Hi all,
My brother Joel introduced me to exploring, the catacombs was my first trip. Scary, but I've been back again since. Been to Alderly Edge copper mines, slate quarries, lime stone quarries and two salt mines in Poland. Joel suggested that I go on a few trips with you guys, maybe poachers cave? Give me a chance to give caving a go and see if it's for me. The only equipment I have is: helmet, head torch, knee pads, gloves and wellies.
Thanks
Jodie
Hi Jodie
Welcome to the madhouse,
We go underground every Thursday night so your more than welcome to come along anytime you like.
We are probably going to poachers or oha next Thursday if you want to join us
Cheers
Mike
Hi Mike,
Sounds like a plan, what time do you meet and where?
We usually meet at 6.30ish I'll get the trip organizer to put the location up, how well do you know the area
Never been there. I usually just follow the directions that my phone gives me tbh.
Jodie - If it is Poachers or OHA - Meet location is the Cilcain car-park here
CH7 5NJ - might be a bit off
https://goo.gl/maps/ACAkcYf9CzN2 (https://goo.gl/maps/ACAkcYf9CzN2)
If you see a man called Tim Watts, ask him about the local caver bunk house he runs - It's very modern, has showers and a nice drying room.
[quote="Suboffender" post=30617]Jodie - If it is Poachers or OHA - Meet location is the Cilcain car-park here
CH7 5NJ - might be a bit off
https://goo.gl/maps/ACAkcYf9CzN2 (https://goo.gl/maps/ACAkcYf9CzN2)
If you see a man called Tim Watts, ask him about the local caver bunk house he runs - It's very modern, has showers and a nice drying room.[/quote]
Cheeky
Where do you live Jodie, are you local or travelling a distance
Live in Rhuddlan
Make it Poachers .... not OHA :dry:
:whistle: :whistle: :whistle:
Ian
Hey,
You guys took me down OHA as my first cave and i'm still here..
Agree though, Poachers is probably better - as she's mainly done some very dry mines
[quote="Suboffender" post=30623]
You guys took me down OHA as my first cave ....[/quote]
You're a special case :ohmy:
[quote="Ian" post=30624][quote="Suboffender" post=30623]
You guys took me down OHA as my first cave ....[/quote]
You're a special case :ohmy:[/quote]
It runs in the family ;)
[quote="Suboffender" post=30625][quote="Ian" post=30624]
You're a special case :ohmy:[/quote]
It runs in the family ;)[/quote]
Oh no ..... :unsure:
If my first trip underground was the catacombs I'm sure I'll be fine :cheer:
[quote="JodieColk" post=30627]If my first trip underground was the catacombs I'm sure I'll be fine :cheer:[/quote]
OHA is nothing like the catacombs. It's a very big cave system ornately covered everywhere in glacial silt (covered in shit). It requires a lot of crawling with your face in muddy water and you will get soaked and wet within yards of the entrance. Once through that, you get a chance to warm and dry before it happens again. There is perilous scrambling of slippery boulders, knotted ropes climbs in far less than awkward places, watery ducks and a canal. There is a passage you can stand up and walk along for a few metres.
Of course, coming out, you are met with the same delights ensuring you exit the cave covered top to toe in wet shit.
It is common for people to throw themselves into the river running outside upon exit and I have no doubt the cold air and freezing water (forecast to be -3 on Thursday) will be a delightful sensation.
In contrast, Poachers is a miniature version. Short electron ladder at the beginning the some "hands and knees" and plenty of walking. There is an underground river running through a large passageway at the back which generally just manages to breach wellingtons.
You should remain (mostly) dry and the covering of shite will be light (Murf and Doug are not allowed to steal that line for their poetry).
:)
Ian
Oh, wow
Ian often tells this story, sometimes a little gory
between me and you I thinks he wants some glory
he doe,s not mention the vampire bats
that live in the roof in dung made flats
he forgot the spiders as black as night
which crawl around and give a hell of a bite
but if all think that this is all a lie
go to O.H.A next door the bastards fly.
LOL :silly:
A few spiders and bats never hurt anyone
I am meeting at the coordinates Joel posted?
Yes if the trip organiser puts on Poachers or OHA .... We haven't had the trip through yet though ....
Patience Grasshopper ;)
Ian
Hah, that's a new one (grasshopper)
It was used by a Kung Fu master to his apprentice in the TV series of the same name;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_(TV_series)
Us "oldies" remember such things.
And, just like Hovis, it's as good today as the first day it was baked.
(That's another one for the oldies)
Equally, OHA is as much as a shit hole as it has every been. Expect the water level to be higher down there right now, the ducks will be horrible and the gloop simply the worst.
There are no quality minerals in that mud bath - of that, I am certain.
Poacher's however, will likely be very pleasant in comparison.
:dry:
Ian
I've seen kung fu panda, and I've eaten hovis. I vote for poachers. I don't want to drown...
Both Caves are the same, both contain crawling, gloopy mud and water, but there is less of it in poachers. also Ian always supplies poached eggs upon completion hence it's name.
Only just seen this thread. Will put Poacher's on this week. Will send trip info out shortly.
I was hoping to be out this week but alas I don't finish work till 8.20 and can't get a swap.
Here's this week’s trip details
Trip: Poacher's Cave (http://www.ucet.org.uk/index.php/forum/21-knowledge-bank/896-ogof-hen-ffynnonau-poachers-cave) <--- Click for Knowledge Bank link
Trip Type: General Mooch
Meet Time: 6.30pm
Meet Place: Cilcain Bridge.
Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/TO8TO
Jodie,
Take a towel and spare clothes. It will be cold down there and you will get wet. You'll need to be able to dry off when you get out.
:)
Ian
Any recommendations on clothes. Was thinking combat pants two t-shirts and a jumper. And wellies, knee pads, and helmet....
If you have any kind of "Oversuit" (overalls) that would be ideal. If not, expect your outer layers to get muddy.
It is "glacial silt" in there and you will get cack on you.
Defo wellies, knee pads and helmet (and lamp obviously). Gloves are a good idea.
If you are wearing a watch, take it off, you will be "hands and knees" in shallow water at two points.
Warm clothes essential.
Expect to get wet so have reserve stuff in the car.
:)
Ian
Had a great time last night :silly: thanks for letting me tag along
Anytime ;)
Don't mention her nose.
Especially don't say that her brother's nose is better
That guy Tim watts is offshore.