September 2001

Our first caving trip together was in Goatchurch Cavern in the Mendips South West of Bristol in 1994. We were "equipped" with our climbing helmets and camping head lamps.

View up from Scialet de Malaterre, France. Exit is 120 meters above. (April 2001)

Goatchurch is an easy cave with only little potential to get lost or little risk of accidents. It was still quite an exiting first trip because we didn't quite know what to expect inside the cave.

Resting in Cambridge Grotto, Fairy cave, Mendips, UK. (Nov 1999)

The entrance is a big wide tunnel that peters out about 100 yards inside. To get into the main cave system you have to drop into a narrow hole on the left side of the tunnel. We were pretty nervous because we were not quite sure where we had found the right passage and didn't want to drop into some irreversible hole never to be found again.

Tight entrance in Ogof Daren y Cilau. Wales, UK. (Nov 2000)

We quickly got used to the idea and had a great trip. Photo from our return to the surface in here.

Martin trying to get up the ultra tight vertical squeeze in Glacier de Carri after his electric lights failed. (April 2001)

We have done several other caves in the Mendips where Swildon's Hole was one of the most interesting. Its entrance starts where small stream disappears underground in the middle of a field.

UK caving team. Roystone, Tim, Fred and Mathias. Barpot, UK. (March 2000)

Most of the passages in the cave follows the stream and there are lots of interesting drops that require ropes and ladders and a few free-divable sumps as well. A sump is a passage which is completely submerged in water. We have passed through sump 1, which is just a couple of feet long but pretty exciting to go through.

Descenting the entrance shaft of Manor Farm Swallet. (Dec 2000)

It takes a considerable amount of commitment the first time but the problems are psychological, not physical.

Descenting Scialet de Malaterre. 120 meters straight. (April 2001)

It takes a couple of minutes of convincing yourself that you won't get stuck underwater, then a quick decision and before you know it your head pops up from the water on the other side. Yoist.

Overview of the entrance to Trou de Diable. (May 2001)

Letting go before the drop of 120 meters down Scialet de Malaterre. (April 2001)

Rigging the bridge of Scialet de Malaterre. (April 2001)

Searching for Scialet de Malaterre in Hivernal conditions. (April 2001)

Preparing for some serious caving action. (Sep 1999)

First SRT trip with Tim (right). (June 1998)

Checking the rig before going down Glacier D'Autrans, Vercors. (May 2001)

Searching the Trou de Diable, Vercors, France. (May 2001)

SRT Fred

Swildons Hole

Manor Farm

SRT caving

Alum Pot, UK