WARNING - Craig A Ffynnon

[Pyro]

Thanks John!

 

[Minion]

On a recent visit to the cave, we found significant rockfall had come down in front of the gate.

All rubble was moved down to the footpath before we could enter the cave.

More looks to be poised to come down, take care when entering or exiting the cave.

 

[mrodoc]

Apart from taking a careful look around the entrance,  who is familiar with the flooding risk in OCAF. We are planning a trip this Sunday and the current forecast for the area is for light showers Sat and Sun. However the ground must be saturated at present so I wonder how real the risk of 'light showers' flooding the low bit at the start of Gasoline Alley?  Strangely enough the highest water levels I have ever seen was when the start of GA was a duck was my first trip in there with John Parker and Anne Franklin way back in January 1978 and I noted then that the cave was wet with water pouring through the first choke.

 

[Huge]

Funnily enough, as I was just reading this, a weather warning notification for heavy rain popped up on my phone! The BBC forecast (which generally seems to be a bit more accurate than the Met Office one!) is giving heavy rain for Sunday morning.

I think the general belief is that the place floods several hours (around 8?) after heavy rain, with a second pulse coming through a couple of hours after the first.

I kept a close eye on the forecast (and what was actually happening) before our trip in there on Wednesday evening and it was fine, despite there having been prolonged periods of light rain. I wouldn't have gone in there last night though!!

 

[mrodoc]

That helps as it gives one an idea as to whether to worry if it's raining heavily on entry. Looks as though if it is dry that we would be OK as the trip would only be about 6 hours.

 

[Huge]

Given the current forecast, personally I'd give the place a miss!

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Yellow warning of rain

Starts: 00:00 BST on Sun 31 October

Ends: 15:00 GMT on Sun 31 October

A short period of heavy rainfall may bring some localised flooding and transport disruption.

- Flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely
- Bus and train services probably affected with journey times taking longer
- Spray and flooding on roads probably making journey times longer

Issued at: 10:50 BST on Fri 29 October for Brynmawr.

I have suggested to Mr. O'Doc that we go elsewhere.

 

[pwhole]

It's a shame they can't just add 'most caves will definitely flood' in those warnings for areas like this - would save a whole lot of bother

 

[mrodoc]

The forecast may change of course. bit irritating as OCAF is one of those caves with only one floodable section rather like DYO

 

[Huge]

If you do go into the cave (not recommended) watch out for the ... BIG BAT!

On our way out in Wednesday night, we sat down for a couple of minutes at the inner side of the 2nd Choke. When we were ready, I turned around and the biggest, fattest bat I've ever seen was flying straight towards my face! Embarrassingly, I let out a little surprised squeal and the bat turned around and flew back into the choke. It came back a minute later, turned again and disappeared into the choke, not to be seen again.

I can't really tell one bat from another but I'm assuming it was a very well fed Greater Horseshoe? Big, round, brown and hairy!

 

[mikem]

The forecast may change of course. bit irritating as OCAF is one of those caves with only one floodable section rather like DYO

The way in / out...

Greater horseshoes have golden brown fur. I've also seen serotines underground, which are quite large!

 

[mrodoc]

Perhaps the bat had a Halloween costume on to bulk it out . Well we didn't go to Craig y Fynnon but Ogof Cnwc instead for a wander down some of Busman's Holiday. The entrance series was trifle damp but more spacious than I remembered - and shorter. I think it has been engineered since my last visit.