Hi, we're trying to test a number of drafts swirling I'm and out of our digs. I bought some plumbers flue testing ones from Amazon but they say "do not inhale" in big letters. Anyone recommend something they've used that is safe for human consumption - or should I just give up on this idea entirely? I have used incense but I don't smell good ..read more

A last visit to cave supplies today and a goodbye to Phil. A few bits left if you are passing. Picked up a few things, including a signed copy of ”Caves of Mendip” (1970) well one author Once this shop has gone not many caving gear shops will be left ..read more

The latest issue is finally complete and printed, and subscribers should have received their issue in the post - please let us know if you haven't. For everyone else, the online version is now available for free download: https://thedca.org.uk/publications/the-derbyshire-caver ..read more

We spent 2 years in deep underground caves to bring this extraordinary fossil to light Finding and retrieving the bones of this extinct kangaroo relative – a ‘holy grail’ fossil – took hours of squeezing through narrow passages. theconversation.com Short-faced Kangaroo, Simosthenurus occidentalis (Glauert, 1910) <p><em>Simosthenurus occidentalis</em> was a short-faced kangaroo that lived during the Pleistocene Epoch in Australia. This fossil skeleton is one of the most complete examples of the species ever found. It was retrieved from deep underground in a cave north ..read more

Posted today. Collapse on the Burrington Road near Cheddar ..read more

BCRA NEWSLETTER APRIL 2024 Our Social media news outlets... • Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/britishcaver • BCRA News forum: http://bcra.org.uk/forum • Twitter: http://twitter.com/bcra_speleology • UK Caving http://ukcaving.com/board/?board=86.0 In this newsletter Next online seminar via zoom Information on the rest of this year’s seminar programme Other planned seminars up to June The 2024 BCRA Cave & Karst Science Symposium and AGM... Read more ..read more

Strictly Cumbria but as it appears in NC3 and anyone who knows it is likely to look on here...i have posted here. Anyone know where Swilly Hole (near Caldbeck in Cumbria is)? Also known as Haltcliff Bridge cave. I have tried twice now to find it. NC3 gives the grid ref as 367367. Anyone been there and got a better description of the entrance that "down stream on east bank" or 8 or 10 fig grid ref? Thanks ..read more

In Nidderdale Low Eglin’s is a finely decorated and sporting stream cave that goes east from How Stean Gorge. The stream disappears off into a too low bedding to reappear at the Stean resurgence. Going left from this bedding an older passage, Flood passage heads towards the village of Lofthouse. This ends in a low mud and water filled bedding just short of the village cricket field. The other side of the cricket field is the river Nidd travelling north to south. The river has truncated 2... Read more ..read more

Today I took the family hiking to a nearby nature preserve, and we setup a rappel near a waterfall just for fun. There was a "severe" overhang at the ledge - let's just call it 8 feet/ 2meters - long enough that one's legs could not touch the rock face under the overhang... Is there a decent method, aid device, or technique to help descend over a severely overhung ledge? Ascending up past the ledge, I know one could use an etrier, an extra ascender above the ledge with a foot-loop tethered... Read more ..read more

On a trip to Cliff-hanger sump today we saw what looked like brown grassy growths in the water at the start of the crawl. The were flowing with the water, like you'd see at the bottom of a river. I've attached some pictures. Does anyone know what this is / how plants are able to survive and grow down here? I'm sure we're not the first to notice this ..read more