The
Editor: John Williams
1994 - 1995 Committee
Hon. Sec. Nigel
Treasurer Chris Smart
Caving Sec. Jeff Price
Hut Warden
Tackle Master Mike Wilson
Hut Engineer
Membership Sec.
B.B. Editor John Williams
Editorial
Hello everyone. This is the first BB of the 'Club Year' and is the Christmas issue. My apologies for not having produced one earlier, this is due to ongoing computer problems and my thanks go to Dick Fred for his continuing patience and help in this area.
I've put it together as quickly as I can, as per request of certain Honorary Life Members (see elsewhere in this journal for details) and consequently have not necessarily included articles that certain individuals may have been expecting to see. It also means that I have not had time to retype some of the contents, so please excuse the different typefaces etc. My thanks go to those of you who have written articles in the past year as do my pleas to anyone who feels like writing something; I can always use extra material.
Some club business ..... Firstly from Mike Wilson ......
Some of the more observant members who frequent the shed may have noticed a strange looking metal tower 8'6" high residing next to the tackle store. This is not a catenary tower for the next BEC space launch but the promised rope testing rig! All the vital parts are locked in the inner sanctum of aforementioned tackle store. We hope to test all the expedition ropes and date tag them - giving us some kind of datum point to work from in the future - in the interests of safety! Also the rig will be available for personal testing at prearranged dates/times and a nominal fee will be charged to help towards tackle replenishment. At the time of writing the rig is only good for factor 1 tests but we will have the components for factor 2 tests shortly. Thanks go to the lads who have shown interest and support in this project and special thanks to the member who supplied the Avro Vulcan bomb release mechanism. I hope the rig is well used. M.W.
Further on the matter of tackle, from the committee .....
The current tackle situation is that out of 22 club ladders there are only 3 booked out in the log and NONE in the tackle store!!! This means that members have been repeatedly unable to have access to kit. There has been little response to requests to return ladders, indeed some non-BEC and sub standard ladders were brought in instead of the original kit borrowed.
Would any member holding any club kit please return it to the tackle store or to any committee member by the February committee meeting so that a proper check and inventory can be done.
And from Jeff
Price-(Caving Secretary).
St Cuthberts Swallet Tackle Fees. If trips are arranged through the caving secretary, the club/group requesting a trip will have to pay the fees at the time of booking, otherwise leaders will still collect fees at the time of the trip.
O.F.D. Permit.
The OFD II (top) Cwm Dwr permit has been renewed. Anyone visiting the above must have a permit with them (and have filled it in). Permits are kept at the Belfry and by Jeff and if anyone needs one urgently they can contact him on his home number 0272-499299 and a permit will be posted. Please note these are only available to paid up members.
As was agreed at the last committee meeting, completed membership forms for prospective new members must be handed to either the proposer or seconder and presented to the committee by them. This is to ensure that the applicant and his/her proposer/seconder are present at the committee meeting ..... .DF.
And Finally ............ SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE ....
As you will see elsewhere in this ish subs for 94/95 are now due and are ...
£20.00 single and £30.00 joint if paid by 31.12.94
£24.00 single and £36.00 joint if paid after 1.1.95
A Letter to the Editor
Dear Ed,
Reading last years article on the successes of people despite them being cavers, I was suitably amused with the subject lateral to caving activity, so here's a bit more ...
This then concerning the subtle criteria for choosing names for caves and parts therein being different to that used by climbers for routes and parts thereof, I suspect the last word in each case has something to do with it.
The trends in cave names appear to be dominated by geographical detail or locations whilst points therein are referred to more often than not by hydrological or descriptive attributes. For the most part names of climbs follow the same rules. The main exceptions in each case appear to be 1. a strong vein of humour both blasphemous and tongue in cheek for cave systems and 2. fictional futuristic and fantastic for climbing routes. A dodgy speculation here may be that while the climbing fraternity are more often than not performing in pairs, caving is undertaken (pun intended) by larger groups which leads to a more prolific dissemination of humour in the socialising 'après descendre'. Further dodgy speculation leads to the three Fs in route names of climbs pandering to spectator attention, their public is suitably awed as it were, this is something that caving, by its very nature, cannot enjoy.
I accept that several other factors are at work here, for instance cave names have the opportunity to describe more dimensions rather than being dominated by verticality, individual moves on climbs can be bloody desperate but not very different from the stamina sapping characteristics of a long caving trip, the terminology must therefore spring from some other source. This leads to a most dodgy speculation that the lack of an audience in caving has been instrumental in the generation of aforementioned blasphemous annotation.
In conclusion then, it appears to be the public's fault.. .. as was thought all along!! Any more ideas anyone ... ???
John King.
"From the Belfry Table"
This is just a brief note from Herr "Hon Sec," which hopefully Jingles 'The Ed' will see fit to publish. The committee will try to keep a regular 'First Friday of the month' plan for meetings, so here is your official notification for all of you ardent waffle followers of the set dates .... Nov 4, Dec 2, Jan 6, Feb 3, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5, Jun 2 Jul 7, Aug 4, Sep 1.
My apologies in advance for missing the December meeting, the
2nd is my wedding anniversary and as it was good enough for the last sec, I
will be on holiday in one of his hotels in
*****************************************
A.G.M. & DINNER: SATURDAY 7th OCTOBER 1995 ..... 60th SPECIAL
*****************************************
COME IN NO 4 YOUR TIME IS UP .... Dan Hasell (Member No 4) was honoured at the AGM when the meeting supported the outgoing committee's proposal to give honorary life membership to 'No 4' for his long standing support of the BEC and Caving and Cave Diving over many years, indeed many of us were touched and humbled by Dan's acceptance speech.
Martin Grass was also honoured by the AGM and awarded one years honorary membership in gratitude for the sterling work over 14 years on the committee. He has thankfully also offered to make a donation, not, I think, a bad idea ... do you?
*****************************************
The AGM further advised me to contact all life members and determine their current interest, if any, in the BEC, as rising costs and insurance premiums levied on each member, now lay heavily upon the paying membership of the club. This in no way detracts from the fact that these people made the club and the Belfry what it is today. We must never lose sight of that, however when they were called upon, they stood to be counted. I also personally believe that they would not now want to be a drain upon the club. Unfortunately, this is the current position due to circumstances beyond our control. There is no intention for them to renounce their category of membership, but rather now we hope that they might consider making a contribution towards their BB, insurance etc., no one can deny that for the most part they have had an average minimum twenty five years membership for their respective contributions. The club does not forget its debt, but must have due regard to the membership as a whole.
Anyway, hope to keep you all briefed, as long as there is food on the table.
Regards to all. 'Mr N Hon. Sec.
Letter
Coneyhurst
Nr Billingshurst
West
5 October 1994
Dear Jingles,
A word is required on the BEC club dinner - Excellent. What more could be said? Unfortunately - there is more! From the moment we arrived back at the Belfry, our ears and stomachs were subjected to loud unexpected music over which conversation was difficult in the extreme. Even this could have been tolerated if the volume was lower and the balance was not pure bass.
Knowing the general high spirits of the well oiled caver we had set our tent up in the snake pit so that when we retired for the night we could be well out of the way for a peaceful nights sleep, so that the party could continue until the last person dropped. Without disturbing us. Even in our tent however the penetrating qualities of the music intruded. Hence a disturbed nights sleep and the ruination of an otherwise enjoyable event.
On talking with various people in the morning we gather that the music was a ploy by a minority to wind some of the other members up. This we think they managed to do extremely well, but we do not regard this within the context of high spirits.
But apart from that please keep up with the high standard of entertainment and good food that constitutes a BEC club dinner.
Congratulations to Nigel Taylor and The Belfry Boys.
Yours sincerely
Dave Ball & Ruth Baxter.
PS So if after publishing this letter you would pass it on to the committee so they could look into this complaint we would be grateful and hopefully much relieved in the future.
Bristol
Exploration Club 1994 AGM held at the Belfry 1st October 1994
Meeting Opened 1045 Hours
The secretary asked for nominations for Chairman.
Bob Cork Chairman. No other nominations (30 For: 1 Against)
Jingles proposed 1993 AGM minutes taken as read and ratified. Seconded Rob Harper. Unanimously accepted.
Matters Arising
Chris Batstone asked if we ever got a Hut Warden's report for 1993 .. asking we never got one. D. Turner said if we knew where the survey kits were. M. Wilson reported all 3 kits were now in his possession. B. Wilton reported the books had now been audited for 1993.
1994 Secretary's report
No matters arising.
Brian Prewer proposed a sincere vote of thanks to M. Grass for his efforts over the last 5 years. Seconded Mac. Report accepted. Proposed D. Turner. Seconded R. Harper. Carried Unanimously.
Caving Secretary's Report
Taken as read. No matters arising. Carried Unanimously. Proposed Blitz. Seconded C. Batstone.
Hut Wardens Report
Taken as read - no questions. M. Grass proposed a vote of thanks as Estelle
had taken more money than ever before mainly due to her collection
technique. Proposed R. Harper. Seconded
Hut Engineer
Tim sent his apologies. Report taken as read. Ron Wyncole sent a report on the fire extinguishers (see attached). Brian and Nigel voiced major concern that some of our fire extinguishers had been "loaned" to the Shepton Mallet C.C. Although high spirits set off extinguishers our insurance would be invalid if we had a fire. Setting off extinguishers should be dealt with severely by the Hut Warden. Proposed Jingles. Seconded Mike Wilson. Carried Unanimously.
Membership Secretary
Ted Humphreys asked why a membership list had not been published. Nigel said it had taken a long time to get the records straight. One would be published in the next B.B. D. Turner asked about Nigel's proposal of getting contribution from Life Members. Dan Hasell said we should write and ask if Life Members wished to remain members and still receive the B.B. D. Turner asked that Nigel write to all Life Members as suggested at last years AGM. Nigel said he had spoken to members rather than written. Nigel agreed to write to selected Life Members. C. Batstone asked how many members we had. Nigel said he could not give an exact figure. Proposed acceptance D. Turner. Seconded Ted Humphreys. All for one abstention.
Tackle Masters Report
Published. As usual ladders were missing. Bob Cork said should we not have ladders but hire them from someone. The meeting said no. Struen said we should try non-compatible c. links. Brian Prewer said this wouldn't work as MRD may need to mix club ladders on a rescue. It was decided to try and ensure ladders are tagged and are logged out. Proposed C. Batstone. Seconded Greg Villis. Carried Unanimously.
B.B. Editor
Dan Hasell said could we have more B.B's Nigel Taylor said that since Jingles had edited the B.B. it had been excellent. He said cost meant we could only have a B.B. every 2 months plus if he had enough articles he could do a monthly one. Proposed Nigel Taylor. Seconded Rob Harper. Carried Unanimously. 1 Abstention.
Treasurers Report - Blitz read it out.
Members said we should have remained in the BMC. Dave Glover said now there was a joining fee plus about £3.50 per member per year fee. M. Grass suggested next years' committee look at rejoining if it is not to costly. D. Turner had proposed this at the 1993 AGM. It was agreed to continue. The telephone was not making money and we were about £52 per year down. Mr. N. said should we charge MRO for some line rental. M. Grass said no as this was our contribution to MRD. It was agreed to not put up charges but to continue subsidising the line rental.
Dave Turner was told by the Chairman that he could make the final statement. He said he had said enough. £250 was given to Trebor for the publication of the Wigmore report. Trebor reported that it would be published within the next 2 months.
Oil and electricity after much discussion about heating costs, Jingles Proposed, Seconded Mac that next years' committee put a locked box over the frost stat to stop people turning up the heating mid week. Keys to committee members. Brian Prewer Proposed. Seconded Nigel. That we go to a cheap Electricity plan for nights and weekdays. Brian had done this at the village hall. He will advise next years committee.
R. Harper asked why we had spent so much on cleaning materials etc. Blitz said the previous Hut Warden had not always accurately accounted for all cleaning product expense.
St. Cuthberts loans - Blitz said we had made a profit on hut fees and that we could pay off some of the pledge money.
Auditors Report
Barry Wilton reported that the accounts were becoming more complicated and 4 weeks was not long enough to audit the accounts by the AGM. D. Turner proposed that next years' committee is instructed to look at a constitutional change to the financial year. Seconded Mac: 0 Against: 4 abstentions. Carried.
The auditor will audit the accounts and report back to the next committee meeting and they will be published in the B.B.
Ian Dear Memorial Fund Proposed
Report published in the B.B. Proposed Mac. Seconded Jingles. 0 Against: 2 Abstention. Carried.
Librarians Report
Dave asked for a membership list to be put in the library.
Blitz asked if any books had gone missing. He said he knew of none. Proposed
Estelle. Seconded
St. Cuthberts report selling slowly but steadily.
Nigel Taylor Proposed. Seconded BEC committee that due to his support of the BEC member No.4 Dan Hasell is accepted as an Honorary Life Member. All carried Unanimously.
Election of committee
Nigel Taylor, Chris Smart, Mike Wilson, Jingles, Jeff Price,
* those marked * are new to the committee.
|
Position
|
Candidate
|
Proposed
|
Seconded
|
For
|
Against
|
Abst..
|
|
Hon Sec
|
Nigel Taylor
|
D. Turner
|
A. Cave
|
UNAM.
|
0
|
1
|
|
Treasurer
|
Chris Smart
|
Mac
|
|
UNAM
|
1
|
2
|
|
Caving Sec.
|
Jeff Price
|
Mac
|
C. Batstone
|
UNAM
|
|
0
|
|
Tacklemaster
|
Mike Wilson
|
Estelle
|
Struan
|
UNAM
|
|
0
|
|
Hut Warden
|
|
Babs
|
Rob Harper
|
|
|
|
|
Hut Engineer
|
|
Blitz
|
Estelle
|
|
|
1
|
|
Membership Sec
|
Dick Fred
|
Babs
|
|
UNAM
|
|
|
|
Editor
|
Jingles
|
D. Turner
|
Blitz
|
UNAM
|
|
|
The meeting understand and agreed that Estelle would take over as assistant treasurer.
Non committee posts:
|
Librarian
Archivist
Auditor
|
D. Turner
Alan Thomas
B. Wilton
|
B. Prewer
T. Humphries
C. Batstone
|
Mac
M. Gr4ass
D. Turner
|
UNAM
|
1
2
|
Proposed: Jingles Seconded Blitz that the librarian is instructed to find out from the Archivist what archives we have and where they are kept.
M. Grass was given Hon. Membership for one year as
acknowledgement of his services to the club. Proposed
Proposed R. Harper. Seconded Nigel that we have a Member to Excess which can only be awarded by the AGM. 26 For: 1 Against: 1 Abstention. The committee to be instructed to look at a suitable award.
Any Other Business
A Report from BEC rescue team leader. Read out by the Chairman. Blitz asked Brian Prewer to comment. Brian said all real rescues are insured by police, now practices are also insured. The practice organised by P. Romford was not OK'd by the BEC committee. Mac said Phil's report was wrong in saying it was for experienced SRT cavers only. Mac asked that it is minuted that Phil is an experienced caver and has a lot to offer.
Brian Prewer said that the original purpose of Club team leaders is that they are generally young members who hopefully will become MRO Wardens.
M. Grass proposed that the position reverts back to Caving Sec. to appoint team leaders as and when required. Seconded Estelle. 25 For: 2 Against: 2 Abstention. D. Turner proposed that the next committee are instructed to issue a set of guidelines for Practice Club rescues. 25 For: 0 Against: 1 Abstentions.
Nigel Taylor said Kevin Fisher who stole Trebors car had now admitted the crime and will probably receive a custodial sentence.
Blitz said do we need a full balance sheet or partial. A partial one was a good idea.
Next years' dinner and AGM 7 October 1995.
Meeting Closed 1555 hours.
1994 BEC AGM Present
M. Grass, B. Cork, Jingles, Stuan, Helen Harper, Rob Harper, Estelle Sandford, Mike Wilson, Any Cave, Angie Cave, Hilary Wilson, Babs Williams, Pete Hellier, Kevin Gurmer, Dave Glover, Ruth Baxter, John Freeman, B.J. Wilton, Ted Humphreys, Chas, Nigel Taylor, Chris Batstone, Chris Smart, Dave Turner, S.J. McManus, Dan Hasell, B. Prewer, Greg Villas, Emma Porter, Nick Gymer, Dave Ball, Rich Long.
Late Arrival, John Buxton.
The Case of the Corduroy Trouser
by Dave Irwin
Investigation Into the history of cave exploration can lead the speleological researcher into many unexpected dele avenues. None more so than the 'Case of the Corduroy Trouser.' To lay the least this is the most unusual the writer has yet come across to establish the date of cave
The standard references to this cave all imply that interest
in Lamb Leer Cavern waned after
The twenty-five year old John Beaumont of Ston Easton, near Chewton Mendip, first explored the cave about 1675 and fortunately he wrote of his experiences in the publications of the Royal Society 4 leaving detailed accounts of the cave including his study of the stalactite formations and the crinoid fossils that abound at the site. In addition to his descriptions he outlined his activities during his search for galena in the Main Chamber. He excavated a high rift passage. Beamnont's Drive. leading to what is now known today as the Cave of the Falling Waters. The clay deposits also interested him as the red ochre mud was of use to him in his medical practice.
1 Lowthorpe, J., 1705. Philosophical Transactions & Collections. To the End of ... 1100. Abridg'd, Vo1.2, 369-370. [Other editions published 1716, 1722 and 1731]
2 Woodward, Horace B., 1876, Geology of East
Somerset and the
p. 187-189- descriptive summary of caves at Westbury [
... The lamb Cavern was a very lofty and
spacious vault containing stalactites. The descent to it was by a shaft 70 fathoms deep.
No knowledge of it was possessed by any inhabitants of whom I inquired in
1868. Messrs Buckland and Conybeare
write in 1823, 1t is not now open, but appears from the description of it
given in MATON'S WESTERN TOUR (see vol. ii p. 132) to be rather an old mine
than a natural cave. 8 ... '
3 Maton, William G., 1797, Observations relative
chiefly to the Natural History ... of the Western Counties of
4 The references and transcripts of the
The limited value to the miners caused the site to be
abandoned - hence its name - a Leer - an open cavity that was empty of
ore. During the next century the cave
was often referred to by topographical writers, though most appeared not to
have visited the site but simply plagiarised material from earlier
writers. At least one thought it to be
an old mine. Benjamin Martin, in his
book. The Natural History of
At the time Woodward was preparing his book on the
coalfields of East Somerset and
This note has been re-printed from the latest newsletter of the BCRA Special Interest Group's Newsletter No.6 (with permission).
Many readers of the BB may
not have heard of these specialist groups that cater for cavers interested in
Communications, surveying, hydrology, explosives and Speleo-history. Membership of the groups is open to all
cavers including non-BCRA members. There
is a subscription differential of about 30% for non-members. Further information can be obtained from
Bryan Ellis,
5 Martin, Benjamin, 1759. The Natural History of Somersetshire. Pub: W.
Owen,
Re-exploration of the cave took place. A winch was installed at the entrance together with a wooden ladder. At the top of the pitch into the Main Chamber, a pulley system was installed enabling a team of about five men to control to paying out of the rope at the top lowering the visitor down the 70ft pitch. One has only to reflect on their difficulties; indeed not only these men but the achievement on the young John Beaumont. None of these men had the advantage of approaching the top of the pitch into the Main Chamber by creeping under the aragonite floor. The approach was over the top through the awkward hole that would cause problems for today's SRT or laddering experts.
The Bath Field Club 9 heard or read of the re-discovery and
applied to be able to visit the cave. So, within a month of the caves' rediscovery, they paid a visit on July
13th. 1880. It was also to be James
McMurties first visit to the cave. Prior to the descent of the cave Nicholls outlined the work involved in
the relocating of the cave - in fact some 37 borings had been made - indicating
the considerable effort afforded by him and his men. Nicholls stated that one of the first points
of interest he noted was the mark of a corduroy trouser in the mud. This then was the all important clue to when
the cave was last visited. When did men
begin wearing trousers made of the corduroy weave. Some searching took place and eventually with
the help of individuals associated with the
6 Colinson, John, 1791, The History and
Antiquities of the
7 Balch also used this erroneous transcript, refer
to
Balch, H.E., 1937, Mendip. Its Swallet Caves ... , Wells, Clare, Son & Co.,
ltd. p.74-75. [19.(8 2nd edition,
8 The company underwent several name changes during its activities on Mendip.
9 Anon, 1881, Secretaries Notes and Excursion
Report. Proceedings of the
Chile
HMS NORFOLK
BFPO 344
At Sea - Off
16 March 1994
I am currently serving onboard HMS NORFOLK. One of the Royal Navys Type 23
Frigates. During our South Atlantic
patrol we visited
In the course of this visit I was able to take a two day expedition to the Torres del Paine National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty the Patagonian Andes (famous world-wide for the imposing Towers which the park its name).
During the visit to the park I made a brief visit to the Cueva del Milodon (Caves of Milodon) a show cave which I found to contain a number of fascinating speleological features.
The cave was formed by the erosive action of glacial melt-water on the conglomerate which forms the side wall of a deep U-shaped glacial valley.
As shown on the sketch map below the cave is situated on the side wall of the valley at the point where the glacier snout formed the terminal moraines. The entrance is about 100 m across and about 30 m high. The cave floor rises at an angle of about is degrees and two distinct "bedding planes can be seen. The outermost being the lower (and presumably the more recent watercourse). Both bedding planes are now choked with loose boulders. The inner section of the cave is filled with a fine glacial silt which still bears the traces of Ion Age habitation in the form of hut foundations.
Unfortunately the caves touristic value has been 'enhanced' by the addition of a ten foot high fibre-glass Milodon (a prehistoric bear) which has become the focus of the cave with little in the wav of speleological explanation being available from the park wardens.
The cave ceiling has a number of eroded formations. Most of which have been badly damaged by the smoke from the fires of the caves early inhabitants.
Sketch showing the general topography of the valley.
Sketch of plan and elevation views of cave
Caving In The
Falkland Islands
On Saturday 23 April a team of six cavers from HMS NORFOLK
conducted a reconnaissance expedition to the
This area is reputed by local legend to have been the hideout for eighteenth century smugglers and as such is well recognised to have a number of caves.
Paloma beach is a remote bay located at the North-westerly
extremity of
Locally obtained information suggested the presence of at least one cave entrance in the rocky outcrop at the centre of the bay.
Using the ship's Linx helicopter (361, Pilot Duncan Matthews, Observer Sean Rowley), an aerial reconnaissance of the cliffs surrounding the bay was undertaken; a number of small cave entrances were noted along the base of the cliffs, but unfortunately time and tide did not allow for these to be explored.
After landing on the beach a search was made of the outcrop;
two caves were identified. One cave
fitted obtained from the locals of a cave known locally as
Geological Features
The rock in the area is a metamorphic sandstone with a very high silica content (a full geological analysis of specimens taken by the expedition is currently awaited).
The cave entrance is an angled rift which slopes at about 45 degrees for a distance of 25 meters into a thirty meter bedding plane.
New Cave (named Sandy Hole by the expedition).
The cave entrance is a small (1 x 0.75 meter) opening in the left hand side of the rocky outcrop at the centre of the beach. The cave consists of a single passageway which slopes down at an angle of 30 degrees for 25 meters. The cave is partially filled with wind blown sand.
25 METERS
Although it is unlikely that any major speleological challenges visited are certainly of geological of a visit by cavers who find themselves
Permission to visit the caves should be sought from the landowners at San Carlos Settlement.
Andrew
Duncan Matthews
Sean Rowley
Andy Whitehouse
Jan Portwood
Garry Langler
A MAP TO SHOW THE
LOCATION OF THE CAVES DESCRIBES SCALE 1:50,000
Meghalaya
TETENGKOL BALWAKOL
In February '94, I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Meghalaya, North East India, with seven other cavers. After several days spent negotiating restricted area permits and establishing where we could and could not visit we decided to explore in three main areas. Firstly Cherrapunjee / Mawsynram (East Khasi Hills), secondly Siju (South Garo Hills) and lastly Balpakram (South Garo Hills). It was also decided to separate into two teams of four; this would help with the logistics of transport and give us more freedom to cover our chosen areas.
17th. Feb.
The sun was already well up when our two jeeps set off from
Despite our desire to get changed and head off to explore caverns measureless etc., we had to observe the rituals of social niceties. A meeting with Hemason M. Sangma, the village head man (Noc-Ma), regarding the caves, involved several glasses of tea and offers of beetle nut. Eventually it was agreed that the Noc-Ma would lead us up river to the cave. The walk-in takes about an hour, the route at first crosses paddy fields and then enters the jungle following the Chibe Nala gorge. The Noc-Ma, a short wiry man dressed in flip flops, shapeless trousers rolled up to the knees, ill fitting jacket and carrying an ancient single barrel shot gun tied to a piece of string over his shoulder, lead us up the river. We followed over large banks of sand and shingle, the river soon narrowing into a gorge, its steep, craggy, limestone walls, jungle clad, alive with birds and monkeys. We passed two hot springs (32 and 35 degrees Celsius) before the river became a succession of isolated pools as it started to play that exciting game of hide and seek that quickens the pulse of any cave explorer. Eventually we arrived at a spectacular stretch of the Chibe Nala, the river here runs in a series of deep, blue-green pools, liberally decorated with huge blocks of limestone and pure white sand banks. The eastern side of the gorge consists of massive slabs of rock rising almost vertically and set with impenetrable jungle; the western side is a continuous wall of rock in which the almost round 'Hobbit hole entrance of Tetengkol is to be found.
TETENGKOL :
Alternatively interpreted as "
At the entrance we hurriedly kitted up and as I was ready
first I rushed in to have a quick look around. The entrance passage, clean washed, finely scalloped and approximately
1.6 by 1m reached a small stream after about 10m. I set off upstream in slightly larger passage
traversing about 150m of joint controlled development, stopping when it
diminished to less than 1 m high, then rushing back to meet the others. On my return the rest of the team had not arrived
so I pushed on downstream. The passage
runs almost parallel to the Chibe Nala, slowly diminishing in size, until after
130m, I, having been reduced to flat out crawling in the stream, returned. When I met Jenny, Shoon and Daniel, they were
already busy with the survey and as there was not enough room for more than
three to work I went off to push the upstream passage. Passing several side passages I soon arrived
at the previous limit and pausing just long enough to check on the local young
man who decided to accompany me (dressed in white shirt, slacks, slip on shoes
and no light) we pushed on. Some twenty
or thirty metres of stooping later, the passage began to enlarge and we were
soon trolling along a two metre tube. This fine passage ended suddenly at a junction with a superb
river-passage (
The journey out of the cave and back to the village passed in a euphoric haze, dreaming of caverns as yet unseen. The excitement however was not over for the day, as on our return to the village we were to be treated as honoured guests and invited to eat at the home of the Noc-Ma. After a superb meal, lots of tea and several Biries (a small cigar, hand made out of Birie leaves with dubious effects) we were ready to leave. As it was now late and we had 8 kilometres off road and 20 kilometres of appalling road to drive before we could sleep, we were keen to be going, but, the Noc-Ma had other ideas. Apparently one of the village hunters had just returned with a Barking Deer and we, as honoured guests, must have a share of the kill. Simon and I were taken to a house where the deer was skinned and jointed using nothing but a razor blade and an old bamboo knife. Later, after shaking hands (yet again) with what seemed like the population of a medium sized city we set off, very tired, very happy and with about 2 kilos of fresh meat.
18th. Feb.
After an all too short night (at the Circuit House in
Backmara) and a breakfast of Puries and Channa Dhal we were again heading for
Nengkong. The twenty eight kilometre
journey was uneventful but: uncomfortable and by mid morning we were engaged in
the elaborate game of trying to change in front of 30 or 40 villagers who were
all desperate to find out if we were white all over. During these gymnastics we were in
conversation with the Noc-Ma who gave us information regarding other caves in
the area: - Matchakol (
19th. 20th. 21st.
22nd. Feb.
The next four days were spent in the Balpakram area where our team was singularly unsuccessful in discovering significant new cave, despite close encounters with vanishing rivers, moving boulder chokes and large spiders. However, that, as they say, is another story.
23 Feb.
We returned to Nengkong with the intention of staying in the
village for the next few days thereby saving on travelling and having more time
for caving. The villagers were very
pleased at our return and soon found us a place to sleep (the mustard seed
store). We soon dispensed with the
necessary niceties (several glasses of tea and endless hand shakes) and were
once again tramping up the Chibe Nala. This time we stopped to examine Matrongkol (
On our return to Tetengkol we first surveyed the maze of
joint controlled passage in Daniel's Topo Teaser Series, before moving on to
Again time had beaten us so we returned to the village, happy that we still had more leads than you could throw a stick at.
24th. Feb.
The tasks for the day were to survey the Balwakol Series and
to examine all the un-entered leads off
Having finished the survey of the Balwakol Series we moved
up
25th. Feb.
We spent the day going to look at another cave Dobhakol, (
26th. Feb.
This was to be our last day in the Nengkong area, so despite many passages not pushed to conclusion in Tetengkol, we decided on the following plan: one, to try to descend the rift found by Simon, two, to tie up several survey loops in the upper end of the cave and three, to spend what remained of the day photographing the cave. We had just failed to achieve our first objective and were starting on our second when I looked under a low arch at the side of the passage, and there between easily movable boulders was a big black space. Having dispatched the boulders and ascended an easy climb I found myself in another huge chamber (Brian's "I'm sorry I think I've found a way through the boulders" Series). With the floor of this chamber consisting of huge slabs some 5m across and the roof a large unsupported malevolent presence, it is not surprising that conversations were carried out in whispers. We commenced surveying the new-chamber but the sound of falling water enticed us into a side chamber where a small stream was found tumbling into a shaft which occupied most of the floor area. Traversing around the unstable lip we entered a fine stream passage, this was followed passing several (un-entered) side passages for about 200m. At this point the passage had diminished to a high, narrow, inclined rift, requiring sideways travel. Just when we were about to give up we popped out at the base of a clean washed, elliptical shaft, its fluted walls rose sheer for at least 20 m, the stream reduced to fine spray by its fall from passages as yet unseen. Returning to the big chamber (Agoraphobia Chamber) we continued our survey only to be seduced yet again by the sound of a stream. This time the stream passage only went for 30m to a wide, high rift, with the water cascading from an obvious large passage about 10m above. Completing the line survey of Agoraphobia Chamber we found ourselves in an impressive passage about 10 to 12m square, this was followed to where it split into several smaller passages, none of which were pushed to conclusion. As we were fast running out of time and, as yet, had not taken a single photograph in the cave, we made the difficult decision to leave many ongoing passages unexplored. We photographed back to the entrance wishing we had more time to do the job properly and it was with great reluctance that we finally left the cave.
Epilogue.
Tetengkol is now the longest cave in the Indian subcontinent, having over 5 kilometres of surveyed passage, it has at least 27 ongoing leads so the possibility of doubling its length is quite high.
The Chibe Nala area also offers Matrongkol (not fully explored), Dobhakol (not fully explored), several cave entrances seen but not entered, a massive resurgence (not closely examined) and a 3 kilometre totally unexplored limestone gorge. Needless to say, I for one wish to return.
Expedition members involved in the Tetengkol exploration were Jenny Brooks, Simon Brooks, Daniel Gehauer and Brian Johnson.
The other members of the Meghalaya '91 expedition were Tony Boycott, Helen Harper, Rob Harper and Chris Smart.
MEGHALAYA - ΣΨΝΟΠΣΙΣ
02 February to 02 March 1994:
Simon BROOKS, Tony BOYCOTT, Jennifer BROOKS, Herbert Daniel GEBAUER, Helen HARPER, Rob HARPER, Brian JOHNSON & Chris SMART
|
|
A
|
B
|
C
|
D
|
E
|
F
|
|
1
|
Area
|
Cave
|
Survey
|
Alt +
|
State of mapping
|
Text print
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
BALPAKRAM
|
Mahadeo Chirenkol
|
1,679.30
|
17.29 (-0.88, 16.41)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
4
|
|
Mahadeo-?-Kol
|
1.028.26
|
18.30 (-2.81. 15.54)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
5
|
|
Mingsingkol
|
507.62
|
16.54 (0.00, 16.54)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
CHERRANPUNJEE
|
Krem Phyllut
|
1,003.11
|
29.21 (-8.54,20.67)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
8
|
|
Mawnluh-Aven (30,21)
|
|
11.42 (0.00, 11.42)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
9
|
|
Mawnluh-b (598,35)
|
|
15.05 (-11.24, 3.l81)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
10
|
|
Mawnluh-Fossil (265,82)
|
|
23.27 (-23.27, 0.00)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
11
|
|
Adds to Mawnluh (3607,3)
|
834.38
|
Total length: 4501.7m
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
KHARAKOL
|
Bok Bak Dobhakol
|
1,052.53
|
31.64 )-13.74, 17.90)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
14
|
|
Dobhakol
|
1,616.30
|
14.66 (-3.73, 10.93)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
15
|
|
Tentengkol
|
4,666.96
|
45.32 (-0.51, 44.81)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
MAWSNYRAM
|
Krem Dram
|
421.54
|
13.98 (-2.76.11.22)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
18
|
|
Krem Phusjasim
|
244.57
|
13.82 (0.00, 13.82)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
19
|
|
Krem Lumsymper
|
135.87
|
3.28 (-0.98, 2.30)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
SIJU
|
Shit Pot
|
161.94
|
18.49 (-18.49, 0.00)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
22
|
|
Dobhakol-a (131,85)
|
|
1.80 (0.00, 1.80)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
23
|
|
Dobhakol-b (517,57)
|
|
26.38 (-5.04, 21.34)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
24
|
|
Dobhakol-c (49.24)
|
|
9.02 (-6.66, 2.36)
|
wire
|
y
|
|
25
|
|
Adds to Dobhakol (2900)
|
649.42
|
Total length: 3198.8m
|
wire
|
y
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
TURA
|
Tetenkol
|
8.00
|
2.2 (-0.00, 2.2)
|
drawn
|
no
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
Total:
|
12,390.50
|
Metres surveyed length
|
|
|
Membership Matters!
Mem Sec:- Dick-Fred, Cheddar. Somerset.
When Jingles asked me to write this for the next issue of the B.B. I must admit I sat staring at an empty screen for a while. Finally the words began to flow .......
Having recently taken over the job of Membership Secretary for the B.E.C. I suppose I ought to direct my comments in that direction. Firstly I would like to thank Mr. N. for the job he has done over the past few years, he has managed to get the membership details in such a well organised state that has made it easy for me to slide gently into the role.
Then I would like to thank Jingles for actually having the patience and time to enter onto computer the complete list of paid up members as at the A.G.M. this year.
Now seems the time to remind the membership, myself included, that subs are due and to remind you that up to the 31st of December 1994 subs are £20 single, £30 joint. After that the subs rise to £24 single, £36 joint.
There is always a period of grace for those who do not pay their subs, as they will receive only one or two further B.B. 's after the start of the next year before they are then removed from the distribution list. (This is normally at the discretion of the B.B. Editor and the Membership Secretary.)
On the following pages you will see the current membership list. Inclusion on this list does not mean you have paid your subs! If your details are wrong, or you know that somebody else's are wrong, please let me know. I feel it is very important that your details are kept as up to date as possible and I will try to publish updates in every B.B.
Please send your subs and information to either the Belfry, for my attention, or my home address at the top of the page.
Ciao for now,
Dick-Fred.
Bristol
Exploration Club Membership List 94 95
987 Dave Aubrey
20 (L) Bobby Bagshaw Knowle,
392 (L) Mike Baker Henton,
Wells, Somerset
1150 David Ball ConeyHurst,
Billinhurst,
1151 Ruth Baxter ConeyHurst,
Billinhurst, West Sussex
1145 Roz Bateman East
Harptree,
818 Chris Batsone Tynings,
radstock, Avon
1079 Henry Bennett
390 (L) Joan Bennett Draycott,
1122 Clive Betts Clapham,
Bedfordshire.
1125 Rich Blake Priddy,
Somerset
731 Bob Bidmead West
harptree, Bristol
364 (L) Pete Blogg Chaldon,
Caterham, Surrey
1114 Pete Bolt
145 (L) Sybil Bowden-Lyle Calne,
Wiltshire
1104 Tony Boycott Westbury
on Trim,
868 Dany Bradshaw Haybridge,
Wells, Somerset
751 (L) T.A. Bookes London
1140 D Bromhead Worlse,
Avon
1196 Dave Bryant Salford,
201 John Buxton Flitwick,
Beds.
956 Ian Caldwell Redland,
1091 A Curruthers Whitehole
Hill, Holcombe, Bath
1014 Chris Castle Axbridge,
Somerset
902 L M Cavender Westbury-sub-Mendip,
wells, Somerset.
1184 Sean Chaffey Banwell,
1197 John Christie Brompton,
North Allerton, North Yorks
211 (L) Clare Coase
620 Phil Coles Totterdown,
Bristol
89 (L) Alfie Collins Draycott,
Somerset
1175 Ali Cooper Goring
on
727 Bill Cooper Totterdown,
Bristol
862 Bob Cork Pen
Hill, Wells, Somerset
1062 (J)
1142 (J)
680 Bob Cross Knowle,
Bristol
870 Gary Cullen Southwater,
Nr Horsham,
1165 D Cunningham
405 (L) Frank Darbon
1166 Arron Davies Shepton
Mallet, Somerset
1167 Malcolm Davies Shepton
Mallet, Somerset
423 (L) Len Dawes Minster
Matlock, Derbyshire
815 Nigel Dibden Holmes,
Chapel, Cheshire
164 (L) Ken Dobbs Beacon
Heath,
829 (L) Angie Dooley Harborne,
Birmingham
710 (J) Colin Dooley Harborne,
Birmingham
1000 (L) Roger Dors Priddy,
Somerset
830 John Dukes Street,
Somerset
322 (L) Bryan Ellis Westonzoyland,
Bridgwater, Somerset
232 Chris Falshaw Crosspool,
Sheffield
269 (L) Tom Fletcher Bramcote,
404 (L) Albert Francis Wells,
Somerset
1159 John Freeman Upper
Radford, Paulton,
1182 Alex Gee
835 Len Gee St.
Edgeley, Stockport, Cheshire
1098 Brian Gilbert Chingford,
London
1069 (J) Angie Glanvill Chard,
Somerset
1017 (J) Peter Glanvill Chard,
Somerset
647 Dave Glover
790 (J) Martin Grass Wookey,
Somerset
1009 Robin Gray Draycott,
Somerset
1123 Ian Gregory Bedford
1089 Kevin Gurner Theydon
Bois, Epping, Essex
1088 Nick Gymer Theydon
Bois, Epping, Essex
104 (L)
1156 Brian Hansford Weeke,
1186 (J) Helen Harper Wells,
Somerset
999 (J) Rob Harper Wells,
Somerset
581 Chris Harvey Paulton,
Somerset
4 (L) Dan Hassell Moorlynch,
Bridgwater, Somerset
1160 Nick Hawkes Nempnett
Thrubwell, Chew Stoke, Bristol
1078 Mike Hearn
1117 Pete Hellier Nempnett
Thrubwell, Chew Stoke,
974 Jeremy Henley Shepton
Mallet, Somerset
952 Bob Hill PO
Box 82, Sultanate of Oman
691 Dudley Herbert
1174 Kevin Hissey Twerton,
905 Paul Hodgson Burcott,
Wells, Somerset
923 Trevor Hughes Bleadney,
Wells, Somerset
855 Ted Humphreys Wells,
Somerset
73 Angus Innes Alveston,
540 (L) Dave Irwin Priddy,
Somerset
922 Tony Jarratt Priddy,
Somerset
668 Mike Jeanmaire Paek
51 (L) A Johnson Flax
Bourton, Bristol
995 Brian Johnson Ottery
St. Mary, Devon
1111 Graham Johnson Wells,
Somerset
560 (L) Frank Jones Priddy,
Somerset
567 (L) Alan Kennett Charlton
Musgrove, Wincanton, Somerset
884 John King Wisborough
Green, West Sussex
1105 Jo Hills Wisborough
Green, West Sussex
316 (L) Kangy King Pucklechurch,
542 (L) Phil
413 (L) R. Kitchen Horrabridge,
Yelverton, Devon
667 (L) Tim Large Shepton
Mallet
1162 Joc Large Shepton
Mallet
1171 Rich Lewis Weston-super-Mare,
Avon
1129 Dave Lennard
1137 Bob Lewis Odd
Down,
1180 Rich Long Stoke
St. Michael, Somerset
651 Pete MacNab (Sr) Cheddar,
Somerset
1052 (J) Pete MacNab (Jr) Cheddar,
Somerset
1071 Mike McDonald Knowle,
550 (L) R A MacGregor Baughurst,
725 Stuart McManus Priddy,
Somerset
558 (L) Tony Meaden Westbury,
Bradford Abbas, Sherborne, Dorset
704 Dave Metcalfe Whitwick,
Leicestershire
1044 Any Middleton Hardington-Mandeville,
Somerset
1172 (J) Sean Morgan Clevedon,
Avon
1191 (J) Lorna Berrie Clevedon,
Avon
1053 Steve Milner Broadview,
S.A., Australia
1194 Nick Mitchell Ash,
1195 Struan McDonald Waterbrook
Mews, Devizes, Wilts
1183 Andy Newton Worle,
WSM, Avon
936 Dave Nichols Camborne,
Cornwall
396 (L) Mike Palmer Yarley,
Wells, Somerset
1045 Rich Payne Orpington,
Kent
22 (L) Les Peters Knowle
Park,
1134 Martin Peters Chew
Stoke,
1107 Terry Phillips Denmead,
Hants.
499 (L) A. Philpot Bishopston,
944 Steve Plumley Burrington,
Bristol
337 Brian Prewer Priddy,
Wells, Somerset
886 Jeff Price Knowle,
481 (L) John Ransom Patchway,
1126 Steve Redwood Draycott,
Somerset
662 (J) John Riley Chapel
le Dale, Ingleton, Via Carnforth, Lancs.
1033 (J) Sue Riley Chapel
le Dale, Ingleton, Via Carnforth, Lancs
985 (J) Phil Romford Shepton
Mallet, Somerset
986 (J) Lil Romford Shepton
Mallet, Somerset
921 Pete Rose Crediton,
Devon
240 (L) Alan Sandall Nailsea,
Avon
359 (L) Carol Sandall Nailsea,
Avon
1170 Andy
1173 Estelle Sandford Wells,
Somerset
1178 Ivan Sandford
237 (L)
78 (L) R Setterington
213 (L) Rod Setterington Harpendon,
Herts
1128 Vince Simmonds Wells,
Somerset
915 Chris Smart Nr.
Bradford on
911 Jim Smart c/o
The Belfry
1041 Laurence Smith Priddy
823 Andy Sparrow Priddy,
Somerset
1 (L) Harry Stanbury Bude,
Cornwall
1192 Carmen Smith Sherborne,
Dorset
575 (L) Dermot Statham Warkworth,
Northumberland
365 (L) Roger Stenner Weston
super Mare, Avon
1084 Richard Stephens Wookey,
Somerset
1187 Mark Tanner Fishponds,
583 Derek Targett East
Horrington, Wells Somerset
772 Nigel Taylor Langford,
Avon
284 (L) Alan Thomas Priddy,
Somerset
348 (L) D Thomas Bartlestree,
Hereford
571 (L) N Thomas Salhouse,
699 (J) Buckett Tilbury
700 (J) Anne Tilbury
74 (L) Dizzie Thompsett-Clark Great
Baddow,
381 (L) Daphne Towler Bognor
Regis, Sussex
1177 C R Tozer Worle,
W-S-M, Avon
382 Steve Tuck Dousland,
Yelverton, Devon
1023 Matt Tuck Eastfield,
Edingburgh.
678 Dave Turner Leigh
on Mendip,
912 John Turner Tavistock,
1154 Karen Turvey Welloington,
635 (L) S. Tuttlebury Boundstone,
Farnham,
1096 Brian van Luipen Wick,
Littlehampton, West sussex
887 Greg Villis Weston
super Mare, North Somerset
175 (L) D. Whaddon
949 (J) John Watson Wells,
1019 (J) Lavinia Watson Wells,
Somerset
973 James Wells
1055 Oliver Wells
1185 Chas Wethered Welling,
1118 Carol White Castlehead,
Pately Bridge,
1092 Babs Williams Knowle,
1068 John Whiteley Heathfiled,
Newton Abbot,
1087 John Williams W-S-M,
Avon
1146 Les Williams
1075 Tony Williams
1164 (J) Hilary Wilson Keynsham,
Avon
1130 (J) Mike Wilson (snr) Keynsham,
Avon
1153 Mike Wilson (jnr) Whitchurch,
Bristol
559 (J)
568 (J) Brenda Wilton Haydon,
Nr. Wells, Somerset
721 G Wilton-Jones Watton,
Thetford, Norfolk
914 Brian Workman Catcott,
Bridgwater, Somerset
477 Ronald Wyncoll Holycroft,
Hinkley, Leics.
683 Dave Yeandle Greenbank,
Eastville,
1169 Chris York Kettering,
Northants
Alternative Glossary Of Caving, Mining & Underground Rescue Terms
ABSEIL Hand & bollock warming technique
ADIT Smug look on caver's face on Sunday morning
ANCHOR Act of fancying a Casualty Bag (see below)
AMMO BOXES Large cigarette carriers
ASCENDER. Opposite to Headender
AVEN Light-swallowing phenomena which goes nowhere
BANDMASK Hi-tec euthanasia device
BEDDING PLANE Conjugal accommodation for dwarfs
BELAY What students hang their tackle on having previously ascertained its instability
BELAY BELT The act of kicking a belay to check its strength
BLACKDAMP Found on inside walls of caving huts.
BLUEWATER Only thing certain Cave Divers will be seen in
BODY HARNESS Used to remain upright at bar
BOLT As in "Last Orders!"
CARBIDE LAMP Device used to extract jammed cavers
CARRYING SHEET What you have to do when its your turn to empty the Elsan
CARTGATE Rustic door
CASUALTY BAG CRO groupie
CAVE Something not to be seen dead in
CAVE DIVER Something not to be seen alive in
CAVERN Posh name to rhyme with "Tavern" in caving songs
CEAG Celebrated Electrical Activity Generator
CHAMBER Receptacle in which to store spectacles, teeth, spare d iced carrot, etc under bed
CHEST HARNESS Ring Miss Smotherem for details
CHIMNEY Play equipment for cavers supplied in most pubs
CHOKE Realisation that its your round
C-LINKS What walls hold up
CLINT Ethnic
CLOG Anti-squitter medicine
COE Pratt in running shorts
COFFIN LEVEL Scale of noise made by smoking cavers
CONTROLLER Receptacle for abuse, car keys, reporters bribes, etc
COW'S TAIL Grip for use whilst keeping arm warm in bovine heat-pack
CRAWL Saturday night auto-pilot
CROSS CUT Very annoyed bleeder
CURTAIN Device to prevent Constabulary observing after-hours activities
D-RING Noise D-phone makes
DEADS Retired Controllers
DESCENDER Person sending letter from .Jamaica
DOLINE Queue at DHSS Off ice
DRAG SHEET Crap found in bottom of Mexican stretcher
DRIFT Course brain steers on Saturday evening
DRY SUIT Clothing for first 10 minutes in bar
DUCK Sheep substitute
EDGE ROLLER Go-faster device for lowering stretcher
ELECTRON LADDER Detumescent ascending device
EXIDE Elephant's-foot waste paper basket
EXPOSURE BAG Heat-pack with big tits
FAULT Something a Controller never, ever has
FIREDAMP Found in cavers sleeping bags
FIGURE OF 8 DESCENDER Large bottle opener
FLAT Pre-pubescent female speleologist
FLUORESCENCE Adrenaline rush induced by realisation that you forgot to ring the Weather
FLOWSTONE Whiteboard for cavers graffiti
FLYGT
Service
offered on
FOREFIELD Just behind the foreshore in the Goddam Isles
FORMATION Underground clothes pegs
FURRY SUIT Last year's club dinner suit Centre
GATE Part of dry-stone wall to avoid
GINGING What the Gang do with their Goolies
GROTTO Disreputable Spanish caver
GROVE or GROOVE Caver listens to "Leonard Cohen sings AC/DC"
HADE What Goon keeps falling on
HAND JAMMER Person who runs out of Andrex
HANGER Irate Hut Warden
HARNESS Fluorescent purple/green Petzl truss
HEADING Bit at the bottom of rescue report in
HILLOCKS/HILLOCKING Guardian misprint
KARABlNER West Indian jet-setter
KARST Term used to describe limestone area when applying for grant for foreign holiday/booze-up
KEYHOLE
PASSAGE Double-deck passage
- lower level for
KIBBLE 80g food
KRAB Krustacian
LEG LOOPS For use in cases of extreme constipation
LEVEL Most East Anglian caves
LIFELINE A four- pack carry-out during rescue
LITTER What you put rubbish cavers on
LITTLE DRAGON Opposite to Fucking Big Aardvark
MAILLON RAPIDE Device for slowing down rigging
MOLEFONE What Jasper Carrot should have had
NElL ROBERTSON Inventor by Appointment to Spanish Inquisition
NICAD LAMP Hidden bit of an FX2
OGOFONE Downstream from Ogoftwo
OLDHAM
Book
vendor from the wilds of
OLD MAN Anyone who remembers the Swildon's Forty
OPEN Passage that someone else always finds
OPEN RAKE What Vietnamese do - Open rakeaway
OX-BOW Humane killer for club barbecues
PARAGUARD STRETCHER Pretty stretcher for use when TV cameras
PETZL French manufacturer of bespoke bondage gear
PIPE or PIPE VEIN Where cavers store exotic vegetation
PITCH Always lacking in singing cavers
PITON Recycled cut-down hangers
POT Most important caving accessory
POTHOLE Groove worn in bar counter
PRUSIK Heaven for rope fetishists
RACK
RAKE Shit-stirring at committee meeting
RAFPEL Frenchman with hot hands & bollocks
RESURGENCE Wrong end of Swildons
RIG
Dave
Irwin (Wig) in
RISE That early morning feeling
RISING What a gentleman cavers does before 4 pm
ROCKET TUBE Bit they kick you up when you get a rocket
ROOF TUBE Concrete tube sticking into dig
ROPE
RUCKLE Crowded bar
SERIES What happens when Sid Perou makes a half hour film which runs for 105 minutes
SHAFT Saturday night horizontal clogg dancing
SHAKE or SHAKEHOLE Farmers waste bin
SHUNT Wizard prang chaps
SINK or SINKHOLE Diced carrot & tomato skin receptacle
SHUNT What happens if you puke whilst pissing in bath
SIT HARNESS Truss designed by Barbara Woodhouse
SKED Decoration with in Y fronts
SLING What to do with hook after farting in pub
SOLE Arse
SOUGH Flat wet bit of mine
SPAR Late Nite pie & booze vendor
SPREADER Conjugal stemple
SQUEEZE Bit of cave that keeps shrinking
SRT Sexual Relief Technique
SRT HARNESS Rubber band and pipe cleaner
SRT RIG Rubber band and pipe cleaner with feather
STARDRILL Famous divers parade for the Media
STEMPLE Conjugal knee stretcher
STITCH PLATE Used by students as pulley
STOP (PETZL) Heartfelt plea by other equipment manufacturers
STOPE Olde Englishe for above
STRIKE Geological feature that buggers up cave passage
SUMP No room for any more beer
SURVEY Caving very, very slowly
SWALLET Baby swallow
SWALLOW At least 9 pints
SYSTEM Any NHASA dig over 50 long
TACKLE Any important equipment - as in Wedding Tackle
TAILINGS Bits left in trap when mouse gets away
TALKING ROPE Warning you've had too much Strong Ale
TAPE Flat string
TETHER Bit that Controllers are always at end of
TIRFOR Stretching device for trapped cavers
TRAVERSE Wasting time at top of pitch
TROLL
TUBE Shaft lying on its side
VADOSE TRENCH Scar left by burst vadose veins
VEIN Famous caver/diver
WARDEN Failed rat-catcher and lobotomized caver
WATER GATE Flat bit of water over sump with no key hole
WATER TABLE Theory without a leg to stand on
WAY BOARD Committee of cavers who decide on dig's direction
WETSUIT Drinking kit at end of evening
Competition
Snab has recently come into possession of some 600 odd buckets!! All these buckets have a hole drilled in the bottom of them (Dear Liza Dear Liza ... ) and there is in fact a Bona Fide reason for this. If anyone knows the true reason for this they can tell Snab and he might buy them a pint, although he is far more likely to have a two word conversation the second word being off!
The competition prize, however, will go to the most original, inane, insane, inventive, innovative, idiotic, idiosyncratic or incredible idea for possible usage of aforementioned articles (not necessarily all 600 at once). Anyone daft enough to want to enter should post their entries to the editor (address inside front page) to arrive no later than January 31st 1995. Winner of the 'Mystery Prize' will be chosen at the editor's discretion (though some would say there is nothing discreet about your beloved editor).
Also on the following page is a crossword compiled by
Crossword on Next Page
Across
2 (&3) UDDER [3,4]
3 THE
6 (& 38) BLACKHEAD? NO. THE REVERSE [5,3]
7 SEE 41A
8 (&3) TRENCH [8,4]
11 CALL YOURSELF A CAVER? [3,6,9]
12 PURE CAVER? [6]
13 (& 35A) GUANO [3,8]
14 (&3) EARTH [5,4]
16 SEE 41A
18 GOES INTO GROTTO, RIGHT? [5]
20 SEE 32A
22 (&33D) A SORT OF NOVICE? [8,4]
24 (&3) DISOWNS, BUT LEFT INSIDE [8,4]
26 SEE 41A
29 SEE 17D
32 (& 20A, 37A) 20 PAST 11 [8,2,4]
34 (& 3) WHAT YOU SEE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF A PACKET OF POLOS? [4,4]
35 SEE 13A
37 SEE 32A
39 SEE 41A
40 (&3) WHAT YOU SEE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF A PACKET OF POLOS? [4,4]
41 (&7A, 39A) GO IN 3 DIRECTIONS BEFORE PUB [3,3,3]
(&16A, 26A) SHOT OF THE BATS HERE FIRST
(&15D, 38D) ASK THIN PETE IF
ITS OK TO
42 3 IF YOUVE GOT THE RUNS? [7,4]
43 3 THAT YOU SEE IN 42 AFTER 32? [4]
Down
1 WINDS GO CROSSING WIRES OVER WATER FOR EXAMPLE [7]
2 DRAW THESE FORMATIONS! [8]
4
5 SEE 11A
8 (&21D) LAMBS GROW INTO THESE, THEN ALL MUTTON EWE DONT EAT IS THROWN UP HERE [7,6]
9 PLACE OF IDOLATRY? [4]
10 (&3) WHICH 3 DID YOU SAY? [6,4]
13 LOOK DOWN ONE FOR BEER? [6]
15 SEE 41A
17 (&29A) MENDED TIGHTS ESPECIALLY FOR CAVING? [5,6]
19 SEE 36D
21 SEE 8D
23 SINK 3 [7]
25 SEE 30D
27 BEDROCK HERE
28 DOCTOR
WITH PROBLEM SPINE COULD
30 (&25D, 3) E GOT NO EARS APPARENTLY [5,5,4]
31 (&3) 3+13D=) 31DE+3 PERHAPS [7,4]
33 SEE 22A
36 (&19) EXERCISE WITH NO ROPE? [8,5]
38 SEE 6A, 41A