Drive with, guess what? more boulders. There was a slight navigational problem before we found our way to the fixed ladder into the Alms Park and, yes, more boulders. The boulder slopes end dramatically in Saint David's Hall which is a huge chamber with an uncannily flat roof.

Fixed ladder into the Alms Park
From here the character changes and we entered the complex Squirrel Rifts. This is actually easy to follow now that the route is so well trodden but it was the first time I had dared to attempt it without a copy of the survey. It was with unspeakable relief that I found the taped off Wooden Spoon Passage which confirmed we were not horribly lost afterall.

Rach and Siss traversing in Squirrel Rifts

Dave and Rich
Strangely, on this particular day, I did not arrive at the head of the rope climb but at a rift which Duncan identified as the pitch bypass. I has been warned that this looks tighter than it is but still wimped out of pushing it headfirst. It was down to Rich to be trip hero by committing himself head first to this narrow impossible looking rift. Myself, Rach, and Siss followed through (the squeeze that is) but our gruntings and groanings sent the others back in search of the rope descent. This was rigged with a new longer rope which we left in situ for the benefit of others.

Rach squeezes through the bypass

Top and bottom of the pitch. Note the existing somewhat inadequate fixed handline!
From here we followed the wonderful and atmospheric Agent Blorenge streamway. This starts off very spaciously but after a while the water turns off into a narrow vadose canyon which involves some tricky climbs and traverses. There are also two rather fine, if somewhat bracing, canal sections.

Rach in the second canal
This is a long and varied passage which eventually brought us down to the confluence with the main stream. Hooray. Then is was a long and weary trek with very cold feet. Eventually we reached Gilwern Passage and stopped to consume the remaining choccie bars and lucozade before the final grovel back to the surface, most of which I spent cursing the decision to close the second entrance to the cave.
We came out after 7 hours and 10 minutes having had a superb trip. One of the best UK round trips remains my opinion, which I think the other party members now endorse.
Andy Sparrow