ULSA

Yearly Archives: 2015

Christmas Pot

Christmas Pot Saturday, 19 December 2015 After a boring week of dissertation in Leeds I felt the need to escape. After an enjoyable evening at Richmond I got up at disgustingly early 7 o'clock to get the train out the dales. Unfortunately I was running late and didn't have time to...

Rowten Pot, a while ago. (2.0)

Rowten Pot, a while ago. (2.0) Sunday, 13 December 2015 Rowten: a nemesis of mine. Last year, I was graced anti-grip when Nathanael had to escort me from a pitch on the Big Gulley route. A swingy deviation got the best of me and I smacked myself into a wall. Also,...

Felix Trombe

Felix Trombe Friday, 11 December 2015 - Sunday, 20 December 2015 Lightweight, 2 man, trip, to Felix Trombe near Toulouse, longest system in France, 12th in world (44 entrances?). Howard non-caving due to weak excuse of recovering from broken back & Martin needing to be back in UK on the Thurs. Did...

Christmas Cracker (Hillocks)

Christmas Cracker (Hillocks) Saturday, 5 December 2015 I arrived at chapel to find George worrying about whether he had a flat tire, we located his spare tire, decided it would be ok and after being handed directions from Rachel; George, Luke and I were off. Unfortunately I wasn't really sure where...

Grange Rigg

Grange Rigg Saturday, 21 November 2015 Unbelievably the weekend was forecast as dry... that's right DRY! <5% chance of rain for the entire weekend! What does one do with such a forecast? It had been so long. So off we trotted up the hill to Grange Rigg. With plans for curry and...

Adventures in Hobbitland Part 4: Greenlink Camp, Scary Times

Adventures in Hobbitland Part 4: Greenlink Camp, Scary Times Friday, 30 October 2015 - Sunday, 1 November 2015 Second weekend caving in a row, things were starting to look up a bit on this front after 2 months of no caving. Early start at 5:30am after 3 hours sleep. In Picton,...

Surveying with a moron

Surveying with a moron Sunday, 25 October 2015 With promises of what was described to be 'efficient' and 'fun', I was persuaded to accompany Brendan on a trip with the objective of resurveying part of the Kingsdale Master Cave, specifically Carrot Passage and adjoining passages not far from Valley Entrance. The...

Adventures in Hobbitland Part Three: NZSS AGM

Adventures in Hobbitland Part Three: NZSS AGM Friday, 23 October 2015 - Monday, 26 October 2015 Got the ferry with Arvid (overly keen and efficient German), Gav (really socially awkward diesel mechanic: if the lead character of a film drives a ford you know its going to be bad) and Marcus...

Swildon 9 – Long Round

Swildon 9 - Long Round Saturday, 17 October 2015 TU 7hrs Sump 9 is the furthest you can get in Swildons without proper cave diving, so a trip here has been on my hit list for as long as I can remember. Now with people willing and able to join me it...

Stoke Lane Slocker

Stoke Lane Slocker Saturday, 17 October 2015 On the Saturday of the Mendips weekend, with plently of leaders for Swildons and GB, me, Nat and Matt opted for a non-fresher trip, Stoke Lane Slocker. Having given up trying to read the ridiculously in-depth description, I didnt really know what to expect...

Grotte du Lancot

Grotte du Lancot Monday, 31 August 2015 It was the day after Gouffre des Ordons (really cool chamber with lots of pretties) and we were going home the day after. We wanted to end the trip with a cool cave so we looked through the beautiful waterfalls section of the guidebook....

Gouffre des Ordons

Gouffre des Ordons Sunday, 30 August 2015 Whilst Holly and Noel derigged the Verneau, we went for a bimble down Ordons, a cave known for its beautiful formations. Immediately from the top of the only pitch you can see the scale of the calcite. For 200m, a huge chamber resembles a Victorianesque...

Le Verneau

Le Verneau Saturday, 29 August 2015 The Verneau traverse is one of the longest and most strenuous in Europe We set off early, underground for 9:01. The walk to the cave was a minute long stumble though some nice French forest. Nat set off rigging the first of multiple short pitches in...

Hobbitland Adventures Part 2 – a Week on Takaka Hill

Hobbitland Adventures Part 2 - a Week on Takaka Hill Friday, 21 August 2015 - Tuesday, 1 September 2015 It was half 5 in the morning when I awoke to arrive at Xanie, Luke, Adam and Elliott's halls of residence for a 7am start for the ferry south. We stumbled across...

Traversing the Reseau de Soudet

Traversing the Reseau de Soudet Sunday, 2 August 2015 It's not every day you get the offer to try and undertake a never-before attempted through trip in a deep European cave system. And so, sitting in comfort far far away from any cave, with absolutely no knowledge of the system, it...

Hobbitland Adventures Part 1: Black Sabbath and Adfrenchures

Hobbitland Adventures Part 1: Black Sabbath and Adfrenchures Friday, 24 July 2015 - Sunday, 26 July 2015 Interislander ferry was boarded at 1400 hours with the primary objective of finding someone to bum a lift off to Nelson. Everyone I met was, unfortunately, heading down state highway 1 to Christchurch, sheep...

Austria Expo 2015

Austria Expo 2015 Tuesday, 23 June 2015 Last summer, a large portion of this years student intake explored caves on the Loser Plateau as part of the Cambridge University Caving Clubs (CUCC) annual expedition to Austria. Much has to be said for the advertisement from Nat, Rob, Holly and Noel as...

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