The Underground Session at Kendal Mountain Festival Fri 17th Nov

[Pegasus]

Join us at the legendary Underground Session to explore the hidden worlds beneath our feet, hear about the latest local and global developments, and travel through a host of subterranean wonders.

Inverness-based Imogen Furlong is well known to the international caving community for exploratory trips to Thailand and Myanmar, and in particular for organising 'family trips' where the goals are to search for new caves, pooling resources allowing parents to get underground, plus introducing kids to the wonders of international caving. Imogen's inspiring talk follows the adventures of her son Rowan as he grows to love a life of adventure.

Photographer Tom McNally will join us to talk about his project to chart historic mining sites in Cumbria. After four years of mine exploration negotiating coffin levels, old pipework, dodgy pit props, hidden shafts and leaching mineral deposits, 'What Lies Beneath - Lost Mines of The Lake District' is a visual treat and a tribute to this hidden history.

We'll be hearing from local activists Frank Pearson and Matt Ewles about the latest developments including the Three Peaks/Three Counties area near Ingleton, plus recent discoveries in the Northern Dales (including a stream cave and maze caves) and the North York Moors, where dedicated effort has revealed plenty of new extensions.

Last but very much not least, Kasia Biernacka is a Polish expedition caver and photographer who, for over 20 years, has been part of the projects led by the US Deep Caving Team exploring Sistema Chevé (-1,520m) in Mexico, currently the second-deepest cave in the western hemisphere. Kasia will talk about pushing Sistema Chevé, accompanied by stunning images and film. When not caving, Kasia is also Film Programming Director for the Ladek Mountain Festival in Poland, so we're delighted to welcome her to Kendal.

Petzl Underground Session

Petzl Underground Session - 17 Nov 2023, 19:30pm, Kendal, Kendal Town Hall

tickets.kendalmountainfestival.com

I've just checked the tickets and lots sold already, great.

Hope folks can make it, always a fab social event - see you there

 

[badger]

Sadly I shall be in me dips this year.

 

[badger]

Sadly I shall be in me dips this year.

Mendips.

 

[LadyMud]

"Sadly I shall be in me dips this year"

Mendips? I thought "me dips" might be a regional variation of "my cups" (Wiki link )

 

[Pegasus]

Approx 50 tickets left with just under 4 weeks to go. The Underground session will be a sell out once again, yey - if you're planning on going, I'd get your ticket sooner rather than later.

There's a bar too 😁

 

[Pegasus]

18 tickets left 😁

 

[Pegasus]

Sold Out - yey!

Looking forward to seeing you in Kendal tomorrow evening - there's a bar remember 🍷🍺

 

[Pegasus]

A great evening - one for the caving purist I reckon.

Bar was busy with Chris & Carolina from Descent there to say hello.

Steph's Introduction was excellent.

First up was Imogen:

Inverness-based Imogen Furlong is well known to the international caving community for exploratory trips to Thailand and Myanmar, and in particular for organising 'family trips' where the goals are to search for new caves, pooling resources allowing parents to get underground, plus introducing kids to the wonders of international caving. Imogen's inspiring talk follows the adventures of her son Rowan as he grows to love a life of adventure.

I loved her talk and the plea for Clubs to organise a couple of 'Family weekends' every year seemed a sensible one to me. I do hope the wider community embraces her ideas and passion for introducing youngsters to caving and adventure.


Next up were Frank & Matt:

We'll be hearing from local activists Frank Pearson and Matt Ewles about the latest developments including the Three Peaks/Three Counties area near Ingleton, plus recent discoveries in the Northern Dales (including a stream cave and maze caves) and the North York Moors, where dedicated effort has revealed plenty of new extensions.

These Guys were slick! Tale followed tale as we travelled through geological time. - marvellous.

A break giving cavers (and a fair few miners too) time to visit the bar and see our poster (thanks Q)

Then it was Tom McNally's turn:

Photographer Tom McNally will join us to talk about his project to chart historic mining sites in Cumbria. After four years of mine exploration negotiating coffin levels, old pipework, dodgy pit props, hidden shafts and leaching mineral deposits, 'What Lies Beneath - Lost Mines of The Lake District' is a visual treat and a tribute to this hidden history.

A wide variety of photographs including a footprint left in mud from times past and a basejumper which was a clever shot - you'll have to go see his exhibition (which he did mention a time or two that is currently on at the festival) or the basejumper shot can be found here - worth a look: https://tommcnally.co.uk/product/extreme-lakeland/ )

Followed by Kasia:

Last but very much not least, Kasia Biernacka is a Polish expedition caver and photographer who, for over 20 years, has been part of the projects led by the US Deep Caving Team exploring Sistema Chevé (-1,520m) in Mexico, currently the second-deepest cave in the western hemisphere. Kasia will talk about pushing Sistema Chevé, accompanied by stunning images and film. When not caving, Kasia is also Film Programming Director for the Ladek Mountain Festival in Poland, so we're delighted to welcome her to Kendal.

I was exhausted just listening about this immense project!! It's epic...and the logistics, oh my.....

Great to see so many cavers there - apologies if I didn't get to say hello. Thanks to everyone involved who helped make it an enjoyable and social evening - what better way to spend a dark November evening??

See you next year.....