The Mysterious Pitch

Team: Lisa Boore, John Roe and Claire Vivian 

Trip Date: December 2020

---

Like me, you will undoubtedly all have walked past this hole at some point when you've visited OFD2.

It is on the left between the mini traverses behind Big Chamber and the passages in to upper Arete Chamber, so really near the entrance to OFD2.

 

The pitch, just around the corner from Big Chamber 

With our evening trips we have been looking at going to areas in OFD none of us have been to before and connecting places via unusual routes. Having seen this pitch, but never been down it, this fitted the bill perfectly for the 3 of us. Being so near the entrance, it was also ideal for an evening trip and we were really lucky to choose mid-December mere days before the last Covid lockdown began.

John rigging the pitch

The rigging was 'reachy' and not straightforward, but John rigged speedily and we were soon down the first part and then on to the next 2 sections of it. The survey shows it as a P29, but there is also a P25 shown very near by and we were not sure if this was also on our route, so we had brought enough rope to cover both and some spare, just in case. It turned out there were 3 drops in all, so we were lucky to have enough rope with us. I should have written this blog months ago, as I've forgotten all the precise details; but I remember it was possible to rig the first 2 using the same rope as they were shorter pitches and close together.

Lisa at the top of the 2nd section.

The last section is a fine pitch, but there is a lot of loose rock at the pitch head to be careful of. The pitch brings you down in to the Labyrinth on the route you would take if you were travelling between Arete Chamber and the Columns. 

Claire abseiling down the final section in to the Labyrinth.

Local Caving

Dave, Paul and Adrian (CSS and SWCC) at Llanelly Quarry Pot

Over the past year or so evening caving trips and meals out among local cavers have become more regular. The last few weeks have been no exception. During that time we have visited Llanelly Quarry Pot, Little Neath, OFD2, OFD1, been out for 2 currys and gone bowling. It's good to see local cavers meeting up, with trips often being mixed-club ones, so if you want to join in, just get in touch. 





Dave admires some formations in Llanelly Quarry Pot

Lisa, Paul, Nigel, Jen and Dan at Little Neath (SWCC/CSS/Gagendor)



Dan cooling off in Little Neath

John and Paul exploring a cave on Gower

Alan on President's Leap during a route-finding trip



Paul, Barbara, Steve and Chris go bowling



It's yet another strike! (Steve is now banned from bowling with us...)



Chris in Selenite Tunnel



Claire, Chris, Alan and Paul going in to OFD2. Route finding to Cross Rift

Chris crossing President's Leap

Ian, Tom and Glenys getting ready for Top Entrance

Tom in Top Entrance



Local curry evening



Jenny and Jamie in OFD1

Alan, Chris and Trev about to go in to OFD1 on a hot evening

Paul, Adrian, Steve and Dave raring to go

Claire and Ceri near Minchin Hole

Ceri and Claire in Minchin Hole, Gower



May - July events

Where to begin! It's been a very busy few weeks, what with film crews, evening trips and club meets. The late May Bank Holiday weekend saw Celestine, Steve, Michael, Damien and Phill head off for an over-the tide-trip in to Otter Hole. For most of the trip participants this was a first visit to Otter and they were both amazed by the formations and repulsed by the mud!



A good, clean, trip for Damien.

The team having a well earned pint.

June saw Alison Maddocks test out her bionic new hip with a reintroduction to OFD2. She proved that she is definitely a super caver! Only around 15 minutes to get to Salubrious via a circuitous route and then a fast paced move over to Poached Egg Climb and back via the mini Columns. Amazing!

Alison and Claire at the Mini-Columns

Alison near Timo's Table

Watching a lovely sunset over Fan Hir

Evening trips also took place regularly this month including visits to Dan yr Ogof 1937 Series as well as a full round trip (followed by full-blown midge attack), and more general route finding trips in to OFD.  Contact Claire: assistant_meets_sec@swcc.org.uk to get involved with these.

Two film crews also arrived to film in OFD. The first was a BBC crew filming an OFD2-OFD1 through-trip with the former rugby player, now turned adventurer, Richard Parks. The filming for this took place over two days at the end of June. The first day saw the team travel almost as far as the Corkscrew, filming and interviewing  along the way (8 hours). The second day was the through-trip, which took around 14 hours. All members of the team were fit, but some had limited experience underground,. Nevertheless, they seemed to enjoy the experience and were frequently laughing and joking along the way. There were several SWCC members who assisted the crew including Gary Evans, Vince Allkins, Matt Woodfield and Claire Vivian. The series will begin on BBC1 on 12th September, but not sure when the caving episode will be shown. All photos by Matt Woodfield.

Filming in Salubrious.

The light camera used to film the through-trip.

The producer keeping his feet dry, but having a great time - look at that smile!

Richard Parks and Gary

Filming at Marble Showers

Discussing the filming plan at Flood Bypass

Vince on the Diver's Pitch

Gary disappears through the Letterbox

Richard Parks emerging from the Letterbox.

The second film crew was ITV this time. They were ably looked after by Helen Hooper, Andy Jones, Phil Knight, Phill Thomas and Chris Taylor. I don't have any photos from this one, but all involved enjoyed the experience (including Chris with his first underground abseil). The results will be shown on a TV screen near you shortly.

July saw more evening route-finding trips in OFD and a first caving trip for Ceri.

Claire and Jen near the upper Columns gate.

Jen traversing the top of Arete

Dan, Claire and Ceri in Gnome Passage.

Admiring a formation in Gnome Passage

We also had a club meet in North Wales organised by Jo. Staying in a bunkhouse in Betws-y-Coed 5 of us had a great time walking, mountain biking or trying out the underground trampolines (we were shattered after barely 15 minutes on these).

Claire, Chloe, Michelle and Jo dry at the start of the walk

Sheltering in the woods

The group walking near Swallow Falls

The Ugly House. Perfect spot for tea and cake on a wet day

More evening exploring also took place. This time a walk down Bishopston Valley to look at Guzzle Hole and other speleological sites.

Alison and Paul in the dry riverbed.

Paul and Claire at Guzzle Hole.