United Cavers Exploration Team

Trip Report â€" Penarth Mine 16th Sept 2012

Present;  Ian, Richard S, John N, Deano, Alison, Phil, Lou and Hai Ying

The day was to begin in the same way most days begin; the sun rose in the east, light streamed through the curtained windows, life mustered its way into existence and an inevitable sequence of events triggered.

Deano arrived precisely on-time to collect me and begin the journey to Wrexham to collect our guest adventurer. Armed with a printed google map of our destination (and no satellite navigation) we sped off with the acceleration of a Higgs-Boson particle.

It was a good job we arrived in Wrexham early as the ancient method of road navigation (using road signs) failed us as we missed the correct turn off from the expressway due to the printed google map being at variance to the exit signs. Notwithstanding these failures and notwithstanding we had no technology (such as a Sat Nav) we were able to defeat this ruinous problem and we arrived, in good time, to meet our guest.

The rendezvous complete, we sped off to find the meet place only to find ourselves held up by an AA yellow coloured hatchback (aka Alison) who thwarted Deanos attempts to break the light barrier, blaming a green Golf in front for the delay.

Arriving at the layby we found everyone already present except JohnN who arrived moments later having been on a jolly up a forestry track investigating if we could drive up instead of walking up. Triumphant in his endeavours, we piled into the back of his extraordinary landrover type thingy and we set off to head for the track …

En route I nearly fell out of the back several times much to the alarm of the passenger in the vehicle behind us. Significant relief was seen on her face as John turned off the main road and onto the forestry track. Bumbling upwards we made our way up the track until a lonesome man waved us down and began a “chat” with John something on the lines of “what the f**k do you think you are doing?” (that’s a paraphrase because I could not hear the actual exchange). During the conversation the man alleged we were on private land and JohnN pointed out we were not. (FC land, not a private landowner). The man pointed to a sign saying “authorised vehicles only” to which John stated he had authorised his vehicle. The man then explained how he had previously broken his arm fighting people and we decided to listen more carefully to his request that we sod off.

Having sodded off, we found ourselves back at the layby where we resigned ourselves to walking up the hill where we endured head height nettles and ferns (well, I did anyway).

Entering the mine was a relief from the hot sun and we proceeded swiftly to explore the main level. It was only a short time before we found the lonely (and mostly pointless) incline which most of us ventured up. Coming down the incline was tricky although, unlike last time, no one actually fell down. Safely at the bottom we explored the two chambers to the right contemplating the apparent higher (and mostly concealed) passageway. It was not long before we headed down the tunnel leaving behind two of the party to fumble with the trolley on the lines. They eventually gave up (having presumably failed to work out how a wheel turns) and they caught us up in time for lunch in the main junction.

Lunch was a joyous occasion made especially good by a large quantity of buttery flap jacks that Phil had brought. I gorged myself stupid on these and spent the next several hours removing bits of flapjack from my teeth as we ventured around.

Our next port of call was the back chamber with a nice oche pool and oche formation â€" the walls and passage here closely resembled the Dwarven mines of Moria with their stature and splendour.  Certainly the chambers were as big as Moria and certainly I was as small as any dwarf bringing the scale into a perfect union. Next we explored the adjoining chamber and we clambered to the back roof part to see, at very close hand, the somewhat exquisite and unique ceiling formation. We briefly discussed the uninterpretable geology before heading down and further in.

Next was the passage of parma violets or cyanide. Here there was previously a sweet smell which, despite best endeavours, I had been unable to identify. Now, however, it was gone rendering both the problem and this paragraph entirely redundant.

We then made our way long the gas bag passage where we discovered an apparently collapsed exit (marked 1926), another nice oche pool and a rope climb leading to the gaseous part of the mine. I invited anyone who wanted the experience to join me up the rope to sample the smell of hydrogen sulphide first hand (so that they may know the distinct smell should they ever encounter it in the future). Phil and Richard both braved the climb to emerge in the upper passage of greater stench. Here indeed we were met with a strong and “not very delightful” aroma of bad eggs. It took only a very brief time for Phil and Richard to be satisfied that they would not forget that particular stench and we headed back down.

Following the main track back a little way we dropped down to the back end of the lower level where we investigated the lower chambers and many interesting (small) calcite flows including the passage where the rock changes suddenly from slate to something describable on as “what the fook is this, I’m not standing under that”.

Returning back to the level above we continued the adventure further around the side of the mine until we reached a collapse holding back a foot of water. Hear, the four party members who had not previously been in this mine (Deano, Phil, Lou and Hai Ying) were invited to “rescue” the other party members whom had suddenly all become mute and incapable. To his credit, Deano navigated his way (with everyone closely in tow) straight to the exit (which was somewhat annoying as this removed all the amusement factor).

We therefore headed down to the lower front workings and explored further until we reached the furthest point. Here, the virgin team (minus Deano this time who had been removed as such) were invited to get the rest of us out again. Phil and Hai Ying took the initiative and using a process of infallible logic coupled with trial and error, they too directed the party to the exit.

Before leaving the mine we investigated the final left part of the mine which attracted some interest at the point we found a walled adit in a state attributable to that of “almost certain death”. No one bothered to poke or prod this area as none of us felt stupid enough.

Having been underground for 3.5 hours, we found the grey light of day streaming into the mine and we left to emerge in a torrent of drizzle and rain. We made our way back down and through the field of head height ferns and nettles which not only stung me but soaked me through too. Lou thought this was funny and chuckled at my protests of being stung. I quietly chuckled to myself that she had soaking feet because she had gone into the mine with boots instead of wellies as she did not yet understand what was meant by “dry, walk in/walk out”.

We adjourned to the local pub for a pint of ale following which we all trundled off home for food and bed.

 :)

Ian