Descent (211)
December 2009
Bad Air in Caves
Cavers surely know by now the dangers and effects of bad air from the build-up of carbon dioxide in caves. However, some of the latest research suggests that we don’t know everything about how the gas behaves and where we might find it ...
The Discovery of
Hang Son Doong
Can it be possible? On this shrinking planet of ours, that we can still find a massive, readily accessible cave that, unexpectedly, contains the largest known passage in the world?
The Future of Cave Surveying
Cave surveying has progressed in leaps and bounds, moving from slow recording using a compass, tape and clino to a fully integrated, electronic system. Caver ingenuity has modified some existing kit: enter the DistoX and the advances and promises for future developments that it represents.
Pool Fingers of the World
You might never have heard of a pool finger, a speleothem thought to widely exist yet with relatively few recorded instances. The cry for help has been broadcast: can you find any?
Texas Caving
Every four years an international congress draws participants from around the world to learn more of their sport, renew friendships and go caving in classic systems. Just so for 2009, when the 15th such gathering was held in Texas. This was not so much a caving event as the centrepiece of a way of life.
Churchill Revisited
Not to be outdone by the international congress, the Hidden Earth team laid on an excellent weekend’s fare on Mendip. We hereby open our coverage of this premier British conference.
Cover: Annie Guiraud in Stephen's Gap, Alabama. Photo: Philippe Crochet
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